Hmm? The clone was destroyed?
At the edge of the intense battlefield, Kakashi—who was locked in combat with a Cloud Shinobi—suddenly paused mid-strike. A flicker of surprise flashed through his eyes.
An opening!
The Cloud Chūnin who had been struggling under Kakashi's pressure instantly saw an opportunity. Seizing the moment, he lunged forward and thrust his kunai toward Kakashi's heart with all his might!
Swish!
A sharp gleam of light flickered—Kakashi's blade flashed.
The Cloud Shinobi froze. His eyes widened in disbelief as he grasped at the deep gash across his neck, blood spilling between his fingers. He stumbled and collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
How… how did he suddenly get so strong…?
Kakashi didn't spare him another glance. His attention was drawn toward the distant battlefield where two colossal beings clashed.
Off in the southeast, a massive pyramid-like structure dominated the field—towering, ominous, and emanating immense chakra.
That must be One Tail's most powerful sealing technique, Kakashi thought grimly.
When the battle had begun, Kakashi had created two Shadow Clones. One clone had maneuvered toward Minato-sensei's battlefield, while the other infiltrated the area where Killer Bee was stationed. Disguising themselves with transformation jutsu, the clones had pretended to be dead Cloud or Sand shinobi, lying in wait to observe and learn from the fierce combat taking place.
After all, wasting such a valuable opportunity on mere skirmishes at the edge of the battlefield would be foolish.
But even though his clone had kept a safe distance, it had still been caught in the shockwave of Shukaku's powerful sealing technique. The technique's range and chakra were overwhelming—true tailed beast power!
Still, the clone had succeeded in copying One Tail's forbidden technique before being destroyed.
Kakashi clenched his fists, both heartbroken and thrilled.
Massive gains from one clone… that was totally worth it.
---
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Across the battlefield, Shukaku roared as he opened his massive maw, ready to unleash a barrage of chakra blasts to wipe out the remaining Cloud Shinobi forces.
But just as he inhaled deeply to fire, a thunderous explosion erupted behind him.
"What?!" Shukaku whipped around in alarm.
The sandstorm that had buried Gyūki was blasted apart—sand flying in every direction—revealing the Eight-Tails, battered but very much alive!
The smoke cleared, and Gyūki emerged from the debris. His once-pristine body was riddled with wounds, and his expression was twisted in rage.
"Shukaku… you actually dared to pull this off…" Gyūki's voice was thunderous, his killing intent radiating like a storm.
He had underestimated his younger brother. Caught in Shukaku's sealing trap, he'd been forced to detonate a Tailed Beast Bomb at close range just to break free!
Though tailed beasts could regenerate quickly, the explosion had still left him severely injured. But more than the physical damage, it was the humiliation that burned deepest.
The great Eight-Tails had been fooled—by Shukaku of all beasts.
"Now you've done it!" Gyūki roared, his fury erupting like a tidal wave.
He raised his head. Dark, violent chakra swirled in his maw, rapidly condensing into a massive sphere—ten times the size of his head!
"What, are you going all out now?" Shukaku narrowed his eyes, his usual smugness gone. He knew the danger of a full-powered Tailed Beast Bomb.
If he took it head-on, even he wouldn't survive.
No time to dodge.
In response, Shukaku also charged his chakra, his entire body trembling from the pressure. A similarly massive black sphere formed at his mouth—the terrifying essence of another Tailed Beast Bomb!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With a deafening rumble, both beasts launched their attacks simultaneously.
Two immense spheres of death surged forward—and collided in the sky.
Flash!
A blinding white light engulfed the battlefield. The very sky and earth trembled, changing color from the sheer magnitude of chakra clashing.
Then, silence…
Followed by the world's roar.
A hemispherical shockwave expanded outward like a dome of destruction, obliterating everything in its path.
Thousands of ninjas, too slow to escape, could only stare in despair as the wall of annihilation consumed them.
