---
Battlefield Chaos
To the ordinary shinobi witnessing the clash, it was nothing short of monumental—a battle of gods.
The elite Kumo force, led by Darui, faced off against the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata.
Even in his base form, Utakata's strength rivaled that of a Kage candidate. But now, drawing on the vast power of the Six-Tails, his might had soared to a level few could contend with. The sheer size of the beast and its oppressive chakra sent waves of fear rippling through the battlefield.
For most shinobi, approaching was out of the question.
But Darui's squad wasn't made up of ordinary ninja. The weakest among them were elite Chunin with specialized skills, and the unit included seven highly skilled Jonin. Together, they launched a relentless assault.
"Lightning Style: Black Panther!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Water Style: Water Trumpet!"
A barrage of elemental jutsu erupted, colliding with Utakata's massive, slug-like form.
While all tailed beasts were immensely powerful, the differences in strength between them were clear. The Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails stood as the strongest, while others, like the Six-Tails, were slightly less resilient. A coordinated attack from a team of high-level shinobi could still inflict significant damage.
Darui took the lead, his calm demeanor masking the razor-sharp focus in his eyes. He directed his squad with precision, ensuring their attacks struck at every vulnerable point.
"Laser Circus!"
Darui fired multiple concentrated beams of energy, each striking the Six-Tails with deadly accuracy.
BOOM!
The ground shook violently as the beams tore into the beast. Its guttural screech echoed across the battlefield, the sound rattling even the most hardened shinobi.
"Sealing team, move in!" Darui commanded, his voice steady despite the chaos.
"Yes, sir!"
Four Kumo shinobi leapt into action, forming a square around the Six-Tails. They rapidly performed hand seals, their chakra flaring to life.
"Four Corners Sealing Technique: Binding Chains!"
A brilliant silver net of chakra manifested above the battlefield, descending swiftly to envelop the struggling beast.
"ZZZZZZTTT!"
The Six-Tails roared in agony as the electrified net tightened around its body, suppressing its movements.
"Hold it steady!" one of the sealers yelled, sweat pouring down his face.
But the beast's strength was overwhelming. The net began to strain, cracks of energy sparking across its surface.
"Lord Darui! We can't hold it much longer!"
Darui's jaw clenched as he realized the sealing team wouldn't last. Channeling more chakra, he prepared another attack.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Gate!"
"Lightning Style: Black Panther!"
A massive, lightning-infused panther formed, roaring as it charged at the Six-Tails.
"Boom!"
The explosion of lightning sent the beast reeling, its movements growing sluggish.
"It's working!" one of the sealers shouted, hope flickering in his voice.
But just as victory seemed within reach, Utakata let out a deafening roar, his body surging with a final burst of chakra.
Darui's eyes widened as a small sphere of condensed crimson energy formed in front of the beast's mouth.
"Tailed Beast Bomb?!" Darui gasped.
"Scatter!" he shouted, his voice laced with urgency.
But it was too late.
BOOM!
The explosion ripped through the battlefield. Though smaller than a typical Tailed Beast Bomb, the concentrated energy packed devastating power. A massive shockwave tore across the area, consuming everything in its path.
Several Kumo-nin were caught in the blast, their bodies incinerated instantly. Those who managed to escape were left battered and scorched.
At the center of the devastation, Utakata's beast form crumbled, the overwhelming strain forcing him to revert to his human state. Blood dripped from his mouth as he staggered, his body trembling.
"Cough..." Utakata wheezed, clutching his side. Knowing he couldn't continue fighting, he mustered his remaining strength and fled into the forest.
---
Aftermath
Darui surveyed the battlefield, his face grim. Of the original squad, fewer than half remained standing, and the ground was littered with the bodies of fallen Kumo shinobi.
"Damn it..." Darui growled, his fists tightening.
"He's injured!" one of the Jonin reported. "We should pursue him now!"
Darui nodded sharply. "Spread out and track his chakra! He can't have gone far!"
"Yes, sir!"
The surviving Kumo-nin moved swiftly, their chakra flaring as they raced after Utakata's faint trail.
"You won't escape, Six-Tails..." Darui muttered, his voice cold as he joined the pursuit.
---
Half an hour later, a new group arrived at the scene.
"Whoosh!"
A squad of Konoha's Anbu appeared, their dark uniforms and animal masks contrasting sharply with the devastation around them.
The captain, a tall figure with a fox-shaped mask, knelt to inspect the scorched earth. "Thunder Release... Kumo must be involved."
