The power of the cone-shaped Tailed Beast Bombs raining from the sky far surpassed those Naruto and Killer Bee had used to destroy the Gedo Mazo.
The sky was filled with these deadly projectiles, their range encompassing the entire Allied Shinobi Forces, including Kirito, who had been hiding among them.
Ignoring the incoming bombardment, Kirito's Byakugan caught a glimpse of a familiar figure underground. He immediately realized that his covert efforts were over.
On the battlefield, the Ten Tails had evolved to the point where it could support Obito's ascension as its jinchuriki. If left unchecked, the beast would grow beyond even Obito's control, despite his Rinnegan.
Obito seemed to understand this, using the "Tailed Beast Bomb Rain" as a distraction while preparing to seal the Ten Tails into himself and become its jinchuriki. While everyone focused on the descending bombs, he quietly prepared the ritual.
However, for Kirito, Obito as the Ten Tails Jinchuriki would not serve as a suitable medium to resurrect Kaguya. Instead, Obito would need to resurrect Madara, the intended vessel. All the conditions for Madara's resurrection had been met, and Kirito knew it was time to act.
[First, I need to deal with the Tailed Beast Bomb Rain. There's no point if everyone dies before I can act.]
As he observed the night sky, filled with descending bombs, TenTen's worried voice broke his thoughts.
"Kirito, what should we do now?" she asked.
TenTen wasn't concerned for herself—she had complete faith in Kirito's abilities to protect her. Her worry was for the others in the Allied Forces, who lacked the power to withstand such a devastating assault.
"It's fine, I—"
"Everyone, don't worry! We'll all survive this together!"
Before Kirito could finish, Naruto's voice resonated in everyone's mind. Not just Kirito, but the entire battlefield could hear him.
From a distance, Kirito's Byakugan caught sight of Naruto forming a familiar hand sign.
Bang, bang, bang! In an instant, countless shadow clones of Naruto appeared across the battlefield.
The clones dispersed, positioning themselves at the impact points of the incoming Tailed Beast Bombs.
"I'll destroy all the Tailed Beast Bombs in the air!" Naruto declared.
Without hesitation, the clones began channeling the Nine-Tails' chakra. Red, bubble-like cloaks formed around their bodies, signifying their partial transformation.
"Stop, Naruto!" Killer Bee, standing beside Naruto's real body, yelled. "The Nine-Tails' chakra hasn't fully recovered! Forcing it out could kill you!"
"I don't care! I won't let anyone die because of this!" Naruto shouted back, his determination unwavering.
Despite the Eight-Tails' warnings, Naruto's clones continued extracting the chakra. Each formed a "half-tailed beast" transformation, with fox heads emerging across the battlefield.
Simultaneously, the fox heads opened their mouths, condensing red and blue chakra into purple-black Tailed Beast Bombs.
"Tch. Fine, then let me help, too! Idiot, bastard!" Killer Bee muttered, transforming into his Eight-Tails form. Eight massive tentacles stretched out, aiming at the incoming bombs as he began forming his own Tailed Beast Bombs.
Watching Naruto's actions, Kirito turned to TenTen. "If Naruto's stopping the bombs, then I'll go straight for the masked man."
"Be careful," TenTen replied softly. She wanted to go with him but knew her limits. Staying behind was the best way to avoid being a burden. She trusted Kirito completely.
With a nod, Kirito dashed toward Obito.
Naruto's Counterattack
Whoosh!
Naruto's Tailed Beast Bombs launched into the air, colliding with the descending cone-shaped bombs.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The resulting explosions lit up the night sky like fireworks. Each impact forced the bombs to detonate mid-air, sparing the Allied Forces from their devastating impact.
The shockwaves from the explosions swept across the battlefield, causing unprepared shinobi to stumble like rice stalks swaying in a storm.
"Hehehe… Finally ready," Obito muttered, his lips curling into a sinister smile as he raised his hands to form a seal. "After you deal with the Tailed Beast Bombs, you'll face an even greater despair."
"Six Paths: Ten Tails Seal!"
The Ten Tails, tightly wrapped in its own tails, began to tremble violently. Its massive body collapsed inward, folding into a shrinking white sphere that floated mid-air.
The Emergence of the Ten Tails Jinchuriki
The Five Kage, who had been focusing on the bombs, noticed the Ten Tails' transformation but were too late to intervene.
"What's happening? Has the Ten Tails changed?" Ai asked, confused.
"No," Tsunade said uneasily. "This feels… different."
Crack!
The white sphere split open, revealing Obito in his new form as the Ten Tails Jinchuriki.
His skin was pale, his black hair turned white. Scaled patterns covered parts of his body, and five long horns sprouted from his shoulders. Behind him, a circular formation resembling the Rinnegan floated ominously.
In the chaotic battlefield, surrounded by explosions, Obito hovered silently in mid-air, his presence exuding an eerie calm.
"This is…" Gaara muttered, staring at Obito. "The Ten Tails Jinchuriki."
As a former jinchuriki himself, Gaara could feel the overwhelming, familiar energy radiating from Obito.
Kirito's Next Move
[He's quick, but this transformation won't last long.]
Kirito had already arrived on the battlefield, his eyes fixed on the floating Obito. Without hesitation, he charged straight toward him, prepared to face the newly ascended Ten Tails Jinchuriki head-on.
End of Chapter