At Lover's Square, a teenager with spiky grey hair strolled casually, aiming to reach the library. He attempted to ignore another youth trailing behind him, persistently issuing challenges in the name of youth.
"Hey, why don't we settle this with a simple game of rock-paper-scissors again," Kakashi sighed.
"Oh, come on! There must be something more exhilarating we can do. And you dare call yourself my rival," Gai retorted, his enthusiasm palpable.
"Look we have to get up early for the mission tomorrow, so let's just take a pass on tonight"
"An early mission is no excuse! I have all this pent-up energy, and what better way to release it than with a friendly sparring match. Come on, Kakashi," Gai pleaded, his eyes filled with fervor.
Kakashi halted suddenly, a flicker of concern crossing his features.
"What is it?"
"Did you sense that? Something feels off, like a sudden dark chill in the air," Kakashi remarked, scanning their surroundings warily.
"The only dark chill in the air is your attitude. You must be much more hotblooded", Gai replied, gesturing animatedly.
----------------------------
In the Uchiha Chief Courtyard, a child was gently holding a newborn.
"It feels so strange, I feel something ominous". The little one suddenly started to cry.
'What a strange feeling... of all the times for Mom and Dad to be out of the house.'
"There, there Sasuke. Your big brother will protect you no matter what happens, I promise you that", he soothed the baby and then looked above, clear worry in his eyes.
----------------------------
Shin was currently with Dai and orphanage people heading towards the Hyuga compound. As they traveled further, his anxiety only grew with each passing moment. He urged Dai to go a bit faster.
Just as Dai prepared to respond, the earth trembled under a huge weight and a haunting howl soon followed.
The masked man's chilling command echoed, "Destroy the Leaf, Nine-Tails."
Shin glanced back, spotting the ominous gleam of the beast's giant red eye in the darkness. Thankfully, the creature was still some distance away, near the market area, separated from their current location. In a swift reaction, Dai commanded, "Everyone, take cover behind the houses!"
The beast struck the ground with ferocity, each slash obliterating a vast expanse. Wooden shards and stone fragments were sent hurtling through the air, creating a chaotic storm of destruction.
Reacting swiftly, Shin retrieved his balloons from his bag, infusing them with his chakra and launching them at the flying debris to alter their trajectory. The balloons, charged with rotating chakra, exploded with formidable force. Amidst the chaos, he managed to save Yumiko from a falling debris, who expressed her gratitude in a daze.
"Thank you, Shin," Yumiko murmured, still reeling from the shock.
"No problem," Shin replied before tossing Yumiko towards Emi, who caught her safely.
Suddenly, the Nine-Tails unleashed another deafening howl, causing agony and chaos. The sound was so intense that it ruptured the eardrums of some nearby, resembling a cry of excruciating pain.
Shin clutched his head in his arms 'AH! this pain. I cant move'. It felt as if thousands of ants were currently biting all over his body as every pain receptor was activated, with the head feeling the brunt of it. Before he could react, he was forcefully moved aside by another figure. Turning to see, he locked eyes with Kirimoto, who smiled knowingly "Take care of yourself".
Struggling to speak, Shin attempted to warn Kirimoto to move, but his words failed to materialize. The impact of the incoming debris propelled him into the air once more, where he endured numerous scratches from wooden splinters, his senses reeling in disarray.
He saw Dai telling everybody to take cover and then diving to save Yaraki from a flying wooden log. Emi was holding Akiko back as he cried while trying to free himself from the older woman`s clutches.
Shin looked at the area where he was pointing and saw kirimoto`s body buried under the rubble of another house. The boy still had a smile strewn across his face as his body lay lifeless under the debris.
Sudden waves of pain and disorientation engulfed Shin as he clutched his chest, inundated by a chorus of cries—familiar and unfamiliar voices blending in a cacophony of sorrow.
A child's voice sobbed, "Mom... Mom."
A woman wailed in despair, "Father... Brother... what has happened to you?"
"Noooooo...."
"Take cover..."
"Take the women and children to the shelter"
Echoes of anguish filled the air—agonized cries, urgent commands for safety, and the heart-wrenching sound of loss.
"Aagh!...", Shin clutched his head even harder. Dai picked him up and then started running, followed by all the children.
He could still hear Akiko`s crying and Hiro still shouting at Kiri`s lifeless body. He fainted.
----------------------------
Hiruzen donned his battle attire and directed Scythe, "Spread my orders throughout the village. Civilians must seek refuge in the shelters. All genin are to escort them. Only chunin are permitted to engage in the combat, but individuals under the age of fifteen must not participate. They are to aid civilians in reaching safety. Mobilize every Anbu to establish a perimeter around the beast."
'Was Kushina`s Seal broken, The Nine-Tails broke free even after all of the safeguards we put in place... Biwako', Hiruzen lamented, leaping outside to confront the unleashed beast.
.....
"Choza, Lets try formation E", Shukaku instructed.
"Wait, Shukaku. Lord Hiruzen is en route. We must await his arrival. Until the Third Hokage distracts the Nine-Tails, any actions we take may be futile," Inoichi reasoned.
"Understood. Let's draw its attention away from the civilians," Shukaku agreed.
"Right", Both Inoichi and Choza responded in unison.
....
"Lets show this beats our power of youth. Lets go Kakashi", Gai exclaimed, leaping forward toward the Nine-Tails, only to be intercepted by a senior chunin.
"Stop, you youngsters. Your task is to remove others from harm's way and guide them to safety," Ikkaku intervened, blocking their path.
"Why?, we want to fight as well", Gai protested.
"Lord Third`s orders, All below fifteen are not to participate in the battle. Get civilians to safety and after you're done, go to the Guards Mansion and gather there", Ikkaku explained firmly.
Acknowledging the directive, Kakashi gestured to Gai, who reluctantly stepped back, accepting the order.
...
The masked man perched atop the towering Nine-Tails suddenly detected a disturbance, "That bastard", he muttered with a chilling grin before vanishing into thin air.
...
Minato teleported to the Hokage Mountain, surveying the chaos unfolding in the village below. His gaze hardened with determination as he vowed to shield his home from the looming threat.
Abruptly, the Nine-Tails ceased its rampage, fixing its gaze upon the Hokage Rock.
"So, you've noticed me ," Minato`s voice echoed through the tense air.
The colossal beast emitted another deafening howl, its form crackling with energy as it began to charge a devastating Tail-Beast Bomb. Swirling masses of red and blue energy coalesced outside its maw, merging into a menacing dark sphere.
As the Nine-Tails intensified its assault, Minato swiftly inscribed a series of intricate seals. In a decisive move, he unleashed a colossal four-way clover seal that enveloped the entire mountain, swallowing the impending Tail-Beast Bomb within its confines.
Prepared to confront the Nine-Tails, Minato braced himself for the impending clash when a sinister voice pierced the air
"Die, Fourth Hokage".
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Author Note:
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