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Uchiha Kochou finally let out a sigh of relief as she crushed the teleportation talisman in her hand.
She knew she had failed in her duties this time.
Regardless of the actual circumstances, as the commander of an entire legion, her inability to anticipate the enemy's movements was an undeniable dereliction of duty.
If the lord wished to punish her, she would accept any consequences without complaint.
Whether she was stripped of her position or subjected to a more brutal and ruthless punishment, she was prepared to bear it all with an open heart.
ROOOAAR!!!
A thunderous bellow echoed across the battlefield—Matatabi's furious cry shook the air, carrying the deep-seated resentment of its captivity.
Having been sealed away for so long, the Two-Tails harbored an intense hatred for all humans within its sight.
A second Tailed Beast Bomb was launched, its deadly glow streaking through the sky, heading straight for the densest part of the gathered troops.
"Damn it!"
Uchiha Izuna instinctively wanted to move, to shield his comrades just as Kochou had done earlier.
However, as the frontline commander, he forced himself to halt.
"I cannot fall. If I die here, the millions of citizens of the Land of Fire will be exposed to the enemy's blade."
Just as the Tailed Beast Bomb was about to explode—
A dark, swirling barrier of space-time chakra enveloped the attack completely.
The devastating force meant to obliterate everything in its path was suddenly swallowed into nothingness.
"What… what just happened?"
The Leaf shinobi, having narrowly escaped annihilation, stood in stunned disbelief.
BOOOOM!!!
Before they could process what had transpired, a powerful shockwave erupted from several kilometers away, sending violent tremors through the battlefield.
The sharper-minded shinobi quickly pieced it together.
"That was… a space-time barrier transfer?!"
Their gazes darted around frantically, searching for the one responsible.
It wasn't long before someone spotted a lone figure standing amid the chaos—a figure clad in a regal white Hokage's robe.
"Lord Hokage!"
A voice filled with uncontainable joy rang out, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
And at that moment, the fear of the Tailed Beast vanished from their hearts.
The reason was simple.
That man… was the embodiment of invincibility.
---
"Lord Kyōsuke…"
Uchiha Kochou struggled to her feet, ignoring the fresh blood trickling from her wounds. She dropped to one knee, bowing her head low.
"…Forgive me for disappointing you."
Kyōsuke gazed at her in silence for a moment before lifting his hand slightly.
A gentle breeze, impossibly precise, swept through the air and lifted Kochou up, steadying her body.
"As long as you are unharmed, that is enough," he said calmly. "Victory and defeat are commonplace in war. This battle was meant to give you all experience, after all."
"…Thank you, my lord."
Kochou's heart was filled with gratitude, but at the same time, an unsettling thought took root in her mind.
She hadn't seen Kyōsuke form any hand seals just now.
Yet with a mere raise of his hand, he had conjured a small-scale Wind Release technique with pinpoint control.
This could only mean that his mastery over Wind Chakra had reached a terrifying level—beyond what she had ever imagined.
More importantly, Kyōsuke had always favored Lightning and Fire Release in battle.
Even his proficiency in Water Release, though formidable, was a step below those two.
When did his Wind Release reach such an extraordinary level?
Kyōsuke placed a firm hand on Kochou's shoulder in a gesture of reassurance before turning to glare at the nearby Uchiha Izuna, who looked somewhat sullen.
"Well now," he said with a smirk, "are you still upset?"
"…I wouldn't dare," Izuna muttered.
Kyōsuke chuckled. "I'll have your brother give you a good beating when we get back."
"…Lord Hokage, I was wrong."
The two men, having grown up together, didn't need words to communicate. A mere exchange of glances was enough to convey their thoughts.
Kyōsuke then turned his attention to the massive, restless form of Matatabi.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"No wonder we couldn't find you anywhere… so you've already been turned into a Jinchūriki."
"What a pity," he murmured, shaking his head. "The sealing method is far too crude. It's no wonder you can't be used effectively in battle."
The fabric of his white robe, embroidered with the words First Hokage, fluttered in the wind as he vanished in an instant.
The next moment, he was standing atop Matatabi's massive head.
"Now then," he said softly, "why don't you calm down a little?"
Perhaps it sensed a grave danger looming over it, for Matatabi's fury only intensified. Yet, at the same time, a deeply human-like fear flickered in its eyes.
Kyōsuke's chakra was vast—like a boundless ocean, oppressive and unfathomable.
And then there were his eyes.
Those Uchiha eyes, radiating a sinister coldness that sent a shiver through even a Tailed Beast's soul.
