"Also, it takes complete concentration to properly condense Sage chakra," Naruto said, his mental voice carrying uncharacteristic seriousness as he settled deeper into his meditative state. "Please keep quiet for the moment, or I'll lose focus and waste what little chance we have."
As Naruto's consciousness withdrew to focus on the delicate process of gathering natural energy, the Nine-Tails found itself alone with thoughts that had been building for centuries. Within the sealed cage that had been its prison for so many years, Kurama's massive form shifted restlessly, his ancient mind struggling to process what he had just witnessed.
"I've never encountered a human like this one before," the fox thought, his scarlet eyes fixed on the place where Naruto's spiritual presence had been moments before.
The young shinobi's willingness to risk everything—including his own life—for beings he barely knew defied every assumption Kurama had formed about human nature. Most humans viewed Tailed Beasts as weapons to be controlled, sources of power to be exploited, or monsters to be feared and contained.
But Naruto saw them as individuals deserving of freedom.
"He's going to take this risk without any real understanding of the mathematical impossibility he's facing," Kurama realized with growing amazement. "Maybe it's exactly as he said—he truly can't comprehend what 'one in a thousand' means in practical terms."
Yet even someone with limited intellectual capabilities would normally hesitate before gambling with their own existence. The survival instinct was among the most fundamental drives in any living being, overriding logical thought in moments of genuine peril.
But Naruto was proceeding anyway, driven not by ignorance but by something far more profound—genuine empathy for suffering beings, regardless of their nature or origin.
"At this moment, I can know with absolute certainty that Naruto is truly thinking about the welfare of the Tailed Beasts," Kurama acknowledged, his worldview undergoing a fundamental shift. "Even if it means risking his life, he won't hesitate to help us."
In all his millennia of existence, Kurama had encountered only one other human who possessed such selfless determination—the Sage of Six Paths himself, the ancient figure who had first given the Tailed Beasts names and treated them as individuals rather than mere concentrations of chakra.
"Old Six Paths," Kurama murmured, his voice carrying a mixture of wonder and recognition, "is this boy truly your spiritual successor?"
The fox's expression, which had been defined by resentment and barely contained rage for so many years, began to transform. The bitter hostility in his eyes gave way to something that could only be described as excitement and hope.
"Really," he continued, a genuine smile beginning to form across his massive muzzle, "you kept us waiting for such a long time."
His eyes brightened with anticipation as he focused on the meditation occurring in the outside world. "Naruto, let me see how far you're willing to go when you risk your life for others—even for Tailed Beasts who have been your enemies."
The fox's voice carried growing conviction as he delivered what amounted to a challenge: "Only if you actually succeed in this impossible task will you be qualified to surpass your father's legacy!"
Meanwhile, across the various battlefields of the Fourth Great Ninja War...
On the Second Division's front lines:
The balance of victory had shifted so dramatically that the outcome was no longer in question. Under Deidara's relentless aerial bombardment campaign, the White Zetsu army was being systematically annihilated at a pace that defied conventional military expectations.
Each explosion that bloomed across the battlefield eliminated dozens of the artificial constructs, their uniform appearance making them ideal targets for area-of-effect techniques. What had once seemed like an insurmountable numerical advantage for the enemy was rapidly dissolving under the combined assault of specialized jutsu and tactical coordination.
The Third Kazekage had fallen after Sasori deployed his most powerful puppet collection—a demonstration of the puppet master's incredible skills that left even experienced shinobi stunned by the precision and lethality of his techniques.
After regaining consciousness from the Edo Tensei's control, the Third Kazekage's eyes still burned with resentment as he stared at his killer. The grudge between them was too deep and personal to be easily set aside, rooted in betrayal and the destruction of an entire village's faith in their protector.
Yet despite his inability to forgive the man who had murdered him, the Third Kazekage retained the wisdom and responsibility that had made him a village leader. As the sealing technique began to take effect, binding his reanimated form, he spoke with the authority of someone who had once carried the hopes of thousands.
"Help the Allied Forces end this war," he said, his words carrying the weight of final command. "Whatever our personal grievances, the living deserve peace."
With the combined efforts of Sasori's puppet mastery, Gaara's sand manipulation, and Mei Terumi's devastating kekkei genkai techniques, the Second Kazekage had also been systematically overwhelmed and sealed by the division's specialized sealing teams.
