Tsunade's Residence.
The sprawling mansion, once like a pristine garden, now lay in ruins.
More than a dozen Anbu ninja were scattered across the ground, their status unknown. Only two members remained on their feet, their gazes fixed on the chakra clone, a mixture of terror and fury in their eyes.
"Damn it! How can this person absorb ninjutsu? And his taijutsu is unbelievably strong."
"He's using Nawaki as a hostage! It's forcing our hand, otherwise, we wouldn't have..."
The chakra clone ignored them. His hand was clamped around Nawaki's neck, steadily siphoning the boy's chakra. He had to admit, the chakra reserves of someone with both Senju and Uzumaki blood were immense. He'd been absorbing it throughout the fight, and it was only now, after dealing with most of the Anbu, that he was finally finishing.
With Nawaki's own chakra suppressed, the Nine-Tails' chakra began to leak through the gaps in the seal, wrapping the boy in the familiar vermilion cloak of a Tailed Beast. But before it could manifest its power, the chakra clone absorbed it completely.
Deep within Nawaki, inside the space of the seal, Kurama was actively pushing its chakra outward, its massive form gradually shrinking. As it felt Nawaki's body grow weaker, its vertical, fox-like pupils contracted to needlepoints, glinting with a complex light.
"This is bad! His target is the Nine-Tails, just as I thought. We have to stop him!"
The two remaining Anbu exchanged a look. With the resolve of men marching to their deaths, they gripped their kunai and charged.
"Hmph. Fodder like you should just go to sleep. This is a waste of effort."
The chakra clone weaved left and right, dispatching both of them with a single effortless punch and kick.
But at that exact moment, a staff shot out from the darkness.
Just as it was about to strike, the clone caught its tip with one hand, halting its forward momentum. "That was close. You almost got me."
"Is that so?" The majestic Third Hokage descended from above, his voice a cold bark. "Monkey King's Arm!"
Two furry arms suddenly extended from the sides of the staff. One fist flew toward the clone's mask, while the other hand lunged for Nawaki.
"You have a trick like that?" The clone reluctantly released Nawaki and leaped backward to create distance.
Having successfully rescued the boy, the staff transformed with a puff of smoke into a white-haired ape wearing black battle armor.
"It's the Hokage! And his summoning animal, Lord Enma!" one of the downed Anbu cried out, a wave of relief washing over him.
"Hiruzen, he'll live," Enma said, returning to the Third Hokage's side and placing Nawaki gently on the ground.
The Third Hokage let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, old friend. I'm afraid I'll need your help for a little while longer."
"To deal with that one?" Enma said, his eyes fixed on the clone. "Be careful. He's not ordinary. I get a very strange feeling from him."
"Yes. I will."
The Third Hokage held out his right hand. Understanding his master's intent, Enma transformed into the Adamantine Staff and fell into his grip.
"Take care of Nawaki. I'll handle him."
"Yes, sir!" replied the jonin and Anbu who had just arrived as backup.
"Lord Hokage!" one of the Anbu who had fought the clone earlier shouted, relaying the critical intelligence. "He can absorb ninjutsu! You can only fight him with taijutsu!"
"He can absorb ninjutsu? He truly is no ordinary foe. But..."
Taking two steps forward, the Third Hokage twirled the Adamantine Staff a few times before pointing it at the chakra clone. "I don't care who you are," he roared, "If you dare to cause chaos in Konoha, you will pay the price!"
"The strongest shinobi of this era, paired with the strongest summoning beast. I suppose you've earned the right to speak to me like that." The chakra clone let out a soft chuckle. "As it happens, my objective is complete. I can afford to play with you for a bit."
"Your objective is complete? What was it?" the Third Hokage asked, his voice grave.
"To reclaim the power that belongs to my Otsutsuki Clan, of course!" the chakra clone declared with a wild laugh.
"What? Otsutsuki?" The Third Hokage and Enma were stunned.
"Enma, the Otsutsuki he's talking about... it couldn't be..."
"Yes, there's no mistake. Hiruzen, if he is truly one of them, then this is very, very bad."
Before they could discuss it further, the chakra clone unleashed the Nine-Tails' power from within him.
In the next instant, his entire body was engulfed in golden flames. Even his clothes, his cloak, and his mask lost their original color, completely overtaken by a brilliant, golden light. A colossal presence, an aura vast enough to swallow mountains and rivers, erupted from his body, forcing the other ninja to recoil in horror, unable to even look directly at him. Behind him, his elegant cloak billowed and danced as if in a gale.
"This chakra... Could it be...?" The Third Hokage's eyes widened.
"That's right. This is the chakra of the Nine-Tails!"
"How is that possible? Isn't the Nine-Tails' chakra supposed to be malevolent?" the crowd murmured in astonishment.
"Heh. This is why you are all nothing but foolish, lesser creatures," the chakra clone said, fully embracing his new persona. He lifted his chin, his voice dripping with contempt. "This is the true way to wield the power of a Tailed Beast. Now, feel its might with your own bodies!"
Before his words had even faded, the chakra clone vanished.
"Look out!" The Third Hokage barely had time to shout before cries of pain erupted from the ninja behind him.
He whirled around to see Konoha's elite being thrown around like sandbags, each one sent flying through the air, spitting blood.
The Third Hokage's eyes burned with fury. "What kind of skill is there in bullying the weak?!" he bellowed. "Do you dare to face me in battle?!"
"And why wouldn't I?"
The chakra clone sneered, changed direction, and shot toward the Third Hokage. A flash of gold, and a powerful kick sent the Hokage flying.
"Hmph. So this is the strongest in the ninja world. In the end, this is just a tiny planet. I overestimated you."
"Lord Hokage!"
"I'm alright." The Third Hokage flipped several times in mid-air and landed steadily on his feet. "Get the wounded and retreat. Leave this to me."
"But, my lord..."
"That's an order! Do not forget, I am the Hokage. I will be fine!"
"Yes, sir!"
Those who could still move carried the injured away, Nawaki among them. Soon, only the Third Hokage and the chakra clone remained in the vast, ruined courtyard.
"Enma, it's been nearly twenty years since we've had a true life-or-death battle, hasn't it?"
"That's right, Hiruzen. It's been so long, my bones are itching for a good fight."
"Haha! Then today, let us have the full-powered battle we've been missing for so long!"
The Third Hokage stood tall, and his small frame suddenly seemed to tower with might.
"Heh. Now this is a little more interesting." The chakra clone showed no fear. He bent his knees and stomped down hard, shattering the ground beneath him. Propelled by the force, he shot forward like a golden meteor, appearing behind the Third Hokage in an instant, his fist clenched and crashing down.
DONG!
At the critical moment, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, the Third Hokage swung the Adamantine Staff around, successfully blocking the clone's punch.
"You can keep up with my speed?"
"Hah! The fastest shinobi in the world was my teacher, the Second Hokage. Compared to him, you're still a long way off!" The Third Hokage spun the Adamantine Staff, creating a flurry of afterimages.
The chakra clone whipped his hand back, gripping a massive golden sword formed from pure chakra, and swung it to meet the staff.
With a sharp CLANG, the two were locked in a stalemate. A powerful shockwave erupted from the point of impact, blasting away loose stones and dust.
"Enma, how are you feeling?" the Third Hokage asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. Don't worry, Hiruzen. My Adamantine body isn't so fragile."
"Good. In that case, I won't hold back anymore!"
"HRAAAGH!"
With a furious roar, the Third Hokage raised the Adamantine Staff high and brought it crashing down.