Matatabi instinctively tried to twist away—
But before it could move, delicate white snowflakes began to fall around it.
The suffocating heat that had engulfed the battlefield just moments ago vanished without a trace.
In its place was a piercing chill, like the frigid winds of the Land of Snow.
Ice Release: Lingering Moon Frost Blossom.
The moment Kyōsuke's feet touched the ground again, the Two-Tails had already been transformed into an enormous, lifeless ice sculpture.
Lingering Moon Frost Blossom—an Ice Release secret technique Kyōsuke had developed himself.
By manipulating the moisture in the air, he could freeze his target instantaneously.
Its power far surpassed anything from Haku's Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystal.
Kyōsuke placed a hand against the frozen Feeling the agitation of the Tailed Beast trapped within the ice, he smiled faintly. Placing a single hand against the massive frozen sculpture, he activated the seal.
Contract Seal—Release!
"Be good and come with me now. I'm counting on you to help me make a fortune."
With a mere touch, he severed the bond that bound Matatabi to its Jinchūriki.
The Two-Tails was now free.
Without the interference of a foreign chakra source, a simple Genjutsu would be enough to subdue it completely.
Sure enough, as the ethereal glow of illusionary energy washed over it, the great blue cat obediently crouched low to the ground, docile as a housecat.
Kyōsuke finally turned back to his subordinates.
"So? What about the Raikage?" he asked. "Wasn't he supposed to be leading an attack on our headquarters?"
"R-Reporting to Hokage-sama," a Konoha ninja hesitated before answering, "The Raikage fled before the Tailed Beast even appeared."
"Oh?" Kyōsuke shook his head with slight disappointment. "If I had run into him today, I would've just taken him out and earned some points in passing."
If the opportunity had presented itself, he would have acted. But chasing the Raikage down just for that? He had no such interest.
A mere Raikage… did he even deserve to be personally pursued by him?
Looking down at the two figures gazing up at him—Kochou and Izuna—Kyōsuke smiled. "You two handle the casualties. I'll be heading back first. There's still… ahem, a lot of official work to deal with."
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly added, "Oh, and make sure to inform Kumogakure—they can buy their little kitten back if they want."
"The price? A flat four billion ryo. And as a bonus, I'll throw in a full collection of sealing techniques worth one billion."
Uchiha Izuna: "…How can you be this shameless?"
Uchiha Kochou: "…My lord is truly shrewd and capable."
Konoha shinobi: "…Hokage-sama has worked hard!"
With that, Kyōsuke left with the Two-Tails in tow, but the strange atmosphere he left behind lingered for quite some time.
Before long, news of the failed raid and Konoha's capture of Matatabi spread across the shinobi world.
The Land of Earth, which had been preparing to send reinforcements, immediately abandoned the idea.
The fact that Konoha had captured a Tailed Beast so effortlessly proved that its strength had not been exaggerated.
Whether to deploy their forces would depend on how the war unfolded from here.
---
In mid-July of Konoha Year 2, Senju Tobirama launched a surprise assault on Kumogakure's main camp, catching their forces off guard and inflicting devastating casualties. However, despite the significant blow, Kumogakure's forces remained resilient.
By late July, Uchiha Kochou, having recovered from her injuries, led the First Legion in a decisive counterattack, pushing back against the enemy with renewed vigor.
As August arrived, fierce clashes erupted along the border, with Konoha struggling to gain the upper hand. Kumogakure, maintaining overall dominance in the conflict, continued to apply relentless pressure.
At the end of the month, Sarutobi Sasuke seized an opportunity to launch a flanking assault via the waterways, hoping to turn the tide of battle. However, his forces were intercepted by the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers. The ensuing confrontation was brutal, but neither side could claim victory, resulting in a bloody stalemate.
In September, Konoha's casualties continued to mount, forcing Hokage Kyosuke to take decisive action. Recognizing the need for reinforcements, he dispatched a unit led by Fūma Yukishi to bolster the front lines.
By October, Konoha finally began to regain some momentum. Despite this, the war remained at a standstill, with both sides locked in a tense standoff along the border. The conflict even spilled into the Land of Hot Water, further escalating tensions.
In November, the war briefly slowed amid rumors that Kumogakure was preparing to send additional forces.
In December, as heavy snow blanketed the land, the two villages temporarily ceased hostilities, planning to reignite the conflict after the New Year.
---
Konoha Year 3:
Word came from the Land of Earth—Iwagakure had been officially established.
It was said that its First Tsuchikage, Ishikawa, possessed fearsome and formidable strength.
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[Chapter End's]
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