Chapter 73 The Aftermath of the Fourth Shinobi World War / The Nine-Tailed Fox's Chaos (Part 3...)

Let's go back to the time when the Sage of Six Paths used the Samsara technique.

Several days have passed since the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War. Konoha Village has begun a difficult reconstruction amidst the ruins. The air still carries a faint scent of blood and scorched earth, but the survivors have begun to mend their broken lives.

The Hokage's office.

Tsunade was discussing reconstruction plans with Shikamaru when she suddenly sensed an immense, vibrant chakra surge enveloping the entire village and even beyond.

She suddenly stood up and pushed open the window, only to see the sky enveloped in a sacred and gentle golden light.

"This chakra...is it the Sage of Six Paths? Wait, could it be!" She instantly realized that this was not targeting any individual, but rather an unimaginable ninjutsu covering the entire world.

What does the Sage of Six Paths want to do?

With this question in mind, Tsunade soon found out the answer.

Temporary resettlement site at the former site of the ninja academy.

Naruto was helping to move supplies when suddenly his heart skipped a beat, and the deep connection he felt made him freeze. The supplies in his hands fell to the ground with a thud, and he instinctively turned his head to look in a certain direction.

"What's wrong, Naruto?" Sakura asked with concern.

Before the words were finished, under the astonished gazes of the surrounding crowd, two figures slowly materialized in the soft golden light—one with fiery red hair, and the other with warm, sun-like golden hair.

"Minato? Kushina?" Kakashi, who had just arrived, stared wide-eyed, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Kushina first looked at her hands in confusion, then her dark brown eyes instantly locked onto the blond, blue-eyed boy with a beard and birthmark on his face. Tears welled up instantly: "Naruto..."

Minato Namikaze immediately looked at his son, his usually gentle and composed face revealing an uncontrollable sense of pride and satisfaction.

"Dad... Mom...?" Naruto murmured in his sleep, his mind blank.

It wasn't until Kushina rushed over and pulled him into a tight embrace that his shattered reason began to come back together. That real, warm embrace, with its faint scent of soap, brought him back to his senses.

Minato Namikaze also came over and embraced his wife and children.

"Mom! Dad!" Naruto snapped out of his daze, grabbed his parents tightly, and burst into tears, as if he were crying out all the grievances he had held for over a decade.

Nara family.

Shikamaru was sorting through his father Shikaku's belongings in the study, his heart heavy. Suddenly, he heard that familiar voice behind him, etched into his very bones, carrying its usual languidness and concern:

"I've told you so many times, documents need to be categorized and archived according to urgency and importance. This mess is just unbearable..."

Shikamaru was frozen in place, stiffly turning around little by little. He saw the man with the spiky ponytail and a slightly helpless smile on his face standing vividly in the doorway, backlit, his figure so real.

"Dad...?" Shikamaru's scroll slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. He opened his mouth, but a thousand words stuck in his throat, and in the end, they all turned into a trembling complaint, "Seriously, this is too much trouble."

Seeing his son's eyes instantly redden, Lu Jiu smiled, walked over, and patted his head.

Akimichi family.

Choji channeled his grief and anger into his appetite, devouring grilled meat in an attempt to fill the void in his heart after his father's death. Just then, the door was pushed open, and a burly figure stood backlit, a loud and familiar voice ringing out:

"Choji! You little brat, you didn't even invite me to eat barbecue!"

Dingci's chopsticks clattered onto the table. He looked up at that kind, smiling face, opened his mouth, and a surge of immense joy and grievance welled up inside him. He burst into tears, like a child who had been lost for a long time and finally found his way home. He dropped the grilled meat and rushed over, crying, "Dad! I missed you so much!"

Choza Akimichi caught his son's trembling body, patting his back to comfort him while looking at his own body, now fully recovered. He recalled the words he had heard in the hazy darkness: ["Otsutsuki...Mirai..."]

Hyuga Family Training Ground.

Neji was silently practicing Gentle Fist. Suddenly, a familiar, gentle chakra aura appeared behind him.

He shuddered, slowly stopped his attack, and turned around. He saw his father, whom he thought he had said goodbye to forever—Hizashi Hyuga—standing in the courtyard, quietly watching him.

The next second, Neji was shocked to discover that the cursed mark on his father's forehead, symbolizing the "Caged Bird," had completely disappeared.

