"Divine Sky Strike!"
Boom!
In the stunned eyes of these members of the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Race, a gigantic hole appeared instantly on the high wall, large enough for dozens of people to move through side by side. Outside, the forest was shrouded in darkness.
"This is the secret passage leading outside. I'll cover for you; quickly leave now, there's someone outside waiting to assist."
Collecting themselves from the shock, under Ayane's orders, the members of the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Race didn't ask questions and swiftly made their way through the hole, racing towards the forest.
In the vision of the Byakugan, about a dozen Konoha Ninja were chasing from behind, including those from the Hyuga Main Family.
The Main Family must have already realized that the Caged Bird Seal has failed.
Though I would love to see their pitiful expressions, now is not the time for such actions.
At the moment they appeared, Ayane stared at them with her Byakugan, channeling the Sage Art Chakra intensely.
Buzz!
The air vibrated.
The Konoha Ninja and the Main Family Ninja who just arrived felt a roar in their heads, their shoulders and limbs growing unbearably heavy, as if bound by an invisible force.
However, this invisible pressure came and went quickly, lasting only about a second before they broke free.
Yet Ayane had already gathered Sage Art Chakra and pressed her palm to the ground.
The earth shattered.
Panic-stricken voices erupted from the Konoha Ninja, their bodies trapped in the fissured earth, crushed by the rocks.
Ayane took a deep breath, having unleashed several powerful large-scale attacks, her body felt a bit strained.
Ignoring the fate of the Konoha Ninja, she began to chase after the Hyuga and Uchiha members who had left first.
In the Byakugan's observation, reinforcements sent by the Land of Demons had already met up with them and were helping them carry their families away from Konoha at a faster pace.
"The first task is completed. The next part is crucial..."
—Intercept Konoha Ninja's pursuit.
If this task fails, all efforts so far will come to naught, a total disaster.
The real beginning is just now.
While running, Ayane took out a specially prepared Soldier Rations Pill from her ninja tool bag, popped it into her mouth, and began to restore her stamina and Chakra.
◎
The aura of the Nine-tailed Fox trembled the earth, also shaking the hearts of the ninja.
Above its head, dark clouds surged, roaring with thunder and forming a vortex.
The four tails behind the fox swirled wildly, swatting Konoha Ninja attempting sneak attacks from behind like they were pests.
Yet the Konoha Ninja encouraged themselves, shouting in unison, fearlessly attempting to stop the Nine-Tails' rampage.
Their continuous ninja techniques, even against such a formidable foe as the fox, proved difficult to resist.
Huge fireballs were hurled at its back, and iron-hard water spheres shot towards its face, with sharp stone pillars jutting from the ground at its abdomen and jaw.
Shurikens, kunai, explosive tags—every possible means of attack was used to halt the fox's rampage, to batter it viciously into submission.
Angered, the fox charged into the crowd at a speed untraceable even by the trained eyes of Konoha Ninja, its body spinning, tails lashing, releasing a whirlwind that scattered Konoha Ninja formations.
Just as the fox prepared its next move, two ninja descended from the heavens. One of them, a rotund figure, pressed his palm downward, and under the influence of ninja techniques, his hand grew immensely large.
Boom!
Instantly, the Nine-Tails in its Four-Tails State was slammed into the ground, creating a massive crater.
This display of power drew glances from Hakushi and Ruri.
"An Akimichi Clan ninja?"
Hakushi murmured.
"It's Akimichi Torifu, a disciple of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama."
Ruri recognized the Akimichi Clan ninja.
Hakushi nodded, realizing he was a fellow student of the Third Hokage. Such immense power was understandable.
"Hiruzen, now's your chance!"
Akimichi Torifu shouted to the ninja who had descended with him.
His face turned red, his body slightly trembling, just this brief suppression of the Nine-Tails in its Four-Tails State pushed him to his limit.
Truly the Nine-Tails! He marveled inwardly.
Even pushing Multiplication Jutsu to its limit could only offer temporary restraint.
"Leave it to me, Torifu!"
The other ninja descending from the sky was none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
A curse seal for a Sealing Technique appeared in his palm as he descended beside the Half-Tailed Beast Transformation Nine-Tails temporarily suppressed by Akimichi Torifu, attempting to press it against its forehead.
A roar erupted from the fox's mouth, a massive surge of red Chakra exploding like a flood, twisting Torifu's face in pain, causing his gigantic hand to shrink.
The Nine-Tails broke free from restraints, swiftly avoiding Hiruzen's Sealing Technique.
Its eyes, with crimson Sharingan, stared at Hiruzen.
The red Chakra beam shot into the thunderous clouds above, with yet another tail extending from behind.
"Damn it! Don't think you can continue to wreak havoc in the village!"
Akimichi Torifu rolled across the ground to his feet, clad in ancient layered battle armor, glaring at the fox with determination. His previously robust body visibly shrank, and a pair of iridescent Chakra Wings burst forth magnificently.
With his comrade's cover, his astonishing speed made it difficult for the fox to fend off.
He dashed to the fox's back, wrapping his arms tightly around it from behind, his powerful grip causing the fox to roar.