"If Shikaku and I are right... the Mist are trying to seal a tailed beast inside of Rin. Where is this island you mentioned?"
The others froze in shock as they stared at me, unbelieving, but there was another burst of heavy chakra.
"We don't have time to waste," I snapped. "Where is the island?"
Kurenai was the first to regain her senses and raised her arm, pointing towards the mist-covered sea. "My hawk can't see it either, but we've patrolled this coastline before so I remember that it should be there."
The direction that she pointed was in the same direction as the bursts of chakra, so I did not doubt her despite not seeing it. I summoned four of my clones, Ice, Boil, Wood, and Storm, and they rushed across the beach. Space helped me walk towards the water while the rest of the group followed behind. In my current state, I was no longer worried about hiding my true strength, so Ice created a large platform once she reached the water's edge.
"Ice Release? When did you get Ice Release?" Asuma asked with surprise.
"You don't need to worry about it. Get on," I ordered as Space carried me onto the frozen sheet.
Ice built a bench for me to sit before she took position on one of the corners of the platform while the other three positioned themselves at the other corners. The four made the same hand signs once everyone was standing onboard, and the water under the platform began to move, carrying it forward. Space walked to the front, going through hand signs, with Duy and Kakashi following while the others crowded around me.
I sighed, looking at the four of my students, and said, "Go ahead... ask your questions."
"Did you really fight the Six-Tails?"
"How big was it?"
"How did you fight it?"
"Did you punch it?"
"How could punching handle something that big? She had to use ninjutsu!"
I sighed again to the barrage of questions from Asuma and Guy then answered them in order, "Yes, I did... it was much taller than the trees in the Death Forest... actually, I did punch it, but it was reflecting its own attack back at it which drove off the beast."
"Yosh! The flames of youth are unbeatable!" Guy said with excitement as imaginary fire burned in his eyes.
"You fought it directly?" Shisui asked with furrowed brows while Kurenai looked at me with concern.
"Most of my clones were already deployed, so I didn't have many other options, and I certainly would not do it again if I didn't have to," I replied.
"But you won, right?" Asuma retorted.
"Does it look like I won?" I asked dryly. "If the Mist had a proper jinchuriki instead of just releasing the beast on the camp, I wouldn't be here right now. The Six-Tails just wanted to vent some anger then escape when it realized that we weren't easy targets."
Again, there was a massive burst of chakra from directly ahead, though all we saw was heavy fog and the ocean. Only Duy and my clones did not instinctively recoil. Even I was not immune without my chakra, though my reaction was more subdued than the others.
"And we're going to fight another one?" Asuma asked with wide eyes.
"Feel free to jump off and go back to shore," I retorted with exhaustion. "Running might save your life, but not Rin's, and the danger will still remain. You all don't have to face this, but I'm the only person on this front with fuinjutsu knowledge to possibly stabilize whatever the Mist are trying to do."
"I've found the barrier! Fifty meters ahead," Space called. "We'll need to hit it hard to break through."
I stood up as the platform slowed, then summoned my Explosion clone. "You six, form up..." I ordered and waited until Kakashi and Duy walked closer. "Once I crack open the barrier, they'll know we're coming. Like I said, you all don't have to follow me, but you need to retreat now."
"No, we don't abandon our friends," Asuma said, balling his fists at his sides.
"Yosh!" Guy exclaimed with excitement.
Duy looked down approvingly at the two boys while I scanned the others' faces and saw no hesitation or doubt.
"Alright then… Once my clone detonates herself," I started to explain.
"Rude," Explosion said dryly.
"They will know we're coming," I continued, ignoring her comment. "Duy, Asuma, and Kakashi, you'll join my clone if we need to split up while the rest will come with me. Our priority is to find Rin, but don't abandon your teammates… and keep the usage of the Gates to short, limited bursts. We need to be ready to retreat when necessary."
"Yes!" "Understood!" a chorus of responses came.
I gave a nod to Space, who threw a marked shuriken up into the sky, then grabbed Explosion's shoulder. They vanished in a flash of silver then there were another flashes of silver and Space returned to my side. Before anyone could ask what I was doing, my clone high in the sky exploded like a supernova before it collapsed in on itself and fired the energy straight down at the hidden island.
The barrier of mist and illusions held for a moment before it shattered like broken glass. Large cliffs were in front of the ice platform we stood on which blocked and deflected most of the energy from the explosion, but hot wind still lashed at us and the ocean from the blast wave. The others looked back at me with disbelief, but before they could question me, Space threw out a shuriken and teleported the two of us up to the top of the cliffs.
