Jiraiya crouched on a rooftop, watching the convoy move through the narrow street below. Four sound ninjas surrounded a man pushing a cart with something large covered by a tarp. The village around them was in chaos, but this group moved with purpose, away from the main fighting.

  "So this is what you've been planning," Jiraiya muttered, recognizing the man at the center. "Shinnō, you old bastard."

  Jiraiya had been on his way to help defend the Hokage when he spotted them. Something about the covered object radiated a malevolent energy he couldn't ignore. The kind of chakra that spelled disaster if it reached its destination.

  He leapt down, landing in front of the group with a theatrical flourish.

  "The great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku has arrived!" He struck his signature pose, palm forward. "Ladies, contain your excitement. Villains, prepare to be vanquished!"

  The sound ninjas immediately formed a defensive perimeter around the cart. Shinnō, a broad-shouldered man with greying hair and a weathered face, merely smiled.

  "Jiraiya," Shinnō said, his voice rich and deep. "I was hoping to run into you today."

  Jiraiya dropped his theatrical demeanor. "I thought you were dead, Shinnō."

  "Yes, thanks to you and your teammates." Shinnō's eyes hardened. "The Three Legendary Sannin... legendary destroyers of my home."

  Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "Are we still on that? Look, it was war. And if I recall, your village was developing some nasty weapons. We just did what we had to do."

  "You destroyed everything I'd built!" Shinnō's face contorted with rage. "Years of research, generations of medical advancement—gone!"

  "And yet here you are, working with Orochimaru." Jiraiya shook his head in disbelief. "Talk about hypocrisy. He did more damage to your village than Tsunade and I combined."

  One of the sound ninjas rushed forward, but Shinnō raised his hand. "No. He's mine."

  Jiraiya glanced at the covered cart. "What's under the tarp, Shinnō? Something to do with your 'medical research'?"

  "Something that will change everything." Shinnō smiled. "Lord Orochimaru appreciates the value of my work, unlike Konoha."

  "Let me guess—you're bitter, you want revenge, blah blah blah." Jiraiya sighed. "Can we skip to the part where I stop you? I've got a student battling a Jinchūriki and a Hokage to help."

  Shinnō's expression darkened. "You always were arrogant, Jiraiya." He made a hand sign. "Let me show you what I've learned since our last encounter."

  The sound ninjas moved the cart further back as Shinnō stepped forward, his hands forming complex seals.

  "Body Revival Technique!"

  Chakra erupted from Shinnō's body, swirling around him in violent eddies. His muscles bulged, veins protruding across his skin. Jiraiya's eyes narrowed as he watched the transformation. Shinnō's chakra network was changing, intensifying.

  "That's new," Jiraiya muttered.

  "My research continued after Hidden Sky fell," Shinnō said, his voice deeper, resonating with power. "I can manipulate the body's chakra network to achieve perfect regeneration and strength beyond normal limits."

  Jiraiya barely had time to react before Shinnō was upon him, moving with blinding speed. A fist connected with Jiraiya's chest, sending him crashing through a nearby wall.

  Dust and debris settled around Jiraiya as he pushed himself up, spitting blood. "Okay, that hurt." He made a quick hand sign. "Needle Jizo!"

  His white hair extended and hardened, forming a protective shield around his body just as Shinnō launched another attack. The hardened hair deflected the blow, and Jiraiya countered with a swift kick that connected with Shinnō's jaw.

  To Jiraiya's surprise, Shinnō merely smiled as his dislocated jaw visibly snapped back into place.

  "Regeneration," Shinnō said casually. "Every injury heals almost instantly."

  "Great," Jiraiya muttered. "Just what I needed today."

  He leapt backward, hands flying through seals. "Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"

  A massive fireball erupted from Jiraiya's mouth, engulfing Shinnō and the surrounding area. When the flames cleared, Shinnō stood unharmed, his skin reddened but rapidly returning to normal.

  "Is that the best the legendary Sannin can do?" Shinnō taunted.

  Behind him, the sound ninjas were busy removing the tarp from the cart, revealing a strange device. It resembled a coffin made of metal and glass, inscribed with complex seals. Inside, something dark writhed and pulsed.