On this particular battlefield, only the First Kazekage remained as a significant threat, but even his legendary prowess was insufficient against the coordinated assault of four highly skilled opponents. The numerical disadvantage was simply too great to overcome, regardless of individual power levels.
The Second Division's complete victory was now merely a matter of time.
Under the towering mountain where the First Division fought:
"FLASH!"
Lightning of every conceivable color and intensity crisscrossed through the most chaotic sector of the entire war zone. The air itself seemed to crackle with electrical energy as techniques clashed and rebounded off one another, creating a light show that was both beautiful and terrifying.
Simultaneously, the earth convulsed with seismic tremors as massive jutsu struck the landscape with enough force to reshape the very geography of the region.
As the combatants moved in deadly choreography across the battlefield, Uchiha Yoruki employed his Mangekyō Sharingan's unique abilities to suppress the Tailed Beast chakra flowing through the Gold and Silver Brothers' systems. His ocular techniques were specifically designed to interfere with such energy, making him the perfect counter to their stolen power.
Sakumo's legendary sword work, enhanced by his mastery of Lightning Release techniques, systematically dismantled the First Tsuchikage's earth-based defenses. Each slash of his blade carried enough electrical energy to shatter stone and metal with equal ease.
Darui had been forcibly drawn into the expanding conflict, their combined Lightning Release techniques creating a web of destruction that forced all other combatants to constantly adjust their positioning.
The battle had reached a tactical stalemate, with neither side able to gain decisive advantage through conventional means.
Then, without warning, a swarm of black insects burst into the combat zone with precision timing that spoke to careful coordination.
The kikaichu beetles moved with single-minded purpose, their target clearly identified as they rushed toward the Second Raikage's position. Their appearance coincided perfectly with another dramatic development.
Swish!
A streak of black light raced across the battlefield with incredible speed. As it moved, green chakra erupted around the figure, first forming a skeletal framework that rapidly gained substance and detail.
Muscles, armor, and weapons materialized around the chakra skeleton with fluid grace, creating one of the most distinctive techniques in the Uchiha arsenal.
"Susanoo: Tsukumo!"
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
A barrage of green chakra arrows launched from the construct's bow with machine-gun precision, their speed and accuracy catching even the experienced First Tsuchikage off guard. The ancient Kage was forced into desperate evasive maneuvers, his earth-flying technique pushed to its limits as he narrowly avoided each projectile.
"Why are you here?" Uchiha Yoruki asked, glancing toward the newcomer without breaking his concentration on suppressing the Gold and Silver Brothers' chakra.
The green Susanoo belonged unmistakably to Shisui, while the insect user could only be Aburame Shibi. Both should have been engaged in searching for the Edo Tensei caster's location rather than participating in direct combat.
"The situation has become more complicated than anticipated," Shisui replied, his Mangekyō Sharingan displaying a distinctive four-pointed windmill pattern as it spun with increasing speed. "You should know that Madara has appeared at headquarters, right?"
The implications of this statement sent a chill through every combatant within hearing range. If Madara Uchiha was directly assaulting the Allied Forces' command center, the entire war's strategic situation had fundamentally changed.
"Let's deal with the enemies in front of us first," Yoruki said with characteristic bluntness. He had never been one for extended conversation, particularly in the middle of active combat where every second of distraction could prove fatal.
Shisui had already positioned his Susanoo for maximum tactical advantage, his Mangekyō focusing intently on the Gold and Silver Brothers with predatory precision.
"Nine-Tails chakra?" he murmured, his experience as Naruto's former teacher allowing him to immediately identify the stolen energy flowing through their systems.
He had used his ocular techniques to suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra within Naruto's body on multiple occasions during training sessions, giving him intimate familiarity with its unique signature and properties.
Compared to those previous experiences, these two pseudo-Jinchūriki possessed only fragments of the true Nine-Tails' power—pale imitations that would be far easier to control and neutralize.
Another swarm of black insects emerged from the gourd on Shibi's back, their target shifting to envelop the Second Raikage in a living cloud of chakra-draining kikaichu beetles.
With the arrival of these two powerful reinforcements, the First Division's victory was no longer a question of possibility—only timing.
In the dense forest where the Fourth Division engaged:
"Seventh Gate of Wonder: Open!"
