Jugo and Kimimaro lay not far from each other on the Kage balcony, varying degrees of wounded. Both were unnaturally tough and blessed with outstanding vitality thanks to their particular kekkai genkai. Still, one was burnt nearly to a crisp and the other was cut open. Neither could make it out in their current states.

"I never thought I'd see the both of you lose." An anbu-masked man in a cloak walked out from the shadow of a pillar. "Jugo, maybe, but not you, Kimimaro."

"My opponent was a bandaged man concealing a Sharingan in his right eye."

He walked over and outstretched his hands, channeling his chakra into the silver-haired boy's wounds. "Danzo Shimura, the Shinobi of Darkness. I'm surprised he's still capable enough to beat you."

"I have no excuses: I was careless, distracted, and foolish." Kimimaro turned to his shivering friend. "Help Jugo instead." He rose, interrupting the healing jutsu.

"You shouldn't even be here in your condition, and Jugo can heal himself."

"I insist."

He shook his head. "There's just no helping you." He walked to the test subject and began healing him. "If you try to absorb me, I'll have to hurt you."

"No more…please."

Kimimaro walked over and put a supporting hand on his mending flesh. "I'm sorry; I failed you."

"It's okay." Jugo groaned. "I'm glad you're still alive."

"He won't be for long without treatment," the fake anbu said.

"...Kimimaro."

The young man inclined his head toward their would-be savior. "You may treat me but focus on Jugo when I am stable."

"I know two other idiots you'll both get along swimmingly with." He focused back on healing the curse marked boy. "Lucky for you, Lord Orochimaru is interested in acquiring them both."

"Seems all three of us have failed our lord. We can repay him by capturing them."

"First, the two of you get healed. Danzo is likely finding out a way to dispel the barrier as we speak, so we should take care of him next."

Jugo shivered. "Anko is with him."

"Then the barrier is already down. Those four won't last long or be of much help to Lord Orochimaru." The anbu switched back to the other. "Don't you heal faster than this?"

"I can feel the burn in my organs! My nerves are still shot too."

"So this is the power of the Cursed Seal of Heaven."

"I distracted him with my failure." Kimimaro glanced at their surroundings, watching for any Leaf ninja.

The false anbu hummed. "The second stage drains the user of a cursed seal regardless of the energy spent, right? Did you manage to wound Danzo?"

"Yes and yes: I shot him with my finger bones, but they didn't go through."

"Then we'll have a chance if no one else interferes." He smirked beneath his mask as his patient's condition returned to a passable combat one. "Let's go."

While two of them ran up the supporting pillars to the roof, the other just extended jets from his back to propel himself up. They saw Danzo standing by Anko cradling the Third Hokage's body and knew they weren't needed, so they jumped back down. It was a relief to know they wouldn't have to face two of the Leaf's best after being thrashed by them.

"We'll meet with the Sound Four and Lord Orochimaru at the rendezvous point. He's likely too injured from the fight if he retreated directly afterward."

Kimimaro looked down in shame. "I must offer him my deepest apologies for my failure and greatest congratulations for his victory."

"He's likely going to be too happy about his victory to care." The false anbu laughed.

"Still, we don't know exactly what happened." Jugo looked over the arena wall. "We should get going."

"What about the two vessels?" Kimimaro asked.

The false anbu shook his head. "One of them just defeated a Tailed Beast and the other is effectively a jonin in mint condition. Trying to get them now will attract attention, so it's beyond the three of us right now." He turned to the direction of the exit. "I'll see you and Lord Orochimaru soon."

While the spy ran off, Jugo sprouted his jets and grabbed Kimimaro before blasting away. Most ninja were too distracted with their fights to notice. Those that did wondered if they were seeing things. Not one of them was prepared to witness how bad the truth was. It was too awful for there to be blame as their master needed them then more than ever.

Hiashi Hyuga was a peace-loving man who cared deeply for his daughters. He was also the head of one of the biggest clans in the entire world that specialized in a taijutsu style that complimented their kekkai genkai perfectly. The Second Shinobi World War left scars on his young mind and the Third Shinobi World War cemented his disgust of it with how many children he saw die in battle. While he murdered the man that attempted to turn his daughter into cattle with righteous fury, he would rather die than let her or anyone else experience that hell on his behalf. Those that thought him weak or unwilling to do what was necessary, however, were currently dying at his feet or thanks to the young adults under his command.

