The Six-Tails Appears, and Ao's Shock and Fury

The Snow Ninja needed no introduction.

Even though Kirigakure had once been the presence he hated and feared most,

at this moment, seeing the two sides slaughter one another so brutally,

Utakata, whose temperament had always been mild, still felt a pang of sorrow deep inside. It wasn't that he couldn't bear to see them suffer; he simply didn't want to witness such a living hell. Yet Utakata understood even better that this was a process he had to go through. Besides, he believed in Naruto. If they wanted to forge true peace and create a truly harmonious world, then a war like this was an unavoidable part of the process!

"Lord Utakata!"

Taizan had also followed Utakata to the battlefield in the Land of the Sea. After directing the Snow Ninja reinforcements to attack from both flanks and block the oncoming Mist Ninja, he hurried to Utakata's side, bowed slightly, and spoke with a respectful expression and an inquisitive tone.

"Ah, I understand. We'll proceed according to Naruto's plan. First, cut off the Mist Ninja's retreat. I'll undergo Tailed Beast Transformation when the time comes!"

He could feel compassion.

He could even pity the figures lying in pools of blood below.

But what he thought in his heart was one thing.

What he did was another.

Utakata was no longer the ignorant boy he had once been.

One had to give something up to gain something. In the end, everything had to be grounded in the logic of what was reasonable. Only by giving something up could one gain something in return. Utopia could never be established by simply waiting in silence; it had to be won through his own efforts, whatever the cost.

Even if the path was lined with thorns and soaked in blood,

Utakata would press