In the eyes of ordinary ninjas, Tailed Beasts were beings of insurmountable power, their seemingly endless chakra and colossal forms inspiring despair.
To the Ōtsutsuki clan, however, Tailed Beasts were no more than mobile charging packs, differing only in their capacity.
Kurama, Shukaku, and Isobu now found themselves in such a predicament. They could neither fight nor retreat. As beings of chakra, they were utterly defenseless against the Ōtsutsuki.
Fire a Tailed Beast Bomb, and it would be devoured like candy.
Attack them, and they'd be impaled by Black Rods, their chakra then absorbed to replenish the enemy.
Forget it! Let them do as they please, we'll just watch!
The three mountain-sized Tailed Beasts sat on the plains, content to merely collect the corpses for the Akatsuki, their other contributions minimal.
...
Near the training grounds.
Naruto, Sasuke, Toneri, and the other genin had not evacuated to Konoha Village with the Jonin. Instead, they had stealthily hidden on the outskirts, observing the battle in the arena.
"Sasuke, Toneri, those guys calling themselves Ōtsutsuki have been driven away. Should we go after them and help?"
Toneri hesitated for a moment, then said to Naruto, "Naruto, my full name is actually Ōtsutsuki Toneri."
Naruto blinked, then suddenly yelped in alarm.
"Hey! Toneri, are you on the same side as those guys?"
*Bang!*
"Sasuke, why did you kick me again!"
Sasuke sometimes truly wondered what went on in Naruto's head, asking such idiotic questions.
Toneri shook his head and said, "Don't worry, I'm on your side, Naruto."
"That's good then," Naruto sighed in relief. After all, Toneri was the strongest among them here, and if he were to switch sides, they'd be in dire straits.
"Then let's hurry and go help..."
"I disagree!"
Shikamaru immediately cut off Naruto, his expression serious. "Think about it, Naruto. What kind of enemy would force the Five Kage to personally intervene, with no time even to call for the Jonin?"
"Can we, a group of genin who aren't even Chunin yet, possibly deal with such an enemy?"
"Besides..."
Naruto ignored Shikamaru's words and shouted loudly, "All in favor of going to help, raise your hand!"
*Swish!*
Although they disliked doing such childish things, Kimimaro, Gaara, Toneri, and others raised their hands. Even Sasuke, with one hand in his pocket, indicated his willingness to go and see.
"You guys!" Shikamaru was exasperated. Were these guys all as single-minded as Naruto?
Neji spoke up, "You can look at it another way. If even Lord Hokage and the others can't defeat them, then returning to the village is meaningless."
"That's right, Shikamaru, why do you always overthink things! Let's just go!"
"Woof woof!"
Kiba clenched his fist. This time, he would wash away the shame he suffered during the second Chunin Exam!
Shikamaru's brow furrowed, but the youthful passion for a fight overcame his reason.
Shikamaru let out a sigh and said in a low voice, "Alright, I'll say this upfront. We'll only observe from the periphery, and only act if an opportunity arises. If not, we can only watch from afar. No reckless actions, understood, Naruto!"
Naruto pouted, slightly displeased. Why was he singled out among so many people!
"Also, all the girls, plus Kiba and Shino, will stay behind. We'll leave markers along the way, and once the village situation stabilizes, someone will be sent for reinforcements, and you will guide them."
Kiba immediately objected, "Why me! I think I'm just a little bit stronger than that kid Naruto."
"You're good at tracking. Who knows where the Hokage and the others will end up fighting. Time is of the essence, so this is the arrangement."
Shikamaru almost said, "Don't you have any idea of your own strength? You might not even be as strong as some of the girls."
The group decided to split up: some would return to the village to report the situation, while others would continue to track and look for opportunities to assist.
However, during the pursuit, Shikamaru glanced at the delicate-looking Haku with surprise. He instinctively asked, "Aren't you a girl? Why didn't you go back with them?"
Haku smiled bashfully and explained, "I'm a boy."
Suddenly, Toneri stopped and addressed the group, "I have a proposal. I wonder if you can accept it."
The group looked at Toneri in confusion as he produced a pile of masks and black robes from a sealing scroll, the sizes fitting them perfectly.
Did Toneri have ulterior motives regarding them?
...
On a vast plain, figures descended, and in their midst was Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki, who had been battered all the way. Momoshiki no longer had his initial arrogant expression, his splendid robes tattered.
Even with the insight of the Byakugan, facing the combined assault of so many Kage-level powerhouses, he was still exploited, followed by a barrage of combo attacks.
"Is this all the so-called Ōtsutsuki are capable of? There's still a gap compared to gods."
Although his black robe from the shoulders down had been torn, Nagato had not forgotten his chuunibyou tendencies, constantly taunting Momoshiki.
"You lower beings, do you really think you can win?"
Momoshiki's face contorted with ferocity. If it weren't for this individual with the Rinnegan, he wouldn't be in such a predicament.
"Amaterasu!"
Suddenly, dozens of crimson glowing weapons flew towards the group. Kinshiki's burly body once again appeared beside Momoshiki, repelling Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya, and the others.
Subsequently, Might Guy, having deactivated the Eight Gates, also arrived beside Kakashi, his face quite pale.
"Are you alright, Guy?"
Might Guy gasped heavily and gave Kakashi a thumbs-up. The aftereffects of the Eight Gates caused him immense pain, but fortunately, the duration was not long, and he still had some strength.
"Lord Momoshiki, I am ready. Just as my ancestors passed their power to me, do not hold back."
Momoshiki's face contorted with ferocity as he placed his hand on Kinshiki's head. "Of course not!"
However, just as Momoshiki was about to turn Kinshiki into a Chakra Fruit to devour, the commotion from afar drew everyone's attention.
Nagato's expression immediately turned grim. He stopped paying attention to the surrounded Momoshiki and flew directly towards the other side.
That guy, Obito, was he going to bring down his Akatsuki organization?!
On the other side of the plain, three Tailed Beasts were charging towards them. Clutched in their claws or on their shells were members of the Akatsuki, covered in injuries.
Among them, Hidan and Kakuzu, held tightly by Shukaku's claws, were yelling furiously, "Even though I'm immortal, you're squeezing so hard my intestines are about to come out!"
"I only have one heart left, and if it bursts, I'm done for! Take it easy!"