He stood, his voice steady but grim. "A tailed beast was here. Report this to Lord Jiraiya immediately."
One of the Anbu nodded and vanished, leaving the captain to lead the rest of the squad in a search for more clues.
"If Kumo is capturing Jinchuriki, the balance between the villages is at risk," the captain muttered, his tone heavy.
---
Elsewhere, Yakushi Kabuto grimaced as he received a report from one of Orochimaru's spies.
"The Mist intervened?" Kabuto's tone was sharp.
"Yes," the spy replied. "We lost two men, and the Six-Tails Jinchuriki escaped."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, frustration flickering across his face. "The Mist's interference complicates things. If we're going to secure the Six-Tails, we'll need to move quickly—and carefully."
He turned away, already formulating a new strategy. Orochimaru wouldn't accept failure.
---
The loss of their trackers meant Kabuto's group had completely lost, the Six-Tails' Jinchūriki. Previously, they had been relying on following the Mist Ninja to maintain a semblance of his location.
Now, uncertainty hung over them like a dark cloud. Was Utakata still in the Land of Spring, or had he escaped entirely? Kabuto Yakushi didn't realize that the Mist Ninja had temporarily abandoned their pursuit, distracted by the unknown threat posed by the trackers. This unintentional disruption granted Utakata a precious window to flee—one that led directly to his encounter with the Kumogakure shinobi.
The Mist Ninja, cautious as ever, chose not to pursue the trackers blindly. To them, anyone brazen enough to follow them was likely a highly skilled operative from one of the other great nations. Splitting their forces recklessly would have been a costly mistake.
In the resulting stalemate, it was the Konoha ANBU who arrived at the battlefield first, ahead of the Mist.
Now, the situation teetered on the edge of chaos, with a three-way—or possibly four-way—conflict brewing.
"Is there no way to locate Utakata now, Kabuto-san?" Menma asked, his tone eerily calm as he observed the silver-haired medic-nin.
Kabuto forced a thin smile, though unease flickered in his eyes. Menma's piercing stare was unnerving. "I'm afraid not, Menma-kun. The Mist Ninja discovered our trackers. All we have are their last known coordinates. If you're willing to wait a day or two, Orochimaru-sama's reinforcements will arrive, and with them, more precise intel."
"Wait another day or two?" Menma's expression didn't change, but a flicker of irritation crossed his crimson eyes.
Logically, Kabuto's plan made sense. Without solid information, regrouping and waiting for reinforcements was the safest option. But Menma couldn't afford to wait.
Every second wasted risked losing Utakata entirely. Moreover, Menma had his own limitations to consider. While he wielded the Nine-Tails' chakra, his mastery of it was incomplete. His grasp on the Flying Thunder God Technique was tenuous at best, his Rasengan training unfinished, and the latent potential of his Uzumaki bloodline untapped.
If he encountered a powerful opponent—or worse, multiple enemies at once—he knew the risks.
Even so, capturing Utakata was crucial. His abilities would be a pivotal asset, both strategically and personally. In the ninja world, power alone wasn't enough. Menma understood that better than most.
After a moment's thought, he made his decision.
"We don't have time to wait," he said, his voice sharp. "We'll head to Utakata's last known location and track him ourselves. The longer we delay, the more likely this mission fails."
With that, Menma leaped down from the boulder he'd been perched on, his landing decisive.
"Ah… Menma-kun, are you sure that's wise?" Kabuto ventured hesitantly. "We might—"
"We're going. Now." Menma cut him off coldly, leaving no room for debate.
Channeling chakra into his feet, Menma propelled himself eastward, toward the last coordinates where the Mist Ninja and Utakata had clashed.
Kabuto hesitated, a faint frown tugging at his lips. For all his cunning and rank within Orochimaru's organization, he couldn't ignore the dangerous energy radiating from Menma.
Reluctantly, Kabuto followed, his thoughts churning. At just thirteen years old, Menma's unpredictability and sheer willpower made him a wild card. If pushed too far, Kabuto suspected Menma wouldn't hesitate to kill—even him.
"Such a troublesome child," Kabuto muttered under his breath, picking up his pace. Despite the tension, he had no choice but to follow the Uzumaki boy who was, undeniably, a force of nature.
The two sped through the dense forest, the scenery a blur as they closed in on their destination. They had covered a considerable distance in less than twenty minutes when Menma suddenly came to an abrupt halt.
Kabuto nearly collided with him but managed to stop just in time. His eyes narrowed as he studied Menma's expression. "Menma-kun? What's wrong?"
