"What is that thing?!"
Seeing the abnormality in the sky, Minato, Sakumo, and the nobles in the audience shot to their feet. From the deep purple and black void, three figures, pale and white, began to materialize.
"They... they just look like Grandpa Hamura..."
Hinata's eyes widened in recognition as the figures took shape. His mind flashed to the brother of the Sage of Six Path and ancestor of Hyuga who had imparted his powers to him. It seemed that, in their true form, the intruders appeared similar to Hamura.
"Um?" Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki's expression soured. His sharp eyes bulged as veins throbbed around his temples, his gaze shifting to the two giant chakras staring at him from the audience.
"It split into two?" Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki frowned, growing more frustrated by the moment. "Should we combine it again?"
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's wild grin didn't falter. He casually swung the fishing rod in his hand, the rod infused with both Yin and Yang chakra. It could draw out the Tailed Beasts directly from the Jinchūriki, without needing to break the seal.
In the blink of an eye, the fishing line shot out, moving faster than a snake striking its prey, targeting Naruto.
Whoosh!
A flash of yellow-golden light streaked through the air, and before Naruto could even react, he vanished from the spot, caught by the line in an instant.
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Tsk..."
The audience gasped in shock. Many members of the Hyūga clan, especially, were visibly alarmed. One of their own, with the Byakugan, had dared to strike at the Hokage's son. This was bad news for the Hyūga, who still remembered the consequences of Uchiha's actions after the Nine-Tails attacked Konoha.
"This group of troublemakers..." Tatsuya sighed, scratching his head as he stood up from his seat. He waved his hand toward the others. "Everyone, move back! Everyone who isn't a Kage run now!"
"Uncle, they are... Hyuga?" Kakashi muttered helplessly, seeing how the situation was unfolding.
"Although I don't know who those people are, it's clear their intentions are hostile, right?"
Hatake Sakumo descended from the stands and stood beside Tatsuya.
"Just kill them all," Tatsuya replied coldly. When it came to aliens like the Ōtsutsuki clan—whether it was the thousand-year-old Sage of Six Paths or the infamous Ōtsutsuki Kaguya—Tatsuya felt no mercy.
As soon as his words echoed in the air, his Zanpakutō sheathed at his waist, sprang to life. Flames erupted, swirling around him to form a blazing sphere that illuminated the battlefield, separating the auditorium from the chaos inside.
The heat was overwhelming.
"Ryūjin Jakka!"
Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki, who had previously exuded confidence, stiffened. His eyes widened slightly in shock.
This power...
It was something he hadn't felt in years, a pressure that unsettled him. His Rinnegan's absorption ability failed to grasp the overwhelming flames that raged around them.
"Tatsuya, one of the targets was Naruto!" Minato, holding his son, leaped to Tatsuya's side.
"Their target is the Nine Tails. You two stay close to me. The rest of you, evacuate the crowd!" Tatsuya barked the orders over his shoulder, already focused on the incoming threat.
Realistically, even two Kage-level fighters would have difficulty matching the Ōtsutsuki clan. If Minato still had half of the Nine Tails' chakra in him, there was a chance, but even then, the Ōtsutsuki's Rinnegan gave them an unfair advantage.
Tatsuya didn't care to entertain the three albino aliens for long. The instant his command was given, the red sun of flames parted slightly, creating a narrow gap just large enough for three people to pass through.
"Sensei!" Hinata ran toward him, panting heavily. "Then... who are those people?"
"It's a long story." Tatsuya rubbed her head gently, his tone softening. "For now, you're not at the level to get involved in battles like this."
Hinata nodded, lowering her gaze. Her heart was heavy, but understanding.
"Mei, take these money bags and get them to a safe place. It would be a real hassle if they died here." Tatsuya gestured toward Terumi Mei with a swift wave of his hand.
"Really calling nobles money bags, huh? Fine," Mei replied with a smirk, one hand placed on her hip, the other brushing her hair away from her face. The movement made her even more captivating.
"Go," Tatsuya ordered, turning and stepping into the heart of the burning city. Hatake Sakumo and Minato followed closely behind him. The entrance quickly closed behind them, sealing off the view from the outside world. Those watching from the stands couldn't see what was unfolding within, not even the Hyuga, despite their Byakugan.
"Such intense flames... but who are those people...?" murmured one of the Hyuga members, eyes wide in disbelief.
In the center of the battlefield, Sasuke raised his right arm to shield himself from the scorching heat. The flames before him were so intense, that they resembled a sun, and he felt like he was moments away from being consumed by them.
"Sasuke! Get back!" A figure suddenly descended, grabbing Sasuke's arm and pulling him back.
Sasuke looked over, shock flashing across his face. "Shisui onii-san?"
Before Shisui could reply, an explosion shook the ground. The fiery sphere that had engulfed the arena suddenly expanded, surging outward in a massive wave of heat.
BOOM!
The intense fireball consumed everything in its path, including the auditorium. The marble walls melted into shimmering crystals, only to vanish in an instant, leaving nothing behind but the burning chaos.
Sasuke's face went pale. If Shisui hadn't pulled him away when he did, he would have been caught in the blast.
Then, my life...
"These people don't seem ordinary."
Amid the burning city, Hatake Sakumo fixed his gaze on the Ōtsutsuki trio before him, his thoughts racing. "The Hyuga bloodline... How could they...?"
Tatsuya's voice cut through his thoughts, sharp and commanding. "Don't waste time with irrelevant details. They aren't Hyuga. Deal with them swiftly."
As soon as Tatsuya's words fell, he vanished from the sight of both Namikaze Minato and Hatake Sakumo, reappearing in front of Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki with lightning speed. Without hesitation, Tatsuya slashed at his throat, aiming to end it in a single strike.
But Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowing in focus. A powerful force surged from him, and a repulsive wave erupted, forming an invisible shield that stopped Tatsuya's blade just two centimeters from his throat. The blade could move no further.
"Shinra Tensei?" Tatsuya mused, his eyes flicking to the Rinnegan on Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki's hands. "Ah, I see... you also possess the Rinnegan."
What stunned Momoshiki even more was the sight before him—despite the immense force of Shinra Tensei, the man hadn't been blasted away. How could that be?
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Namikaze Minato had already thrown a series of kunai, each one imbued with his Flying Thunder God Technique. They aimed directly at Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, the one who had tried to capture Naruto. Minato's eyes blazed with hostility.
Hatake Sakumo, on the other hand, closed in on Ōtsutsuki Kinshiki, his movements swift and precise. Both he and Minato were close-quarters combatants by nature, but even they had to admit that the Ōtsutsuki were superior in terms of raw chakra and power.
It was a harsh reality, but the world of ninjas was unforgiving.
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