Facing the fully transformed jinchūriki, Masashi was... honestly, excited.
Truth be told, through both of his previous lifetimes, he had only ever been a jonin. He had never actually fought a Kage in a real life-or-death battle.
People often called him Kage-level, but he never took it seriously, that kind of title was mostly just family propaganda. But deep down, he always reminded himself: You're a jonin! Just a jonin!
After all, in the era of the ninja villages, a ninja's rank was determined mostly by mission performance. This wasn't as solid a standard as in the Warring States period.
Back in those days, the ninja clans were the only organizational structures. There were no academies, everything was passed down through families. Father to son, son to grandson. Despite its chaotic appearance, the Warring States period laid the foundation for the modern shinobi world. Many of today's institutions trace their roots back to that time.
Ranks like jonin, chunin, and genin? Yup, those were born back then. Even the tiered pricing system for ninjas based on their ranks was invented during that time. There were no schools or exams, so it was crucial to come up with a rating system that clients, clans, and even enemies would all accept.
Luckily, the Warring States was all about efficiency. People were clever, proactive, and full of creative solutions. So eventually, a rating method emerged that everyone accepted. No one remembers who came up with it, but everyone used it, even powerhouses like the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan.
The rating method was simple: Kill three enemy ninjas of a certain rank, and you're promoted to that rank.
One kill might be luck. Two could be ancestral blessings. But three? Solid proof.
Back then, when negotiating with clients, people would say stuff like: "Hello, this is our clan's jonin, XXXX. They've killed XX jonin to date."
At first, during his first lifetime, Masashi thought the whole system was absurd. Shameless, even. If you want a freebie, just ask. But eventually, he came to respect it. Because plenty of people did get lucky once or twice… and then got wrecked the third time.
The system worked. Nothing in the Warring States period came from some cushy office, it was all field-tested, solid, and real.
Take the genin promotion for example, kill three enemies, no problem. In one decent battle, you might rack up more than that just by chance. But to become a jonin? That could take ten battles or more.
During his life as Muzo, he had pretty bad luck. It took him nearly thirty battles to get those three kills. But afterward, he started averaging a kill per fight.
Clearly, it wasn't just luck anymore, he had truly become jonin-level. Before that, he wasn't, which was why it had been so hard. But no matter what, after the ninja villages era began, he had never killed a Kage. Only once had he fought one to the death, and he lost. He was killed.
Sure, the other side had numbers... but did that count as an excuse?
On the battlefield, there was only one reason you die, you were weak.
But today… finally… he had another chance.
Yagura, once the top ninja of Kiri, the man who ended the civil war and restored strength to his village. The third person in the modern era to completely control his tailed beast.
A solid, bona fide Kage.
If Masashi could defeat him, kill him, then he'd truly earn the title Kage-level. No more pretending.
Raging chakra exploded from him. His chakra was so intense, it glowed, a sign of extreme flow speed.
From the earth rose a massive demonic entity, even larger than the Three-Tails!
Unlike Madara's Rinnegan, which was a sinister violet, Masashi's eyes were a paler, bluish shade.
They looked like the mythical wings of a devil unfurling as his Complete Susanoo soared into the sky. With a single swing of its left arm, it lashed out a chakra whip infused with Scorch Release, aiming straight at Yagura's Three-Tails form.
The Uchiha clan's Complete Susanoo acts as a chakra amplifier for its user's ninjutsu.
A full tailed beast transformation with the jinchūriki in complete control could do the same. The beast's will could even help control its form, freeing the jinchūriki to focus more on ninjutsu, making its enhancements rival those of Susanoo.
The Susanoo, on the other hand, was purely manual control.
Luckily, Yagura's jutsu mainly relied on elemental styles. So Masashi went after his Water Release first.
Even before the chakra whip landed, the moisture in the air had already been scorched away.
Isobu curled up, its heavy, turtle-like shell wrapping around it as it formed a defensive ball.
The chakra whip struck just then.
BOOM!
It didn't break through Isobu's ultimate defense, but it sent the giant armored ball flying, rolling and bouncing across the Uchiha clan grounds like a runaway wheel, carving a path as it went.
Among the tailed beasts, the Three-Tails wasn't exactly small, so its rampage was felt throughout the entire compound.
Masashi hadn't expected this kind of move from his opponent. He quickly moved to retract his technique, after all, the evacuation shelter was underground. It was far away, sure, but what if this massive lump just randomly rolled in that direction and flattened someone?
But Susanoo in its Complete Body form wasn't that easy to dismiss.