No screams. No remains. Just silence… and nothingness.
Entire units were erased from existence—no limbs, no weapons—nothing left but scorched earth and howling wind.
The explosion's aftermath left even the most hardened veterans frozen. In that instant, they understood the terrifying truth:
They were just specks of dust before the wrath of a tailed beast.
Damn it… What pushed One Tail and Eight Tails to such madness?!
---
Meanwhile, the Third Raikage and Fourth Kazekage—locked in combat near the center of the battlefield—abruptly stopped and turned toward the colossal mushroom cloud in the distance.
Their expressions darkened.
Minato, arriving a second later, looked at the devastation and felt a chill in his heart.
If Konoha is ever attacked on this scale… will Kushina have to transform into Nine Tails and fight like this?
No! Minato clenched his fists.
He made a silent vow.
No matter what happens, I will protect the village. I won't let it come to that!
---
The leaders quickly made their way toward the massive crater where the two beasts had clashed.
In the center, the ground had been scorched to glass. Smoke and heat shimmered in the air. There, the Jinchūriki—Killer Bee and Bunpuku—lay unconscious in their human forms.
Killer Bee was in his brother Ai's arms. On the other side, Bunpuku was cradled by Chiyo.
Both men were severely injured, but still alive—saved by the tailed beasts' immense regenerative abilities.
"Get medical teams—now!" shouted both the Third Raikage and Rasa.
The Jinchūriki were the ultimate strategic assets of their villages. No risks could be taken.
Without hesitation, Ai and Chiyo each carried their Jinchūriki and retreated in opposite directions, heading toward their respective support squads.
"Help! Medical ninjas, over here!"
---
As the battlefield quieted slightly, the Third Raikage and Rasa exchanged a long look.
So many lives had been lost. Entire battalions wiped out.
They couldn't let this war end inconclusively.
"Report!"
A Cloud Shinobi messenger sprinted into view and dropped to one knee before the Raikage.
"Lord Raikage! Four to five hundred Konoha Shinobi have breached the rear of our camp!"
"They appear to be Uchiha! The Uchiha clan leader is leading them personally!"
"The Anbu guards stationed there can't hold them off any longer!"
"What?!" the Third Raikage's face turned pale.
Konoha reinforcements… at such a critical time?
And the Uchiha clan, no less!
He clenched his fists.
Just moments ago, Bi and the wounded were sent back to camp…
If the Uchiha take that position… the consequences are unimaginable!
He stood still, calculating furiously. His expression changed several times in just seconds.
Then he made a decision.
"Damn Konoha!"
His voice trembled with rage.
"Pass the order! All troops—return to camp immediately! Repel the Uchiha invasion and withdraw from the Land of Wind!"
"And what about the Sand Shinobi still pressing from the front?!" an aide cried.
The Raikage's eyes narrowed.
"I'll stop them myself!"
Gasps erupted from his subordinates.
"No, Lord Raikage! That's too dangerous! Let us handle the rear guard!"
"You're the leader of the Cloud—your life must be protected!"
But the Raikage turned to them, eyes blazing.
"This is an order."
His words cracked through the air like thunder.
The aura of a true Kage burst forth, suppressing all resistance.
"As long as I live, I am your Raikage. And I order you to retreat!"
"…Yes!!!" the Cloud Shinobi responded, voices trembling with emotion.
Tears glistened in their eyes. They knew this was more than an order—it was a sacrifice.
No matter how powerful he was, facing thousands of enemy shinobi alone… it was a death sentence.
"Lord Raikage... please return safely!"
With one final salute, the Cloud Shinobi scattered in all directions, racing to relay the command.
As they disappeared, the Third Raikage turned his gaze once more toward Rasa, Minato, and the Sand forces still on the field.
A fierce smile crept onto his face.
"The earlier fight wasn't enough. That didn't satisfy me."
"So this time… all of you, come at me together!"