"What?"
The commander clearly hadn't grasped what was being said yet. However, he recognized the jōnin in front of him—someone he had seen before in Kumogakure—and could vouch for his trustworthiness.
"It's like this," the Kumo captain explained. "We encountered a Konoha ANBU squad carrying out a mission near Iwagakure. Their objective was to seize Iwa's war asset—the Five-Tails."
"During the mission, we crossed paths. In order to complete their objective, they entrusted the tailed beast to us."
"After that, Iwa's pursuit forces arrived. To buy us time, they stayed behind… the entire squad likely perished."
"They said there were instructions inside this scroll. Once you read it, everything will make sense."
"What?!"
The commander was visibly shaken. They had actually taken Iwagakure's tailed beast?
The Kumo captain then recounted the entire process in detail.
"That's impossible. Lord Raikage would have informed me if this were true."
The captain looked just as confused. "But those ANBU gave their lives to ensure we brought this back. We confirmed that the container definitely holds a tailed beast."
"Could there have been a problem with Lord Raikage's communications?"
"No—absolutely not," the commander shook his head. "Our last contact was only two days ago. If something like this happened, there's no way he wouldn't tell me."
"…Though now that you mention it, the liaison personnel were recently changed."
To be safe, he finally unrolled the scroll.
"Everyone, stay back."
No matter what the situation was, he had to read it. With his strength, even if this turned out to be a massive explosive tag, he would survive.
"Hm—this is bad!"
The moment the scroll opened, there was no writing—no explosive formula either. Instead, it was covered in twisted, chaotic sealing script.
At the center of the scroll was a single character:
"Release."
The instant the scroll was opened, that character began to glow red.
"Retreat!"
He flung the scroll away and grabbed the two sentries beside him, dragging them as he sprinted back.
At the same time, the massive water jar beside them began to shake violently. Fine cracks spread across its surface, and crimson chakra started leaking out.
The next instant, red chakra tore the container apart.
The overflowing chakra rapidly took form. Then the red faded, revealing a pure white body and five massive, swaying tails.
"Finally… freedom."
"ROOOAAR—!"
The Five-Tails let out an exhilarated roar, then lowered its gaze to the "ants" beneath its feet.
"The forehead protectors match. Then, according to his agreement… I'll cause some chaos here."
"I've been sealed for far too long. This will do nicely to stretch my legs."
"Five-Mountain Jump."
Watching the fleeing crowd below, the Five-Tails laughed as it leapt.
"Damn humans—time to pay your dues."
Thick steam surged from its front right leg as it slammed down.
"Boil Style: Unrivalled Strength."
The moment its hoof struck the ground, cracks exploded outward from the impact point, shattering the earth in all directions.
"Damn it!"
The commander had been prepared, but still hadn't expected the wave of scalding heat to slam into him. Several blisters instantly formed on his face.
When he looked back, the squad that had escorted the Five-Tails here had been completely wiped out by that single stomp—they clearly hadn't anticipated anything like this.
The entire Kumo camp now noticed the massive Five-Tails and rushed toward the scene.
The commander quickly understood the truth. That squad had been tricked—foolishly escorting the Five-Tails straight into their own camp.
"Idiots… tailed beasts are always guarded at the highest level. Unless the village itself hands one over willingly, who could ever steal one?"
He knew this was hindsight. If he'd been in their position, he likely would've fallen for it too.
After all, who would doubt it?
Someone stronger than you spares your life, dies in front of you to protect a secret, and the remaining comrades sacrifice themselves to cover your retreat—who would suspect a trap?
"Damn Iwagakure… they really went all in. Afraid we'd turn on them after dealing with Konoha?"
—
"All units—prepare to attack!"
The commander was clearly experienced and organized the response immediately.
"Too bad we don't have a sealing team. Our losses would've been cut in half."
"But since you sent the tailed beast to us, Iwagakure—don't expect to get it back."
"ROAR—!"
As attacks continuously rained down on it, the Five-Tails let out an angry bellow.
"Consider yourselves lucky. That man told me to kill fewer people this time."
"So I'll let you off—just this once."
The Five-Tails, Kokuō, opened its massive jaws. Black and red chakra droplets condensed rapidly, merging into an enormous sphere.
Tailed Beast Ball.
After adjusting the angle slightly, Kokuō fired it toward an area with fewer shinobi.
Seeing the incoming Tailed Beast Ball, the Kumo commander's face turned deathly pale.
That spot should've been the safest… the least likely to draw the Five-Tails' attention.
"Shouldn't it attack the shinobi nearby first? And the camp is so densely packed—why isn't it targeting that?"
There was no time left to wonder.
As the Tailed Beast Ball detonated, his consciousness vanished completely.
Red-and-black light reflected off the clouds. The ground trembled violently as a mushroom-like shockwave surged upward, rolling and expanding at terrifying speed.
Dust swallowed the land. The entire area seemed to collapse.
Even though Kokuō had deliberately aimed farther away, the sheer power of the Tailed Beast Ball was overwhelming. At least a quarter of the Kumo camp was obliterated instantly. The shockwave hurled countless shinobi into the air.
Debris rained down in all directions. Pebbles no larger than gravel struck like kunai, slicing long, thin wounds across bodies.
Not a single intact tent remained. Scalding air burned the lungs, forcing shinobi to flee instinctively toward the outskirts.
"What… is this? Am I dreaming?!"
Many Kumo-nin collapsed on the ground, unable to believe what they were seeing. As they ran, they screamed in terror:
"Run—run! It's a monster!!"
"That should be enough," Kokuō rumbled, satisfied as it gazed at the terror below.
"Steam Armor."
White steam erupted across its body as chakra vented from its joints like the whistle of a steam engine.
"Boil Style: Explosive Advance."
With all four legs moving, enhanced by Boil Release, Kokuō blasted away from the battlefield, leaving behind a contrail like a jet aircraft.
Some Kumo-nin tried to pursue, but they couldn't even come close. Wrapped in scorching steam, the Five-Tails quickly vanished from sight.
"Now then… where should I go next?"
A man's voice resurfaced in Kokuō's mind:
[If one day you wish to rest, come to the Land of Rain.]
[As long as you are not my enemy and remain within its borders, I have reason to protect you—including your freedom.]
[There may be fear at first, but all new things require time to be accepted. I will tell them that your existence is not evil. One day, the Land of Rain will erase its hatred toward you.]
[I swear this in the name of the Demigod…]
"If I remember correctly, it should be that way."
Kokuō lifted its hooves and charged off.
"Human I entrusted with my final trust—let me witness your sincerity!"
---
At the same moment as the explosion, within the distant Konoha camp, a white-haired man carrying a short blade on his back rose to his feet.
"There was a faint tremor… so weak it was almost negligible. But…"
He turned toward the direction of the Kumo camp.
"That came from Kumogakure? From this distance, I can still feel it?"
Stepping outside the tent, two Konoha shinobi immediately dropped to one knee.
"Lord Hatake."
Hatake Sakumo spoke calmly:
"Summon the White Fang Squad. Assemble in five minutes."
"Mission: reconnaissance on Kumogakure."
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