"Successful!"
"The Kurama is trapped!"
Seeing Chao Yanqian once again use ninjutsu to restrain the Kurama, a group of Konoha ninja erupted into tsunami-like cheers.
However, before the cheers faded, the Nine-Tails suddenly broke free. With a single motion, the beast flung the mud clinging to its body into the air with terrifying ease.
Seeing this, Chao Yanqian had no choice but to increase his chakra output. The surrounding soil turned to mud once more and surged toward the Nine-Tails like a tidal wave. The Kurama was struck repeatedly, each layer forming a massive mud cocoon around it.
[Inorganic Reincarnation] was a ninjutsu capable of giving life to inorganic matter, thereby granting the user control over it. The scope and power of the technique were directly proportional to the amount of chakra used. Even with a vast store of senjutsu chakra sealed within the [Yin Seal], Chao Yanqian knew that if he continued expending energy like this, he would eventually be drained.
In the original series, even half of the Kurama's chakra inside Naruto could break through the sealing jutsu [Chibaku Tensei]. Chao Yanqian was under no illusion that his [Inorganic Reincarnation] could fully subdue the complete Nine-Tails.
The only reason the jutsu had held up this long was because he'd maintained a steady and intense chakra output. The moment he stopped, the Kurama would tear through the technique and escape.
At this point, it had become a contest of chakra between Chao Yanqian and the Kurama and when it came to chakra reserves, only the Ten-Tails could surpass the Nine-Tails in the entire shinobi world.
The reason Hashirama Senju's Wood Release could suppress the Nine-Tails was due to its ability to absorb chakra. While Yamato's Wood Release produced regular wood, Hashirama's was derived from the Divine Tree sacred, living wood infused with nature energy. The two were leagues apart.
Beyond sage mode, one other factor allowed Chao Yanqian to stand against the Kurama: the intercellular tissue from Hashirama Senju implanted in his body.
"Lord Third, I won't be able to hold it much longer! Hurry up and prepare the sealing jutsu!" Chao Yanqian shouted urgently.
"Understood! Seal Team, move in!" Hiruzen Sarutobi knew this was a fleeting opportunity. He immediately led the sealing team to surround the Nine-Tails and began preparations to bind it.
"ROAR!!"
Sensing danger, the Nine-Tails howled furiously and fired a Tailed Beast Ball that shattered Chao Yanqian's jutsu.
[Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!]
A squad of Earth Release users performed the jutsu in unison, trying to block the Tailed Beast Ball. But no ordinary ninjutsu could stand up to the power of a Kurama's ultimate attack.
Walls of stone rose one after another, only to be blasted aside as the attack maintained its trajectory straight toward Konoha.
The Third Hokage gritted his teeth. Though heartbroken over the destruction of buildings constructed through the hard work of Konoha's people, he leapt back, narrowly dodging the Kuramas devastating strike.
"Retreat!" the Third shouted. Now's not the time to resist if we get hit by that, we'll be vaporized!
"Oh no! The bugs in my body are going wild!" one of the Aburame clan members cried out. The Kurama's malevolent chakra had disrupted the chakra link between host and insects, sending the parasites into a frenzy and rendering them useless.
[Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!]
[Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!]
Other determined shinobi unleashed elemental attacks on the Kurama in an effort to slow its rampage.
"Fall back! That thing isn't something humans can fight head-on!" Chao Yanqian warned.
The Konoha shinobi quickly scattered like falling leaves, opening a path for the next Tailed Beast Ball. Though a few unlucky ninja were caught in the blast, most avoided it.
The attack was still heading straight toward the heart of Konoha. Everyone could see it and despair swept across the battlefield.
Even Chao Yanqian, due to his position, wouldn't reach it in time to deflect it.
[Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder!]
At the last possible moment, Bo Feng Shuimen appeared in a golden flash, using his space-time ninjutsu to teleport the Tailed Beast Ball away saving the village from annihilation.
"It's Lord Fourth!"
"Lord Fourth has arrived!"
Bo Feng Shuimen's presence alone brought hope. His reputation among the shinobi was unmatched. Just seeing him filled the Konoha ninja with renewed confidence. As long as Bo Feng Shuimen was here, the Kurama couldn't cause any more devastation.
Chao Yanqian narrowed his eyes at the Kurama. He noticed something strange the beast's gaze had shifted. No longer frenzied and blind with rage, its eyes were calm and calculating.
The Kurama had been under Sharingan control, its rage driven by the influence of Uchiha Obito. Now, with that connection severed, the Kurama had regained its senses and that made it even more dangerous.
Now freed from genjutsu, the Kurama's chakra swelled and surged. It turned deliberately, its massive tails cutting through the air with razor-sharp wind blades so powerful they dwarfed even the fiercest natural typhoons.
The gap between man and beast was insurmountable. One swipe could easily wipe out dozens of shinobi.
[Ninja Art: Toad Crushing Slam!]
Bo Feng Shuimen summoned Gamabunta, who came crashing down from above, aiming to pin the Nine-Tails beneath him.
"Lord Third, Chao Yanqian you've done enough. Leave the rest to me." Bo Feng Shuimen said calmly.
"Bo Feng Shuimen, what are you planning to do?!" Chao Yanqian asked, alarmed. "Don't do anything reckless!"
Although the fault didn't lie with Bo Feng Shuimen directly, the Kurama's jinchūriki was his wife Uzumaki Kushina. With the beast torn from her, Kushina was already dying. And Bo Feng Shuimen Bo Feng Shuimen intended to die with her.
"So, you figured it out," Bo Feng Shuimen said softly. But his resolve was firm unchanged.
During the earlier battle, Bo Feng Shuimen had observed Chao Yanqian from afar. Impressed though he was, he knew that even with Bo Feng Shuimen's power, he couldn't subdue the Nine-Tails forever.
Neither Bo Feng Shuimen nor the Third Hokage possessed a jutsu strong enough to suppress the Kurama completely. Hiruzen was aging, and his chakra was nearly depleted. Even if the three of them fought together, they might not stand a chance.
Sealing was the only option.
"This is the Kurama Water Gate, this time you've really gone too far!" Chao Yanqian grumbled, recognizing the beast pinned beneath him.
"Sorry, Chao Yanqian. But I'll handle the rest." Bo Feng Shuimen replied, voice steady.
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