Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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As soon as Obito made the suggestion, the expressions of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the dozens of shinobi behind them instantly darkened.
They were all thinking the same thing...Guts might actually do it.
"Guts! Don't do anything reckless!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward, voice urgent, eyes filled with concern.
He feared that Guts would really take the bait and kill the village elders.
Not only would that plunge Konoha into deeper chaos, but it would also destroy Guts himself.
The Third Hokage had watched Guts grow. He knew the boy's wild nature, but also the kindness buried deep beneath it.
A lawless spirit, yes, but not without a heart.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura stood stiff, trembling slightly. They didn't dare speak.
They knew...one wrong word could push Guts over the edge.
Then finally, breaking the heavy silence, Guts let out a cold chuckle.
"Don't make me laugh."
His voice was low and mocking, slicing through the tension like a blade.
"Even if I wanted to kill them, it'd be my business. I don't need your permission...or your help."
A wave of relief washed over Koharu and Homura… but it was mixed with dread.
He hadn't denied the desire.
Obito replied with a sigh, a hint of mock disappointment in his voice.
He hadn't expected Guts to accept, of course but it was worth a try. That's why he brought Pain along, just in case things went sideways.
Obito's tone turned cold.
"You can be buried along with Konoha."
Under the command of his Mangekyō Sharingan, the Nine Tails lunged forward and opened its massive jaws swallowing Guts whole.
Hiruzen shouted, his voice breaking as Yuhi Shinku and Uchiha Fugaku arrived, eyes wide with horror.
But then… something strange happened.
The Nine Tails' expression twisted awkwardly, it was trying to close its mouth… but couldn't.
Then everyone saw it.
Inside the beast's maw, Guts had wedged his feet against the lower fangs and pressed his palms against the upper jaw, forcibly holding it open.
A collective gasp spread through the crowd.
How strong is this man!?
"God, your breath stinks!"
Guts grumbled as he launched himself out of the Nine Tails mouth.
The moment he leapt free, the Nine Tails snapped its jaws shut, snarling in rage.
With a thunderous roar, it raised a claw the size of a hill and brought it crashing down toward Guts.
The ground trembled. Smoke and dust exploded outward like a shockwave.
Yuhi Shinku and the others stared, barely able to breathe.
Then from within the cloud of dust...
"Damn, that was fun!"
A voice emerged, filled with exhilaration.
Guts stood there, a wide grin spreading on his face.
"It's been a while since I've felt this kind of thrill. As expected from the strongest of the Tailed Beasts."
Then suddenly, a powerful aura erupted around him.
Guts activated both Conqueror's Haki and Advanced Armament Haki.
While he hadn't mastered the advanced form of Conqueror's Haki yet, this much was more than enough.
His entire body radiated an intense pressure...like Garp himself had descended.
With a single motion, he clenched his fist. Red lightning sparked across his path as he vanished from view and reappeared right in front of the Nine Tails.
His fist, glowing with fiery Haki energy, pulsed with raw might.
As he spoke, his fist slammed forward...releasing a devastating shockwave that tore the air apart, leaving a massive vertical fissure in its wake.
"Everyone, get back! NOW!"
Hiruzen roared, waving frantically.
The Nine Tails was launched like a cannonball, crashing through several buildings with the force of a sonic boom.
Even a Kage-level shinobi without a body like the Third Raikage would've been obliterated by such an impact.
One after another, structures collapsed in the wake of the monster's flight.
Finally, about 3 seconds later...
A massive section of Konoha's outer wall exploded as the Nine Tails tore through it and disappeared into the surrounding forest.
The damage was tremendous but compared to what would've happened if that Tailed Beast Bomb had hit directly, this was the lesser evil.
Obito, meanwhile, had already escaped using Kamui.
"Tch… I thought controlling the Nine Tails would be enough to overwhelm him,"
Obito muttered, his voice unsteady.
"I didn't expect this…"
From the ground, Zetsu emerged like a shadow from the earth.
"That's because you're only controlling it. You're not using the Nine Tails the way Madara did back in the day."
"His battle against Hashirama...that was power. You've still got a long way to go, Obito."
Before Obito could respond, a sharp ripple in the air appeared, a Flying Thunder God mark activated.
Sensing danger, Obito instinctively activated Kamui and phased out.
A blade of light passed through where his body had been.
Namikaze Minato had arrived.
Two seconds later, Guts landed beside him, casually brushing off the dust.
Minato said, glancing at Guts.
"I've secured Kushina. Now we need to reseal the Nine Tails into her before it's too late."
"Reseal it? Don't be naïve. She's far too weak now to survive another sealing."
Minato's expression hardened, rare anger flashing across his face.
"Guts" He said quietly
"Can I leave the Nine Tails to you? I'll handle the masked man."
"That guy's not that strong. Just annoying because of his eye. But if I had to choose... fighting the Nine Tails is way more fun."
Obito said nothing, his gaze steady. The old Obito might've snapped at that, but now… he was calm. Cold.
Today might not be the day he claimed the Nine Tails, but if he could at least take Minato down, it wouldn't be a total loss.
With that, he began his retreat, Kamui swirling around him.
Minato immediately gave chase.
The Nine Tails had risen again, bloodied but furious. Though under Obito's control, its instincts and rage still surged.
Guts soared toward it, unfazed by its roar.
He muttered, as red chakra surged from his body again.
In his Fifth Gate state, he already surpassed most Kage-level fighters.
He landed right on the Nine Tails' nose and drove his fist downward.
The Nine Tails howled, claws swiping instinctively. Even controlled, its raw power exceeded most shinobi.
Fist met claw, shockwaves exploding outward.
It was a battle of monsters...like Luffy vs. Oars, brute force against brute force, neither side yielding.
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