Nine-Tails Rebellion

"Enma!"

The heart of Konoha was a scene of utter devastation. Amidst the scorched earth and ruins, plumes of thick smoke, accompanied by flames and cries of agony, rose straight into the sky.

The terror of the Nine-Tails was completely revealed to everyone in Konoha at this moment. Even Jonin to nothing more than a large lump of flesh and blood under the Nine-Tails' attack.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were bloodshot, and his small body seemed to be bursting with boundless energy. His gaze was fixed on the rampaging Nine-Tails. The Dead Demon Consuming Seal —this was the only way he could imagine to avert this disaster...

Despite the Jonin around him, the pillars of Konoha, were rushing towards the Nine-Tails one after another, unleashing their most prized Ninjutsu, Hiruzen Sarutobi was struggling with the lack of a suitable Jinchuriki —he did not want Konoha to lose the Nine-Tails.

Without the Nine-Tails, a vital asset to the village, Konoha's situation will only become more difficult...

"Hiruzen... haven't you made up your mind yet?"

Enma was covered in blood. Compared to the Nine-Tails, this level of summoning beast was really weak. Although he had fought countless battles with Sarutobi, any skills seemed pale and powerless in the face of the Nine-Tails' unparalleled power.

Its brows were furrowed. It was probably the only summoning beast in the Shinobi World that understood Hiruzen Sarutobi. It knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi was not afraid of death, but rather that he did not want to see Konoha fall into ruin.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced slightly at the 'backup' Jinchuriki in the distance, pondered for a moment, and then slowly shook his head.

"Wait a little longer..."

A suitable Jinchuriki is practically a precious asset to a village. The Nine-Tails' power is immense, and in Konoha, the most suitable Jinchuriki is Kushina Uzumaki. As for the remaining 'backups,' it's difficult to Jinchuriki won't go berserk again, or even cause a second 'Nine-Tails Rebellion'...

"Ah..."

The Jonin beside him rushed towards the Nine-Tails. Huge boulders of rock and earth fell from the sky, but they could not stop the Nine-Tails for even a moment. A red light accompanied by a roar shattered the boulders into pieces, which crashed down all around, turning countless dwellings into ruins.

Shouts, angry shouts, and the sounds of running around echoed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears, causing his face to flush even more, and his hand gripping the giant club to tremble slightly.

Crimson blood slid down from the sky. A Jonin's life-risking Ninjutsu was once again shattered by the Nine-Tails. The Nine-Tails only managed to shift its body slightly, but as the Chakra was exhausted, he was slammed into the sky by the One-Tail and exploded like fireworks, with blood and flesh splattering all around.

Blood droplets fell onto Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, but at that moment, a flame seemed to suddenly burst forth from his eyes.

He knew he couldn't wait any longer...

A massive amount of Chakra began to surge forth, and the Enma in his hand seemed to grow wildly, instantly transforming into a colossal pillar that, with unparalleled power, was about to smash down on the Nine-Tails' head.

"I'm sorry, Asuma Sarutobi, I'm sorry, Xiao Hu..."

"I might have to go first..."

Perhaps the thought of going to the underworld with Nine-Tails) made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel slightly better, though his eyes were still filled with rage. Nine-Tails could be resurrected after several years, but he couldn't...

"Enma!"

"We've been ready for a long time!"

The long staff that the Enma had transformed into fell down in an instant, its fierce power even seemed to make the Nine-Tails slightly stunned. Hiruzen Sarutobi roared and struck the Nine-Tails on the head with his staff. The ground beneath the Nine-Tails- Tails' feet cracked, soil and rocks flew up, and dust swept up in an instant.

"Let's go!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi moved swiftly forward, changing shape in the smoke in an instant, and was right beneath Nine-Tails in a flash, his long staff instantly shortening.

The closer Hiruzen Sarutobi got to the Nine-Tails, the calmer his expression became. He could feel the pressure of Chakra emanating from the Nine-Tails. The almost unrestrained Chakra surged like a red flame, enveloping the Nine-Tails completely. Anyone who got close would inevitably suffer from the erosion of the Tailed Beast Chakra.

"Get out of Konoha!"

"I am the Third Hokage who protects Konoha! Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

Despite being eroded by the scorching Nine-Tails Chakra, Enma's body remained as resolute as steel. With the support of Hiruzen Sarutobi Chakra's chakra, it swelled up almost instantly, stabbing straight at the Nine-Tails' chest, as if to send the Nine-Tails- Tails flying.

"Roar!"

Nine-Tails- Tailed Fox snapped out of its daze, its still beastly eyes instantly turning ferocious. A tiny insect from who-knows-where had actually smashed its head with a stick—it was an utter disgrace!

He withstood Hiruzen Sarutobi of his long staff, staggering as he slowly retreated towards the edge of Konoha, while countless energies began to gather in his mouth as he looked up at the sky...

"This is!"

"Tailed Beast Ball!!!"

No one in the Shinobi World wanted to be hit by the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball at such close range, and no village could survive such an attack.

"We absolutely cannot let it release the Tailed Beast Ball in the village!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have overestimated the Tailed Beasts' patience, and without a word, unleashed his strongest killing move...

The sky began to darken, as if silently mourning those who were about to die in Konoha. Dark clouds churned, and the red light flashing in the Nine-Tails' mouth was like divine punishment about to fall upon the world...

"Whoosh..."

"Whoosh..."

Perhaps the important person always appears at the last moment, but it's never such a coincidence. Most of the heroes who appear last are probably already waiting backstage for their moment to shine.

Hiruzen Sarutobi probably wouldn't have such thoughts, but no one knows how the heroes who always manage to arrive in such perilous times achieve such a unified sense of time. But probably no one wants to risk their life to verify this 'unwritten rule'.

After all, if they were just a little bit late...

"Minato Namikaze! You're finally back!"

What landed in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Flying Thunder God Kunai he had longed for countless times, but it not only landed in front of him, but also next to Nine-Tails).

"Lord Third! There's no time for further words..."

"I will transfer the Nine-Tails out of Konoha; Kushina Uzumaki is still in their hands..."

"I will seal the Nine-Tails inside Naruto..."

"What exactly happened at the Minato Namikaze?!"

"The Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku will tell Naruto about it when Naruto grows up..."

Minato Namikaze's face was devoid of any emotion, and his lack of a smile seemed to make Hiruzen Sarutobi somewhat uncomfortable.

"Has Naruto grown up...?"

The ninjas who had already spotted Minato Namikaze from afar, though most were unaware of the cause of the disaster, knew that their Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had once again saved them...

The threat of death vanished suddenly, and the beauty of being alive made people realize the preciousness of life once again. Even the usually serious ninjas seemed to cheer.

The moment Minato Namikaze Enma, Enma vanished into white mist, suffering severe internal injuries. Hiruzen Sarutobi was also covered in wounds; although his battle with Nine-Tails was brief, he was not unscathed.

What concerned him more now was Minato Namikaze's last words. Gazing intently in the direction where Minato Namikaze had disappeared, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes revealed an unconcealable sadness and desolation.

He knew that Minato Namikaze was unlikely to survive...

"Naruto... what a great name..."