"Neji," Hizashi sighed, his eyes filled with relief and contentment as he looked at his son. "You've worked hard."

......

The same scene was happening in various parts of the village:

A flower shop in the mountains.

Ino looked at her father standing at the shop entrance, burst into tears of joy, and rushed over to hug him.

Yamanaka Inoichi was startled and quickly caught his daughter, laughing, "Why are you crying? Your face is all messed up with tears. Aren't you the most vain person?"

Ino: "Let's not talk about these things now, Dad!"

The former territory of the Uchiha clan, the Naka River.

Sasuke turned to leave, but suddenly stopped—looking at the silent figure staring at him with a complex expression, not knowing how long the figure had been watching him, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, his voice suppressed as he called out, "Itachi...!"

It seems the "rift" between the two brothers still needs to be repaired.

Konoha Hospital.

Tsunade looked at Dan Kato, who was smiling and calling her name, and tears streamed down her face.

"Why didn't you come to see me? If I hadn't happened to be at the hospital and had some things to do, I wouldn't have been able to see you..."

Kato Dan walked over, hugged Tsunade, and said in a gentle but helpless voice, "I didn't know where you were. I came to the hospital because I thought your healing techniques were the best, and the hospital was the place where you were most likely to be."

Tsunade sniffed.

If others saw her acting like a spoiled little girl, they would probably be dumbfounded.

"Who doesn't know me, Tsunade Senju! Just ask any villager and you'll know."

"Okay, okay, it's my fault, don't cry."

"You didn't cry!"

Yes, yes, yes.

The Red House in the Evening Sun.

Hong stroked her swollen belly, feeling the familiar embrace and breath behind her, and hearing Asma's promise, "This time, I will be there to watch the child grow up," and tears streamed down her face.

......

Throughout the entire ninja world, all those who sacrificed themselves in the Fourth Shinobi World War, regardless of when they originally died—whether it was the Nine-Tails' attack, the Uchiha Clan Massacre many years ago, or even earlier battles—as long as their bodies or chakra had somehow survived during the Fourth Shinobi World War, such as through the Impure World Reincarnation technique, and then "died" again, were all resurrected at this moment by the Sage of Six Paths' Rinne Rebirth technique.

Although the Sage of Six Paths performed miracles and reversed life and death in order to deal with the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads in the future known as the "Otsutsuki Main Family," this did not prevent the survivors from immersing themselves in joy.

On the streets, in pubs, and in homes, one could see embraces and tears of joy at long-awaited reunions everywhere.

The return of lost relatives, teachers, companions, and friends, and the reunion of broken families, is a blessing that allows most people to temporarily forget their worries about the future and cherish every moment in the present.

At this time, there were still ten years left in the countdown to the Otsutsuki clan's planned invasion.

Just as families were reunited and enjoying themselves, a piece of news that sent shivers down the spines of the entire ninja world spread – Madara Uchiha had started again!

***

Madara made no attempt to conceal his intentions, announcing in a high-profile manner that in order to consolidate power, eliminate internal friction, and meet future challenges in the strongest possible way, he decided to "reorganize" the order of this world and establish a unified and efficient "order system".

To put it bluntly, it means to achieve the substantial unification of the entire world through absolute power.

The major nations and ninja villages, who had just recovered from the trauma of the Fourth Shinobi World War, were nearly devastated upon hearing this news.

It's only been a few days since things calmed down?! How come that demon is back again?! Although his reasons sound noble this time, isn't it essentially still the same old story of conquering by force?

What made them even more desperate was that the First Hokage, the world's only hope, the legendary God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, who was known as the Asura of the Shinobi World, had actually stood by Madara Uchiha's side this time!

Looking at those figures standing side by side once again, countless people seemed to have returned to the terrifying era when they were dominated by these two.

—This is unacceptable! How will they live after this?

Konoha was instantly thrust into the spotlight and became the target of public criticism.

"What do you Konoha mean by this?! How could the First Hokage help Madara Uchiha?!"

"Is it Konoha that wants to take this opportunity to unify the ninja world?!"

"We must get an explanation!"

Faced with accusations and questions from various countries, the Konoha leadership had no way to express their grievances.

The Konoha leadership, headed by Tsunade, is currently focused on a policy of simply giving up.

"There's nothing we can do," the Konoha diplomat said with a helpless and resigned expression when questioned. "Those are Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama. What they want to do, do you think we juniors can stop them? If you have a way, go ahead and stop them. Konoha will not interfere."

