---
Even with all his discipline and composure, Kakashi's face couldn't hide his shock as the full form of Shukaku, the One-Tail, emerged. One of the nine Tailed Beasts had appeared in the village. The memory of the Nine-Tails' attack on the Hidden Leaf twelve years ago was still fresh in his mind. Though Shukaku wasn't as powerful as Kurama, the Nine-Tails, he was still a Tailed Beast—an overwhelming force no ordinary shinobi could withstand.
Shiranui Genma, Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and Might Guy, all elite Jōnin, wore grim expressions as they watched Shukaku's colossal form wreak havoc on the village.
Meanwhile, inside the Four Violet Flames Formation atop the arena, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was locked in a fierce battle with Orochimaru. His face twisted into a grimace as he summoned Enma, his personal summon, barely avoiding Hashirama's weakened Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.
Hiruzen's eyes widened in horror as he saw Shukaku rampaging through Konoha. His thoughts raced back to the Nine-Tails' attack all those years ago.
"Damn you, Orochimaru!" Hiruzen growled, his voice thick with fury. "You brought Shukaku here... and corrupted Menma!"
Orochimaru's serpent-like smile widened. "Corrupted? Sarutobi-sensei, you give me too much credit. Menma came to me willingly in the Forest of Death. It's no surprise. He's the son of Minato and Kushina. But more than that, Menma knew the truth long before our meeting. He knows who he really is, Sarutobi-sensei."
Orochimaru's joy deepened as he savored Hiruzen's anger.
"What are you talking about!?" Hiruzen's voice trembled, more from the weight of Orochimaru's words than from exhaustion.
"Why deny it? Menma's been aware for years. This village, this system—it failed him. Now, he's chosen his own path. A path that no longer includes Konoha," Orochimaru sneered. "So, enjoy these last moments of your life, Sarutobi-sensei. Soon, this village will fall, and you along with it."
With a cold laugh, Orochimaru gave the signal. "Now... attack!"
Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, reanimated by Orochimaru's Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation, surged forward, their eyes lifeless as they renewed their assault on their former student.
Down below, the situation was dire. Gaara had fully transformed into Shukaku, and his chakra was overflowing without restraint. His wild laughter echoed through the village.
"I'M FREE!" Shukaku roared, his voice filled with the joy of release.
With a thunderous laugh, Shukaku slammed his massive tail into the ground, causing the earth to shake violently. Kakashi, Asuma, Genma, and Kurenai barely managed to leap out of the way, forced to retreat from the raw power.
"Wind Style: Drilling Air Bullet!" Shukaku bellowed.
A barrage of compressed air bullets shot from his mouth, hurtling toward the stands filled with spectators.
"Not good!" Kakashi muttered, rapidly forming hand seals. "Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
A massive wall of earth erupted from the ground, shaped like snarling dog heads. The structure held firm, but...
"Boom!"
The air bullets tore through the wall like paper, sending debris flying. One projectile slammed into the front rows of the audience, instantly killing many who had been frozen in fear. Another struck the arena's structure, causing huge chunks of rubble to rain down on the terrified crowd.
Might Guy rushed forward, smashing through the falling debris with his fists, desperately trying to save as many people as possible. But despite his speed, the destruction was too much. Blood soaked the ground, and the sight of torn limbs and crushed bodies turned the scene into a nightmare.
"Damn it!" Kakashi cursed, his Sharingan spinning furiously as he assessed the situation.
"Hahahaha!" Shukaku's sadistic laughter echoed across the arena. "No one can stop me!"
Even Kakashi, with his Sharingan, was no match for the sheer power of a Tailed Beast. Without the Mangekyō Sharingan, subduing Shukaku was nearly impossible.
In the original battle, Naruto had only won by summoning Gamabunta and managing to wake Gaara, forcing Shukaku back. But this time, Gaara was fully submerged, and Shukaku was in complete control.
"Keep going, Shukaku!" Menma called from atop a crumbling wall, his voice filled with malice as he watched the destruction unfold. "Let them feel true despair! Let Konoha burn!"
---
Kakashi and Asuma stood no chance of defeating Shukaku on their own. Even holding him off seemed like an impossible task. Yet, among those present, there was one who could stand a chance.
