The earth-shaking booms and roars below gradually subsided, replaced by the hiss of great clouds of rising steam and the crack of cooling, splitting rock.
The dust slowly cleared, revealing a battlefield battered beyond recognition.
Deep craters, scars of hardened lava, mud mixed with ice water, and two enormous figures filled the scene.
Kurama swished his enormous golden tails, still craving more. Golden light flowed over his body; clearly, this "warm-up" had left him quite satisfied.
He lowered his head to glance at the giant red-furred ape beside him, who looked somewhat deflated, his crimson fur scorched black in several places as he panted heavily. Kurama snorted two contemptuous jets of white vapor.
Then his enormous body slowly dissolved into golden motes, returning to Naruto.
The Complete Tailed Beast Transformation proved difficult to maintain. Crimson chakra receded like the tide, and the giant ape's body rapidly shrank and changed shape.
Moments later, Roshi's somewhat bedraggled figure reappeared on the ravaged ground.
His monk's robes were torn in several places, his red hair and beard were disheveled, and his face bore the exhaustion of a fierce battle. Yet his eyes remained clear, even showing a hint of... relief?
He walked unsteadily, his footing shaky, but headed resolutely toward Naruto.
Finally, he stopped a short distance below the platform and raised his head, looking with complicated emotions at Naruto and Hikari, who stood at its edge in her white cloak.
"Whew..."
Roshi let out a long, scorching breath tinged with sulfur. His voice was slightly hoarse, but held understanding and a faint, rueful smile.
"Who would've thought... not only are you Konoha's Sixth Hokage, kid, you're also the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki."
He shook his head and sighed. "Son Gokū didn't notice the Nine-Tails' chakra at all beforehand.
"If the Nine-Tails hadn't come out