"Come on," I barked, which got the six of them moving.
As they ran up the cliffs, I turned back to face the island. The top was covered in rocky spires, or had been, but the funneled explosion had shattered the thinner ones and charred the few that remained standing. At the focal point of the blast, forty to fifty meters of rock had been liquified into a pit of molten stone. Even with the destruction on the surface, I counted at least eight caves that led underground, and they all felt like they were leaking tailed beast chakra. I knew that we did not have the time to check them all individually, so I summoned all of my remaining clones, aside from Phantom, as the others made it to where I was standing.
"Mixed groups of three, and do your best to not be destroyed," I instructed my small army of clones. "Space, you're with Duy's group while, Yin and Yang, you'll stay with me."
My clones did not hesitate and broke into groups of three with one group of four then dashed to different caves. I gave Duy a nod, and he collected his group then followed Space towards another opening. With little other option, I climbed onto the back of Yang since she was strong enough to carry me with ease, and once the pain meds started to wear off, she would be able to block some of the pain.
"Sensei?" Shisui asked with a note of concern in his voice.
"They used meridian suppressants when they patched me up, so I can't use my chakra properly until it wears off," I explained, making Kurenai's eyes widen as she immediately understood the level of my injuries.
"Then how are you using your clones?" he questioned.
"That's a discussion for another time," I chuckled weakly.
"But..." Kurenai started to say, but a deafening roar and burst of chakra cut her off.
"Move," I instructed, and Yang took off in a full sprint towards the last unexplored cave.
Yang, with me on her back, led our little group with Guy and Shisui right behind. Kurenai hesitated for a moment, looking worried, but when she looked at Yin, she just sighed and followed the rest of us with Yin at her side. Almost as soon as we entered the cave, I realized that it was manmade, but that was not too surprising considering how important this moment was.
Since I had first woken up in this world and realized when I was, I knew that this moment would come. Memories of Obito and Rin flashed through my mind; them sparing against my team and the times I gave them some pointers. I had watched them grow up, but now they had been reduced to pawns in a game few knew was even being played.
Two of my clones, in different caves, were dispelled by traps which collapsed the tunnel. There were several traps along our path, but Shisui was able to find and disarm them, allowing us to keep moving. Without being able to use my chakra, I could not track the progress of my other clones or Duy's team, but our own tunnel twisted and turned like a maze, clearly trying to waste our time.
I was actually surprised that we were not ambushed, but when the first of my clones reached the giant ritual cavern, and were quickly destroyed, it made a lot more sense. Dozens of Mist ninjas were dead and scattered across the chamber; pools of water and shards of coral mixed with blood were left behind as evidence of their struggle. Four men stood on pillars which surrounded the Three Tails and had glowing sealing formulas on them. A red-headed man stood next to a platform where Rin was lying unconscious with four bronze-colored chains coming out of his body, which were wrapped around different parts of the tailed beast.
While there were some similarities to Kushina's Adamantine Sealing Chains, they were nowhere near as strong as hers. He was clearly trying to drag the beast towards Rin, but Isobu was not submitting peacefully. Every time that the beast freed one of its tails, it would lash out at the Uzumaki or the four men on the pillars, but the extra Mist ninjas would throw themselves in the line of the attack to protect the key people trying to seal it away.
The three groups of my clones that reached the chamber before my group were killed by traps and even the blow back from one of Isobu's attacks. Thankfully, their memories did not put too much strain on my mind, even if they brought back my headache. What proved to be my main source of pain and distraction was my hands, or rather my palms and forearms, that were beginning to burn and throb as the drugs wore off. Yang could help some, but it was hard while on the move.
"There could still be traps, but the true danger is from the Three-Tails. They're having a lot of difficulty control it, which has injured or killed many of their people, but there are still Mist ninjas remaining. Whatever you do, don't attack the four men on the pillars or the red-head trying to restrain the beast without my orders. Rin's life could be in danger if the ritual is interrupted improperly. Kurenai, take lead of the team while I coordinate my clones," I instructed as we neared the chamber, torch light spilling down the tunnel.
"Understood," they said in unison.
