Tailed Beast Bomb?
This scene caught everyone by surprise.
Uchiha Itsuki was in the midst of a battle with the others.
During this, the Three-Tails also assisted him, relentlessly using its claws and attacks to create trouble for the group.
It was causing everyone a lot of problems.
Everyone had assumed that Uchiha Itsuki could fight them to this extent because of the significant contribution of the Three-Tails.
After all...
Even the Raikage didn't want to get slapped by the Three-Tails.
It wasn't about physical strength.
Who would have thought that the Three-Tails was hiding another card?
It had been silently preparing a Tailed Beast Bomb the whole time.
At that moment...
This sudden attack completely stunned Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He was already having a hard time fending off Uchiha Itsuki.
In his younger years, Hiruzen Sarutobi was indeed very powerful, earning the title of "The Professor."
But!
At over sixty, nearing seventy years old...
His prime had long since passed.
Facing this massive Tailed Beast Bomb was truly difficult for him.
Fortunately!
In this dangerous moment, Hashirama Senju appeared in front of him.
A massive amount of trees gathered in front of Hiruzen, forming shields.
"Boom!"
The Tailed Beast Bomb pierced through, but its direction was altered.
It almost grazed Hiruzen's side as it flew by.
Hashirama's body was half-destroyed.
However, due to the Reanimation Jutsu, he didn't care about it.
"You're not afraid, are you? First Hokage!"
Itsuki's casual voice echoed in Hashirama's ears.
Hashirama, with only half his body left, squinted his eyes, a bitter smile on his face.
His body stiffened in place.
Itsuki appeared behind him, with one arm piercing through Hashirama's body.
Strange markings spread all over Hashirama's body.
As the markings expanded, Hashirama's body gradually lost its luster.
His world turned gray.
At the same time, it began to collapse.
"Sigh, it's finally over."
Hashirama sighed softly, his eyes filled with relief.
"Heh."
Itsuki chuckled and said, "First Hokage, seeing Konoha in its current state, doesn't it make you sad? You've long wanted to return to the afterlife, haven't you?"
Hashirama replied honestly, "It is painful, but I also believe that we don't belong in this era. We shouldn't be in the present-day ninja world."
"We've already done enough for Konoha, and we've lived up to everyone. We created a haven for them. The way Konoha has turned out isn't just one person's fault; perhaps it's its destined fate."
Itsuki was momentarily stunned, looking at Hashirama in surprise. "I didn't expect you to say something like that."
Hashirama responded irritably, "Your words sound quite insulting!"
"What? Do you think I don't have a brain?"
"Exactly!"
Itsuki nodded decisively. "To me, you've always lacked common sense. Many of your policies were wrong. Konoha was born because of you, but in some way, it might also perish because of you."
"Even if you contributed the most to Konoha, your mistakes outweigh your achievements."
"If it weren't for you, Konoha might have been better off."
"Is that so?"
Hashirama laughed heartily. "What a shame. There's no time left to sit down and have a proper chat."
"Uchiha Itsuki, I'll remember you. I hope that one day, we'll sit down and talk. Unfortunately, that day may never come."
To be honest...
Hashirama admired Uchiha Itsuki.
This young Uchiha dared to lead his entire clan and publicly defect from Konoha.
How many people had the courage to do that?
It seemed simple, but in reality?
It required not only great courage but also thorough preparation.
As someone who had founded a ninja village, Hashirama knew this too well.
Manpower.
Resources.
Reputation.
Strength.
Luck.
All these were indispensable!
And on top of that...
The Uchiha Clan actually followed him.
That was something even Madara couldn't accomplish.
Did Madara want to lead his clan away back then?
Of course, he did.
But he failed.
As Hashirama was about to be sealed, he said one last thing: "I wish Madara could meet you."
"Buzz!"
As he finished speaking...
Countless pieces of paper appeared, wrapping around Hashirama.
Soon after, special runes enveloped him.
He was sealed.
"Heh, that day will come, and don't think you'll get to rest. I'll dig you up again sooner or later," Itsuki chuckled softly.
"Uchiha Itsuki!!!"
A furious roar echoed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Itsuki with bloodshot eyes. "You... you actually sealed the First Hokage."