  Jiraiya's eyes widened. "What the hell is that thing?"

  "The culmination of my research," Shinnō said proudly. "The Zero-tails. A being created from the darkness in human hearts."

  "You're planning to unleash that thing in Konoha? During an invasion?" Jiraiya's face hardened. "Even Orochimaru wouldn't be that reckless."

  "Lord Orochimaru understands its value," Shinnō replied. "The Zero-tails feeds on dark emotions—fear, hatred, despair. What better feast than a village under attack?"

  Jiraiya formed more hand signs. "Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!"

  The ground beneath the sound ninjas and the cart transformed into a sticky swamp. Two of the ninjas were immediately caught, but the remaining two managed to leap away with the device, which was lighter than it appeared.

  Shinnō appeared behind Jiraiya, striking with a chakra-enhanced palm. The blow sent Jiraiya flying forward, but he twisted mid-air, hands already forming new seals.

  "Water Style: Liquid Bullets!"

  Compressed water projectiles shot toward Shinnō, who dodged most but was struck by two, the impact tearing through his shoulder and leg. The wounds closed almost immediately.

  "Your techniques are impressive as always," Shinnō said, "but ultimately futile against my Body Revival."

  Jiraiya landed on a rooftop, assessing the situation. The two remaining sound ninjas were moving the device toward the center of the village. Shinnō followed his gaze.

  "Soon it will absorb enough dark chakra to fully awaken," Shinnō explained. "Then nothing in Konoha will stand against us."

  "That's not happening." Jiraiya bit his thumb, drawing blood. "Summoning Jutsu!"

  A small toad appeared at his feet. "Gamakin, I need you to track those sound ninjas. Stop them from activating that device."

  The toad nodded and leapt away, pursuing the escaping ninjas.

  Shinnō laughed. "You think one small toad can stop my plans?"

  "Just buying time," Jiraiya replied with a grin. "Hair Needle Senbon!"

  Strands of his white hair shot forward, hardened into needles. Shinnō dodged most, but several embedded in his chest. Once again, his body pushed them out as the wounds healed.

  "This is getting annoying," Jiraiya muttered.

  Shinnō formed hand signs Jiraiya didn't recognize. "Chakra Absorption Technique!"

  Suddenly, Jiraiya felt his chakra being drained away. Visible tendrils of energy flowed from his body toward Shinnō.

  "Another innovation," Shinnō explained. "I can now extract chakra directly from my opponents."

  Jiraiya broke the connection with a burst of chakra, leaping away. "That explains why you're not running out of energy despite all that healing."

  In the distance, an explosion signaled that Gamakin had engaged the sound ninjas. Jiraiya hoped the small toad could at least slow them down.

  Shinnō attacked again, his movements even faster than before, enhanced by the chakra he'd stolen. Jiraiya blocked a flurry of strikes, countering where he could, but each blow he landed seemed pointless against Shinnō's regeneration.

  "I'm getting nowhere with this," Jiraiya thought, ducking under a kick.

  He needed to end this quickly and help stop that device. The Zero-tails, whatever it was, felt dangerous—maybe even more dangerous than the tailed beasts. And with the village already under attack, its presence could be catastrophic.

  Jiraiya created some distance between them, his hands forming a complex series of seals. "Sage Art: Bath of Boiling Oil!"

  Oil erupted from the ground around Shinnō, instantly igniting into white-hot flames. The area became an inferno, the heat so intense that nearby buildings began to warp.

  When the flames subsided, Shinnō stood in the center, his skin burned away in places, revealing muscle that was already regenerating. But for the first time, he looked strained.

  "So you do have limits," Jiraiya observed. "Your regeneration consumes chakra. Even with your absorption technique, you can't heal from everything indefinitely."

  Shinnō's eyes flashed with anger. "Perhaps. But I don't need to defeat you—I just need to delay you long enough."

  A distant roar echoed through the village, followed by a shockwave that rattled windows. Jiraiya turned to see dark energy erupting from where the sound ninjas had been heading.

  "Too late," Shinnō said with satisfaction. "The Zero-tails is awakening."

