Uchiha Kairen stepped into the mouth of the cavern and immediately sensed a faint, invisible resistance — a barrier. They must have broken through some kind of seal or restriction. Which meant that the guards or the ones maintaining the barrier would have already noticed. Either they'd gone to alert the higher-ups… or were already on their way here to investigate. Maybe both. Time was running out.
"Takikage-sama, the guards report that the barrier in the restricted area has been triggered!" a Takigakure shinobi reported urgently.
"Send the guardian squad to investigate immediately. Everyone else to their positions. Inform the villagers that a war drill is in effect!" ordered the Takikage's advisor, Sajin Chou, issuing commands in rapid succession.
"Chou, I'll leave the outside to you. I'll go check it out myself," said the Takikage, Lantake Shinryū, before hurrying off.
"Light Release: Luminous Chain Kick!"
"Konoha Style Kenjutsu: Dance of the Crescent Moon!"
Uchiha Kairen spotted the guards ahead and wasted no time. He launched into a sudden assault, cutting them down in a single breath.
Meanwhile, the twin-blade warrior Uchiha Kirito was already locked in combat — one against three — and not at all at a disadvantage. He even nearly decapitated one of them in the opening exchange.
"Light Release: Refractive Blitz!"
Golden light connected the three targets like mirrored threads — once that link was made, their fates were sealed. A flash of gold shimmered between them, and in the next instant, all three were dead.
"Damn, Kairen, that jutsu of yours really is something. The more people there are, the faster it goes!" Kirito laughed.
"It's not that the more people there are, the faster I go," Kairen corrected with a grin. "It's that my speed keeps accelerating while I move along the light's path. The longer the trajectory, the faster I become. The more targets, the longer the track — and the faster the kill."
"What a terrifying jutsu. Can that speed keep going infinitely?" Kirito asked, half in awe.
"Of course not. My body has its limits," Kairen replied. "And besides—without the Sharingan of our clan, even if you moved that fast, you wouldn't be able to see anything. Anyway, let's hurry up and find the tailed beast before reinforcements arrive."
He smiled faintly and led the way forward.
Their summoned hellhound, Inuboshi, barked once and sprinted left. The two immediately followed, weaving through the dark corridors until they arrived at what looked like an altar. Upon it sat a massive gourd covered with sealing talismans.
Just as Kairen reached forward to take it, a voice echoed from the shadows:
"Breaking into forbidden grounds, slaughtering our shinobi, and attempting to steal our tailed beast — each one is punishable by death. There's no need to trouble the Hokage about this. Execute the intruders on the spot!"
A squad of ten Takigakure ninja stepped out behind the speaker and attacked at once.
"Light Release: Refractive Blitz!"
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
In the dim cavern, flashes of gold and blue filled the air. Lightning crackled, light refracted; the beauty of the killing arts danced between the shadows.
Moments later, only one of the Takigakure shinobi was left standing — the one who had given the order. Everyone else had vanished, swallowed by light.
"Well, look at that. Still standing even with a hole through your chest? Not bad. Guess that explains why your mouth runs faster than your brain. You said you'd report me to the Hokage, huh? You think you're the Takikage or something?" Kairen mocked. "And stealing a tailed beast? Don't make me laugh. You lot stole it from us during the negotiations — now you cry thief? Hypocrites."
He stepped toward the gourd.
The instant his hand touched it, the world shifted.
He found himself in a dim, damp space, a spiritual chamber filled with oppressive chakra. A colossal creature was chained to the corner, its body covered in sealing formulae, eyes glowing faintly with rage and weariness.
There was no mistaking it — the Seven-Tails, Chōmei.
"Hey there, big guy. I'm Uchiha Kairen. I came to let you out — to return your freedom. Don't worry, I'm not like the others. I'm not here to enslave you or seal you inside a host. I mean real freedom."
"Hmph. I've seen your kind before, boy. Save your breath," Chōmei's deep voice rumbled.
"If you don't believe me, then let me prove it. I'll undo your seal."
Kairen approached and laid his palm against the beast's massive carapace. His Sharingan whirled open, tomoe spinning, as his chakra threads intertwined with the sealing sigils. Bit by bit, the bindings unraveled.
"ROAAAAAR!!"
The entire dimension trembled as Chōmei's roar shook the air — the sound of liberation.
"Hah! Interesting little brat. Aren't you afraid I'll ignore your kindness and just fly off?"
Kairen smirked. "Trust is the foundation of partnership. Loyalty and freedom are the bonds of comradeship. No being should be imprisoned for eternity. Every life deserves to exist freely."
Chōmei chuckled, amused. "You're a strange one. Fine. You've earned my gratitude, boy."
"Now then…" the Seven-Tails rumbled, its wings flexing, "I've been trapped long enough. Time to wreck some things. You're not going to stop me, are you?"
"Of course not," Kairen said confidently. "We're not allies of your captors. If anything, I'll lend you a hand. I won't let them cage you again."
