Witnessing the entire process of Five-Tails's appearance, Orochimaru's snake-like eyes on the high ground showed a hint of surprise.
"Two Tailed Beasts already? That's truly unexpected."
Two Tailed Beasts appearing at once was a rare sight even during wartime. For them to appear now, in a battle meant to preserve the One Country, One Village system, showed just how far the other villages were willing to go to protect the Daimyo's order. It wasn't loyalty anymore, it was desperation.
Orochimaru glanced sideways at Namikaze Mirai, immediately noticing the subtle change in his expression. His lips curled slightly with interest.
"Mirai, are you planning to make a move?" he asked.
"This battle has dragged on for too long." Mirai replied calmly. "It's time to end it."
The arrival of Five-Tails had added another unpredictable variable to the war. Mirai never liked wasting time. In his mind, drawn-out battles only gave chaos room to grow.
Beneath Orochimaru's feet, the earth began to tremble violently. Metal hidden under the ground rippled as though alive, gathering at a single point. Under the pull of electromagnetic force, the mass of metal fused together, shaping itself into an enormous throne. With a deep, rumbling roar, the throne broke through the surface, rising steadily toward the sky.
Jikai Gyokuza no Jutsu. (Metal Throne Summoning)
Mirai stepped onto the metallic structure, leaning casually against it as it floated upward, lifted by invisible magnetic currents. His golden hair shimmered beneath the lightning-filled clouds above. Orochimaru's gaze followed him, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
'Finally, he's moving.' Orochimaru thought. 'Let's see what kind of spectacle you create this time, Mirai-kun.'
…
The sudden appearance of Five-Tails on the battlefield brought overwhelming pressure to the Konoha forces. Among the nine Tailed Beasts, Five-Tails was one of the fastest, an embodiment of boiling steam and violent energy. Its speed ranked near the top of them all, and it also possessed Vapour-style, a deadly fusion of Fire and Water chakra.
"Vapour Style ∙ Unrivaled Strength!"
As Five-Tails' mature, sharp voice echoed across the field, dense white steam erupted around its massive body. Its muscles expanded, and its movement speed exploded beyond what the human eye could track. It tore through the battlefield like a rampaging train, the ground shattering beneath each thunderous stride.
Kra-boom! Boom!
Wherever it went, ninjas were pulverized into bloody fragments, their screams swallowed by the hiss of boiling air. Against a Tailed Beast's destructive might, ordinary ninjas were nothing but paper figures.
Raikage Ai watched with satisfaction, lightning arcs flashing across his body. His lips curved into a ferocious grin. "That Kitsuchi fellow isn't completely useless after all." he growled.
Compared to the Eight-Tails, Five-Tails' battlefield efficiency was terrifying. Its Vapour-style incinerated large areas, and its sheer kinetic force crushed everything in its path. It was a weapon of pure destruction, born for war.
"This can't go on." Uchiha Fugaku muttered grimly. His Sharingan eyes narrowed, locking on the rampaging Tailed Beast.
Five-Tails' rampage was beginning to tilt the tide of battle. As someone who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, Fugaku could suppress Tailed Beasts through sheer ocular power. If he could get close, he might still turn the situation around.
He gathered chakra, preparing to charge, until a voice thundered in front of him.
"Do you want to go over there? Did you get my permission?" Raikage Ai barked.
The Raikage stood before him, blue lightning flaring violently around his muscular frame. Only moments ago, he had been cursing Fugaku for hiding inside his Susanoo. Now he stood blocking Fugaku's path, unwilling to give him a chance to intervene.
Fugaku frowned. Ai was no ordinary opponent; even with the Mangekyō, he couldn't waste chakra recklessly. Before he could think of a counter, the battlefield suddenly erupted in gasps.
"Look! What's that?!"
The shouts drew everyone's attention skyward. Fugaku looked up, and a rare hint of relief crossed his stern face.
Floating high above the battlefield was a massive metallic throne, gleaming under the sun. It hovered silently in the air, like a monument of war descending from the heavens. Seated upon it was a lone figure, golden hair dancing with the wind, his calm, azure eyes surveying the carnage below.
"Hokage! The Fifth Hokage!"
"Hokage-sama is here!"
In an instant, cheers erupted across the battlefield. The demoralized Konoha forces felt a surge of strength and unity. To them, Namikaze Mirai wasn't merely a leader, he was a symbol, a force of nature in human form. As long as he was there, no matter how dire the situation, hope would not be lost.
Ai's expression twisted with fury. "Damn it! That damned Fifth Hokage…"
He clenched his fists, lightning bursting across his body in rage. "So, he even copies Minato's flashy entrances… huh. Both brothers are the same show-off."
During the Third Great Ninja War, he had fought Minato countless times and witnessed firsthand the legend of the Yellow Flash. But this younger brother, this Namikaze Mirai, had caused Kumogakure even greater humiliation. Just the sight of him brought burning anger to Ai's veins.
High in the sky, Mirai leaned forward on his throne, his gaze cold. He extended his right hand, and azure lightning gathered into a seething sphere in his palm.
Crackle… crackle…
The air trembled. The sky itself seemed to bend under the weight of the magnetic field.
Five-Tails froze mid-charge. Every instinct screamed danger. It tried to flee, but it was far too late.
Raisō Tentsui.
BOOM!!!
A massive bolt of lightning ripped down from the heavens, striking Han directly. Blue electricity engulfed its entire body. The beast's roar of agony shook the earth.
"AAAHHHH!!!"
Blinding arcs wrapped around its white fur, scorching it black. The smell of burnt flesh spread across the field.
The surrounding ninja, whether Konoha, Iwa, or Kumo, could only stare in stunned silence. The beast that had moments ago rampaged freely was now writhing like a charred animal on the ground.
"My fur!!!" The Five Tails' voice shrieked through the air. Though genderless, it carried a distinctly feminine tone, one filled with rage and humiliation. Its once pristine fur was ruined, and its wrath flared beyond reason.
"Unforgivable!!!"
Driven by pure fury, Five-Tails launched itself skyward, steam erupting from every pore, aiming straight for Mirai on his throne.
Another sphere of blue lightning formed in Mirai's hand.
BOOM!!!
The second thunder strike hit dead center. Five-Tails' body spasmed violently before crashing to the ground with a deafening thud. When the dust settled, its once radiant body was now charred and limp, steam rising weakly from its wounds. The air carried the unmistakable scent of roasted meat.
For several seconds, silence blanketed the battlefield.
The armies of both Iwagakure and Kumogakure could only gape in disbelief. The mighty Tailed Beast, one of the nine, had been subdued with two attacks while sitting down.
"Is that… really human power?" someone whispered, trembling.
Even Raikage Ai's mouth hung open. His clenched fists trembled, not from fear, but from pure anger and frustration.
Up on the throne, Mirai didn't even spare a glance at Five-Tails' smoldering remains. His gaze shifted upward, his brow tightening slightly.
He sensed it, six distinct, powerful chakra signatures descending from the sky.
The clouds parted.
Six figures floated down in a slow circle, surrounding Mirai's throne from every direction. Each wore a black cloak patterned with red clouds. Each had the same ripple-patterned purple eyes — eyes that radiated divine power.
Their presence distorted the air itself.
One of them stepped forward, voice calm but filled with the arrogance of judgment.
"We meet again, Blue Flash."
Another raised his hand, expressionless. "You've interfered long enough. Now, feel the power of a god."
The six figures of Pain descended upon the battlefield.
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
✓ Naruto: Who Made Him a Ninja?
✓ Bleach: In My Second Reincarnation, I Became The Ninth Kenpachi
✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]