"I appreciate the assist," Asuma said, wading through another series of enemies and casually leaning away from shuriken, "but I'm pretty sure we have it covered!"

Shikamaru rolled his eyes as he threw a shuriken at the throat of one of the enemy ninja Ino tweaked the nervous systems of. "Told you!"

"Now is not the time to refuse help!" Neji jumped over a kunai and kicked the man responsible square in the face.

"Yeah, Asuma-sensei!" Choji grabbed another enemy ninja and threw him over the railing, a tactic he increasingly employed over taking the time to crush or punch. "Who else is going to buy us barbecue?!"

Kurenai rushed from odd-acting enemy to enemy and cut their throats. "They have a point!"

"We're almost clear!" Asuma, decapitating three men with one swing of his chakra blades, protested.

Hiashi darted through the balcony. "Of all times!" His fingers shot chakra from one hostile's heart to another. "Now is not one!"

The last of the attacking ninja were thrown out, heart poked, cut in two, and throat crushed.

"Status report!"

"Still close to running out of chakra," Shikamaru said.

Ino jumped. "Ready to beat back more of these losers!"

"Getting really hungry." Choji didn't bother dodging his teammate's slap

"I am fine, Lord Hiashi!" Neji tried not to look at the reddening bandages on his wrist where Naruto's kunai tore into. "Let's keep going!"

The Hyuga head glanced at his reopening wound. "Your tenacity is admirable, but you have a limited supply of blood. Re–" He froze at the sight on the Kage balcony no longer blocked by a barrier.

"Lord Hiashi?" Neji activated his own Byakugan and widened his eyes.

Asuma looked glanced from Hyuga to Hyuga. "What happened?"

"I…" Hiashi looked down. "We must keep going." He lifted his gaze to meet the fallen's son. "All of us." He focused on his nephew. "Stay close but do not fight unless you must."

Asuma and Kurenai lead the forefront of their growing group alongside Hiashi. The latest generation of Ino-Shika-Cho moved in an arrow-like formation behind, Choji leading while the other two flanked. Neji lagged at the far back and got glances from the three for the solemn expression on his face. It was the wisest arrangement for an onward assault.

The balcony they moved on to was anything but enemy-ridden. Sand and Sound lay dead or dying from broken bones, cut throats, ruptured organs, and deep stab wounds. A chunin duo covered in blood supported one another while standing themselves by their weapons. Two identical Inuzukas rested side by side with their backs against the wall similarly drenched. The eldest of Hiashi's daughter propped herself up by an audience seat, coughing blood from reopening her wounds.

"Holy shit!" Ino's eyes widened at the carnage.

"Kotetsu! Izumo!" Asuma looked at their red-covered weapons. "What the fuck!?"

The nose-bandaged one groaned. "That whiskered brat…"

"Beat a Tailed Beast." The bandanna-clad one finished.

Shikamaru twitched at the smile on the face of a lesser academy troublemaker. "Overkill, much?" He shook his head as the Kibas gave him a thumbs up. "Troublesome."

"Lady Hinata!" Neji brushed past Team 10 to his cousin and activated his Byakugan. He saw her the previous time and witnessed her fighting after Shukaku was defeated but didn't see the wounds he gave her open.

She giggled at the worried look on his face. "It seems like Naruto changed you too."

"You've become strong." Hiashi walked over and patted his daughter's head. "Hanabi tries to hide it but she misses you. If you wish to return to the compound, you are free to do so."

Blushing, she turned to her worried sensei, the woman who'd been taking care of her since she was disinherited. "Thank you, father. I nee–" She coughed more blood and swayed into her guardian's arms.

"Someone needs to watch the wounded." Kurenai held her close.

Ino let tears leave her eyes. "Hold on, Hinata! Naruto isn't going to be able to resist you once he hears about this!"

"What?" Hiashi asked, eyebrow raising at his daughter's reddening face.

"That girl is crushing on him," Izumo said.

Kotetsu nodded. "Hard."

"If he killed me that fight… I'm not sure she'd care all that much." Kiba laughed alongside his transformed dog.

Shikamaru shook his head. "I knew there was something going on with the way she looked at him back at the academy, but I didn't think it'd be that. Troublesome."

Hiashi glanced at Asuma's hand patting him on the shoulder while Hinata buried herself in her sensei's chest in a futile attempt to hide. "The heart wants what it wants." He shrugged off the man's hand. "Yours has good judgment, seeing greatness where everyone saw nothing." Focusing on the other balconies, he brought his mind back to the most immediate matter. "It seems Kakashi and Guy are finishing up. The balcony where most shinobi sat is clear. We'll be moving out to secure the village soon."

