Chapter 21: The Nine Tails, Part 2

Author Note: Nothing of importance, just enjoy the chapter, and if you have any questions, make sure to comment!

And like always, remember if you want to read up to 12 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

I'm currently updating the novel 2-8 chapters a day in patreeeeon. On chapter 33 so far, though by the end of today it will be chapter 36-37.

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Enjoy you sexy bastards.

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I sat there for a moment, paralyzed, my mind racing, trying to find something I could do to help the situation.

I reached out with my senses again, trying to get a clearer picture. The chakra signatures near Kushina were fluctuating wildly, a clear sign of a fierce battle. Minato's chakra was strong, but there was an edge of desperation to it. The enemy's chakra was dark and twisted, a malevolent force that made my skin crawl.

The new, small chakra signature was weak but steady. Naruto was still alive and well.

As I sat there, helpless in my room, I felt a surge of frustration. I wanted to do something, to help in some way, but I knew that rushing in blindly would only make things worse. I needed to trust Minato, to believe that he could handle the situation.

This was a fight well beyond my capabilities. I needed to focus on what I could do, not on what I couldn't. I could help those that I knew would believe my word at face value prepare for the imminent threat.

My parents and the Uchiha—I had to alert them. That was something I could do.

In a swift motion, I turned and headed for my closet, retrieving my backpack that lay half-buried under a pile of worn-out training gear, before gently picking up Tsuki, who had stirred from her peaceful slumber. Her luminous green eyes blinked open at me, a low purr rumbling in her throat as our gazes locked. "Sorry, Tsuki," I whispered, cradling her in my arms. "We've got to move."

I had trained her for this, in the unlikely case I ever had to evacuate the village.

Tsuki let out a small mew of protest from her comfortable spot, but obediently scrambled up onto my shoulder, her tiny claws digging into the fabric of my shirt. I carefully placed her into the backpack, poking her head through the gap in the half-closed zipper so she could see. Her curious green eyes blinked at me from the darkness of the bag.

I spared one last glance around my room, making sure I didn't need anything else, before grabbing my Claymore and running downstairs.

"Mom! Dad!" I called out, all but shouting, my voice echoing through the silent house. They emerged from their room, startled by the urgency in my tone. Their eyes widened at the sight of me, fully dressed with my sword and backpack.

"Champ," my father started, his gruff voice heavy with concern. "What's going on?"

"There's no time to explain in detail," I cut him off, flinching at the harshness of my own voice. I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart. "The village... We're under attack. We need to alert Lord Fugaku about it so he can start the evacuation. Lord Fourth is fighting the enemy, and I have a feeling the enemy's goal is to release the Nine Tails upon the village. There's no time to waste."

"Kushina!" Mom gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, eyes welling up with fear, seemingly coming to the same conclusion I had.

Attacking right now ensured the Fourth Hokage couldn't completely focus on fighting the enemy, meaning his focus would be divided between his wife, his child, the enemy, and the looming threat of the Nine Tails if he didn't solve the situation.

"I'll alert the Jonin Commander. You and Mother go to the Uchiha Compound," Father said, his stern voice breaking the tense silence that had enveloped us. Without wasting another moment, he disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving behind only the faint smell of burning wood.

Mom was already moving too, her usually calm face set in grim determination.

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We arrived at the Uchiha Compound within minutes. The compound was eerily quiet, the only sound the distant rustling of leaves in the night breeze. Rushing past the guards, I hurried to Fugaku's house, my mother close behind me, our footsteps echoing as we jumped from building to building.

"Lord Fugaku! Lady Mikoto!" I called out, pounding on the door.

The door slid open, revealing a sleepy and disheveled Fugaku. His eyes widened as he took in our frantic expressions.

"Takeshi? Mai? What is it?" he asked, his voice laced with concern as he looked around, almost as if expecting someone to be following us.

"There's no time to explain in detail, Fugaku-sama," I said quickly. "The village is under attack. The Fourth Hokage is engaged with the enemy, and I have reason to believe their goal is to release the Nine Tails. We need to evacuate and prepare for the worst."

Fugaku's eyes narrowed, and he nodded sharply, "Mikoto, wake the clan. We need to organize an evacuation and defense strategy immediately."

I was glad no one was questioning how I knew about the Nine Tails. Maybe Kushina had told them, including my family, about the night we met and how I had sensed something wrong in her chakra. I honestly didn't care about the reason at the moment. If I had to be interrogated for this later on, I would gladly answer their questions.