  The dark energy coalesced into a massive form—something like a leech with multiple appendages, radiating malevolent chakra that made the air itself feel heavy.

  "What have you done?" Jiraiya demanded.

  "Created perfection," Shinnō replied. "The Zero-tails feeds on negative emotions, growing stronger with every ounce of fear and hatred it consumes. In a village under attack, it will become unstoppable."

  Jiraiya's face hardened. "Then I'll have to stop it before that happens."

  He charged forward, engaging Shinnō in close combat once more. This time, he wasn't holding back. Each strike was precise, targeting pressure points and chakra pathways.

  Shinnō matched him blow for blow, his technique refined despite his enhanced state. "You've improved since the war, Jiraiya. But so have I."

  They exchanged a flurry of attacks, moving so quickly that they appeared as blurs to the few civilians who glimpsed the battle from hiding places.

  Jiraiya managed to land a direct hit to Shinnō's chest with a Rasengan, sending him crashing through several buildings. But even this devastating attack wasn't enough to keep him down.

  Shinnō emerged from the rubble, his chest a mangled mess that was rapidly healing. "Is that all?"

  The Zero-tails had begun moving through the village, its appendages latching onto buildings and people alike, draining dark chakra wherever it touched.

  "I need to end this now," Jiraiya thought.

  He bit both thumbs, drawing blood. "I didn't want to resort to this, but you've left me no choice."

  Jiraiya slammed his hands onto the ground. "Summoning Jutsu: Bring forth the Two Great Sage Toads!"

  In a puff of smoke, two elderly toads appeared on his shoulders—Ma and Pa, the toad sages of Mount Myōboku.

  "Jiraiya-boy," Pa croaked, "calling on us already? Must be serious."

  "We've got trouble," Jiraiya explained, keeping his eyes on Shinnō. "I need Sage Mode to stop that thing."

  Ma looked at the Zero-tails in the distance. "What manner of creature is that? Not a tailed beast I recognize."

  "Something new," Jiraiya replied grimly. "Something that shouldn't exist."

  Shinnō watched the exchange with growing alarm. For the first time, he looked uncertain. "Sage Mode? So the rumors were true."

  "Too late to back out now," Jiraiya said as the toads began to merge their chakra with his, starting the transformation into Sage Mode.

  Shinnō's expression shifted from uncertainty to resolve. "Then I too must evolve."

  He leapt toward the Zero-tails, which had grown to tower over buildings. The creature seemed to recognize him, extending a tendril in his direction.

  "Join with me," Shinnō commanded, touching the tendril. "Share your power!"

  The Zero-tails responded immediately, its dark mass flowing around Shinnō, enveloping him completely. His laughter echoed as the merger began, dark chakra swirling in violent patterns.

  "Hurry," Jiraiya urged the toad sages as his features began to take on toad-like qualities, his eyes changing color, his skin toughening.

  The dark mass surrounding Shinnō began to take a new shape—humanoid but monstrous, pulsing with malevolent energy. From within the writhing darkness, Shinnō's voice emerged, distorted and inhuman:

  "Now, Jiraiya, let us see who is truly stronger!"

  Kakashi raced across the rooftops, his uncovered eye fixed on the massive scorpion summon that loomed over the eastern district. Even from this distance, he could see the giant arachnid's tail dripping with venom as it struck at anything that moved. Several Leaf shinobi lay immobile around its clicking feet—paralyzed rather than dead, if they were lucky.

  "Time to put an end to this," he muttered, adjusting course to intercept the creature.

  The village burned around him. Smoke billowed from destroyed buildings as civilians fled through designated evacuation routes. ANBU squadrons darted through the chaos, engaging enemy combatants while regular Konoha forces worked to establish defensive perimeters.

  A tremendous crash pulled Kakashi's attention to his right. Through a cloud of debris, he spotted a familiar figure in green executing a flurry of kicks against an airborne opponent.

  Might Gai spun in midair, narrowly avoiding a blast of energy that crackled past his shoulder and detonated against a building behind him. The explosion showered the street with fragments of concrete and glass.

  "Dynamic Entry!" Gai shouted, launching himself toward his opponent.

