Ryoha thought to himself that if he had started with so many talented people by his side and had the strength of Orochimaru and the resources he possessed from the beginning, he would have long developed Guren, the abandoned Anko, and others into at least Jonin, if not many of them reaching Kage level. He couldn't understand why Orochimaru kept engaging in foolish endeavors that didn't yield proportional returns.
However, Ryoha had surpassed Orochimaru a long time ago. Everyone around him was an existence that shook the ninja world, whether it was Bulma, who had initially weak abilities but later made great strides, or Hinata, who progressed by leaps and bounds. Each of them had exceptional talent (Bulma's inventions and research made Ryoha's current power possible). They only needed someone to discover and provide them with proper support and training.
In fact, the so-called training didn't require much effort. Just a little guidance was enough, considering their extraordinary comprehension and ability to self-learn. All they needed was a slight external force as guidance. Unfortunately, Orochimaru failed to understand this point, or rather, he chose not to understand.
He believed that he should select individuals who appeared to have high potential from the surface, but Orochimaru didn't want to explore, nurture, or observe. Sometimes, appearances could be deceiving, and future achievements couldn't be determined solely based on initial impressions. Many people's talents and strengths needed to be unearthed and learned through experience and opportunity. This was similar to how Hinata was initially considered talentless by the Hyuga clan.
Was she really talentless? No, whether it was the current Hinata or the original version, she simply wasn't suitable for learning the Hyūga clan's traditional Gentle Fist. Her lack of talent in that area didn't mean she had no talent at all. Could someone without talent develop a unique Gentle Fist technique that suited her own circumstances and needs? Furthermore, she continued to develop new Gentle Fist techniques, becoming more proficient and showing greater potential.
Ryoha became increasingly excited about Hinata's future taijutsu and the new Gentle Fist techniques that would be most suitable for her. One thing was certain: Hinata's lowest achievement would be a master of taijutsu, on par with the first-generation head of the Hyūga clan who developed the traditional Gentle Fist, or even surpassing his accomplishments.
"Kakashi-sensei, leave her to me. You go and seal the Three-tails," said Kiba, knowing that he wasn't proficient in ninjutsu, let alone coordinating multiple individuals for a sealing jutsu. Without any hesitation, he took Kakashi's place and assigned him to perform the sealing.
The number of people who came this time was similar to the original story, and the personnel were mostly the same. Naruto, Shizune, Kiba, Neji, Rock Lee, Tenten, Sakura, Ino, Yamato, Kiba, and Kakashi were present. There were minor differences, but overall, it was similar.
Except for Lee, who excelled in taijutsu like Kiba, Tenten, who was skilled in ninja weapons, and Naruto, who remained vigilant on the sidelines, everyone else focused on sealing the Three-tails.
"No matter what, I must destroy that seal," Guren thought fiercely. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't even consider Kiba and Kakashi as threats. However, the current situation was different. After the intense battle with the Three-tails and being surrounded by so many Konoha ninjas, Guren's chakra was nearly depleted.
What drove her forward was her guilt for killing Yukimaru's mother, and her determination not to let this child, who had already lost her mother because of her, suffer the same fate.
"I must destroy it at all costs." A dragon-shaped Crystal Release appeared beneath Guren's feet as she swiftly surged forward atop the dragon's head, cutting through the flowing water with astonishing speed.
"I wouldn't let you succeed. Youth doesn't allow retreat, Konoha's Hurricane!" Guy rushed forward, taking the lead. Facing the other Shinobi, he swiftly pushed aside Guren's subordinates with a single strike and then launched an attack on Guren herself.
"Crystal Release - Tearing Crystal Falling Dragon!" Guren formed hand seals abruptly, completely disregarding Guy's Konoha's Hurricane. After forming the seals, no ninjutsu appeared, but beneath the water's surface, a crystal dragon directly collided with the Three-tails' seal. It was difficult to destroy the seal from within, but comparatively easier from the outside. At least, before the seal was fully established, attacking it from the outside was the only way.
"Uh-oh, it's down below." Neji had sensed something amiss early on. Opening his Byakugan, he immediately noticed that the crystal dragon had collided with the seal. Unfortunately, it was too late to stop it at this point.
Boom!
A spray of water shot up from the surface, turning the previously calm water into turbulent waves. The water flow became rapid and uncontrolled, indicating that the Three-Tails, previously sealed, was now completely enraged.
"You jerk! Wind Release - Toad Gun!" Naruto Uzumaki, feeling the failure, held disdain for those around Orochimaru. He immediately launched a Toad Gun, concentrating nearly all of his remaining chakra on the crystal dragon. Guren, already weakened, couldn't move and could only watch as she was blasted away by the Toad Gun.
Fortunately, Guren managed to mobilize the last trace of her chakra outside her body, forming a crystalline layer to slightly mitigate the impact of the Toad Gun. However, she was heavily injured and sent flying.
"Retreat quickly! The Three-tails' emotions are highly unstable and about to go berserk." This wasn't a Jinchuriki but a wild and unrestrained Tailed Beast. Once it went into a frenzy, even ordinary Kage-level ninja had to avoid its fury.
"Roar!"
The Three-tails let out a strange roar that shook the water, causing both Konoha ninjas and the other ninjas to be swept away by the turbulent currents.
"Rinji, retreat!" Guren was well aware that her subordinates were not good people, let alone loyal ones. Therefore, she couldn't show any sign of weakness. She pretended to be unharmed and stood once again on the crystal dragon she had summoned earlier, clearly intending to retreat.
"You think you can just leave like this?" There was no need to maintain the seal. Shino's bugs had no inhibitions.
"Hmph." Rinji, one of Guren's chosen subordinates, showed no fear. He directly threw a kunai with an explosive tag attached. Upon contact with the bugs, it exploded with a loud boom, but it was this explosion that completely ignited the Three-tails' raging fury.
Two chakra sphere orbs, clearly Tailed Beast Bombs, formed instantly. One was launched towards Guren, and the other towards the ninjas of Konoha.