Night of the Nine-Tails, disaster strikes

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

October 10, Year 50 of Konoha.

This day was supposed to be the birthday of Naruto-the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

But Uchiha Rìtiān knew that this day also marked the beginning of the Nine-Tails' Attack.

Over those seven days, Uchiha Rìtiān made extensive preparations.

He organized all of Uchiha Rìtiān Technology's inventory: food, medicine, tents... everything they could need.

He also had Tetsuo organize a rescue team, made up entirely of reliable young people from the clan.

He even specially made a batch of "anti-Nine-Tails barrier tags."

They might not be able to stop the Nine-Tails, but they could at least buy some time.

"Young master, are you really going in person?" Tetsuo looked worried. "The Nine-Tails is a tailed beast! It's too dangerous!"

"Don't worry. I know my limits," Uchiha Rìtiān said with a smile. "I'm not going to fight the Nine-Tails head-on. I'm just going to rescue people."

Tetsuo wanted to say more, but when he saw Uchiha Rìtiān's determined gaze, he swallowed his words.

"Then... please be careful, young master."

"I know."

That night, the moonlight was hazy.

Uchiha Rìtiān stood on a rooftop, looking out over Konoha at night.

Konoha was peaceful. No one knew that a catastrophe was about to descend.

"System, how long until the Nine-Tails appears?"

Ding! Countdown: one hour.

Uchiha Rìtiān took a deep breath.

One hour...

Soon.

Just then, he saw a figure streak through the air.

The figure wore a mask and a black coat.

Obito Uchiha!

Uchiha Rìtiān's pupils contracted.

He's here!

Ding! Obito Uchiha detected. The Nine-Tails' Attack has officially begun!

Host, please prepare.

Uchiha Rìtiān clenched his fists.

Obito, we meet again.

Only this time, you're out in the open, and I'm in the shadows.

Uchiha Rìtiān did not act rashly.

He knew that with his current strength, he was no match for Obito.

Charging in would just get him killed.

All he could do was rescue as many people as possible and minimize the losses.

Soon, an earthshaking roar rang out across Konoha.

"ROAR!"

The Nine-Tails had appeared!

The enormous nine-tailed demon fox appeared in the center of Konoha.

Crimson chakra blazed all over its body, and its nine tails lashed through the air.

Every breath carried an aura of destruction.

Konoha instantly descended into chaos.

"The Nine-Tails! It's the Nine-Tails!"

"Run!"

"Help!"

People fled in all directions, their cries, shouts, and screams mingling together.

The Nine-Tails raised an enormous paw and swiped down at the crowd.

At that critical instant-

"Flying Thunder God Technique!"

A golden figure flashed past, and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, appeared.

He grabbed the Nine-Tails' paw in both arms and forcibly stopped it.

"Minato!" A human voice actually came from the Nine-Tails' mouth.

Obito was controlling the Nine-Tails!

Minato's expression was grave. "Who exactly are you?"

"Me?" The Nine-Tails gave a savage grin. "I'm the one who's here to destroy Konoha!"

As those words fell, the Nine-Tails opened its enormous mouth, and a dark red Tailed Beast Bomb began to form.

Minato's expression changed. "This is bad!"

He immediately used the Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting outside the village with the Tailed Beast Bomb.

BOOM!

An enormous explosion rang out, and all of Konoha trembled.

What terrifying power!

Standing on the rooftop, Uchiha Rìtiān watched the scene, his heart racing.

Is this the power of a tailed beast?

It's terrifying!

Ding! A choice has been detected for the Host:

Option one: hide and come out after the battle ends. Reward: survival chance +30%.

Option two: rescue people and minimize casualties. Reward: Konoha reputation +20.

Option three: launch a surprise attack on Obito to ease the pressure on Minato. Reward: Minato's favor +30, risk of death +50%.

Uchiha Rìtiān answered without hesitation. "Option two!"

Option three is suicide, and option one is too cowardly.

Rescuing people was what he should be doing.

Ding! Selection successful.

Uchiha Rìtiān immediately sprang into action.

He jumped off the rooftop and rushed toward the largest concentration of people.