  The woman—Kagerō—twisted in the air, her body transformed from the hulking figure Kakashi remembered seeing with the Sound team. Now she appeared almost ethereal, her skin translucent and glowing with an unnatural light. Massive insect-like wings extended from her back, carrying her effortlessly beyond Gai's reach.

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  "Too slow, Leaf pest," she taunted, her voice distorted and layered with an unsettling buzz. "Antlion Ninja Arts: Ephemeral!"

  Energy gathered between her palms, coalescing into a sphere of brilliant yellow light. She hurled it at Gai, who barely managed to twist out of its path.

  Kakashi paused on a nearby rooftop. "Need a hand, Gai?"

  Gai landed in a crouch, sweat gleaming on his brow. He flashed a grin and thumbs-up at Kakashi without taking his eyes off his opponent.

  "My eternal rival! Your concern is touching but unnecessary!" He straightened, dropping into his signature stance. "This opponent is perfect for testing the limits of my taijutsu against an aerial assault!"

  Kagerō launched another energy blast, forcing Gai to dive behind a stone water tower.

  "She seems to be keeping you grounded," Kakashi observed dryly.

  "A momentary setback!" Gai declared. "Besides, I've noticed something interesting about her technique—"

  Another blast ripped through the water tower, sending a cascade of water rushing across the rooftop.

  "That scorpion summon is paralyzing our forces," Kakashi said, nodding toward the eastern district. "I need to handle it before it does too much damage."

  "Go!" Gai shouted, already moving to engage Kagerō again. "I've got this well in hand!"

  Kakashi turned to leave, but Gai's voice stopped him.

  "And Kakashi?"

  "Hmm?"

  "Try not to be so cool about everything—save some glory for the rest of us!" Gai flashed another blinding grin before leaping back into battle.

  Kakashi shook his head with a small smile hidden beneath his mask. "Just hurry it up. We might need your help elsewhere."

  "Fifth Gate: Gate of Closing—OPEN!" Gai's skin flushed red as chakra erupted around him, the shockwave nearly knocking Kakashi off his feet.

  "Well hopefully that won't take much longer," Kakashi muttered, sprinting away.

  As he moved, Kakashi noticed something odd about Kagerō's transformed state. The woman's body seemed almost fluid, her chakra network visible through her translucent skin and pulsing with something beyond normal energy. For a moment, it reminded him of the patterns he'd seen in Sasuke's cursed seal when it activated.

  But this was different—more complete, more stable. Not a partial transformation, but something else entirely.

  "Orochimaru's been busy," Kakashi thought, filing the observation away for later. Right now, the scorpion demanded his attention.

  The massive arachnid came into full view as Kakashi reached the eastern district. At least fifteen feet tall, its carapace gleamed obsidian black in the midday sun. Eight segmented legs crushed debris underfoot while its massive claws snapped at defending shinobi. The stinger at the end of its curved tail dripped with venom that sizzled when it struck the ground.

  Beneath the scorpion stood a Sand jonin—a woman with cropped blonde hair and face paint that matched the scorpion's coloration. She directed the summon with hand gestures, her expression coldly focused.

  Several Leaf chunin lay scattered around the open plaza, their bodies rigid and contorted. Near a collapsed market stall, Kakashi spotted a jonin he recognized—Aoba Yamashiro—his sunglasses cracked and his body immobilized mid-jutsu.

  The Sand jonin noticed Kakashi's arrival, her eyes narrowing as she recognized him.

  "Kakashi of the Sharingan," she called out. "I was hoping to test myself against you."

  "I'm afraid I don't have time for proper introductions," Kakashi replied, reaching for his headband to uncover his Sharingan. "But I'll need you to dismiss your summon and surrender."

  The woman laughed. "Surrender? When we're winning? Look around you, Hatake. Your village burns. Your Hokage falls. And you stand alone."

  Kakashi assessed the situation. The scorpion was too large and powerful to tackle head-on without backup, and too many paralyzed allies lay in the danger zone for him to use large-scale jutsu.

  "Alone?" Kakashi's hand moved to his wrist, where a special summoning seal was tattooed beneath his glove. "Not quite."