Itsuki casually replied, "He's a dead man. He's merely returned to where he belongs, hasn't he?"
Hiruzen trembled all over.
Konoha, already in turmoil, had now lost both the First and Second Hokage.
The heavens are abandoning Konoha!
For the first time, Hiruzen truly felt worried for Konoha.
Why hadn't he felt this way before?
Because with the First and Second Hokage around, no matter how badly Konoha was damaged, it didn't matter.
They didn't care.
There would always be someone to clean up the mess.
But now, things were different.
The First and Second Hokage were gone, and the responsibility fell on their shoulders once again.
They were terrified!
They were anxious.
Did they care about Konoha?
Of course, they did!
And deeply so.
If Konoha were to be destroyed, then they...
"Both of you!"
Hiruzen's gaze shifted to Ōnoki and the Raikage. "Help me defeat Uchiha Itsuki and capture the Three-Tails for Konoha. Afterward, Konoha will ensure your satisfaction."
Raikage and Tsuchikage were indifferent, merely nodding slightly.
If Konoha didn't have a tailed beast, it wouldn't be able to stand against them.
After destroying Konoha, they would decide what to do with it.
To them, Konoha was nothing more than a defenseless child.
Especially now, as Konoha had suffered severe losses, with over a third of its overall strength gone.
At this point, Konoha had practically lost its place among the Five Great Shinobi Nations.
No, the Six Great Shinobi Nations!
The Hidden Fire Village had not only joined the ranks of the ninja villages but even surpassed several of them.
Just look at Uchiha Itsuki standing before them.
This man alone was almost equal to half a ninja village.
In today's world, if there were to be a ranking of ninja strength...
They truly didn't know who could stand against the man before them.
"Both of you!"
Hiruzen sharply sensed the hesitation in the Raikage and Tsuchikage's attitudes, his tone turning cold.
"Do you really think Konoha is that easy to bully? Do you see us as lambs waiting to be slaughtered?"
The two Kage looked at Hiruzen in surprise.
At this moment, he was actually showing a tough stance?
That was unlike him at all.
But!
Without the power to back it up, attitude didn't matter.
No matter how tough or determined he was, if he couldn't win, he couldn't win.
"Both of you!"
Hiruzen suddenly smiled. This smile was a bit chilling.
"I just thought of a way Uchiha Itsuki plans to destroy Konoha. Do you two think it might work?"
"What?"
The two were even more surprised.
"Are you trying to imitate Uchiha Itsuki now?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly, pausing between words: "Konoha is already in such a state that it can't get any worse. So, if we can't get the Tailed Beasts, when we're attacked, we can only pick one village to strike."
"Konoha..."
"We'll abandon it!"
"We'll send all the civilians and ninjas from our village and merge with one of yours."
"If we're going to die, we'll all die together."
He looked at the changing expressions of the Tsuchikage and Raikage and said, "I don't know if that village will be Kumogakure or Iwagakure."
"Hokage!"
The Raikage shouted, "As the Hokage, are you thinking straight? How can you say something like that?"
"That's right, we're also villages that have survived since the Warring States period. We won't accept any threats. If Konoha wants to risk it all, we'll join you!"
The Tsuchikage's voice also turned cold.
Onoki and Hiruzen Sarutobi were completely different types of leaders. Onoki had always been known for his tough stance.
If Iwagakure had a militant faction, Onoki would definitely be its leader.
Hiruzen remained calm and said flatly, "Konoha's already like this. We don't care anymore. Who's afraid of who? It's all or nothing. We'll risk it all. Tsuchikage, since you spoke so well earlier, we'll choose Iwagakure."
"What you do, I don't know, but I'm really willing to do this."
Those with nothing to lose don't fear those who have something to protect.
At that moment, the Tsuchikage and Raikage truly felt the weight of his words.
Both of their eyes twitched wildly.
If Konoha really didn't care anymore, who knows what kind of impact they would face.
"Wow, Sarutobi Hiruzen's finally toughened up!"
Itsuki Uchiha laughed loudly and said, "As expected, only when a person is pushed to their limits do they show their true worth. If you had realized this sooner, Sarutobi, things wouldn't have come to this."
"Look at how pathetic you used to be; I couldn't even bear to watch."
