There was no tense standoff.
When the forces of the Three Village Coalition came into view, they were already charging towards the gates of Uzushio.
The Kumo shinobi surged forward in a wedge formation with Han, Iwa’s Five Tailest Jinchuriki as the tip of the spear.
Above them, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, floated using Earth Release: Ultralight-Weight Rock, ready to strike with the virtually unstoppable Dust Release.
Though in this war with the Uzumaki, the unstoppable nature of the Kekkei Tota had already been put into question.
Iwa’s forces once again got into long range bombardment stance, splitting into teams of four, forming circles to unleash their ultra long range combination jutsu.
Meanwhile, Kiri was following Kumo’s weave, preparing for the use of combined Water Release for a large-scale attack ahead of the initial charge.
“Combined Earth Release: Rock Mortar”
At the center of each circle, the ground compressed and trembled with stored force like in the previous battle as massive amounts of chakra was kneaded into it.
And then came the signature deafening boom like the firing of artillery, with it, a large rock was launched into the air at supersonic speed with an extremely high arc.
Kiri wasted no time unleashing their might as well.
“Combined Water Release: Great Tsunami”
Ahead of the charging Kumo formation, a massive wave rose and swept forth.
Even without water in the environment, the combination jutsu cast by over a hundred Jonin with Elite Jonin mixed in was no joke.
In terms of area of effect, even a full powered S rank Water Release from the Third Mizukage would be inferior.
The colossal wave stretched into the sky even as it rapidly advanced towards Uzushio’s gates like a moving solid wall of water, not only threatening to destroy the Uzumaki fortifications but also protecting the advancing Kumo forces from any long range attacks.
A fusion of defense and offence perfect for supporting the high level close quarters specialist of Kumo as they made their approach.
But there was no fear in the faces of the Uzumaki shinobi, only the savagery that comes with the anticipation of bloodshed.
The First Elder, flanked by the Second and Sixth jumped out from the village walls, beyond the range of its protective barrier.
Following that, the latter two bit their left thumbs, and slathered the leaking blood onto their right palms, weaving a sequence of hand seals familiar to any shinobi that had ever bound a contract with a creature.
‘Summoning Jutsu!’ X2
Two colossal explosions of white smoke obscured Uzushio’s walls and from within their core, two massive and very familiar chakra signatures emerged.
With two roars, one high and feline, one low and rumbling, the clouds of smoke were dispersed with mighty force.
A giant two tailed cat made out of solid blue and black fire, bearing hypnotizing heterochromatic eyes.
A monstrous, three tailed turtle with a heavy and rough shell for armor, covering nearly every inch of its massive body.
The sight of the two Tailed Beasts, once weapons of their villages, now being employed against them was enough to give the charging army of hardened jonin pause and inspire a measure of fear in their hearts.
What occurred next more than justified these feelings.
Matatabi, the Two Tails, raised its head towards the sky and charged up a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Isobu, the Three Tails, flared its chakra and forcefully took control of the Great Tsunami created by the Kiri shinobi and empowered it with its own mighty water release abilities while reversing its sweeping flow onto the very army it was once protecting and clearing the way for.
The monster cat’s Tailed Beast Bomb glowed red as it was fired heavenward, exploding like fireworks, deadly and haunting fireworks that bathed the world in ominous red light.
The explosion wiped the rock bombardment launched by Iwa and the tide of battle seemed to have shifted instantaneously.
Not for long though.
‘Horn Breaking’
With unstoppable force, Han, having undergone full Tailed Beast Transformation, smashed through the Tsunami with Kokuo’s charging body.
The army following behind him sighed in relief at having survived but they were stuck in a hard place now.
They could not retreat without the order to do so.
Advancing would put them face to face with Tailed Beasts out of their league and staying still would just make them prime targets for a well placed Tailed Beast Bomb.
“Don’t stop! We will clear the way!” Onoki shouted from up above.
The Third Mizukage was already charging forth to reclaim his village’s lost Tailed Beast.
Hozuki Shingetsu had taken a bit too much of the Third Raikage’s lightning while pinning Shiki down so he was sitting out this one unless absolutely necessary, yet another notch in the boy’s belt in the form of a significantly weakened, Kage level enemy combatant.
Meanwhile, the agile Kokuo dodged the charging Isobu and charged at Matatabi instead.
The Three Tails’ defensive ability meant taking it out was bound to be a time consuming task so taking out the equally or even more destructive Two Tails who was a fast attacker with low defense, was definitely the right move.
As for the Tsuchikage, seeing that the enemy Tailed Beasts had someone to keep them busy, decided to cover the advancing army and deal with the last great obstacle to their victory, the remaining Uzumaki Elders.
But even as they moved like a well oiled machine, the two Kages and Han could not help but be consumed by a burning question.
How were their enemies keeping such fine control over the Tailed Beasts.
Kokuo within Han was even more confused as it could tell her siblings were fighting as if they were fully conscious and in control of their actions, she recognized their habits and styles.
No known fuinjutsu or genjutsu could achieve that level of control.
To perfectly manipulate a being as powerful as a Tailed Beast into acting as an ally while enabling it to maintain full control over its body so as to fully utilize its abilities . . .
Not even the Mangekyo Sharingan could accomplish such a thing, at least not one without a very specialized genjutsu.
The standard control of a Mangekyo granted its wielder the ability to perfectly command a Tailed Beast but they had to give it specific orders and its combat ability would be somewhat restrained when compared to its free self, specially under the control of an inexperienced master.
As for how the Uzumaki accomplished this monumental feat?
Simple. They did not.
Even Mito could not do such a thing.
Forcefully controlling a Tailed Beast through fuinjutsu was something the Uzumaki matriarch was fully capable of but such subtle means of brainwashing were still beyond her.
No, the handiwork was Maiko’s.
The girl’s last contribution to the Battle for Uzu.
Using her almighty powers of genjutsu to brainwash the Two Tailed Beasts into willing allies.
Sure, she only succeeded in this endeavour because the potent physical and spiritual fuinjutsu restraints used by Mito to hold the beasts weakened their will and diminished their innate resistance sufficiently.
Even then, it was still a feat that shattered the conventional knowledge of modern shinobi.
+++++
Hey, Author here!
To promote the novel I will be releasing BONUS CHAPTERS on SUNDAYS based on the previous week's power stone count.
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
500 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters
1000 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Every earned BONUS CHAPTER on NovelPhoenix will also be posted on Scribble.
Just a reminder that you can read up to a FULL MONTH ahead of this site on pa-treon.
I'm trying to become a full time Author now and I'm not going to be starting any new novels just so I can make sure this one is properly completed.
Find those sweet advanced chapters on pa-treon.com/lusoba without the -