The Scorch Release chakra whip withdrew, and from the palms of his Complete Body Susanoo burst forth a massive storm of chakra chains, covering the sky.
In the distance, Shisui hadn't immediately returned to the frontlines as ordered by Masashi. He was still worried and hadn't gone far.
When the Three-Tails carved a path through the Uchiha compound, Shisui was nearly scared to death. If it had rolled in a different direction, toward the shelter, things would've been catastrophic.
He was just about to activate his own Susanoo again to help Masashi drive the beast out, when he saw the enormous chakra net stretching across the sky.
That changed his mind.
After the Uzumaki clan was reestablished, and one of their members joined Konoha as a jonin, the iconic "chain-swinging beatdowns" made a comeback. But even the Uzumaki couldn't create this kind of scene.
It wasn't a matter of skill, they simply didn't have a monster like the Complete Body Susanoo to amplify their techniques. And their nature as a clan meant they never really synced with tailed beasts.
The Uzumaki clan had always relied on brute force when fighting tailed beasts.
A golden-tailed form? Sure.
But full beast transformation? Rare.
And even then, it was a forced process.
In that sense, the original timeline's Naruto didn't act very Uzumaki at all.
The chakra chains from the sky pressed downward. Even the Three-Tails felt a sense of danger.
That massive net up there? It recognized it.
As one of the lazier members of the tailed beast family, Isobu had learned its lesson, the last time it got controlled had been a rude awakening. Humanity had evolved, and the terrifying red-eyed freaks were now everywhere. It needed to stop slacking off.
Otherwise, it might get caught napping and be controlled again. And now, the huge net told it a brutal truth: this was one of those red-eyed freaks who used big chains!
Sensing his partner's deep fear, Yagura didn't know exactly what was coming, but didn't hesitate, he unleashed a wind jutsu.
First Shisui, then Masashi, with the fight already at this scale, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist nowhere in sight, it was obvious.
All seven had been taken down. Taken down by Masashi alone. After all, he had once battled the Kiri ninja across the battlefield. He understood the Kiri's military style well, they'd rather sacrifice the frontlines if it meant setting up a bigger ambush later.
Yagura admitted it, he'd been greedy. They couldn't stay here any longer. And Isobu, sensing his thoughts, had no objections. The enemy before them was more terrifying than the big net, it felt like it was staring down a natural predator. It was a feeling it hadn't experienced in ages.
Adamantine Sealing Chains were physical. Yagura's empowered wind jutsu lashed against them with a loud howl, slowing the chains' descent for a moment. Seizing the moment, Isobu uncurled and quickly rolled away.
This was no clumsy move, it was far more powerful than the Akimichi clan's Human Bullet Tank.
The massive armored ball barreled through everything in its path. Human buildings crumbled like tofu before it.
And it was fast.
Fast enough to take advantage of the momentary slowdown and escape the range of the sealing chains.
Masashi had already raised Susanoo's right hand, fingers spread and ready to release a jutsu… but then he stopped. He retracted the Adamantine Sealing Chains, and Susanoo chased after the escaping Three-Tails. He even whipped out the Scorch Release chakra whip again, continuously evaporating the moisture around Isobu, preventing Yagura from using any water jutsu.
Yagura's Water Mirror Technique was nasty business. Masashi didn't know if Yagura could still use it while transformed, but better safe than sorry.
All of this happened in mere seconds.
The Three-Tails had already broken through the southern wall of the Uchiha compound and entered the plains and forests marking the prison district. It didn't stop, barreling further south.
This area hadn't been reached by the Kiri Army. It was mostly occupied by Konoha ninja, so Yagura didn't need to worry about collateral damage.
Now that it was clear the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had been defeated, he had to immediately lead the Kiri forces in a retreat and regroup with the main force.
As for Masashi, now that he was outside the clan grounds, he had fewer concerns. Immediately, Susanoo in the sky formed hand seals and unleashed a jutsu.
Around Isobu, the ground trembled and erupted with gravel and sand.
Isobu, still in ball form, suddenly uncurled and spun on the spot. Using its massive size and strength, it lashed its tail like a hammer, shattering the rising sand walls with a piercing screech.
With the sand dispersed, it rolled again, shaking the earth as it transformed back into a giant wheel and thundered southward.
Watching that fast-rolling ball up ahead, Masashi thought…
No wonder they had once bonded over discussions late into the night, Yagura really got him.
He should understand Yagura too. How could he just leave Yagura behind?
According to the style of the Kiri forces, they were neither good at nor fond of frontal assaults. Usually, if a head-on attack didn't go well, they would scatter and regroup elsewhere.
