The two fought at a blistering pace.
Every clash warped space and set off an explosion of chakra.
Buildings around them kept collapsing under the shockwaves, and deep fissures split the ground.
Just then, the Nine-Tails let out another earthshaking roar.
Its target was newborn Naruto, whom Hiruzen and the others were protecting.
Minato's expression changed.
"Damn it!"
At that moment—
"Adamantine Staff!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the village,
Shimura Danzō stood inside an Anbu outpost, his lone eye fixed on the column of Nine-Tails Chakra rising beyond the window. His expression was grim.
"The Nine-Tails... has gone out of control."
Shock flashed through Danzō's eye.
"Control on this scale... only the Sharingan could do it."
A Root member beside him immediately lowered his head. "Lord Danzō, you mean... the Uchiha?"
Danzō did not answer. He merely raised a hand.
"Seal off the Uchiha Compound immediately. No one enters or leaves. That includes the Uchiha Clan's leader."
"Yes, sir!"
The Root member vanished into the darkness.
At the Uchiha Compound,
Uchiha Fugaku was already standing at its entrance when the alarm sounded.
His eyes had become Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and dozens of elite Uchiha stood beside him.
"The Nine-Tails' chakra... someone is controlling it."
Fugaku's voice was low and grave.
It was not the Nine-Tails itself that worried him. Konoha had the strength to subdue it.
What truly worried him was what would come afterward.
The Nine-Tails was being controlled, and the Sharingan was visible in its enormous eyes.
What would the villagers think?
Would they suspect the Uchiha were behind it?
The Uchiha already faced exclusion in the village because of history and other factors.
What would happen after this?
Once this was over, where would the Uchiha stand?
Just then, a large force of Root members