The battlefield tensed as One Tail Shukaku's Tailed Beast Bomb began to coalesce, radiating immense destructive energy. The condensed sphere of black and purple chakra pulsated ominously, its power capable of obliterating everything within kilometers. The Sand Shinobi forces looked on with anticipation, while the Konoha shinobi braced themselves for the worst, fear evident in their eyes.
"Tailed Beast Bomb… the most feared weapon of the tailed beasts," someone muttered, their voice trembling.
Standing atop the fortress wall, Aizen remained calm, his expression unreadable as he turned to Namikaze Minato. "Minato, I'm running low on chakra. I'll leave handling this to you."
Minato, unphased by the mounting danger, smiled confidently. "No problem."
The exchange between the two supreme commanders left Commander Yama and the other Konoha shinobi speechless. It was as if the impending annihilation didn't faze them at all.
"That's a Tailed Beast Bomb!" Yama thought, disbelief coursing through him. "How can they be so calm?!"
Before he could voice his concerns, the Tailed Beast Bomb roared forward, a devastating harbinger of destruction. Its sheer energy distorted the air around it as it hurtled toward Kikyoyama Fortress. Many Konoha shinobi instinctively shut their eyes, unable to bear the sight of their impending doom.
But Namikaze Minato stepped forward, holding a specially crafted Flying Thunder God Kunai with unwavering composure.
"Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder," Minato announced, forming a seal with his free hand.
A circle of intricate black runes materialized in the air, directly in the Tailed Beast Bomb's path. The massive chakra sphere collided with the barrier of runes, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, as if swallowed by the fabric of space itself, the bomb vanished without a sound.
Moments later, a deafening explosion echoed from several kilometers away. Flames erupted into the sky, the force visible even from the fortress. The battlefield fell silent as everyone turned their gaze toward the distant plume of smoke and fire.
The Tailed Beast Bomb—a technique feared across the ninja world—had been rendered harmless.
Namikaze Minato lowered his kunai, a satisfied smile on his face. The fortress and its defenders were untouched.
The shock was palpable. Commander Yama, his mouth slightly agape, struggled to process what he had just witnessed. Around him, the Konoha shinobi stared at Minato in awe, while the Sand Shinobi were visibly shaken.
"He redirected the Tailed Beast Bomb… just like that?" a Sand Shinobi whispered, disbelief etched across his face.
"That blonde ninja," another murmured. "He just moved it miles away! Is that even possible?"
"That must have been space-time ninjutsu!" another exclaimed. "He's a monster!"
The Sand Shinobi forces, already wavering after the devastating onslaught of Aizen's Water Style, now found their morale plummeting. Defeating a tailed beast was one thing, but witnessing someone effortlessly redirect its ultimate attack was beyond comprehension. Fear and doubt rippled through their ranks.
The battlefield had finally fallen silent, save for the distant cries of retreating Sand Shinobi. Emerging from the soil, Chiyo and Ebizō surveyed the aftermath, their expressions marked by frustration and disbelief.
"To master the Flying Thunder God Technique to such a degree...damn him!" Chiyo muttered through clenched teeth as her gaze settled on Namikaze Minato, who stood unyielding in the distance.
Though they had been underground, their keen senses made it impossible to miss what had transpired on the surface. The effortless redirection of the Tailed Beast Bomb was a tactical maneuver Chiyo couldn't ignore.
"Sister, we're in a dire situation," Ebizō said, his tone grave. "Bunpuku has completely lost consciousness after being hit by that Water Style secret technique. He can't maintain Shukaku's form any longer."
Chiyo's sharp mind quickly processed the reality. A glance at the demoralized Sand Shinobi around her and the few intact puppets at her disposal told her everything she needed to know.
"Retreat," she finally commanded, her voice heavy with resignation. She let out a long sigh, the weight of defeat evident in her demeanor.
Ebizō moved to extract One Tail Jinchūriki from the battlefield while organizing the Sand Shinobi's retreat.
Meanwhile, atop Kikyoyama Fortress, Namikaze Minato and Aizen made no attempt to pursue. Despite their victory, the Konoha forces were too exhausted to mount an effective chase, and their commanders were also nearing their limits.
As the last Sand Shinobi disappeared into the distance, the Konoha shinobi erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Minato-sama!"
"Aizen-sama!"
The chants grew louder, a wave of gratitude and admiration sweeping through the fortress. These two young commanders had led them to a monumental victory—not only at the Silver Scale River but now at Kikyoyama Fortress as well.
Aizen and Minato acknowledged the applause with humble waves, their composure unwavering. Their calm demeanor only heightened the respect they commanded. Even the senior officers, like Commander Yama and Commander Hoshinohara, couldn't hide their admiration.
"What heroes," Commander Yama murmured, his gaze fixed on the pair. "This battle has immortalized them."
"Indeed," Hoshinohara added wistfully. "To achieve such a victory... If I could accomplish even a fraction of that in my lifetime, I'd die content."
Commander Yama glanced sideways at Hoshinohara, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Dream on. You'd need a miracle to achieve anything close to what they've done."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Hoshinohara snapped, though the banter between the two commanders elicited laughter from the nearby troops, breaking the tension and lifting spirits further.
While Konoha basked in the glow of their triumph, the retreating Sand Shinobi bore the weight of humiliation. Their ranks were somber, their heads hung low as they trudged back to their camp.
Chiyo and Ebizō led the disheartened troops, their minds occupied with thoughts of Aizen and Namikaze Minato. The power and strategy displayed by the young Konoha commanders were unlike anything they had anticipated.
As they reached their camp, a Sand Shinobi intelligence officer rushed forward with urgent news.
Rasa has returned!