There were many definitions of "didn't go well," even if their leader got killed, that counted. Dropping everything and walking away was a time-honored virtue of Kiri.
The Kiri forces had been attacking for quite some time. No matter how much strength they conserved, people on both sides had still died.
Killing some folks and then slipping away to regroup with the main force to fight again, when was life ever that easy?
In the southern part of the Uchiha compound, most of the houses were old, and demolition had long been a problem. Repairs were costly and unappreciated, while a full teardown stirred complaints from nostalgic clansmen. Now, no one had objections, this was official wartime damage, eligible for government compensation.
Since it was all going on the public tab anyway, patching up the prison area's battle damage too wouldn't be a big deal.
Chasing after Yagura, Masashi kept up the appearance of fighting while mainly making sure his own people didn't get caught up in it.
And he was doing quite well.
The Konoha ninjas nearby all stared, dumbfounded, as a massive rolling ball stormed past, followed by a flying Susanoo in the sky.
In all of Konoha, no, in the entire shinobi world, there was only one flying Susanoo.
Masashi was back!
The Uchiha ninjas were shocked and delighted, while those from the Hyūga and other clans also felt a great weight lifted off their hearts.
Today's battle had been suffocating, mainly due to being outnumbered, the Kiri ninjas were overwhelming!
Even though Fugaku and Shisui both had the powerful Susanoo, they had to focus mostly on defense. Especially Fugaku, the Uchiha clan head, who bore the brunt of the defense duties.
Fortunately, he had the Totsuka Sword technique to support him. The news quickly reached the central command. But the messengers weren't as fast as Yagura and Masashi.
The two of them swiftly crossed the frontlines where the Konoha and Kiri armies faced off, appearing directly before both sides' main forces.
"That's... the Mizukage!" From the high southern wall, Ao spotted Yagura, and above him, the flying Susanoo.
"Send the jonin to support the Mizukage! All units, retreat!" he gave the order decisively.
He knew well that given the current Kiri troop formation, they were in a very precarious situation.
Yagura had walked into a trap.
He was too optimistic, too fixated on the Uchiha clan, and too attached to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
By dispatching the Seven Swordsmen, they had already lost.
The Kiri jonin beside Ao nodded and quickly passed on the order.
In the sky, Masashi observed the Kiri army's clear change in formation and figured it was time. If this group were allowed to scatter, even if just a third of them escaped… cleaning up the south of the Land of Fire would be a nightmare.
At this point, Konoha also issued the retreat command.
When Fugaku saw the Susanoo in the sky, he immediately ordered a withdrawal. He was gratified by Masashi's actions, even more pleased by the Fourth Mizukage's greed.
A one-wave sweep was just too satisfying.
Without being harassed by Konoha ninja, the Kiri forces retreated smoothly, but they had to get past the southern wall to truly disperse.
Inside the Susanoo, Masashi gave a thumbs-up, feeling the range was just right. He began to control Susanoo. In the sky, Susanoo halted its pursuit, clapping its hands together and pulling them apart.
It drew out a "necklace."
The Yasaka Magatama.
With a flick of the hand, over ten magatama were flung outward, toward the outer edges of the battlefield.
Yagura halted his retreat when he saw this scene. He began to realize he had made a terrible mistake.
Between the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the 4,000 ninjas, he had chosen the former. If it had been a real choice, maybe it would've been acceptable. But now, the swordsmen were already gone...
Just as he feared, the Yasaka Magatama scattered to the battlefield's sides had already sunk into the ground. Light gleamed and bodies were flung into the air, vanishing within the glow.
Even the mountains to the east began to shake from the explosions, one of the magatama had landed too close.
And that was just the first wave.
Before the first wave of magatama explosions had even finished, Masashi had already thrown a second string. This time, they flew toward the distant southern wall. Konoha's walls had been expensive to build, but honestly, nothing compared to clan compound repairs. More importantly, the place was now full of Kiri ninjas. This wasn't destruction, it was getting value out of assets.
Inside his tailed beast cloak, Yagura clearly saw the southern wall crowded with Kiri ninjas dropping like dumplings.
But the whirling Yasaka Magatama in the sky didn't wait for them to finish jumping off, it struck before they could escape.
The first one hit the top of the wall, blasting the entire section into the air and vaporizing the ninjas still mid-jump. Then came the second, which flew past the top and hit the open ground beyond, those who had made it out but hadn't gotten far shared the same fate.
The remaining Yasaka Magatama struck the inside of the southern wall one after another, landing on the soil. The intense chakra light devoured the retreating Kiri ninjas in waves.