These remarks infuriated the other villages, but they were powerless to do anything about it.

Yes, who can stop those two? What's the use of cursing Konoha? Do they really dare to attack Konoha? Putting aside Konoha's own strength, just the thought of potentially angering Madara and Hashirama at the same time is enough to make any rational person give up the idea.

The Hokage's office.

Tsunade rubbed her throbbing temples, growing angrier the more she thought about it, and finally couldn't hold back, slamming her fist on the table.

"What is Grandpa thinking?!" She had tried to persuade him before.

She sought out Hashirama Senju and painstakingly analyzed the difficulties of unifying the world, the potential backlash, and the enormous problems with internal management.

However, Hashirama Senju looked at her with his clear yet somewhat matter-of-fact gaze and replied, "Tsuna, when Madara and I founded Konoha, many people opposed it, thinking we were being delusional. But look, now everyone accepts it quite well, doesn't that show that as long as the direction is right and you persevere, you will eventually succeed."

Tsunade almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Are building a village and unifying the entire world on the same level of difficulty?! But looking into her grandfather's eyes, which were filled with idealism and seemed to reflect the state of pursuing dreams with his best friend when he was young, she knew that she couldn't persuade him, she simply couldn't persuade him.

Left with no other choice, she could only place her hopes on her second grandfather, Tobirama Senju, who had also been resurrected and was known for his rationality and composure.

"Second Grandfather, can't you try to persuade them? Especially Grandpa! He's completely bewitched by Uchiha Madara!"

Tobirama Senju chuckled twice, his face expressionless.

He looked at Tsunade, who was gazing at him expectantly, and his tone was unusually resigned and powerless: "Do you think I haven't tried? But once my brother has made up his mind about something, especially when it involves Uchiha Madara, his stubbornness is beyond your imagination. As for Uchiha Madara, once he makes a decision, no one can sway him."

He was truly at his wit's end.

If Izuna were still alive, there might be a chance...

Even her resourceful second grandfather was helpless, and Tsunade was completely exasperated.

***

In between advancing the "great cause of unification," Madara Uchiha would sometimes glance at Tobirama Senju, who was following Hashirama, reluctantly but still doing his best to plan and fill in the gaps, and his thoughts would occasionally drift away.

This always reminded him of Izuna.

Should we revive Izuna?

...No, now is not the time. The thought had barely surfaced when Madara calmly rejected it in his mind.

He has already suffered a major setback in the matter of Konoha.

Looking back, if Izuna hadn't passed away so early, he might not have so easily formed an alliance with Hashirama to build the village.

After all, Izuna was so vehemently opposed to the reconciliation between the Uchiha and Senju, and even on his deathbed, he held Izuna's hand, telling him with heartbreaking words not to trust the Senju, not to trust Senju Hashirama.

And him? In the end, he still let Izuna down.

—Konoha is unworthy of Izuna's sacrifice.

This deep-seated sense of disappointment and betrayal towards Konoha, along with the guilt over Izuna's death, is one of the key reasons why Madara later became so obsessive and sought "perfect peace" at all costs.

Let's wait a little longer, Izuna.

Ban gazed into the distance.

Only when he creates a truly peaceful world and delivers a perfect answer will your resurrection be worthy of him.

***

Under Yan Sheng's "precision strike" cramming teaching, Uchiha Madara, with his amazing comprehension, swallowed the core knowledge points in the fields of politics, economics, and social management in just a few days.

However, due to his personality, he may still not be able to become a shrewd politician, but fortunately he has the ability to protect himself.

Now that the theoretical knowledge base is complete, the next step is the intense practical application phase.

Phase 1: Military Deterrence and Targeted Elimination (Estimated Time: Several Months - 1 Year)

Madara and Hashirama appeared directly in the residences of the Daimyo of the five great nations and the offices of the Kage of the major ninja villages, ignoring all defenses and making no attempt to conceal their power.

Then, the former issued a declaration. However, it was more of a proclamation than a declaration:

"The world needs a unified force to face future catastrophes. From this day forward, I, Uchiha Madara, will lead the establishment of a new order. Cooperation will allow for partial autonomy, resource and technology sharing, and joint defense against external enemies. Resist..."

He didn't continue speaking, but his Rinnegan turned slightly, and the phantom of the Outer Path Demon Statue appeared and disappeared behind him. The terrifying sense of oppression made all the rulers break out in a cold sweat, unable to muster the slightest thought of resistance.