"And where the Kage sat?" Neji swallowed the lump in his throat.

Asuma laughed. "The old man can handle himself! Let's keep going, kids and Hiashi!"

"...Right." The Hyuga head started walking with the Sarutobi and his team in tow. "Keep safe and watch yourself, nephew: Kurenai may lack the same patience I have."

Neji nodded while his cousin's sensei made a confused face at the remark. "I understand, Lord Hiashi."

Most of the fit left them there, tired and wounded, with some support. Too many of the enemy's number had fallen. Some civilians were killed in the crossfire between forces, but those losses were insignificant in the grand scheme of the conflict. While some of their shinobi died, it was nowhere near as much. The effort to stall their most experienced shinobi had the consequence of costing them a significant amount of their fighting force. A counterattack led by their elite was inevitable and likely to be devastating.

"We're missing all the fighting!" An all too familiar voice emerging from the previous balcony's hall said.

Sasuke Uchiha sighed as he helped its owner into theirs. "Tell me about it."

"One or both of you could die!" Sakura scolded from behind.

"Listen to Vomit Girl." Hanabi patted her head to soothe its ache. "She is wise."

"Please don't call me that."

"Vomit girl!"

Neji smiled. "Lady Hanabi, that is no way for a young lady of your stature to behave."

"The man of the hour and his teammates," Kurenai said, smiling as well.

Hinata separated from her sensei. "N-Naruto?!" She locked eyes with the grinning boy. "I l–" More blood filling her lungs made her cough it out.

"Easy." She held her student close.

"Hiashi advanced, I assume?" Shino scanned the area. "Not an ideal place to rest."

Kiba laughed as his twin turned back into Akamaru. "Got a better one?"

"What happened to you?" Sakura asked.

"Take a guess."

Kotetsu groaned. "Swept up in the moment."

"Couldn't let some genin show us up," Izumo said. "Talk about embarrassing."

"I don't see a Tailed Beast here, so I still win out." Naruto grinned, even as Sakura clenched his shoulder threateningly.

Taking his dog into his arms, Kiba scratched him between the ears. "...Hate you."

"Same," the duo said in unison.

Hinata wanted to declare her love for him but didn't want her wounds ruining the moment. "Naruto." She peeked out from Kurenai's side, smiling at him.

He locked eyes with her. The warmth he felt back at the practice field swept over and made his heart beat faster. "Hey, you doing alright?"

"Y-yes!" She coughed blood again.

Hanabi dropped from Sakura's back before running to her kin's side. "Elder sister!" She hugged her tightly.

Kiba shook his head. "She fought so hard her wounds reopened, but we got every last one of these bastards."

"If this is where we're keeping our wounded and defenseless, I'll leave Naruto with you." Sasuke eased his shoulder out from his comrade, laying him against the wall instead.

"Will you be alright, Kurenai?" Sakura asked. "There could be stragglers."

Naruto laughed. "I'm staying here, aren't I?" She'll be fine."

The jonin in question shot him a look. "You should rest." Focusing on his teammate, she nodded. "The battle isn't over yet. Catch up with Hiashi and Asuma; they're going to need soldiers to check on the rest of the village." She turned to her last standing squad member. "Go with them, Shino."

Shino nodded and sprinted down the hall with the rest of Team 7. "Yes, Kurenai-sensei."

"Anyone know where the old man is?" Naruto asked. He scoffed at the looks he got. "Old Man Hokage, who else?"

Neji, averting his gaze, shook his head. "Lord Third can take care of himself."

"No shit, I want to brag about something to his face."

"Is now really the time?" Kiba asked, squinting at him.

"The village is under attack," Kurenai deadpanned. "Lord Third has lives to save and people to lead."

Hanabi nodded. "Lord Hokage likely already saw you blow up the mean tanuki."

"Wasn't he in that purple thing on the roof?" Naruto started limping towards the hall.

"Dude." Kiba scoffed. "Now is not the time to be a dumbass."

Neji leaped over to block his path. "I can't let you pass in your current state."

Naruto glared at him for a second until he noticed the sadness in his eyes. "…What happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"Then get out of my way."

"Naruto," Hinata called out.

He glanced at her, balled his hands into fists, and sighed. "...Okay." He put his back against the wall before falling limp.

Kotetsu laughed. "You two are fucking adorable."