It was cleaner than wiping a chalkboard.
"...What a loss," Yagura sighed, feeling the tremors beneath his feet. He fully understood Masashi's intent now.
After occupying the southern wall, the Kiri forces had not only set up a temporary command center but also stockpiled their combat supplies for resupply convenience. These supplies had been brought via sealing scrolls, an extremely expensive method.
If they hadn't made good money in recent years, this kind of extravagant logistics would have been impossible for Kiri.
Now it was all dust. He activated his tailed beast cloak once more.
After all, these 4,000 troops were the elite of Kiri. Letting them all die here would be a complete waste, an utter loss of value. It looked like he'd be the first Kage to die in this war.
"Run to the sides!" he shouted.
Masashi's intention was clearly to funnel the Kiri ninjas toward the center. With the help of his tailed beast chakra, his voice echoed across the battlefield and reached the Kiri forces.
Sorry, Isobu. I think I've dragged you into this. If Kiri still exists after your resurrection, they'll probably come find you again. Let me apologize in advance.
Yagura mentally apologized to his partner.
It's fine. If not you, it would've been someone else. Besides, you've got nothing to be sorry for.
Isobu didn't mind. Seeing what was happening above, it had already given up on resisting. Might as well treat it like going to sleep.
Just as Yagura was about to say something else, he noticed Susanoo in the sky beginning a new motion. It brought its palms together, as if kneading something. It didn't take long before it opened them again.
A pitch-black sphere had formed.
Susanoo flung the sphere into the sky, right at the center of the battlefield, where the Kiri ninjas were most densely packed.
To dodge the earlier Yasaka Magatama, the previously scattered Kiri forces had begun clustering toward the Iwa troops.
Inside Susanoo, Masashi made a hand sign in sync with the outer Susanoo. This was the first time he was using this technique.
Crack!
A splitting sound echoed in everyone's ears. The next moment, a fissure opened in the earth, rapidly spreading into more cracks.
The surface turned into a web of fractures.
Through Susanoo's "eyes," dust began to rise from the ground, spiraling upward around the black sphere high in the sky.
But to the Kiri ninjas, it didn't look like dust.
The Chibaku Tensei was a brutal sealing technique.
It was physical.
Its effectiveness varied based on the caster's level, but considering the kind of targets it was meant for, to the Kiri ninjas, it didn't really matter. What Susanoo saw as dust, the Kiri forces saw as boulders, at least the size of people. And it wasn't just rocks flying up.
From his vantage point, Yagura had the clearest view: it was raining, only in reverse.
His subordinates, the Kiri ninjas, along with the shattered earth, were being pulled into the sky. Most of them wouldn't survive to see how high they got. As they ascended, the debris collided with each other.
If not for his tailed beast cloak, he would have been knocked unconscious, or worse, just from the impacts.
He too was flying upward.
Yagura, who had dreamed of revitalizing Kiri, suddenly felt a deep despair. Maybe it was just bad luck like the First Mizukage before him.
He looked up at the sky. Everything was being drawn toward that black sphere. He knew, of course, that the black sphere was the technique's weak point.
But now, he couldn't even see it. It was quickly being buried. And with his current speed, he wouldn't be able to gather enough power for a Tailed Beast Ball to break through the rapidly growing mass of rock above.
Masashi had uprooted the entire battlefield. Below now lay a bottomless abyss. Against such a massive mass, even a Tailed Beast Ball was useless.
The Three-Tails was not among the strongest tailed beasts. Even though differences between jinchūriki could narrow the gap somewhat, some differences just couldn't be overcome.
A rumble filled his ears as he was drawn into the sphere.
The last thing Yagura saw was a massive chunk of land, large enough for a dozen people to train on, falling toward him, crushing several already bloodied and lifeless Kiri ninjas in its path. Then came darkness, and only the sound of continuous boom, boom impacts remained.
Feeling the tremors through his cloak, he was certain, this had to be a sealing technique. Just as he thought that, a sudden flash of light appeared before his eyes, that was the last thing he ever saw.
Outside the now-formed Chibaku Tensei sphere, a massive Totsuka Sword pierced deep into the giant rock mass. It slowly began pulling out.
Inside Susanoo, a different chakra from Matatabi began to surge through Masashi's hands.
He was very satisfied.
Now the regret of never having solo-killed a Kage was gone.
Most of the Kiri forces were wiped out. All that was left was to deal with their reinforcements, no need to go chasing them over mountains and fields.
And he'd obtained another batch of tailed beast chakra.
One step closer to the Grand Slam.
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