Hashirama Senju, standing to the side, added in his seemingly gentle yet firm tone, "This is for the survival of the entire world. Please understand."

For some stubborn die-hards who try to secretly unite or launch a sneak attack, Madara's approach is direct—he or Hashirama will personally take action, using absolute power to uproot them along with their core forces, like crushing ants, thereby deterring all potential opponents.

Under this overwhelming military deterrence, large-scale military resistance has almost never occurred.

Phase Two: Establishing the Order Framework and Integrating Resources (Estimated Time: 1-3 years)

After forcefully eliminating the main obstacles, Ban began to build the framework for his rule.

First, he established a "United Union": he did not abolish the names of all countries, but instead established a power structure that was above all countries, and appointed himself as the supreme commander.

Hashirama Senju served as the vice commander, responsible for coordination and appeasement (?).

Tobirama Senju was forced to join, responsible for the specific design of the administrative system, the construction of the intelligence network, and the drafting of legal provisions—although he was a hundred times unwilling, he had no choice but to take on the task reluctantly in order to ensure efficiency and prevent his older brother and Madara from doing something even more outrageous.

Secondly, Ban forcibly integrated the resource channels and mission delegation systems of the major powers. All missions were uniformly received, evaluated, and allocated by the "United Alliance," and the rewards were uniformly paid by the Alliance's finances (initially mainly composed of the "contributions" of the original five major powers and mission commissions), thus avoiding vicious competition and mission barriers.

Important strategic resources, such as specific minerals and medicinal materials, are subject to control and unified allocation.

Phase Three: Strengthening People's Livelihoods and Winning Hearts and Minds (Timeframe uncertain, ongoing)

After being patiently taught by Yan Sheng, Ban realized that long-term rule could not rely solely on fear. He took Yan Sheng's advice into account and devoted some of his energy to improving people's livelihoods.

First, grain production.

Hashirama Senju's Wood Release technique played a godlike role in this regard. He was able to transform barren land into vast fertile farmlands, causing a surge in food production in a short period of time and initially solving the problem of food and clothing.

Secondly, basic medical care and education. The unified organization compiled general teaching materials and established basic medical points and schools in major towns to provide inexpensive medical services and basic cultural and chakra enlightenment education.

Thirdly, ensure a safe environment. Eliminate rampant rogue ninjas, wandering samurai, and bandit groups across the land, and safeguard trade routes and civilian settlements. For ninjas who surrender, incorporate them into the unified management system; those who stubbornly resist will be eliminated directly.

In summary, this series of combined measures quickly yielded results and responses.

The process of unifying the world was astonishingly fast; in just three years, the world's foundation had been firmly under Madara's control.

With the existence of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, two "human nuclear bombs," an absolute power imbalance was created in other countries where no other country had equivalent strength. Whatever they said was the truth.

With Tobirama Senju, a natural-born politician, and Konoha, a "backbone" whose fate is not necessarily intertwined with his own... with so many allies, it would be strange if Madara couldn't take it down in a short time.

The reason why Madara couldn't do it so easily in the previous world was ultimately because he was all alone.

After all, no matter how strong a person is, their energy is limited.

That said, what made the old ruling class feel even more powerless was the reaction of ordinary people.

For ordinary people struggling to make ends meet, who sits in the highest position and what their title is are not truly important. They only care about whether this year's taxes will be lower, whether the harvest in the fields will be better, whether they can sleep soundly at night, and whether there will be a place to treat their children's illnesses.

When the policies promoted by Madara and Hashirama truly transformed barren fields into fertile land, bandits gradually disappeared, and affordable medical clinics and schools appeared, the public's view of this "Uchiha Commander" began to shift from pure fear to awe. In some areas that directly benefited, genuine gratitude and support even emerged.

"Any ruler who can feed us, clothe us, and keep us from living in fear is a good ruler." This is the simplest and most genuine thought of many ordinary people.

Of course, undercurrents are still surging. The old forces' resentment, the ninjas' resistance to losing their independence, friction caused by cultural differences, and various problems in the implementation of the new system... all these constitute huge challenges for subsequent reforms, requiring far more time to adapt, adjust, and suppress than to conquer.

In any case, Madara Uchiha forcibly united the entire ninja world in a very short period of time, bringing an end to a chaotic era and laying an important foundation for the survival war ten years later.

