Danzo was the first to break the tense silence. His hands formed seals as he shouted: "Fūton: Daitoppa!" Creating a simple but powerful gust of wind, it rushed towards Kurama.
The attack impacted against the beast's massive body, pushing it several meters back.
Without wasting a moment, Hiruzen stepped forward, creating 4 clones, while invoking: "Goton Dairendan no Jutsu!"
The spectators watched open-mouthed as the five elements intertwined, converging on Kurama.
A crater formed around Kurama, who struggled to remain conscious.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Tsunade jumped. Her figure appeared in the night sky for a moment before descending like a meteor on Kurama's head.
With a cry that resonated across the battlefield, Tsunade unleashed her final attack: "Rokuōgan!"
Tsunade's fist, charged with chakra and the secret technique of Rokushiki, connected with Kurama's head.
The impact was so powerful that the ground beneath the beast sank even further, forming a crater. Cracks extended in all directions, covering a radius of 100 meters.
For a moment, everything fell silent. Then, Tsunade stood up on Kurama's motionless form and looked around impatiently. "What are you standing there for?" she snorted, her voice laden with urgency. "Take advantage of this opportunity and seal the Kyubi!"
As if waking from a trance, the sealing squad reacted. "Yes, Tsunade-sama!" they responded in unison, jumping into action.
As the sealing team rushed to perform their task, the others watched the scene in stupor.
Hiruzen looked stunned, his eyes wide open at his student's power. Jiraiya, beside him, couldn't stop wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Orochimaru's mouth was twisted in a grimace of surprise and, perhaps, a hint of envy. Danzo's face had darkened. The clan leaders maintained a sepulchral silence, exchanging looks of amazement and concern.
They were all painfully aware that such a blow would have killed them instantly. Without a doubt, it was the most powerful Taijutsu they had ever witnessed.
What none of them knew, nor could even imagine, was that Tsunade hadn't even used all her strength in that attack.
Kurama, still dazed by Tsunade's devastating blow, struggled to maintain consciousness. The sealing team, taking advantage of this crucial moment, worked quickly.
Feeling how his essence was being torn from physical reality. With a final groan of impotence, he was absorbed by the intricate seal forming on Tomo's body. The Eight Trigrams Sealing Style, an improved version of the Four Symbols Seal, shone brightly before fading, leaving only a mark on the new Jinchūriki's abdomen.
Hiruzen exhaled deeply, releasing the tension that had kept his body rigid for hours. "It is done," he murmured, passing a trembling hand over his tired face.
The change of Jinchūriki had been a chaotic process, but they had finally succeeded.
The field now seemed strangely calm. The ninjas present began to visibly relax.
However, the calm was ephemeral. Danzo, with his somber face, approached Hiruzen with determined steps.
"Hiruzen," he began, his voice low but intense, "we cannot ignore the threat that mysterious individual represents. We must act now, discover his identity and intentions."
Hiruzen turned to him, his eyes reflecting weariness. "Danzo, don't go crazy, we must proceed with caution. The power that man demonstrated... is on a completely different level. I fear he could rival even Madara at his peak."
Danzo frowned. "Caution? Caution will lead us to the grave, Hiruzen. An enemy of that caliber will not give us the luxury of time. We must act, and now."
Those who heard this looked at Danzo with disdain. Many clearly remembered how Danzo had remained silent, almost invisible, during the appearance of that mysterious individual.
Noticing the looks of those present, Hiruzen raised a hand to calm the situation. "This matter requires careful consideration," he declared firmly. "We will continue the investigation, but with the utmost discretion. We cannot risk provoking an enemy whose capabilities we barely understand."
Turning to Danzo, Hiruzen lowered his voice, but the warning in his words was crystal clear. "And Danzo, I warn you: any precipitous action that endangers Konoha will have consequences. I will not tolerate your ambition dragging us into a conflict we cannot win."