"Just precious," Izumo added on.

Hanabi held her wilting sister's hand. "He's amazing." She froze at her questioning, twitching gaze. "Elder sister?"

Kurenai shared a look with Neji. She noticed a dimness in his eyes she didn't before. When he broke off eye-contact, she saw his hands trying to move his fingers. It was clear something really bad happened. If it was what her mind jumped to, she sincerely hoped she was wrong.

"Why do I get the feeling today is only going to get so much worse?" Kiba asked no one.

"Don't be a pessimist." Kotetsu pointed his thumb at his partner. "This guy is already enough of a downer."

Izumo scoffed. "It's not my fault you're too stupid to see how things typically fall into place."

Naruto squinted at them. "You're both dumbasses."

"Now you sound like Anko."

"Where is she?" He moved in a hurry to stand up and only fell back down. He groaned as they shrugged in unison. "Anko-sensei...you and the old man are going to be so proud of me." Smiling, he stared up at the ceiling. "We'll go to Ichiraku's and have some bowls. Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, and maybe even Iruka will tag along. Sure, they don't have the space, but some of you can sit on the ground; it'll be awesome."

Kiba laughed. "You sound so not like you right now."

"Fuck you, man." Naruto grinned. "I want to be happy, and I'm going to be."

The Hyuga sisters stayed close to Kurenai, being too precious to one another and her to lose. While the gate-guard/proctor duo steadily got their bearings, they traded remarks with each other. Neji kept an eye on the hallway entrances and railing for any straggling enemies. Naruto, daydreaming, rested against the wall. Kiba pet his dog, occasionally sniffed for hostiles, and tried to regain some stamina. It was yet another oddly peaceful scene in what was a battlefield.

When Hiashi's group reached Kakashi and Guy's balcony, the Hyuga Head shook his as they noticed him. The blood they shed was enough to flow down the steps, even oozing down the arena wall. Enough stuck around to dye the bottom of their sandals red. Both of the overachievers were drenched in it. His daughter and her teammate did a good job alongside the two chunin, but they were nothing compared to two of the village's most powerful jonin.

"I can't fault you for wanting to exterminate the enemy, but we could've used you to save the rest of the village."

Guy wiped blood from his face and made a fist with the same hand. "I can keep going!" He glanced at his eternal rival. "Can you, Kakashi?"

"Please!" Hatake scoffed. "I haven't even used a single jutsu yet!"

Tenten, covered in blood from their exploits, cowered behind the cover of her seat while an equally bloody Lee stared in admiration. "Make them stop!"

"Kids," Asuma said, turning to face his gaping charges, "I know I said I'd train you up to beat Team 7, but I'm not sure if I can hold true to those words anymore."

"Naruto beat a Tailed Beast; we already know," Shikamaru deadpanned.

Ino slapped him. "Not with that attitude!" She pumped her fists. "We're going to get even stronger!"

"For barbecue!" Choji cheered.

Asuma chuckled and looked back to the two jonin. "I'm not going to get outdone by you, much less a genin."

"Troublesome." Shikamaru shook his head. "I don't see any of us beating a Tailed Beast anytime soon."

"Not with that attitude."

"What's the situation, Hiashi?" Kakashi asked.

The Hyuga head activated his Byakugan. "The balconies are clear, the rest of the village is under attack, jonin that stayed out of the arena are mobilizing, and we have taken little losses in comparison to our enemy here." He looked down. "There have been some complications, however."

"What kind?"

He pointed to the balcony where his daughters were. "We have wounded. I know you two wish to continue battle, but they need watching. I will lead the counterattack using our remaining forces here with Asuma."

Sasuke, Sakura, and Shino entered the balcony and stared at the bloodied jonin.

Kakashi raised a hand in greeting. "You guys missed the fun!" He lowered it along with his forehead protector, concealing his eye. "Where's Naruto?"

"With the wounded," Hiashi answered. "He'll need you. I'll take your genin and the Aburame with me."

"I'll have to keep the Uchiha: Orochimaru is set on taking his eyes."

The Hyuga shook his head as the uninformed shot the jonin confused looks. "Orochimaru has fled this battle and is likely incapable of doing so, ever."

Kakashi eye-smiled as he began walking to the hall, Guy and his genin in tow. "I knew Lord Hokage still had it in him." The eye opened when the man set his hand on his shoulder.

"Lord Third is dead," he whispered loud enough only for him to hear.