......

A dimension that ordinary people cannot access.

The spiritual form of the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki, floated silently, like an ancient guardian, watching the earth-shattering changes that were taking place in the lower realm under the leadership of Madara Uchiha.

Looking at the world that had been forcibly woven together and was beginning to present an efficient but somewhat rigid order, his wrinkled face showed a complex expression, which finally turned into a long sigh as he stroked his snow-white beard.

He founded the Ninja Sect with the beautiful vision of using chakra as a "bond" to connect people and promote understanding and cooperation. He traveled the land, spreading his ideas and patiently guiding people, hoping that they could achieve spiritual communication through chakra and spontaneously move towards peace and mutual assistance.

Madara Uchiha, however, took a completely opposite "tyrannical" path. He used absolute power as his foundation, fear and intimidation as his driving force, and practical benefits as his bait to forcibly mold the fragmented world into the shape he desired.

One is like a gentle spring breeze, nourishing things silently; the other is like a thunderbolt, sweeping away everything in its path.

The spread of the Ninja Sect was a slow and natural process, relying on individual awareness and group recognition, and it was not without setbacks and frustrations.

The unification process of the stigmata was astonishingly fast.

Faced with an absolute power disparity, any complex game or lengthy negotiation becomes meaningless; obstacles are crushed directly, and the old order collapses in just a few years.

His efficiency stands in stark contrast to the arduous journey he had undertaken to spread his ideas, a journey that took him a lifetime of effort.

Ultimately, the Ninja Sect pursues peace of mind, inner harmony and understanding. It may be beautiful, but it often appears fragile in the face of reality.

The "order and peace" established by Ban focuses more on the unity and stability of "action". It does not demand that everyone can understand each other, but it uses powerful rules and force to forcibly eliminate large-scale and destructive conflicts, and guarantee the most basic survival and development.

One is a spiritual construct leaning towards an ideal world, and the other is a physical integration leaning towards the practical level.

In truth, the Sage of Six Paths' initial reaction to his eldest son's efficient yet ruthless methods of reincarnation was one of worry and disapproval. This contradicted his principles and was filled with coercion and oppression.

However, as time went on, seeing how, under the framework established by Ban, previously war-torn regions quickly stabilized, infrastructure development was implemented, food production increased, and the safety and basic livelihoods of civilians were guaranteed like never before... he couldn't help but waver.

He recalled that after he founded the Ninjutsu, his chakra was ultimately used mainly for fighting and war, giving rise to countless ninjutsu and killing techniques. Wasn't this an irony of his original intention?

The understanding and peace he longed for have remained elusive and unattainable throughout history, like a mirage.

"Am I being too idealistic?" the Sage of Six Paths murmured to himself.

He realized that he had sown the seeds back then, but failed, or rather, was unable to provide them with fertile soil to withstand the wind and rain and grow strong.

Madara Uchiha, on the other hand, forcibly transformed the soil itself with his power, forcing all the individuals within it to live under the new rules, regardless of their willingness.

"Unify with force, maintain with benefits, regulate with order..." He savored this path, which was completely different from his own. "Although it lacks warmth, it is highly efficient. When facing an imminent crisis of survival, this may be the best choice."

Although he still did not completely agree with Ban's approach, which was too rigid and lacked resilience, the entire system could collapse instantly if the core strength was compromised.

Moreover, the sustainability of such an order, built upon the absolute power of individuals, is questionable.

"Mother... if you saw this scene today, what would you think?" The Sage of Six Paths' gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, seeing his mother, Princess Kaguya, who had once brought peace but ultimately went to extremes due to fear and the desire for control.

Power itself is neither good nor evil; the key lies in the person who uses it and their purpose. While Madara's method of using power was certainly domineering, his stated goal was to deal with a threat from outer space that even he found difficult to handle.

Finally, the Sage of Six Paths withdrew his hand from stroking his beard, and his figure gradually faded into nothingness.

He chose to remain an observer, just as he has for thousands of years, never interfering.

Since we have placed our hopes on the people of this era, and since Madara Uchiha has taken on this heavy responsibility in his own way, let's see where this controversial "tyrannical path" will lead the world.

***

After imparting the last piece of knowledge about "how to implement an effective rationing system in a resource-scarce environment" to Madara Uchiha, Yan Sheng left just as quietly as he had arrived.