The tunnel opened up to the massive chamber where the Three-Tails was held, though it seemed smaller than it should. Before I had time to question it, we were noticed by the Mist, and someone shouted. Six genin and two chunin rushed towards us, but Shisui and Guy rushed forward while Kurenai stayed slightly behind. Although they were tired from the long chase, the Mist had still underestimated their strength.
While they tore through the Mist ninjas, Yang placed me down next to the back wall and then I summoned my clones with Earth and Water affinities, which had been destroyed earlier. One of the Uzumaki's chains snapped, but it seemed to be intentional as the tail swung our direction, firing a jet of high-pressure water from the tip of its tail. The clones with an Earth affinity sped through a short series of hand signs then slammed their hands into the ground in unison, creating multiple walls of stones.
Guy and Shisui sprang over the stone barriers as they crumbled. Guy shot forward, aiming for a jonin, as Shisui threw a handful of shurikens at him, but they passed through his body. Kurenai dashed to the side and, upon seeing the attack was useless, she used a genjutsu over the jonin in time with Guy's sprinting fist. Guy's punch managed to land on the Hozuki, but not the full strength, or the jonin would have coughed up more than a little blood, and Guy would not have crashed through his body a moment later with a splash.
From another tunnel, Duy, Asuma, Kakashi, and my Space clone rushed out and intercepted the last of the Mist ninjas, though she vanished from their side a moment later. The Uzumaki retied a fourth chain around the Three-Tails and twisted it while releasing another tail which slammed against the ground. Light pink coral erupted from the ground in multiple locations, seeking to impale Mist and Leaf alike.
Space appeared next to me with a serious expression and said, "At least half the beast's chakra has been sealed inside Rin; it's too late to stop it."
I sighed, but I had made that assumption when I saw its small size, so I was not surprised. "At least Minato already developed the Eight Trigrams Seal. Space, coordinate with the other clones and make sure they're in position before targeting the seal masters."
"Yin," Space said before teleporting away.
Yin dashed forward, understanding that Space wanted her help. While all of my clones could use fuinjutsu, the Eight Trigrams Seal was barely within my skill level, so I needed my best clones if I wanted to pull it off. Space-Time, Yin, Earth, and Water affinities tended to have calmer and more focused personalities, which was why I had summoned the clones that I had.
As Space teleported between my clones and the two teams finished off the last of the attacking Mist ninjas, Yang raised her fist towards me. I copied the gesture as best as I could, but the stiffness and pain of my hands made it difficult, though it still worked this time. Relief washed over me the moment that the fusion activated, but I took it a step further by activating my Yang Chakra Enhanced Strength jutsu, speeding up my healing even more.
Eight of my clones took position around the pillars and the Three-Tails then started going through hand signs. Realizing the danger they were in, the seal masters dropped ritual they were working on and the Uzumaki released Isobu, but they were still too slow. Space teleported alongside one of the seal masters and slashed his throat while throwing out another shuriken.
My eight clones slammed down their hands at the same time, creating numerous black, fuinjutsu lines that began to stretch between them. Isobu released a ground shaking roar as it regained its freedom and lashed out. The Uzumaki did not have a chance to dodge before one of the tails slammed into his body and launched him into a wall. With another tail, Isobu fired a jet of water at one of the seal masters, and the last slammed against the ground again.
Kurenai yelled to the others, instructing them to protect my clones since the seal was still not complete. Duy, Guy, and Asuma rushed towards one of my clones each as they activate their Gates technique, allowing them to destroy the erupting coral near my clones. Kakashi dashed towards another with his sword streaking with Lightning chakra as Shisui threw out multiple shurikens with explosive tags attached.
For a moment, it seemed like everything would succeed. The boys managed to protect my clones, and the fuinjutsu lines were nearly connected, but that was when I saw a new crack appear as everyone faced the beast. I moved without thinking, teleporting myself to Kurenai side, and pushed her aside right before a coral spear erupted from the ground. Instead of hitting Kurenai's back, the rough coral stabbed completely through my gut.
"Akari!" Kurenai screamed in horror, drawing the attention of the others.
I could hear some other yells, but the pounding in my ears made them seem distant. It was the coral spear that kept me from crumbling to the ground as my knees buckled from the pain. I gripped the coarse coral and forced my hands to shatter it, allowing me to drop to the ground, though Kurenai caught me.
There were tears running down her cheeks, and I could tell that she was saying something, but I could not hear her. Blackness started to close in around me as I reached up and wiped away some of her tears with my thumb. My hand fell away as I turned my head and coughed up a mouthful of blood before completely passing out.