"...Oh." Kakashi kept walking and waved off his unaware squad. "Go with Hiashi! Listen to everything he tells you to do: he's a survivor of two Shinobi World Wars, and the rest of us jonin only have one under our belts."

Guy looked to his only female student. "You can go along, if you wish, Tenten."

She shook her head, shaking all the while. "I don't think I can after seeing all of that." She took a deep breath. "War is different from missions."

"Let's keep going," Hiashi, leading onward, said. "The battle is not over yet."

Half of Team 7, all of Team 10, and a fourth of Team 8 went with the clan head to group up with the surviving shinobi in the arena. It was going to be their first taste of taking part in a legitimate military operation. Some were excited, some didn't really care, and some felt fear. They already dealt with the brunt of the attack, but those feelings would linger. Those that remained would have to face something even worse.

Kakashi, Guy, Tenten, and Lee went from the noble balcony and past the Kage balcony to the civilian one their wounded were resting in. Tenten immediately rushed over to hug her other teammate, to his surprise. To his discomfort, Guy jumped over with Lee in his arms to do the same, pulling them all into one big literally bloody group hug.

Kiba raised an eyebrow at the exchange. "Shouldn't we be ready for any enemies?"

"The arena is clear," Kakashi said. "There might be a few stragglers, but it should be safe."

"Are you two going to watch them?" Kurenai asked.

He shrugged while Guy, still choking the life out of his genin, nodded. "May as well. You can go backup Hiashi and Asuma, if you want."

"I think I'll stay." She looked down at her ward's weary face.

"Well," Naruto said, standing up from the wall, "if the coast is clear, I'm going to go pay the old man a visit."

Neji's eyes widened. "Tha–"

"It's okay," Kakashi interjected. His uncharacteristically serious tone made everyone focus on him. "I'll make sure he's safe." Eye-smiling, he walked to his injured student.

Naruto glanced from his old enemy to his team leader. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I'd pick you up, but I'd get blood all over your fancy new clothes." His eye opened to narrow at his fishnets.

"What?

He started walking. "You didn't wear those before."

"And what's wrong with them?" Naruto shot him a look as he followed. "Are you jealous of Anko-sensei?"

"Anko what now?"

"Anko-sensei."

Kakashi twitched. "I'm going to pretend like I didn't hear that."

"You already did before."

"Smartass." He laughed, trying hard to choke down the rising sadness in his chest. "I knew you'd get along too well with her."

"We didn't fuck, but I really wish we did; she thinks it'd be a bad thing."

Kakashi glanced at him. "It would have been."

"Oh please! I beat a Tailed Beast! Don't I get some kind of pass after doing that?!"

"I'm proud of you, but please don't misunderstand: there's being capable of doing something and the question if you should. I made the same mistake when I was your age, and I haven't had a single healthy relationship with a woman since." He patted the top of his blond head. "Anko doesn't want to take advantage of you or ruin your chances of understanding what that's like."

Naruto squinted at him. "You don't have a healthy relationship with a woman because you read so much porn."

"...Yes."

They walked up the supporting pillars to the roof of the Kage balcony.

When Naruto's sandals touched the melted and scorched tiles, he rushed toward the figures in the middle of the balcony top with a smile on his face. "Old man?!"

Anko, hair still undone and cheeks dried of tears, looked up from the fallen mentor in her arms to her approaching charge. "...Naruto." She glanced at his dour sensei, who only forced his eye shut in response.

He slowed nearly to a halt at the sight of Sarutobi's still body. "Old...man?" His heart felt as though it fell down a pit. With every step he took forward, the feeling only worsened. "Why are you passed out?" A laugh he forced only caused him more pain. "Come on! You're the God of Shinobi! The Professor, right!?"

"Naruto," Anko called out again, tears reemerging from her eyes.

"Quit it." He fell to his knees when he reached them and held a hand over the Third's heart. "He's…" Joining them both, he formed the tiger seal to disrupt his own chakra.

Danzo looked down at his fallen rival. "This is not a genjutsu."

"This...This isn't possible."

"We were too late." Anko sobbed.

"No, I mean this is fucking impossible!" Naruto rose and shook his head. "The old man is the strongest person ever! He could've beat the One-Tailed Runt easier than I did! Wasn't he even stronger than the Second when he was a kid?!" His vision blurred as he stepped back. "I… I don't understand."

"He could not kill his own heart, so he could not kill his old student," Danzo said.