"Hah! I like you, kid. Let's go wild together!"
A thunderous boom split the mountain open. The Seven-Tails had returned to the world.
"Trouble! Notify the sealing squad immediately!" Advisor Sajin Chou screamed.
"It was you… you unleashed that monster! Do you have any idea what you've done?! Tailed beasts are calamities! You've doomed us all!" the Takikage, Lantake Shinryū, shouted as he arrived too late.
Kairen laughed. "So you're the Takikage, huh? You sure took your time. Sitting here like a king in your little forgotten village and thinking you're untouchable. The tailed beasts were never meant to be caged. You humans are the ones who chained them. If I locked you in a cage for decades, how'd you feel?"
Chōmei snorted approvingly. "Heh, he's got a point. You bastards locked me away for decades — let's settle that debt right now!"
The Seven-Tails began charging a Tailed Beast Bomb. The Takikage tried to stop him, but Kirito intercepted him with a grin.
"Hah! Never fought a Kage before. Let's see how big the gap really is!" the twin-blade warrior roared, entering berserker mode.
"Chōmei! My comrades are to the right, and there's a big tree to the left. Please avoid those if you can!" Kairen called.
The massive chakra sphere formed, and then—
BOOM!
The world ahead vanished, vaporized into nothingness.
This... this is the power of a tailed beast.
Kairen's heart pounded in awe. No wonder everyone's after Jinchūriki — this is overwhelming. Without power on this level, anyone who faces it is dead.
Back in the village, chaos reigned.
"The sealing team, now! For Takigakure—sacrifice yourselves if you must!" Sajin Chou commanded frantically.
Several Takigakure shinobi uncorked bottles of Hero Water and drank deeply. Chakra exploded from their bodies like visible flames. "For Takigakure!" they cried, charging straight at the beast.
"What a waste," Kairen muttered. "Brother Chōmei, allow me to assist you! Let's fight side by side!" he declared dramatically, as if they were long-lost friends.
"Light Release: Refractive Blitz!"
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
But instead of targeting the charging shinobi, his light beams pierced through the sealing team behind them. Blue lightning flashed — and in a heartbeat, the entire squad was dead. Precision and speed, elegant yet merciless.
Kairen's gaze locked on the screaming advisor. He'd always hated "elders" and "counselors" of every village — time to get rid of one.
"You brat! You'll pay for this!" Sajin Chou shouted, gulping down a vial of Hero Water himself. Chakra surged violently through his veins.
Kairen laughed. "Go ahead. When that wears off, you'll die anyway. I'm not stupid enough to fight a dead man walking."
Suddenly, the giant sacred tree ignited in flames, and explosions erupted along the escape routes. The entire village was in chaos — fire and destruction everywhere.
Kairen smirked. "Looks like my teammates have finished their part. Guess it's my turn to wrap this up. Fighting a Kage-level opponent… now this is thrilling."
"Light Release: Luminous Chain Kick!"
"Rasengan!"
He flickered behind the Takikage and struck — the Rasengan grazed the man's ribs as he narrowly dodged. Kairen grinned wider and slammed another into the ground, sending rocks and dust flying.
Sajin Chou lunged at him in a last burst of rage — Kairen laughed.
"Perfect timing!"
"Light Release: Refractive Blitz!"
"Uchiha Style Kenjutsu: Blitzing Slash Combo!"
He vanished and reappeared between the Takikage and the advisor, golden light streaking like a storm of swords. Each flicker left a flash of blood and steel.
When he stopped, Sajin Chou collapsed — torn apart by both Kairen's sword and the backlash of Hero Water's toxins.
The Takikage, though wounded and panting, was still alive. Even bloodied and scorched, a Kage-level shinobi was not to be underestimated.
Meanwhile, Chōmei's rampage was reaching its climax — nearly all the defenders were dead, save for a few Hero Water-enhanced warriors desperately holding on. Their deaths were only a matter of time.
Kairen's teammates, watching from afar, felt their blood surge.
Fighting a Kage… this is our chance!
They charged in, the entire squad moving as one — their coordinated "Uchiha Hunting Formation" activating.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet!"
"Genjutsu: Sharingan!"
"Uchiha Style Kenjutsu: Blazing Gale Slash!"
"Light Release: Laser Beam!"
"Twin-Blade Style: Unified Strike!"
Flames, illusions, beams, and blades — their teamwork was devastating.
But the Takikage was no ordinary opponent. He pulled out a vial, bit through it, and swallowed the liquid inside.
Blood dripped from his lips as his chakra flared like a hurricane.
"I, Lantake Shinryū, swear upon my life — I'll destroy every last one of you invaders!"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Three consecutive jutsu in an instant — overwhelming power bursting forth.
He shattered their combined assault with sheer force… but still underestimated the berserking twin-blade warrior and Kairen's focused Light Release.
A single laser pierced the Takikage's left shoulder — and Kirito's twin blades followed, missing his neck by mere inches.
Had he been a second slower, the head of a Kage would've rolled that night.
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