Minato's words sounded like his last words.
As his expression remained calm, the Reaper behind him was about to thrust its palm through his body.
Seeing this, Liumu vanished in a flash.
Minato felt a hand suddenly settle on his shoulder.
Behind Minato, Liumu said, "Don't do that. I like children too, but I want to save my first time for my own child."
Taotie's Gluttony ran rampant.
It voraciously absorbed Minato's chakra.
In almost no time, the jutsu unraveled on its own.
The Reaper dissipated with a gentle breeze.
All that remained was a terribly weakened Minato.
The Third Hokage appeared, leaping over with Enma's Adamantine Staff in hand.
Looking at the weakened Minato at Liumu's feet, a trace of confusion flashed through his aged eyes.
"Don't ask. Take him away. I'll handle this fox and that Masked Man."
Before the Third Hokage could react, Liumu vanished from the spot.
Only an afterimage remained, leaving the Third Hokage stunned.
The Nine-Tails was powerful, and compared to the Three-Tails, it seemed more intelligent.
But at that moment, it was under the Masked Man's control. Its thoughts and actions alike were nothing but the most primitive brutality of a Tailed Beast.
Liumu flew forward and looked at the Masked Man standing atop the Nine-Tails' head, asking in a strained voice, "Who are you?"
The Masked Man wasn't Obito, so who could this person be?
"Me?"
The Masked Man let out a cold laugh.
The Sharingan in both his eyes grew even more crimson.
Looking at the devastated Konoha beneath him, he slowly shook his head.
"I thought the Three-Tails would be a little more useful." As the Masked Man spoke, the Nine-Tails beneath his feet began to stir.
It silently began gathering chakra.
Only this time, all nine tails were gathering