He has laid the groundwork for the future of this world; the rest is up to the people of this world to write and deal with.

......

The night was deep and all was quiet.

The familiar Konoha cityscape unfolded before my eyes. The towering Hokage Rock stood silently in the moonlight, and rows of houses stood side by side, most of their windows dark, indicating that the residents were sound asleep.

However, despite the apparent calm, a subtle yet unsettling sense of oppression permeated the air, along with... a faint but insidious aura of chakra, tinged with madness and violence.

He recognized the aura; it belonged to the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Just after he focused his mind on sensing.

"roar--!"

A deafening roar, filled with intense hatred and a desire for destruction, abruptly shattered the tranquility of Konoha like a thunderclap.

In the distance, on the edge of the village, a colossal figure, engulfed in crimson chakra flames, suddenly appeared. It possessed nine tails as large as mountains, and the shockwave from its mere appearance instantly destroyed the buildings in that area, sending rubble and wood chips flying like a torrential downpour.

It's the Nine-Tails. It has completely broken free from the Jinchūriki's control and is wreaking havoc.

Immediately afterwards, a piercing alarm sounded throughout Konoha.

Lights began to illuminate the once-dark windows one after another, and panicked shouts, cries, and the hurried footsteps of ninjas mingled together, instantly turning the peaceful night into chaos and terror.

Yan Sheng stood still, his dark casual clothes fluttering in the raging wind stirred up by the appearance of the Nine-Tailed Fox. He calmly watched the rampaging beast in the distance, seeing it swing its claws and tail, easily leveling houses one after another.

"Is this time... the Nine-Tails' rampage?" He immediately determined the specific time and space point in which he was located.

This was a major disaster in Konoha's history, and the death of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and his wife, Kushina Uzumaki.

Naruto Uzumaki was born on this day, which is also the anniversary of his parents' death.

Yan Sheng saw countless Konoha ninjas charging fearlessly toward the Nine-Tails, trying to stop its advance with various ninjutsu, explosive tags, and even their lives. However, faced with the terrifying power disparity, their efforts were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and ninjas were constantly being reduced to dust under the Nine-Tails' attacks.

In the distant night sky, a massive barrier was faintly rising, attempting to restrict the Nine-Tails' range of movement; it was the Third Hokage and his subordinates struggling to hold it up.

In the chaos, Yan Sheng rushed over, his gaze piercing through the smoke and distance, catching sight of two conspicuous figures—

His dazzling blond hair stood out even in the darkness and against the backdrop of the Nine-Tails' crimson glow. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was using the Flying Thunder God Technique to flash across the battlefield, doing his utmost to rescue civilians and ninjas caught in the crossfire, while simultaneously searching for an opportunity to subdue the Nine-Tails.

Directly in front of the Nine-Tails, a woman with fiery red hair, Kushina Uzumaki, leaned weakly against a boulder. There were obvious signs of the seal being removed from her abdomen, and her life force was like a flickering candle in the wind. Yet, she still struggled to stay afloat, using the remaining chakra of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques to condense countless thick, diamond-like chains that tightly bound the Nine-Tails' limbs and head, using her last strength to restrict its movements and buy time for Minato and the other ninja.

"Minato... quick..." Kushina's voice was weak but firm, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

The scene before him was exactly the same as the historical records Yan Sheng knew.

A tragedy that was destined to happen if no one intervened is unfolding.

***

Just as the Nine-Tails broke free from some of the Adamantine Seals, its giant claws, carrying devastating power, were about to slam into a crowded refuge area. Minato Namikaze, preoccupied with rescuing someone else, was unable to reach it, and everyone was plunged into despair—

A figure, like a dark blue meteor tearing through the night sky, appeared suddenly between the giant fox claw and the vulnerable crowd.

His dark casual clothes clung to his body amidst the raging chakra currents, outlining his long, slender figure that exuded explosive power. Facing the massive claw that pressed down like a mountain, his face remained expressionless; he simply and calmly raised the hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

"Breathing of the Moon".

His deep voice seemed to possess a strange magic, drowning out the noise of the scene. The blade was not fully drawn, only a section of its gleaming edge was visible, and a cold, eerie blue light shot into the sky.

"...First Form: Dark Moon: Night Palace".

An extremely refined, crescent-shaped blue slash appeared out of thin air as if teleported, silently traversing the space.

"laugh--!"