"Everyone, don't panic! Follow me! I'll take you somewhere safe!" Uchiha Rìtiān shouted.

Someone in the panicked crowd heard him.

"It's young master Rìtiān!"

"It's Uchiha Rìtiān!"

"Quick, follow him!"

Uchiha Rìtiān led the crowd toward the shelter on the edge of the village.

The Nine-Tails' tails swept back and forth, and buildings collapsed one after another.

"Watch out!"

Uchiha Rìtiān shoved a child aside, and a huge timber crashed down where he had just been standing.

That was close!

"Young master Rìtiān! Are you all right?"

"I'm fine! Keep moving!"

Uchiha Rìtiān led the crowd onward.

Just then, one of the Nine-Tails' tails swept toward them.

An enormous shadow engulfed everyone.

"We're done for..."

Everyone closed their eyes in despair.

Uchiha Rìtiān's pupils constricted sharply.

No, I can't give up like this!

His hands rapidly formed hand seals, and he shouted:

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

An enormous earthen wall rose from the ground, blocking the way in front of them.

BANG!

The Nine-Tails' tail slammed hard into the earthen wall.

Cracks instantly covered the wall, but... it had held!

"Go!" Uchiha Rìtiān shouted.

The crowd snapped out of it and scrambled forward.

Gritting his teeth, Uchiha Rìtiān desperately maintained the earthen wall.

His chakra was draining rapidly.

The Nine-Tails was too powerful. He could not hold it off for long.

Just as the earthen wall was about to shatter-

"Rìtiān!"

A familiar voice rang out.

Shisui!

Shisui appeared beside Uchiha Rìtiān in an instant and formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A wall of water rose, joining the earthen wall in blocking the Nine-Tails' tail.

"Shisui, what are you doing here?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked, pleasantly surprised.

"I came to help you." Shisui smiled. "How could I miss out on rescuing people?"

Warmth filled Uchiha Rìtiān's heart.

Shisui... really is a good person.

"Together!"

"Right!"

Working together, the two barely managed to hold off the Nine-Tails' attack.

Meanwhile, the battle between Minato and Obito had also reached a fever pitch.

Relying on the Flying Thunder God Technique, Minato traded blows with Obito.

But Obito's Kamui Dimension ability also gave Minato a serious headache.

"What exactly... is this guy's ability?" Minato frowned.

Obito sneered. "Minato Namikaze, you can't beat me."

"You can't stop the Nine-Tails' power."

Minato's expression was grave.

He knew this could not continue.

He had to deal with this Masked Man as quickly as possible, or Konoha was finished.

Just then, something suddenly occurred to him.

"Flying Thunder God: Second Step!"

Minato vanished in an instant and appeared behind Obito a second later.

Rasengan!

Caught off guard, Obito took a direct hit from the Rasengan.

BANG!

Obito was sent flying and slammed heavily into the ground.

A crack appeared in his mask.

"Damn it..." Obito clutched his chest, a trace of venom flashing in his eyes.

"Minato Namikaze... just you wait!"

He knew he was no match for Minato.

Continuing the fight would only leave him worse off.

"Retreat!"

Obito vanished in an instant.

Minato wanted to give chase, but the Nine-Tails was still rampaging. He could not leave.

"Tch, he got away."

Minato frowned, then turned and flew toward the Nine-Tails.

Freed from Obito's control, the Nine-Tails became even more frenzied.

It destroyed Konoha without restraint, leaving devastation wherever it went.

As Minato looked at the devastation before him, a trace of grief flashed in his eyes.

"The Nine-Tails... has to be sealed."

He knew there was only one way to seal the Nine-Tails.

Reaper Death Seal.

But if he did that, he would die too.

Minato took a deep breath, his gaze growing resolute.

For Konoha, for Kushina, for Naruto...

He was willing to give everything.

Just as Minato was about to perform the Reaper Death Seal-

"Lord Fourth Hokage! Wait!"

A young voice rang out.

Minato paused, then looked down.

A child of about seven stood on the rooftop, shouting up at him.

It was Uchiha Rìtiān.