5 Chapter 5

"You coming with us now or not?" The ANBU's emotionless question echoed in the silence of the night, imbuing the air with a sense of imminent threat. The other two ANBU, each holding a gleaming katana, remained silent, but the cold, determined glint in their eyes left no room for misunderstanding: either Kushina would join them willingly, or she would be forcibly taken to Danzo.

"You've smashed my front door... and I didn't say a word. Even when you were rude, I still tried to negotiate. But now..." Kushina's voice reverberated, carrying an irritation that simmered beneath her exhausted patience. Without waiting for a response, the ANBU advanced in unison, like two blades of wind cutting through the air. However, to them, Kushina was a red blur, too fast for human eyes to capture. With a fluid motion and a burst of energy, the three ANBU were catapulted out of the house, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

"My first home..." Kushina's voice was a soft murmur, but each word was saturated with a deep sense of loss. She gazed at the residence she had fought so hard to attain, now reduced to rubble and dust. Her heart ached with the loss, but she quickly pushed aside the sadness, glancing towards Naruto to ensure he was still asleep. Seeing her son unaffected by the chaos, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. Then, wasting no more time, she dashed towards the Uchiha house, seeking refuge at her friend Mikoto's residence.

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"Watch out for the tail!" One of the ninja shouted in desperation to his companion, his eyes widening as he glimpsed the colossal red tail, covered in thick fur, approaching at high speed. It was as if a flaming mountain was coming their way, and they knew they had to dodge it or be crushed under the weight of the mighty blow. However, time seemed to slow down. The tail was dangerously close, too close!

At the last possible moment, a gigantic staff appeared out of nowhere, striking Kyuubi's tail with impressive force. The sudden arrival of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, was like a beacon of hope in the midst of chaos and destruction. The ninja's eyes, once filled with fear of certain death, now gleamed with relief and admiration as they saw their savior.

"Get out now! I won't be able to hold this for long!" Hiruzen roared, raw determination in his voice. Pain shot through his arms like electric currents, his entire body rebelling against the immense effort. He quickly reduced the size of his staff to match his own body's height and leaped, the strike of Kyuubi's tail hitting the spot where he had been with a deafening crash, devastating the surrounding terrain and creating a shockwave that swept the area with violent winds.

While in mid-air, Hiruzen glanced back just to confirm that the two ninja had managed to escape. He let out a heavy sigh, a mixture of relief and exhaustion. Then, he turned his gaze to the beast he had challenged: Kyuubi. Confronting the two giant, ferocious, red eyes that glowed with a wild flame, Hiruzen swallowed hard. He was alone now, face to face with the monumental beast.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"

"Water Style..."

"Earth Style..."

"Wind Style..."

The voices of the ninja echoed across the battlefield. Witnessing their valiant Third Hokage's battle against the colossal threat that was Kyuubi, they couldn't stand idly by. With determination and courage, they began to conjure a series of Jutsus, each more powerful than the last. Like a rain of strength and bravery, a barrage of Jutsus was launched towards Kyuubi, tearing the sky with their incredible intensity and speed.

Kurama sensed the attack. Opening its immense mouth, it let out a roar that made the air vibrate, a thunderous explosion of sound reverberating throughout the battlefield. This monstrous scream not only repelled the Jutsus aimed at it but also sent a powerful shockwave threatening to engulf the ninja.

Just as the ninja felt the impending impact, they felt a gentle touch, and in the blink of an eye, they were somewhere else - away from the shockwave's impact zone. Confused and disoriented, they looked around, searching for the source of this miraculous rescue. And there he stood, wearing a white overcoat with a grand name emblazoned on the back - the Fourth Hokage. The hem of the overcoat was adorned with dancing flames.

Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage. His piercing blue eyes stared unwaveringly at Kyuubi. Kurama, in turn, seemed to be waiting, as if it knew something was about to happen, as if it anticipated Minato's next move. This peculiar behavior of Kyuubi did not escape Minato's notice as he turned to the ninja he had just saved.

"Evacuate the area. I will take care of the Nine-Tails," Minato said with a soothing yet firm voice.

"But, Hokage... we want to help you!" one of the ninja protested, and the others nodded in agreement.

"You will help me by taking care of the other people. Dealing with this threat is my responsibility," Minato replied, turning again to face Kyuubi, ready to confront the colossal beast once more.

Minato, with a determined look, threw his kunai towards Kyuubi. The gleaming blade cut through the air, advancing at high speed like a bright comet, on a course aimed directly at the enormous creature.

Kurama, the Kyuubi, looked at the approaching object and scoffed. "So, you're really going to attack me, Minato? Don't hold me responsible for the consequences your husband will face, Kushina," he taunted, his tone resonating with implied threats.

Even in the face of the threat, Minato remained undeterred. He watched closely as the kunai neared its target. Time seemed to slow down, each second stretching as he waited for the perfect moment. Finally, when the kunai was close enough, Minato acted.

In the blink of an eye, Minato performed a jutsu. The air around the kunai began to distort, and a curtain of smoke erupted, obscuring Kurama's view. When the smoke cleared, to Kurama's surprise, there weren't just one, but several kunais floating in the air.

Minato smiled, satisfied with the result. His strategy was not just to attack Kyuubi but to strike all the giant creature's vital points with lightning speed. He planned to use the confusion created by his multiple kunai technique to catch Kurama off guard and deliver a series of devastating blows. This was Minato's power, the Fourth Hokage, a man known for his strategic intelligence and unmatched speed.

Minato's right hand began to pulse with unsettling power. A whirlwind of bluish energy started forming in the palm of his hand, spinning and shining with an almost supernatural light. The spinning energy sphere grew in size and intensity, transforming into a swirling bluish sphere that rotated at an incredible speed, emitting a low, constant hum that filled the air with a sense of imminent danger.

"Minato!" Kushina's cry broke Minato's concentration

, causing him to stop abruptly. He spun on his heels, his eyes meeting two Kushinas that he quickly realized were clones. His mind immediately started spinning with possibilities. "Kushina, what happened? Is something wrong with Naruto? With you? Did the masked man return?" The questions poured out of his mouth in a rapid stream, each word laden with concern.

"It's none of that," one of Kushina's clones replied, her expression serious. "I'm asking you to stop attacking Kyuubi. It will only cause more destruction and pain." Her voice was heavy with profound sadness that tugged at Minato's heart. He looked at his wife's expression, then turned his gaze to Kyuubi, his mind working at full speed.

"But... releasing Kyuubi won't prevent it from causing more destruction. Besides, it will most likely be hunted by other villages." Minato argued, his voice firm but conflicted. He felt the weight of the words, realizing the magnitude of the dilemma he faced. However, he knew he had to make a decision, and fast. Kyuubi was still a threat, and every passing second only increased the danger to the village and its inhabitants.