A muffled thud, like a sharp blade slicing through tough leather.

The Nine-Tails' massive claws, powerful enough to shatter mountains, were forcibly cleaved in two the instant they touched the blue crescent moon. The enormous chakra structure was forcibly severed, and dark red chakra gushed forth from the break like a fountain.

"roar!"

The Nine-Tailed Fox roared with even greater pain and rage than before. It retracted its injured forepaws, its nine tails thrashed wildly, and its single, scarlet eye locked onto the tiny human below who had caused it such excruciating pain.

"Who...who is that?!" A Konoha Jonin who was forming hand seals stared in disbelief, forgetting to continue the hand seals.

"Wow, so powerful! It severed the Nine-Tails' forelegs with a single strike?!"

"Look at his eyes! That's... Sharingan?! No, no! I've never seen the pattern before! It's the Mangekyou Sharingan?! When did the Uchiha clan have such a person?!" A knowledgeable ninja saw the swirling, never-before-seen complex pattern in Yan Sheng's eyes and was shocked.

Although the Uchiha clan is powerful, in their understanding, there is no one else besides the legendary Uchiha Madara who can directly confront and even injure the fully-formed Nine-Tails.

Minato Namikaze, who had just saved several civilians with his Flying Thunder God Technique, suddenly narrowed his blue pupils upon seeing this scene.

This person... is incredibly strong! However, I've never seen him before. Is there such a person in the Uchiha clan? There's no way he hasn't heard of him.

Kushina Uzumaki, who was leaning weakly against something, also saw this scene, and a glimmer of hope appeared on her pale face.

Yan Sheng ignored the shock and speculation around him. Having succeeded in his attack, he did not stop and continued to charge towards the enraged Nine-Tailed Fox.

"Roar!" The Nine-Tails opened its massive maw, and a Tailed Beast Ball radiating an aura of destruction rapidly condensed into shape.

"Don't even think about it!" Several members of the secret service tried to step forward to interfere.

But Yan Sheng was even faster. He seemed to have anticipated the Nine-Tails' movements and approached before the Tailed Beast Ball was fully formed.

"Breathing of the Moon, Form 5, Lunar Calamity Vortex".

The longsword in his hand was finally fully drawn, its blade surrounded by a cold yet deadly halo like moonlight. With each swing, countless crescent-shaped and straight slashes of varying sizes and treacherous trajectories intertwined into a destructive storm, like a death vortex suddenly unleashed under the moon, instantly engulfing the Nine-Tails' head and even its upper body.

Boom boom boom boom—!

The dense slashes cut into the Nine-Tails' massive chakra-based body, unleashing a continuous roar. Each slash possessed the ability to tear everything apart; the Nine-Tails' thick chakra cloak was easily ripped open like paper, revealing the even deeper chakra core beneath, which emitted a painful howl.

The unformed Tailed Beast Ball also fluctuated violently under the interference of the slash, and finally dissipated unwillingly.

"How is this possible?! He's actually... dominating the Nine-Tails?"

"Those slashes... what kind of ninjutsu are they? I've never seen them before!"

"The power of the Mangekyou Sharingan... can it really reach this level?"

The Konoha ninjas were captivated by what they saw, yet also felt a chill run down their spines.

After all, they didn't know this person and didn't know whether he was a friend or foe.

Yan Sheng's figure danced under the moonlight, each swing of his sword bringing with it a poignant blue moonlight, as well as the splashing chakra and painful roars of the Nine-Tails.

He didn't possess the powerful Wood Release of Hashirama Senju to forcefully suppress the Nine-Tails, nor could he use Susanoo to keep the Nine-Tails unable to get up for an extended period like Madara Uchiha. Instead, he used an exquisite and destructive sword technique to treat the Nine-Tails as a giant live target, precisely and cruelly "slicing" it.

—For beings standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world, tailed beasts are indeed not an insurmountable disaster.

Before Yan Sheng, the Nine-Tails' enormous size and ferocious power became a symbol of clumsiness. With the sword in his hand, he demonstrated to all who witnessed this scene what it meant to have power "above the tailed beasts".

This battle was less a life-or-death struggle and more a one-sided, overwhelming performance. And the audience was the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

The Nine-Tails was utterly enraged. It abandoned its long-range attack plan, and its nine massive tails, like collapsing mountains, slammed down on Yan Sheng from all directions with a piercing shriek that tore through the air. At the same time, it opened its blood-red maw, and its sharp teeth, brimming with terrifying chakra, bit down fiercely, determined to crush this wretched insect along with the space around it.

