Minato Returns

In the forest outside Leaf Village, Minato Namikaze and the Masked Man were still facing off.

Obito, having transplanted Hashirama Senju's cells, had lost an arm and been pierced through the abdomen by a kunai, yet he still possessed the power of Intangibility.

"Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, I, Uchiha Madara, acknowledge you. When we meet again, be prepared."

Minato Namikaze had no intention of letting this mysterious Masked Man, who harbored such deep hatred for Konoha, escape. He clearly bore the Flying Thunder God Technique's mark, but while the man was intangible, Minato could not sense it at all and had no way to activate the Flying Thunder God Technique.

As for the Masked Man calling himself Uchiha Madara, Minato paid it no mind. If he truly were that legendary man, how could he have been defeated so easily?

Nothing but a bluff.

He had wanted to use the Body Flicker Technique to keep the Masked Man here, but there was no longer any chance.

"It's useless. I've already seen through your Flying Thunder God Technique. I hope we get another chance to meet. Don't die too easily beneath the Nine-Tails' claws."

He could only watch helplessly as the man vanished before his eyes, exactly as he had vanished earlier in Leaf Village.

All that remained was the Nine-Tails, still ravaging the village.

The three Hokage were struggling to hold on alone. The Sealing Team had long since been scattered, and they could not even find a "container" now.

A certain handsome young man who did good deeds without leaving his name behind was still observing the situation anxiously. Though some of the Third Hokage's actions had drawn criticism, no one could deny that he was willing to fight for the village until his final moment.

The Nine-Tails had already had enough of several bugs and a monkey hopping around before it. Konoha was so fragile now—better to destroy it outright.

With a roar, black Chakra began gathering at the Nine-Tails' mouth, growing larger and larger.

"Is this the power wielded by a Tailed Beast?"

Feeling the immense energy of that Tailed Beast Ball, Hiruzen Sarutobi was filled with despair. If such power exploded within the village, all of Leaf Village would be reduced to level ground. The so-called ninja village of the Land of Fire would truly cease to exist.

The helpless part was that not a single ninja could mount an effective defense against such an attack.

"Is Leaf Village truly going to vanish like this?"

"No. This is the legacy of our predecessors. It absolutely cannot perish in my hands."

Everyone's hearts were filled with despair.

Danzō Shimura also lost his composure and grew anxious. If Konoha was destroyed, all his plans would vanish along with it. That was absolutely unacceptable.

"Kano, can your Wood Style stop it?"

The masked Root ninja beside Danzō shook his head helplessly. His Wood Style had only awakened through transplanted Hashirama Cells. It was practically child's play compared to the real thing. Aside from carrying the title of a Wood Style ninja, he was nothing else.

"Whether it works or not, Kano, get up there and use Wood Style to suppress the Nine-Tails. That is an order."

Kano accepted the order and rushed forward, prepared to die.

"As long as I can stop it for a moment."

The Tailed Beast Ball in the Nine-Tails' mouth was gradually taking shape.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rose from the ground. This was the moment for him, as the Third Hokage, to uphold his ninja way and protect the village.

Beside him, Enma could no longer maintain the form of the Adamantine Staff and reverted to his normal form, covered in wounds.

"Monkey, are you really going to go that far?"

As the Third Hokage, he could not shirk his responsibility.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly began forming Hand Seals. "Snake—Boar—Ram—Rabbit—Dog—Rat—Rooster..."

It was the forbidden Sealing Jutsu: the Reaper Death Seal.

Enma showed a trace of sorrow.

A cold smile appeared on Danzō's lips once more. "Monkey, your sacrifice to protect the village will surely be remembered."

Minato finally arrived nearby and looked at the Nine-Tails, which was about to fire its Tailed Beast Ball.

"Summoning Technique—Summoning: Food Cart Destroyer Technique!"

A gigantic toad crashed down atop the Nine-Tails, kicking up smoke and dust across the ground. Standing on the toad's head was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

"Please hold the Nine-Tails down for a while."

Though pinned beneath it, the Tailed Beast Ball at the Nine-Tails' mouth had not disappeared.

"Minato!"

"The Fourth Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped forming Hand Seals as well. "Minato is back?"

Hidden in the rear, Danzō Shimura's face twisted with anger. "Minato Namikaze not only survived, he even wants to ruin my plans."

Even a toad could not suppress the Nine-Tails, could it?

The Tailed Beast Ball in the Nine-Tails' mouth had fully formed. At the critical moment, Gamahiro landed on the ground, and the dust it stirred up obscured everyone's vision. The Nine-Tails beneath it had vanished.

Looking up, they saw a blinding white light illuminate the night on the other side of the mountains, followed by the thunderous sound of an enormous explosion.

"Minato..."

"The Fourth Hokage..."

"To transfer the Nine-Tails, just how much Chakra would that require?"

Minato must be extremely weak now.

"Any Jonin still able to fight, come with me to support the Fourth Hokage. Quickly!"

Having said that, Hiruzen Sarutobi was already the first to leap out. A bad premonition had risen in his heart. Minato might die.

Qingfeng watched as the ninjas around the Third Hokage shot off with whooshes, then looked back at the village, which had already descended into utter chaos.

"Clan Head Fugaku, Uchiha No should have people going to support him. Let the Security Force handle restoring order."

Uchiha Fugaku was suffering inside. He had failed twice in a row to control the Nine-Tails. Not only were his eyes bleeding, but his head was splitting with pain. Yet Qingfeng was right. He represented the Uchiha. If he stood aside, what would the people of the village think?

Though it was an order from Konoha's upper ranks, for the Uchiha's reputation and honor, he could only force himself to go.

Minato Namikaze appeared beside Kushina. Little Naruto was already fast asleep.

"Kushina, I'm sorry..."

Minato's Chakra was nearly exhausted. From fighting the Masked Man to transferring the Nine-Tails with such immense power, he had fought entirely alone.

"You've already done well..."

The Nine-Tails had recovered from its brief daze and immediately roared at the "little bugs" nearby!

It was very familiar with this "little bug." He was the husband of Kushina, the Jinchuriki who had never treated it as a "person." It could clearly sense Kushina's life force dwindling, while that brat's Chakra was also about to run dry.

"Just the two of you think you can stop me? I'll kill you first, then destroy Konoha!"

In its eyes, everyone in Leaf Village was an enemy. Konoha had relied on Kushina to imprison it for so long. Now that Kushina was close to death, it did not mind personally sending him on his way.

Then no one would be able to seal it ever again, right?

The Nine-Tails had beautiful thoughts, but reality would be cruel. In the future, there would be too many hands capable of casually dealing with it to count. It would never have imagined that it would one day become nothing more than a pet.