This was a sudden, spur-of-the-moment strike by the iron-shaped ninja—the "tail" of Konohagakure.
But as the saying goes, archers throughout history never actually use bows.
Hagoromo drew the bow and nocked an arrow, striking a classic archer's pose—but in truth, it was just for show, meant for Aburame Shibi standing beside him.
Just look at how he used Lightning Release.
Aside from Hagoromo, most Lightning Release users would need two lifetimes to even come close to mastering it this way.
To put it simply, the principle behind this "arrow" was no different from a Lightning Release technique—just a weakened version with extended range.
Hagoromo had never practiced this kind of long-distance shot even once.
Yet he could still guarantee a direct hit—because what he used was electromagnetic guidance.
Through high-speed mental computation, everything from air resistance and trajectory correction to fine ballistic adjustment was completed in an instant.
Unless there was strong external interference, the iron arrow's course could not possibly deviate.
Hagoromo had reached the legendary realm of hit whatever he aimed at.
Though slower compared to a Lightning Release technique with an initial velocity of Mach 3 and constant acceleration, the lightning-wreathed iron arrow was still far too fast for anyone to react to.
The sharp whoosh came from metal tearing through the air.
The dull thump was the unmistakable sensation of a hit.
There was no need to dress it up with words like resolve or lofty ideals.
Hagoromo didn't think of this as anything noble.
To fight in war.
To end war.
That was simply his way of thinking—and actions naturally followed.
And so, to Hagoromo, an enemy was an enemy.
There was no distinction between adults or children.
When it was time to strike, he would not hesitate.
Thus, Nii Yugito collapsed flat onto her back.
From ground level, one could see the iron arrow standing upright in her body, crackling with uneven arcs of lightning.
"Yugito!!"
The sudden turn of events left Samui momentarily frozen before she cried out in shock.
Not only Samui—even Namikaze Minato and Akimichi Chōza were stunned.
This was the first time they had ever seen a ninja perform ultra-long-range precision sniping like this.
Was this really a ninja?
Samui couldn't believe Yugito had died so easily.
She was a jinchūriki, after all.
And in truth, Samui was right.
Killing a jinchūriki instantly from that distance was even harder than killing the Raikage.
The only regret was that none of the Konoha ninja present had known beforehand that the young kunoichi named Yugito was a jinchūriki.
Even if Hagoromo knew what the Two-Tails' jinchūriki looked like, there was no way he could recognize her as a child.
"Be careful—she's not dead yet!"
Minato shouted, deliberately loud enough to alert the two hidden allies.
Just like the rule that archers never use bows, another ironclad truth existed:
Archers have terrible luck.
As Minato's words fell, Yugito's voice rang out from the ground—weak and barely audible.
"Samui… run…"
She was warning her teammate.
Samui stopped short—not because of the words themselves, but because at that very moment, chakra surged violently from Yugito's body, marked with strange blue-and-black patterns.
Yugito's body rose unnaturally, like a puppet pulled by strings.
She stood upright, torso hunched forward, arms hanging limply.
The iron arrow that should have pierced her forehead was now lodged only in her shoulder.
Even so, the tremendous force had caused massive collapse and destruction across her chest.
Her organs and bones were clearly shattered—fatal injuries by any normal standard.
If not for external interference, the hit could not have deviated this much.
That interference was—
A tailed beast.
Correction: Hagoromo's accuracy was still firmly in the realm of hit where he pointed.
Without Yugito making any movement, the iron arrow slowly slid out of her shoulder, clattering to the ground and dissolving back into iron sand.
Samui gritted her teeth and turned to retreat.
The situation was irreversible—but if she reported it quickly, Yugito might still be saved.
Minato and the others, however, had no attention to spare for Samui.
At Yugito's age, she was still only learning to control tailed beast power.
What was happening now was a classic case of jinchūriki loss of control.
When a jinchūriki hovered on the brink of death, partial or full transformation had an extremely high probability.
"Tailed beast transformation… she's a jinchūriki. Everyone, stay alert!" Minato warned.
There was no need for the reminder.
Anyone with eyes could see what was happening.
They didn't know the name Matatabi, but they knew this was the Two-Tails.
After all, Kumogakure possessed only the Eight-Tails and the Two-Tails.
Yugito dropped fully to the ground.
Her figure vanished beneath the surging chakra.
In her place appeared a massive, sharp-fanged, clawed beast—
a blue-furred creature patterned with black flames.
A thunderous, piercing roar followed.
The Two-Tails looked utterly out of place, like a living ink painting—
a style so distinct that only Sai's later Super Beast Imitating Drawing could match it.
The enormous cat demon flicked its twin tails and ignored Minato and Chōza.
Instead, it opened its mouth toward the direction the arrow had come from—
toward Hagoromo and Aburame Shibi.
It was preparing a Tailed Beast Ball.
Tailed beasts were nothing if not vengeful.
It had nearly died along with its host.
Now that it had manifested, its first instinct was retaliation.
And not a small one.
A full-power attack.
But faster than the forming Tailed Beast Ball—
Were two more Lightning Release arrows!
Because the Tailed Beast Ball was not a movement technique, and because the Two-Tails' massive size made evasion impossible—
Both iron arrows buried themselves completely into the Two-Tails' left eye.
The overwhelming pain forced out a howl unlike its earlier roar of rage.
Hagoromo's accuracy achieved an unprecedented effect.
But it still wasn't enough.
The technique had not been interrupted.
The Tailed Beast Ball launched straight toward Hagoromo and Aburame Shibi.
Unblockable.
Which meant—
Dodge! Dodge! Dodge!
As Hagoromo prepared to move—and reached for Shibi—
Minato appeared instantly before them.
His hands landed on both of their shoulders.
And in a flash, all three vanished.
They reappeared beside Akimichi Chōza.
Immediately, Aburame Shibi raised his arm.
A vast swarm of black insects engulfed the Two-Tails.
Even knowing it was futile, he acted anyway.
Drain whatever chakra they could.
Any weakening was better than none.
Only then did a colossal explosion erupt in the distance.
Blinding light filled the horizon.
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