"Orochimaru?" His hands balled into fists. "He… let himself die for that piece of shit?!" Tears streamed down his cheeks. "He fed me to a fucking snake, and the old man would rather die than kill him?!" His features took on the influence of the Nine-Tails. The air grew far heavier than it was when the One-Tail fully manifested.

"Naruto," Kakashi called out, eye widening at the red bubbling chakra cloak.

"Shut up!" Three chakra tails swung behind him. "All of you shut up!"

Anko shut her eyes. "I'm sorry; it's my fault!"

"That stupid piece of shit! Worthless old man! Even in the end, he still put someone else over me!"

"What are you talking about?" Kakashi jumped away as the tails grew to slap at him.

"Quit playing stupid!" Naruto glared at the jonin with crying, slit red eyes. "I was always an afterthought! Always only worth caring about so long as it mattered to someone else!" His voice broke. "I beat a Tailed Beast! I spared Neji!" His face contorted in sadness. "And it still wasn't enough!"

"He loved you!"

His skin began peeling off, letting blood mix with the cloak. "Shut up! Just shut up!" He clutched his head and collapsed.

"He's losing control!" Danzo stepped forward for Kakashi to appear in his way. "Stand aside."

"I won't let you hurt him."

"That's not my intention." He reached to reveal his eye until the air turned outright toxic.

All three jumped away before the rooftop exploded in a column of blood red that went up so far it could be seen from any point of the village. When they landed, all stared in horror at what rested in the crater. The seal opened back in the Land of Waves. Orochimaru's tampering did untold amounts of damage they were finally seeing for themselves.

Six blood red tails lashed out in fury. An odd collection of bones extended around a form composed of chakra and blood rather than flesh. Two white holes were its eyes and jagged lines were its mouth. Fox-like ear appendages flopped about its head. From its crushing pressure alone, one could tell the fully formed One-Tail would be nothing more than an extreme-sized chew toy for the transformed Naruto. He raised his manifestation of a head and let loose an inhuman shriek of pained rage that shook the entire arena.

Kakashi's eye widened. "Oh no."

"I have no choice." Danzo ripped off the bandages and let his Sharingan shift into a pinwheel. "Kotoamatsukami." He froze as the fox thing turned to him.

Orbs of blue and red emerged from its form. Opening its mouth, it pointed all of its tails at the opening. The balls of chakra gathered into a dense purple. It condensed into a small golf-ball like sphere the fox-thing ate and swallowed.

Danzo and Kakashi wisely jumped off before it spit a destructive blast that blew off the top of the balcony and extended far into the sky. They attached themselves to the arena wall with chakra but almost fell from the sheer pressure they felt from it. While they were alive to feel the presence of the Nine-Tails, they did not do battle with it. Its hatred was something they could feel in their very beings.

Anko held Sarutobi's body close. She was shaking in fear and sadness. There was nothing she could do to help either of the men she wanted to save. Begging would likely get her killed, but she didn't care about herself anymore. It was a small chance yet still a chance. "Naruto!" She cried, pleading for the boy who sought inner peace.

The fox-thing looked in her direction, growled, bent its limbs, and pounced.

Guy appeared in blazing green force it back with a brutal kick to the face. "Gate of Wonder!"

"Knock him down into the arena!" Kakashi yelled as he lifted his forehead protector. "We need to contain him!" He looked to the woman cradling their fallen Hokage. "Anko! Please, we need your help!"

"I have no idea what you are," Guy said, tilting his head at the unfamiliar being. "But I would know that feeling anywhere!" He jumped over several swiping tails and swung his entire body into a kick that demolished everything behind it while launching the creature into the arena floor.

The four Kage-level ninja jumped down. To those looking on from the arena balconies, it was something out of a fable. Each looked unique and powerful. Their foe was a living nightmare none would ever forget. It was questionable if they would be enough though.

"Anko! Mud Wall!" Kakashi went through less hand seals than she did, but they surrounded the fox-thing with two massive walls of earth regardless.

Danzo nodded in approval as he went through hand seals of his own. "Earth Flow Spears!" The space between the walls became littered with spikes, trapping it in them.

"Now what?" Guy asked.

"I don–"

What hatred they felt was now something they could taste. Their eyes watched in horror at eight massive blood red tails emerged from their trap and collapsed the arena wall behind it. A skinless fox head shot forth to bite at them, growling as they jumped back into safety. It raised its head and screamed loud enough for everyone in the village to hear.

The seal was broken.

AN: I'm sorry.

Merry Christmas.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of a review or PM.