Even if it revealed only the slightest trace of its aura, the violence spilling from it was enough to make one shudder.
Behind them stood the ninja forces. Before the Tailed Beast Ball could fully form, the Third Hokage charged straight in.
"Bang!"
"Earth Release! Earth Flow River!"
Building upon the original swamp, the Third Hokage's mudflow covered it with another layer, forcing the Nine-Tails, which had just emerged, back down beneath the ground.
Using this method to completely smother the Tailed Beast Ball before it formed was not a lasting solution.
A very real problem lay before them.
If they severely wounded the Nine-Tails, then without a Tailed Beast, Konoha would effectively lose its nuclear deterrent.
The village had only just emerged from war. Because of this, it might be thrown into turmoil once again, and that was not something the Third Hokage wanted to see.
As for sealing it, they currently lacked a suitable person for the seal. The Third Hokage found it difficult to make a decision and could only keep it occupied this way.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Hokage was nowhere to be seen, fighting that mysterious one-eyed man.
"The Uchiha Clan... Could he be the person Jiraiya's prophecy spoke of?"
Under such circumstances, the Third Hokage's offensive had become extremely difficult to continue.
But just as he hesitated, Muzan had already rushed over.
Compared to the Third Hokage's calculations of gains and losses, Muzan's plan was much simpler. Even if he had to wear it down by force, he would weaken the Nine-Tails.
"Crack!"
Muzan used Earth Release to uproot the surrounding trees, sending them all crashing down around the Nine-Tails.
He himself had already charged to the front. Ninjutsu was not very effective, so he could only use his fists.
A layer of blue chakra