Danzo held Hiruzen's gaze for a long moment before snorting with disdain. Without another word, he turned and walked away, followed by the few surviving members of his Root organization.
Hiruzen watched him leave before turning to the other ninjas. "You have all done an exceptional job tonight," he said, full of gratitude. "But our task is not over. The villagers will be scared and confused. They will need our strength and comfort."
Everyone nodded, understanding this.
The event they had just witnessed was too big to hide. The Kyubi and the mysterious Susanoo had been visible even from the village, their colossal forms were very evident.
_____
At the Hyuga residence.
Chen's home.
The sliding door burst open, and Chen entered the main room. He had barely taken a step when Mikoto and Kushina rushed towards him, their faces full of concern.
"Chen!" exclaimed Mikoto, her dark eyes scrutinizing every inch of his figure for injuries. "Are you hurt? We felt that monstrous chakra and feared the worst."
Kushina nodded fervently. "The Kyubi's chakra... it was enormous. How did you manage to face it?"
Chen, with an arrogant smile, "Hurt? Me? Come on, you underestimate me. That giant fox might be impressive to some, but for me, it was nothing more than a warm-up exercise."
Kushina narrowed her eyes, disbelief painted on her face. "Wait a minute. Are you saying you actually faced the Kyubi? Chen, even from here we could feel that monstrous chakra. Mikoto and I doubted anyone could stand up to it."
Chen's smile faltered for an instant, replaced by a flash of irritation.
Without a word, he reached into his bag and pulled out an ornate scroll. The paper, immaculately white, was covered with seals that seemed to be alive.
"You doubt me?" Chen said, his voice laden with wounded pride. "Look at this. Not only did I face the Kyubi, but I extracted more than half of its chakra. This scroll contains enough power to raze entire villages."
Faced with Kushina and Mikoto's skeptical looks, he decided to give a demonstration. With a fluid movement of his fingers, he performed a partial seal, allowing a tiny amount of the sealed chakra to leak out.
Suddenly, the air in the room became dense and oppressive.
A red and malevolent energy emanated from the scroll, forming a faint but visible mist.
Kushina and Mikoto instinctively stepped back, their bodies reacting to the familiar and fearsome presence.
The Kyubi's chakra, although barely a fraction of its entirety, filled the room with a sense of pure hatred and murderous intent. For a brief moment, both women felt as if they were facing the beast, its bloodlust palpable in the air.
As quickly as it had appeared, Chen sealed the chakra again. The oppressive atmosphere dissipated, leaving Kushina and Mikoto slightly panting.
"Is that proof enough?" Chen asked, his tone now softer seeing the women's reaction. "It will take the Nine-Tails years, if not decades, to fully recover."
Kushina and Mikoto observed the scroll with amazement. Leaving the room in silence.
Finally, Kushina said, "But Chen," she began with curiosity, "if you were able to defeat the Kyubi, why do you need its chakra? What do you plan to do with that Chakra?"
Chen slowly rolled up the scroll, his eyes avoiding Kushina's. "It's... complicated," he responded after a pause. "The Kyubi's chakra has unique properties, applications that go beyond simple chakra. I promise I'll explain everything in due time. For now, trust me when I say it's necessary."
Kushina opened her mouth as if to insist, but something in Chen's expression stopped her. She exchanged a look with Mikoto, and both nodded imperceptibly, deciding not to press the issue further for the moment.
The silence that followed was interrupted by the distant sound of voices and movement around the Hyuga clan.
Chen approached the window, observing the lights turning on in the houses and the figures moving through the streets.
"The secret won't last long," he murmured, "The change of Jinchūriki, the battle... even civilians must have felt something. And if civilians know..."
"Spies from other villages won't be long in finding out," Mikoto completed, with concern.
Chen nodded. "This event will shake the world. The other villages, which have contained their ambition for years, will see this as a unique opportunity. Konoha, without the power of the Kyubi at its disposal, will seem vulnerable."
________
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