"Isamu! Isamu! Answer me!"
Senju Hashirama kept calling out, but there was no response.
He frowned. Is he unconscious… or ignoring me on purpose?
At that moment, Senju Tobirama arrived beside him.
"Brother, stop shouting. Look at his eyes—he's clearly unconscious. This is our chance. We should finish him now. If he wakes up, it'll be troublesome."
As he spoke, Tobirama pulled out a kunai and prepared to strike.
"Wait!"
Hashirama raised his hand and stopped him.
"Don't act rashly. Isamu is giving off a very dangerous feeling right now. Let's observe first."
"Brother, why are you hesitating?!"
Tobirama grew frustrated.
"If we miss this chance, we might regret it. I'm killing him now."
He stepped forward again—
—but suddenly—
Isamu moved.
He raised his head—
his face twisted in pain—
and let out a roar.
"AAAAAAAHHH!!!"
Tobirama stopped instantly.
Hashirama's expression darkened.
Something… is coming.
That feeling—
was overwhelming.
As Isamu roared, something began to emerge from his body.
In just a few seconds—
the Ten-Tails tore its way out—
and appeared on the battlefield.
Hashirama's eyes widened.
"What… is that?"
"How could something like this come out of Isamu's body…?"
Even Tobirama was stunned.
"That thing… it's enormous…"
"Why… are my legs shaking…?"
The Ten-Tails glanced at the two brothers—
then at the battlefield—
and finally—
fixed its gaze on Isamu.
It extended a massive hand—
and picked up his unconscious body.
Gently—
it placed him on top of its head.
Then—
a tube-like extension grew from its body—
and connected to the back of Isamu's head.
At that moment—
their consciousness became one.
Because Isamu had lost consciousness—
the Ten-Tails took full control of his body.
Except for the abilities of the Rinnegan—
everything else—
it could use freely.
Now—
the Ten-Tails was Isamu.
And Isamu—
was the Ten-Tails.
The two Senju brothers stared in confusion.
They had no idea what this creature intended to do.
But the moment the connection formed—
the Ten-Tails felt it—
Isamu's rage.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
Overwhelming rage.
"ROOOOAAARRR!!!"
The Ten-Tails erupted with natural energy.
A violent storm swept across the battlefield.
Tobirama narrowed his eyes.
"Brother… what is this thing doing?"
Hashirama shook his head.
"I don't know… but this feeling…"
"It's bad."
Very bad.
Then—
the Ten-Tails began to change.
Its bloated body shrank—
compressed—
and rose to its feet.
Two of its legs transformed into arms—
its form becoming more humanoid—
thin—
upright—
unnatural.
Tobirama stared in shock.
"It can change forms…?"
"What kind of monster is this…?"
But Hashirama wasn't looking at the creature.
His eyes were fixed on Isamu.
What state is he in right now…?
Then—
the Ten-Tails spoke.
Through Isamu's mouth.
"Nin… Nin… Ninja… Die…"
Tobirama froze.
"…That voice…?"
"Why does Isamu sound like that…?"
"That's not Isamu."
Hashirama's expression hardened.
"That thing is speaking through him."
Tobirama exhaled, tension easing slightly.
"Hmph. So it's just a mindless monster."
"No matter what it is, it won't be a match for you, Brother."
But Hashirama didn't agree.
If it were that simple—
he wouldn't feel this dread.
And the next moment—
his fears were confirmed.
The Ten-Tails' energy surged again—
even stronger than before.
Then—
through Isamu's voice—
it spoke clearly:
"Cataclysm."
Instantly—
the world changed.
The sky darkened—
thick black clouds swallowing the light.
Lightning crashed down endlessly.
The ground split open—
rolling and collapsing.
The destruction zone expanded—
nearly ten times larger in an instant.
Tornadoes tore through the battlefield.
Boulders lifted into the air—
like leaves.
It was—
apocalypse.
Shinobi were blown away like dust.
Some were crushed by falling rocks.
Others were struck by lightning—
dying instantly.
Some were swallowed by tornadoes—
vanishing into the sky.
Chaos.
Death.
Destruction everywhere.
Even the Senju brothers struggled to hold their ground.
Tobirama's face twisted with pain.
"Brother! Do something!"
"If this continues, all the Konoha ninja will die!"
Hashirama's expression hardened.
He didn't need to be told.
"Tobirama… hold back the energy for me."
"I'll handle it."
Tobirama stepped forward without hesitation.
"Leave it to me, Brother!"
With a surge of chakra—
he stood in front—
shielding Hashirama—
as the storm of destruction raged on.