This is a gift from Konoha

The following night.

The once-peaceful Uzushio Village descended into chaos.

"Clan leader, run!"

A young red-haired ninja coughed up blood as he used his body to block a slender blade thrust out of the thick mist.

He spoke in broken gasps. "Clan leader, the village is... surrounded. The children can't get out..."

Akina Uzumaki's eyes blazed with anguish as he watched the clan's younger generation fall before him, one after another. Now came the devastating news that the village was surrounded.

Every strand of his red hair stood on end. Golden chains burst from behind him, sweeping through the mist like whips.

He roared, "You bastards from Kirigakure! Are you trying to start a war across the shinobi world?"

A muffled grunt came from the mist, followed by silence.

Having temporarily driven back the attacker inside the house, he had no time to give chase. He scooped up the gravely wounded young man and rushed away.

A moment later.

He froze at the sight of a figure wreathed in lightning among the crowd.

Behind him lay the mist-shrouded village. Before him, lightning crackled relentlessly.

He recognized the man. It was... the Third Raikage!

Was Uzushio Village... going to perish under my leadership?

Despair welled up in Akina Uzumaki's heart. He had never imagined that Kumogakure and Kirigakure would join forces to launch a surprise attack on Uzushio Village.

Weren't they afraid of retaliation from Konoha?

"Akina Uzumaki, I've finally found you!"

The Third Raikage came to a halt, lightning coiling around his body, and slowly withdrew the two fingers he had held together.

"Hand over the Uzumaki Clan's sealing jutsu scrolls, and I'll allow your clan to relocate to Kumogakure."

"So that's it. You want our clan's sealing jutsu? Keep dreaming!"

Hatred filled Akina Uzumaki's eyes. "Come and fight me!"

The Third Raikage scoffed. "A pointless struggle. Do you want the Uzumaki Clan wiped out completely?"

"...Konoha will avenge us."

The Third Raikage lost interest in talking and extended a single finger. "Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite!"

This was his strongest technique, the "Strongest Spear" capable of piercing anything.

"Farewell, Akina Uzumaki."

Akina Uzumaki roared. His Adamantine Sealing Chains swelled in the wind, and the sealing formula sealed within his body stood ready to trigger.

"Come on!"

The next instant.

An earth-shattering explosion erupted near the entrance to Uzushio Village, its tremendous roar almost deafening.

The Third Raikage frowned and turned toward the sound.

A blazing white hemisphere had appeared on the ground.

Then a towering pillar of chakra shot into the sky.

Violent tremors shook the ground. The explosion's heat wave swept across a vast swath of land, hurling countless grains of sand and shattered rocks in every direction.

"Is that... a Tailed Beast Bomb?!"

Joy flashed across Akina Uzumaki's face. He could see it clearly.

The Tailed Beast Bomb had been aimed at the Kumogakure ninja blocking the village entrance.

Only Konoha would come here to protect Uzushio Village.

And Konoha's jinchūriki was the princess of the Uzumaki Clan, Mito Uzumaki.

At that thought, he let out a long breath.

Uzushio Village could be saved.

Elsewhere.

Moonlight Ruyun swallowed. Only by witnessing it firsthand could he understand just how terrifying the power of a Tailed Beast Bomb was.

People had good reason to fear tailed beasts.

Aside from Hashirama and Madara Uchiha, few could disregard their power.

Not far away, a massive crater had appeared at the entrance to Uzushio Village.

The ninja standing too close had been vaporized in an instant, without even a chance to scream.

He recalled a technique called "Spiraling Ring."

This is a gift from Konoha, he thought.

Mito Uzumaki stood at the forefront, crimson chakra enveloping her body.

Yet her eyes remained utterly calm, without the slightest sign of being corrupted by the tailed beast's will.

"We've drawn the enemy's attention. A Tailed Beast Bomb won't be suitable for the melee ahead."

Mito Uzumaki's gaze turned icy as she looked at Moonlight Ruyun and the others. "Tsunade, stay behind them and watch over them."

In a situation like this, hiding them somewhere and making them wait would be foolish. If Kumogakure or Kirigakure captured them, they would be in trouble.

Mito would not make such a mistake.

With Tsunade there, their safety was assured as long as they stayed out of the heart of the battlefield.

Tsunade nodded.

Mito Uzumaki wasted no time. After a quick survey of the situation, she swiftly assigned their targets:

Hatake Sakumo, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru would lead the ANBU against the Kirigakure ninja.

Dan Katō and the other jonin would deal with the small Iwagakure force.

As for Kumogakure... Mito Uzumaki decided to handle them herself.

Among their group, she was the only one completely confident of taking down the Third Raikage.

"Move out!"

"Yes!"

Everyone vanished.

A moment later.

Dozens of golden chains appeared amid the Kumogakure ninja.

"Mito Uzumaki?!"

The Third Raikage could not understand why Mito Uzumaki was here.

But he could no longer spare any attention for Akina Uzumaki, who stood within arm's reach. The lightning around him grew even more violent as he raced toward Mito Uzumaki.

Kumogakure did not have Konoha's abundant resources.

Everyone he had brought was among the village's very best, yet several had died in a single exchange.

"You dared invade Uzushio Village. Raikage, this is where you'll stay!"

Mito Uzumaki snorted coldly. The diamond-shaped mark on her forehead glowed, spreading into intricate lines.

Nine-tails chakra, brimming with ominous, savage power, erupted around her.

Within the thick mist.

A gleaming blade flashed swiftly, drawing a steady stream of agonized screams.

Kirigakure's Silent Killing Technique posed little threat to Hatake Sakumo.

He stopped before a man with long black hair.

"The Mizukage?"

"Damn you, Konoha's White Fang! What are you doing here?"

Hatake Sakumo said nothing. He simply kept swinging his blade.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru led several ANBU against five men carrying blades of various shapes.

Orochimaru narrowed his long, slender eyes, inspecting each of the ninja blades in turn.

His hoarse voice rang out.

"Interesting. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist? Where are the other two?"

Jiraiya waved a hand dismissively. "Why waste words on them? Everyone, attack! Take them down so we can help Lady Mito."

Cold sweat dripped from the foreheads of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and their breathing grew heavier.

Where the Iwagakure ninja stood.

Dan Katō led several jonin to block the Iwagakure ninja, who had seen the tide turn against them and were preparing to slip away.

Iwato forced a smile onto his stiff face.

"We were just passing through..."

Dan Katō nodded, his smile gentle.

"Attack. Don't let them leave!"

Uzushio Village had become a battlefield.

Tsunade led Moonlight Ruyun and the others around its outskirts.

She gazed anxiously toward the Kumogakure ninja, praying that Mito Uzumaki could defeat the Third Raikage.

Moonlight Ruyun, Kushina, and Minato each watched a different direction, keeping a careful eye on their surroundings.

Just then, a bank of thick mist crept silently toward them.

A rather shrill voice rang out from within it.

"Konoha's prodigies, are you? Since you dared set foot on a battlefield like this, you'll die here!"