Explosive energy erupted from Guy's body with such force that it created visible shockwaves, blue auras of power radiating outward like the flames of some supernatural furnace. The sheer intensity of the chakra being released was enough to make nearby trees sway and bend despite the absence of any actual wind.
Kisame's expression grew grimmer as he witnessed this display. Without the support of the First Raikage and the chakra-absorbing properties of Samehada, he would have already been overwhelmed by Guy's incredible physical capabilities.
However, Guy's target for this particular technique wasn't the shark-like swordsman. Opening the Seventh Gate was the only way he could match the speed and power necessary to effectively engage multiple Raikage simultaneously.
"BANG!"
The Fourth Raikage was sent flying backward by another devastating punch from his predecessor, but before he could recover, Guy had already circled around with blinding speed to deliver a crushing blow to the First Raikage's exposed back.
"BANG!"
The impact was so severe that visible cracks appeared in the dark lightning armor that surrounded the legendary Kage's form, the defensive technique finally showing signs of failure under sustained assault.
"Konoha actually possesses such a taijutsu specialist," the Fourth Raikage gasped, his eyes wide with genuine shock as he witnessed Guy's capabilities firsthand.
As an experienced combatant himself, he immediately recognized the opportunity presented by Guy's flanking maneuver. Without hesitation, he coordinated his own attack with Guy's assault, creating a devastating pincer movement that the First Raikage struggled to counter.
Meanwhile, Kakuzu found himself at a slight disadvantage in his battle against Kisame, whose possession of Samehada created significant complications for any chakra-based technique. The legendary sword's ability to absorb and redirect energy made conventional attacks largely ineffective.
Above both combatants, white origami began falling like snow, each piece perfectly crafted and seemingly innocent.
The paper constructs gathered into an intricate circular formation, descending toward Kisame with deceptive grace. The pattern was so beautiful that it almost seemed artistic rather than threatening.
"Even if your abilities are unusual, Samehada can absorb them," Kisame said with characteristic confidence, his shark-like grin revealing rows of pointed teeth.
High above the battlefield, Konan's expression remained completely impassive, her violet eyes showing no emotion as she observed her target's reaction.
"Swish!"
Without warning, the circular formation of paper began to flash with ominous light, each individual sheet suddenly revealing its true nature.
"Explosive tags?!" Kisame's pupils contracted with shock as he realized the trap he had walked into.
"Go ahead and absorb it," Konan said softly, her voice carrying across the distance with deadly calm. "Absorb it along with all the explosive flames!"
More origami continued to flow from her position, gathering into additional circles of detonating tags that promised to turn the entire area into a killing field.
"BOOM!"
The lightning techniques colliding nearby emitted dazzling illumination that transformed the forest into a temporary daylight zone. The explosion expanded outward like a living thing, becoming countless serpentine bolts of electricity that raged wildly through the vegetation.
Even Kakashi was forced to temporarily retreat when the devastating jutsu struck his tanto, the electrical feedback threatening to overwhelm his defensive capabilities despite his considerable skill.
Zabuza's massive executioner's blade showed visible cracks along its length, while his hands were charred black from channeling such intense electrical energy. His loyal companion Haku appeared equally battered, his normally pristine appearance marred by the violence of their desperate battle.
"What incredible lightning techniques," Kakashi murmured appreciatively, his analytical mind cataloguing the power levels he was witnessing for future reference.
Swish!
At that moment, at the very edge of the Fifth Division's battlefield, a streak of white light that had been racing across the landscape at superhuman speed suddenly came to an abrupt halt.
The Second Hokage's enhanced senses had detected something that demanded his immediate attention—a familiar chakra signature that carried personal significance.
"This chakra... it's actually him," Tobirama said, surprise evident in his voice as recognition dawned.
Without hesitation, he changed direction and raced toward the battle circle where Kakashi and Sarutobi Sasuke were engaged in their deadly confrontation, his speed creating sonic booms as he pushed his abilities to their absolute limits.
The war's momentum was shifting across every front, but the most critical developments were yet to come.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing takes time, coffee, and a lot of love.If you'd like to support my work, join me at [email protected]/GoldenGaruda
You'll get early access to over 50 chapters, selection on new series, and the satisfaction of knowing your support directly fuels more stories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~