"Psychic Shadows of the Hidden Leaf

Another quiet night had fallen over Konoha.

Nine months had passed since Minato Namikaze took office as the Fourth Hokage, and the village had entered its 48th year of existence.

Boom!

A massive shockwave swept through Konoha, shaking the village to its core.

Toot! Toot!

The village's highest-level alarm blared, a sound that signaled the gravest of dangers. Every ninja jolted awake, their hearts pounding.

This alarm was only activated when Konoha's very survival was at stake.

Whoosh!

In an instant, ninjas leapt onto rooftops, scanning the area and awaiting orders. Those closest to the source of the explosion could already see it—a towering figure in the distance, its nine tails swaying ominously.

"What kind of monster is that?"

With a single sweep of its tails, entire buildings were reduced to rubble, and countless lives were lost.

---

On one rooftop stood Kaitan and his father, staring at the colossal beast that loomed over Konoha.

"That's the Nine Tails," Kaitan muttered, his heart heavy.

"Son, what do we do now?" Dongqing asked, his voice shaking.

"Evacuate the residents," Kaitan replied. "Follow the emergency protocols. You remember them, right?"

Dongqing nodded. As a former Chūnin, he understood the procedure. In times of crisis, all Chūnin were tasked with guiding civilians to shelters.

"Protect Calamus and Uncle Handba for me," Kaitan added before darting off toward the Nine Tails.

All ninjas above Chūnin rank were now moving to the frontlines, while Genin were organizing evacuation efforts under the Chūnin's direction.

---

Nara Shikaku's voice rang out across the village, amplified by Yamanako's Heart-Connecting Technique.

"Attention, all ninjas! Execute the emergency order. Protect non-combatants and minimize casualties!"

The scene at the frontlines was chaos. Shuriken, kunai, and explosive tags rained down on the Nine Tails, but they were as ineffective as a light breeze against a mountain. Instead of hurting it, the attacks only enraged the beast further.

Boom!

The Nine Tails unleashed a devastating wave of destruction, its power unmatched.

Minato stood atop a building, his gaze unwavering as he stared down the massive creature. "As Hokage, I'll protect this village with my life."

The Nine Tails turned its furious eyes on him, and a giant black sphere began forming in its mouth.

"That's a Tailed Beast Bomb!" Minato realized. Without hesitation, he formed a series of hand seals and summoned a space-time barrier.

Bang!

The Tailed Beast Bomb vanished, only to explode far outside the village. The resulting shockwave rattled Konoha, and even seasoned ninjas like Kaitan were left shaken.

---

As Kaitan neared the battlefield, he saw countless ninjas fighting to restrain the Nine Tails. The oppressive aura radiating from the beast made his body tremble.

"Kai! Kakashi! What's the situation?" he asked, landing beside his comrades.

"This monster is under someone's control," Kakashi replied grimly, pointing to the Sharingan glowing in the Nine Tails' eyes.

"This is bad," Kaitan muttered.

"Don't worry! I'll show this beast the power of youth!" Kai shouted, charging forward with a bold attack.

---

The situation grew more desperate as reinforcements arrived. Among them were Shenu, the Third Hokage, and two village elders, Dunko and Koharu. Their presence brought a sliver of hope to the beleaguered ninjas.

Kaitan's sharp senses picked up the arrival of another group. "That's Dingzu and his team," he noted.

Dingzu wasted no time, engaging the Nine Tails head-on. His enormous strength temporarily restricted the beast's movements, giving other ninjas a chance to strike.

"Dingzu-sensei is incredible!" Kai exclaimed, his admiration shining through.

Despite their efforts, the Nine Tails was far from subdued. Its sheer size and power overwhelmed even the most coordinated attacks.

Kaitan prepared to join the fray but was stopped by a voice.

"Hold it!"

Turning, he saw Baiyun standing with a sword strapped to his back.

"Baiyun? What are you doing?" Kaitan demanded.

"Orders from the Third Hokage," Baiyun said firmly. "You're to regroup at the assembly hall."

"But we can help!" Kaitan protested.

"This isn't up for debate," Baiyun said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Reluctantly, Kaitan, Kakashi, and Kai turned and headed for the assembly hall.

---

At the assembly center, their frustrations only grew. The orders they received were to assist in evacuating civilians and to stay away from the Nine Tails battle.

"Why are we being sidelined?" Kai grumbled, punching the air in frustration.

"Orders are orders," Kaitan replied, though his own disappointment was evident. "We have to focus on keeping the civilians safe."

Splitting up, Kaitan, Kai, and Kakashi each took charge of different sectors, guiding terrified residents to shelters.

Meanwhile, the battle raged on. The Third Hokage showcased his mastery of ninjutsu, seamlessly blending multiple elements into devastating attacks. Dunko unleashed a barrage of enormous weapons, which momentarily pinned the Nine Tails. Koharu coordinated medical teams and provided support from the rear.

Even Danzo Shimura entered the fray, his Wind Release techniques slicing through the battlefield.

Kaitan couldn't help but marvel at their combined might. "So this is the strength of Konoha's leaders," he muttered to himself.

Suddenly, the Sharingan in the Nine Tails' eyes vanished.

"The Fourth Hokage must have acted," Kaitan realized, his hope renewed.

---

Despite the loss of its controller, the Nine Tails remained an unstoppable force. In a final desperate move, Shenu summoned Enma, the Monkey King.

"Transform!"

Enma turned into a golden staff, which Shenu used to strike the Nine Tails with incredible force. The beast was pushed back, its massive form crashing outside the village.

For now, the immediate danger seemed to have passed.

---

As Kaitan regrouped with his comrades, he couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy. Though he had done his part, he yearned to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Konoha's strongest.

"The Will of Fire burns within me," he thought, clenching his fists. "One day, I'll be strong enough to protect this village with my own two hands."

For now, however, his focus remained on the task at hand—rebuilding Konoha and supporting its people in the aftermath of the Nine Tails' rampage.

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