Tailed Beast Ball

In the distance, a massive mushroom cloud rose, with smoke billowing and flames reaching the sky. The explosion was clearly visible even from dozens of kilometers away, and the heat could be faintly felt. If the Tailed Beast Ball had landed on the battlefield below rather than in the distance, the forces below would have been completely wiped out.

"It's vastly different from the previous Tailed Beasts," Kakashi said gravely, sweat already forming on his brow. "What incredible power."

"It's still unstable, indicating incomplete control," Uchiha Madara said, pressing his hand against the Ten-Tails' head.

"Keep going," Uchiha Obito gritted his teeth. "This isn't enough."

Another Tailed Beast Ball shot from the Ten-Tails' mouth, causing its body to topple over from the massive recoil. Yet, it continued to attack, firing Tailed Beast Balls incessantly, launching them in all directions.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The intense explosions were relentless, echoing ceaselessly. The ground trembled continuously, as though a massive earthquake was occurring. The allied forces found themselves surrounded by a sea of fire, smoke billowing everywhere. Massive peaks were sheared off, vast lakes evaporated, and forests were incinerated in an instant, with flames raging everywhere.

"Oh my God, the distant towns were destroyed in an instant," remarked Hyuga Hiashi, part of the allied force, his face reflecting shock, with cold sweat pouring down.

"Ahhh!"

At that moment, the gigantic Ten-Tails rose from the ground, lifting its head, and a Tailed Beast Ball instantly shot from its mouth, hurtling into the distance.

"Something's wrong. All of its targets are in the distance," Ao, at the command headquarters, noticed something amiss and shouted loudly.

"This means all cities and people are within its range," Shikaku Nara said gravely.

"Does that mean the already evacuated daimyos, those guarding the villages, and the country's civilians are also in danger?" asked a sensor ninja wearing a communication headset, his voice trembling.

"The ninjas are fighting on the battlefield precisely to protect them," Shikaku Nara turned his head, his eyes steely. "The enemy intends to obliterate everything."

While those at headquarters were discussing the Ten-Tails' intentions, the Ten-Tails on the battlefield launched another Tailed Beast Ball towards the distance.

"This direction is…" Hyuga Neji was the first to notice something was wrong with his Byakugan.

"This, this is…" Ao at headquarters also realized the danger, noting that the Tailed Beast Ball was heading directly toward them.

"What's wrong, Ao?" Shikaku Nara, noticing Ao's expression change, asked in a deep voice.

"Its target is…" Ao didn't finish, but the implication was clear.

"Here?" Shikaku Nara lifted his head, gazing through the skylight at the sky outside, and sighed lightly.

"Shikaku, what should we do?" the sensor ninja beside him asked calmly.

"Do what must be done," Shikaku Nara said flatly, his expression neutral. "This is the final task. Connect me to everyone on the battlefield; I've devised a plan to stop the Ten-Tails."

The battlefield suddenly fell silent as many people looked towards the direction where the Tailed Beast Ball was headed. Many among them knew that this was where the headquarters was located. Being battle-hardened ninjas, they were naturally aware of the gravity of the situation. The power of the Tailed Beast Ball was so immense that even the headquarters, reinforced with concrete, would not withstand such an attack.

On the battlefield, Shikamaru was stunned, his eyes staring blankly into the distance. With his intelligence, he had already realized the severity of the situation. He clenched his teeth and fists tightly. As for Ino, her face was covered in tears, as her father was also at the command headquarters.

"Boom!"

Time seemed to stop for a moment. In that instant, a blinding flash of light appeared in the distance, turning everything in sight white and enveloping the world in a bright glow. Then came the deafening roar of a massive explosion, causing the ground to tremble incessantly, akin to a violent earthquake, making it hard for people to stand firm.

A massive mushroom cloud rose in the distance, blotting out the sun and reaching into the sky, with thick smoke and flames surging upwards. The command headquarters was engulfed in a sea of fire.

"Finally hit it," a faint smile appeared on Uchiha Madara's lips as he stood on top of the Ten-Tails. "The leadership of the allied forces is finished. This is just the beginning."

"Continue. I want to show them meticulously," Uchiha Obito said sternly, "what despair truly is."

With that, Uchiha Obito stretched out his hand, and under his control, the Ten-Tails extended its ten arms, aiming at the ninja allied forces below.

"Wood Style: Cutting Sprigs Jutsu!"

Dark spots suddenly appeared on the palms of the Ten-Tails, from which countless wooden spikes shot out, densely packed like a scattering of flowers from the sky, descending upon the people below.

The wooden spikes were not only extremely dense but also incredibly fast. Many people didn't even have time to react before becoming like pincushions. The terror of the Cutting Sprigs Jutsu lies in the fact that the wooden spikes continue to grow after penetrating the human body, piercing the person from the inside. Therefore, anyone hit by this technique would find it difficult to survive.

Fortunately, the Five Kage had returned to the battlefield, and with their help, the number of casualties decreased significantly. However, they were only five individuals, and no matter how strong, they couldn't protect everyone on the battlefield.

"There are too many of them, and there isn't enough time for Rotation," Neji said anxiously, as he was hit by a spike on his headband's strap, causing it to fall to the ground.

At that moment, more wooden spikes descended with a sharp whistling, like a violent storm.

After a round of attacks, the ninja allied forces began to react and defend themselves. Naruto entered Sage Mode and used Rasenshuriken to block the path of the wooden spikes. However, the spikes were too numerous, seemingly endless, and Naruto's chakra was depleting. After launching four Rasenshuriken, he finally collapsed to his knees, exhausted.

Neji continued to use Rotation to defend against the spikes. At that moment, he glanced over and saw Hinata had collapsed, exhausted. Wooden spikes were about to reach her. Hiashi wanted to help but was too far away, unable to reach her in time.

Gritting his teeth, Neji stepped forward and shielded her with his arms.

"Hinata-sama, let me protect you," Neji slowly closed his eyes, "as a small atonement for the mistakes I've made."

Neji now knew the truth about his father's death. His father was not forced to die by the main family but had volunteered. Misunderstanding this, Neji had harbored resentment towards Hinata and the main family. Since learning the truth, he had been filled with guilt.