Menma's sharp senses had picked up a chakra signature—faint but undeniably powerful. It was the unmistakable energy of a Jinchūriki.
This chakra… there's no doubt. It's Utakata, Menma thought, recognizing the unique presence that only someone like a Jinchūriki could emit.
Behind Utakata's signature, he sensed another group. Mist Ninja? Could they have injured Utakata this severely?
Kabuto's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Menma-kun? Did you find something?"
A sly grin spread across Menma's face. "Looks like luck is on our side. Let's go meet Utakata-san, shall we?"
Without waiting for a response, Menma launched himself toward the chakra signature.
"Wait, what—?" Kabuto sputtered, startled by the sudden turn of events. After a brief pause, he followed, though his mind raced to process the unexpected development.
For ordinary people, covering a few kilometers might take hours. For ninja of Menma's caliber, it was a matter of minutes. Utakata, however, remained unaware of the rapidly closing threat.
As Menma neared the source, his chakra fluctuations grew more noticeable. The forest seemed to hum with tension as multiple presences converged—pursuers trailed behind Utakata, and interceptors lay ahead.
But it was Menma's own chakra that dominated the battlefield, a terrifying force that made even seasoned shinobi hesitate.
Utakata, battered and on edge, felt the oppressive energy and braced himself. His expression darkened as he realized evasion was no longer an option. If he had to fight, he would do so to the death.
Then Menma emerged from the trees, his youthful face coming into view. Utakata froze for a brief moment.
A boy—barely a teenager—stood before him, yet the overwhelming chakra emanating from him told a different story. Utakata's eyes flicked to the red hair, the confident posture, and the immense aura.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki…
Utakata recalled rumors of the Konoha incident from the previous year—whispers of a boy whose power had shaken the shinobi world. Even as a rogue, Utakata had heard the name that struck fear into many: Uzumaki Menma.
Menma smiled, his tone light despite the tense situation. "Utakata-san, I presume? It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Uzumaki Menma."
Utakata's eyes widened, his suspicions confirmed. "Uzumaki Menma… the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?" His voice was wary, his body tensed like a cornered animal.
Menma's smile didn't falter. "What I'm doing here can wait. Right now, you've got company, and I'd rather deal with them first. Afterward, we can have a proper chat."
Before Yugō could respond, the sound of movement drew both their attention.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
Four figures emerged from the shadows, their presence oppressive.
Menma's eyes narrowed. "Kumogakure ninja… and leading them…" His expression darkened. "Darui."
Darui's presence was unexpected but not unexplainable. Kumo had always sought power, and the Fourth Raikage's desire to claim Jinchūriki was well-documented.
Darui's eyes widened when he saw Menma. "Uzumaki Menma?" His tone betrayed shock, though he quickly regained his composure.
Darui was no stranger to intelligence reports. Menma was a high-priority figure—someone the Raikage had his sights on for a long time. But now wasn't the time for that. Darui's team was battered from their pursuit of Yugō, and his chakra reserves were running low.
Menma's voice broke the silence. "Kabuto, heal Utakata-san. I'll handle this." He turned to Utakata, his tone softening. "Trust me, I mean no harm. Let's talk after this is over."
Before either Utakata or Kabuto could protest, Menma's chakra erupted.
"Boom!"
A crimson cloak of the Nine-Tails' chakra enveloped him, and in an instant, he vanished.
"Whoosh!"
Menma appeared in front of Darui and his team, his chakra raging like a storm. Darui gritted his teeth, his instincts screaming at him to retreat.
"Fall back!" Darui barked to his comrades.
Menma's smile turned cold. "Leaving already? I don't think so."
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a burst of smoke, a massive green lizard appeared, its menacing gaze fixed on the Kumo-nin.
"block their escape," Menma commanded.
"Yes, Menma-sama!" It growled, positioning itself to cut off Darui's retreat.
Desperation flickered in Darui's eyes as two of his comrades launched jutsu.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
"Lightning Release: Earth Flash!"
Bolts of lightning streaked toward it, but the lizard leaped into the air, its landing sending tremors through the earth. Debris shot up, intercepting the lightning attacks and forcing the Kumo-nin back.
Menma seized the opportunity.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Dozens of shuriken multiplied into hundreds, raining down on the Kumo-nin. Darui barely managed to erect an Earth-Style Wall, shielding himself and one other comrade. The rest weren't so fortunate, falling to the barrage.
---