Faced with this overwhelming attack, Yan Sheng's eyes remained calm and unwavering. He didn't even try to dodge.

"Breathing of the Moon, Land Form, Long Night Lonely Moon, No End".

His longsword traced a long and mysterious path, the moonlight on its blade suddenly surging, as if a solitary blue moon had bloomed before him. Countless fine, sharp, and chilling slashes spread outwards from him as if without end, forming an impenetrable defensive circle.

It's worth mentioning that the original Land Form required the assistance of the Setsuna Yoka to be used, as the human body couldn't withstand this attack. However, after being recharged by Hashirama Senju in the previous world, it seems that his physical strength has been enhanced... I wonder if it's related to Kaguya activating his bloodline... Anyway, he can use it now.

"Boom boom boom boom—!"

The Nine-Tailed Fox's tail and sharp teeth collided with the blue slashing storm, unleashing a deafening roar. The imagined scene of Yan Sheng being smashed into mincemeat or bitten to pieces did not materialize. Those attacks, powerful enough to destroy mountains, were weakened, sliced, and deflected layer by layer the instant they touched the moonlight slashes.

The incredibly tough tailed beast chakra was torn apart inch by inch, and countless grotesque wounds, deep enough to reveal bone, appeared on its massive tail. The Nine-Tails, in pain, had no choice but to howl and withdraw its attack.

Its bite was blocked by the omnipresent slashes, sparks flying from its fangs as if it were biting into an incredibly hard steel barrier covered with spikes.

The Konoha ninja watching the battle were speechless with shock. The attacks they had fought desperately to stop were easily neutralized by the mysterious Uchiha, as if it were child's play.

This enormous gap in strength gave them hope, but also a sense of indescribable fear.

Minato Namikaze appeared not far away. He originally wanted to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to intervene and assist, but when he saw what was happening in front of him, he stopped.

Kushina Uzumaki was barely holding on thanks to the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Seeing the overwhelming power displayed by Yan Sheng, the light of hope in her eyes grew even brighter, but the weakness brought on by the loss of her life force made her vision begin to blur.

So powerful... but... I must reseal the Nine-Tails as soon as possible... I... can't hold on much longer...

Yan Sheng sensed Kushina's rapidly declining aura and knew he could not delay any longer.

It's time to end this.

He took a deep breath, and his aura surged once more.

【Fleeting Beauty】, activated.

"Breath of the Moon - Form 14 - Calamity - Full Moon in the Sky".

He leaped into the air, as if merging with the bright moon in the night sky.

With each swing of the longsword, the attacks ceased to be scattered slashes, transforming into a colossal, crescent-shaped sword aura that seemed to connect heaven and earth. This sword aura possessed a deep, almost black, dark blue hue, with fragmented moonlight flowing along its edges. Wherever it passed, space itself seemed to groan and distort.

This crescent-shaped sword energy ignored the Nine-Tailed Fox's hastily released Tailed Beast Ball and its giant claws as it swung to block, and fiercely slashed through the Nine-Tailed Fox's massive body.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

The Nine-Tails' frenzied movements came to an abrupt halt, and an expression of disbelief, even a hint of...fear, appeared in its single crimson eye.

The next moment, a smooth, mirror-like cut appeared, extending from its shoulder blade all the way to its side. A massive amount of chakra poured out of the cut like a flood bursting its banks. Its body flickered, emitting a wail of pain and terror. Its massive body crashed to its knees, temporarily incapacitated.

With a single slash, just one slash, the fully-formed Nine-Tails was cut in two.

The scene fell into a deathly silence.

Yan Sheng landed lightly on the ground, the tip of his knife pointing diagonally at the ground, his breathing steady, as if the earth-shattering blow just now was just a casual gesture.

He didn't even glance at the Nine-Tails, who had lost the ability to resist, but instead turned his gaze to Kushina Uzumaki, who was like a candle flickering in the wind, and walked over.

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Author's Note: Where did Kakashi's eyes come from...? Well, it all comes down to that one wicked and stupid guy who bumped right into me, so...

My brother's health is improving. Kaguya activated his Otsutsuki bloodline. The Otsutsuki clan may not be good at much else, but their physical abilities are truly beyond question. [doge emoji with rose in hand]