Lady Mikoto appeared behind Fugaku, her eyes wide with alarm. She nodded and, without a word, hurried off to rouse the rest of the clan. Fugaku turned to me, his expression stern.

"Takeshi, I appreciate the warning. You will stay inside the clan and help only if absolutely necessary," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Of course," I replied, hoping that what little I was doing would be enough to control some of the damage of what was about to happen.

Fugaku then turned to my mother, Mai. "Mai," he began, his stern exterior softening slightly, "would you prefer to stay within the compound or help with the evacuation of the village populace?"

My mother didn't hesitate before responding. "With all due respect, Lord Fugaku, I want to assist in the evacuation. I cannot sit idle while our home is under threat."

Fugaku nodded at her words. "Very well. Coordinate with Mikoto for the evacuation strategy. Ensure everyone gets out safely." His gaze shifted back to me. "Takeshi, go with Itachi and help him protect Mito and Sasuke."

I bowed respectfully. "Yes, sir."

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Entering their house, I found Itachi already awake, his normally calm eyes reflecting the anxiety he was trying to suppress. I could see him struggling to put on a brave face for his little brother and sister, but the worry etched into his features was evident. Meaning that he had sensed something was wrong, just like me, though unlike me, he wasn't a sensor.

He looked relieved to see me.

"Takeshi," he said, his voice steady despite everything. "You carry Mito, and I'll carry Sasuke."

I nodded, moving towards Mito's crib, who was already awake, happily throwing her arms my way, oblivious to the impending danger. Itachi did the same, swiftly moving to Sasuke's side; the three-month-old had begun to wail, almost as if sensing the tension in the air.

Gently, I picked Mito up, cradling her close to my chest. Her large, inquisitive eyes met mine, a soft gurgle escaping her lips as she reached out a chubby hand to play with a loose strand of my hair. My heart clenched at her innocence; perhaps it was best if she didn't know what was happening.

"Ready?" Itachi asked, his voice barely audible over Sasuke's cries.

"Yes," I replied with a short nod. "Does your clan have an evacuation zone, or do we need to wait for your mother's orders?"

Itachi nodded, adjusting Sasuke in his arms. "There's a safe zone at the edge of the forest where we're supposed to gather. Mother will send word once everyone is accounted for."

With that, we moved quickly through the Uchiha compound, which was now stirring with life. Men and women hurried around in their black and red attire, corralling their children and gathering their belongings with stern faces set in grim determination.

The sounds of frightened cries and hurried footsteps echoed through the darkened streets as other members of the Uchiha clan emerged from their homes, the children and the elders following Fugaku's planned path towards safety, while the others went out to assist the village.

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As the evacuation efforts continued, the air grew thick with tension and the sense of impending danger loomed over us. The Uchiha safe zone, a fortified area within the compound, was full of activity as people hurried to secure their families and prepare for the worst.

I was helping guide some of the younger children when it happened. A sudden, chilling sensation washed over me, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I froze, my senses heightened, and rattled, feeling something break.

I could feel a void.

It was as if a gaping emptiness had suddenly appeared in the middle of the village, a vacuum that seemed to pull at everything around it. And then, almost immediately, it was filled by an immense, overwhelming presence. A massive amount of chakra, unlike anything I had ever felt before, surged through the village. The sheer intensity of it was staggering, nearly knocking the breath out of me. I stumbled, clutching my chest as the realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

The Nine Tails had been released.

The Fourth Hokage had failed in stopping the enemy.

The next thing I felt was a massive roar, followed by a maelstrom of pure malice and fury. It was like standing at the edge of an erupting volcano, the heat and pressure threatening to

 consume everything in its path. The sheer hatred and anger radiating from the Nine Tails' chakra was palpable, a dark, oppressive force that seemed to choke the very air around us.

"Takeshi?" Itachi called out, his voice strained with worry.

Snapping back to reality, I saw the panic that had descended over the safe zone. Shouts and cries filled the air as people ran towards their loved ones, comforting children and holding their families close.

As I turned back to the village, my eyes caught the sight of the beast. There, in the center of the village, was the massive form of the Nine Tails. Its dark, ominous figure towered over the buildings, its eyes glowing with an eerie, malevolent light as the beast roared once more, a sound so powerful it seemed to shake the very foundations of Konoha.

"Can you feel what's happening?" Itachi asked, and I shook my head.

For the first time in my life, I couldn't feel anything around me. The only thing I could currently feel was the monster that had been unleashed upon the village, his presence drowning everything else.