Hiruzen just glanced at Itsuki Uchiha indifferently and said no more.
What was the point of talking?
They were long-standing enemies, sworn to fight to the death.
Given the chance, they'd certainly kill each other. If not, they'd create the opportunity.
You couldn't stand it?
How many times have you provoked me?
You practically tied me to your belt with your constant insults.
"How about this, everyone?"
Itsuki looked at the three leaders and the growing crowd behind them, smiling. "As long as each of your villages gives me 50 million ryō, I'll turn around and leave. I'll release the Three-Tails from the genjutsu, and from then on, it'll have nothing to do with me."
"What happens to it will be up to you all."
"Hmm?"
Everyone present was dumbfounded.
How did we go from fighting to talking about money?
Can you really make deals like this on a battlefield?
Itsuki Uchiha was truly abnormal.
"I'm serious."
Itsuki grinned at everyone. "Fifty million ryō per village. Pay up, and I'll leave. If not..."
"Konoha will pay!" Hiruzen immediately said.
He was one of the elders of Konoha who knew Itsuki Uchiha well.
After being bullied so many times, he had experience now.
If Itsuki Uchiha said something, he usually followed through on most of it.
Though Hiruzen didn't know Itsuki's true motive, if he wanted money, then give him the money.
Take the money and get out. They were determined to get the Three-Tails.
The Tsuchikage and Raikage exchanged looks.
Should they pay?
Or not?
This was a dilemma.
It was their first time facing such a choice.
This was a battlefield, for heaven's sake!
Especially for Onoki, it felt surreal.
A battlefield, where everything could change in an instant.
But this change was too extreme.
"Both of you."
Hiruzen surprisingly started persuading them: "I don't know what Itsuki Uchiha's motive is, but I do know that if he gets the money, he'll leave. So, instead of letting him cause chaos, let's make him leave."
"Fine, I agree."
The Raikage suddenly said, "I'll pay after this is over."
"After? What does 'after' mean?"
Itsuki scoffed, his tone playful. "Raikage, don't play word games with me. Sign this IOU, and I'll leave now. Don't make it seem like I'm selling the Three-Tails for 50 million ryō. Should I capture it and deliver it to your village personally? Disgusting!"
A slip of paper fluttered toward the Raikage and Tsuchikage.
The two Kage glanced at it, their eyes twitching.
The paper simply read: "Owes Itsuki Uchiha 50 million ryō."
Itsuki said calmly, "Sign it, and I'll leave. I'm not worried about anyone owing me money."
The two Kage were left speechless.
They didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Fine.
Really fine.
They finally understood Itsuki Uchiha's style.
Even on a battlefield, he could make things interesting.
Without further hesitation, the two signed the IOUs.
Itsuki took the slips, turned, and left. "Good luck to all three of you in capturing the Three-Tails."
The three Kage stood expressionless, watching Itsuki walk away.
All three of us capture the Three-Tails?
Are you crazy, or are we?
What, are we supposed to chop it into pieces and each take a tail?
But at least the biggest problem had left.
Now, they really had to hash things out.
After all...
This was a Tailed Beast.
A creature that could determine the outcome of a battlefield.
In the original story, Itsuki couldn't quite understand.
With something as big as the appearance of the Three-Tails, how did none of the ninja villages take action?
Did they not get the news?
Then how did Konoha get it?
Did the other villages not have spies?
Even if having too many Tailed Beasts wasn't necessarily a good thing, that wasn't a reason to ignore the situation.
It must have been for the sake of the plot!
Finally.
Itsuki's figure disappeared from their sight.
The three Kage locked eyes again.
This time, the Tsuchikage and Raikage were calm.
Hiruzen, however, was filled with hysteria.
The Three-Tails was a prize they were determined to win!
Anyone who stood in their way was their mortal enemy!
No retreat! No surrender!
Just as another battle was about to erupt between the three, a set of footsteps sounded.
Two figures, one tall and one short, appeared.
Seeing them, everyone was stunned.
Onoki was the first to speak.
He roared in anger, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the tall figure. "Deidara? You dare show your face here again?"
The two figures were Deidara and Sasori.
Akatsuki had officially stepped onto the stage.
They were about to make their presence known to the ninja world.
(End of chapter)