Just as Shukaku unleashed another deadly Wind Release attack, killing hundreds of civilians and overwhelming Kakashi and the others, the beast prepared for an even greater rampage. But before he could act:
"Konoha Dynamic Entry!!"
A thunderous voice boomed from Shukaku's side. A large figure, cloaked in terrifying chakra, appeared and delivered a devastating kick.
BOOM!
The strike landed with immense force, crashing into Shukaku's side and sending a shockwave through the battlefield. The sheer power of the attack disrupted the chakra Shukaku had been gathering, violently knocking the One-Tail off his feet and sending him hurtling toward the outskirts of the village, away from the arena.
WHAM!
Shukaku crashed to the ground, the earth quaking under the weight of his colossal form.
The sudden blow caught everyone's attention. The Suna-nin, including Baki, Kankurō, and Temari, stared in disbelief as their mighty Tailed Beast was thrown across the battlefield.
"This... this is impossible! That's Shukaku!" Kankurō shouted in shock. "Could it be… Jiraiya of the Sannin?"
All eyes turned toward the figure responsible for the powerful strike, but it wasn't Jiraiya. Instead, it was a man cloaked in a brilliant blue aura of chakra—a figure well-known in Konoha.
"That's...!" Menma's once-confident expression faltered as he whispered, "Might Guy... using the Eight Gates!"
Menma's eyes narrowed, sensing the imminent danger. Kakashi, Genma, and the others, who had been struggling to hold off Shukaku, let out a collective sigh of relief upon seeing who had come to their aid.
"Guy!" Kakashi called out, recognizing the chakra signature of his lifelong rival and friend.
Without Might Guy's intervention, Shukaku would have continued his deadly rampage, causing even more casualties among the villagers. The destruction of Konoha seemed inevitable.
"I'll handle this monster," Might Guy declared as he stood on the edge of a crumbling wall, his voice calm yet resolute. The air around him crackled with the power of the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates Formation. Though Guy had yet to unleash the full might of the Eighth Gate—the Gate of Death—the strength he displayed in his current state was more than enough to challenge Shukaku.
Even at the Sixth Gate, Guy's abilities rivaled those of Kage-level shinobi. With the Seventh Gate, he had previously defeated Kisame Hoshigaki, a man whose chakra reserves rivaled that of a Tailed Beast. Now, facing a fully unleashed Shukaku, Guy was ready for battle.
"Kakashi, leave the small fry to Asuma, Kurenai, and Genma. I've got this beast!" Guy said, his eyes locked on Shukaku.
Before Kakashi could respond, Guy had already dashed forward, his speed generating gusts of wind as he charged directly at the One-Tail.
"Guy, wait—!" Kakashi called out, but Guy was already too far ahead.
"Asuma, Genma, Kurenai," Kakashi said, turning to his comrades, "it's up to you now. I need to back up Guy. Naruto," he added, glancing at the young shinobi who was frozen in place, "this is a battlefield. Whatever happens with Menma, we can't let our emotions cloud our judgment. We'll handle the village and Menma after the fight. Hesitation will only lead to more pain—for you and everyone else. Do you really want to be on opposite sides with your brother forever?"
Naruto snapped out of his daze, the weight of Kakashi's words sinking in. His expression hardened with resolve as he nodded. "I understand, Kakashi-sensei. I'll stop Menma... but we can deal with everything else after!"
"Good." Kakashi nodded in approval, pleased to see Naruto regaining his focus.
Just as Kakashi was about to follow Guy, a gust of wind chakra forced him to halt. Baki, one of the Suna elite, appeared in front of him, ready to block his path.
"Wind Release: Blade of Wind!" Baki shouted,sending a razor-sharp arc of wind chakra toward Kakashi.
Kakashi dodged the attack, but it was clear Baki wasn't going to let him support Guy. The Suna-nin had kept their distance earlier, trusting Shukaku to handle Kakashi and the others. But after witnessing Guy's incredible power, Baki knew they couldn't afford to let Kakashi join the fight. Defeating Shukaku was out of the question for them.
Kakashi and Baki squared off, ready for the next round of battle.
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