  He bit his thumb, drawing blood, and pressed it to the seal. "Summoning Jutsu!"

  A massive cloud of smoke erupted beneath him, forcing the scorpion to skitter backward. As the smoke cleared, Kakashi stood atop the head of an enormous black and brown dog that dwarfed even the scorpion. Golden chain links clinked around her thick neck, and a fedora with ear cutouts sat rakishly atop her head.

  Arufainu yawned widely, displaying impressive canines, before glancing around at the chaos of the village.

  "I waz justa 'bout to take my afternoon nap, Kakashi," she growled, her voice carrying the distinctive accent of a mobster moll. "Dis betta be good."

  "Sorry for the interruption," Kakashi said, patting her head. "As you can see, we're having a bit of a situation."

  The boss dog surveyed the burning village, the paralyzed shinobi, and the giant scorpion, which was now clicking its pincers aggressively.

  "Quite the party ya throwin' here," Arufainu remarked. "And I wasn' invited? Dat hurts my feelings, ya see?"

  "Consider this your invitation," Kakashi said, pointing at the scorpion. "That thing's venom is paralyzing our forces. We need to take it out."

  Arufainu's ears perked up as she sized up her opponent. "A scorpion, eh? Been a bit since I tussled with one of dose. Looks like a spicy dish."

  The Sand jonin stepped forward, hands already forming seals. "A mutt for a summon? How disappointing. I expected something more... impressive from the famous Copy Ninja."

  Arufainu's hackles rose. "Did dat mook just call me a mutt? Oh, she's definitely gettin' her legs bitten off for dat one."

  "Focus on the scorpion," Kakashi advised. "I'll handle its summoner."

  "Have it your way," Arufainu growled, dropping into a hunting crouch. "But I'm still gonna make her regrets dat comment."

  The Sand jonin completed her sequence of hand signs. "Scorpion Style: Venom Cloud!"

  The giant scorpion's stinger began vibrating, releasing a fine mist of paralytic toxin into the air.

  "Hold your breath," Kakashi warned, already weaving signs of his own. "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

  The gust of wind dispersed the toxic cloud, sending it billowing back toward the scorpion and its summoner. The Sand jonin leapt clear, but the scorpion, unaffected by its own venom, remained in place.

  Arufainu charged forward, her massive paws shaking the ground. "Let's dance, bug!"

  The scorpion raised its claws to meet the charge. Dog and arachnid collided in a thunderous impact that cracked the pavement beneath them. Despite the scorpion's size, Arufainu's greater mass knocked it backward, sending it crashing into an already damaged building.

  "Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu," Kakashi murmured, vanishing beneath the ground.

  The Sand jonin backed away, scanning for where he might emerge. "Too predictable, Hatake!"

  She leapt high into the air just as the ground beneath her erupted—but instead of Kakashi, a shadow clone burst forth, catching her ankle and hurling her toward the real Kakashi, who emerged from a different direction.

  "Raiton: Sandāboruto" A bolt of lightning stabbed at the airborne kounichi.

  At the last moment, she twisted, avoiding a fatal blow but still taking the jutsu across her shoulder. She cried out in pain as electricity coursed through her body, sending her tumbling across the plaza.

  Meanwhile, Arufainu grappled with the giant scorpion. One of its claws had caught her around the neck, narrowly missing the gold chain, while she had its other pincer trapped in her powerful jaws. The stinger jabbed repeatedly at her back, but her thick fur seemed to prevent the venom from penetrating deeply.

  "Dis thing's gotta bit o' fight in it," Arufainu growled around her mouthful of chitin. "But ain't nothin' I dat can't handle."

  With a violent shake of her head, she ripped the claw from the scorpion's body, sending ichor spraying across the battlefield. The scorpion screeched, a high-pitched sound that shattered windows in nearby buildings.

  The Sand jonin struggled to her feet, clutching her wounded shoulder. "You'll pay for that," she spat at Kakashi. "Summoning Jutsu: Scorpion Swarm!"

  Dozens of smaller scorpions—each the size of a large dog—burst into existence around her, their stingers poised and ready.

  "Attack!" she commanded, pointing at Kakashi.

  The swarm surged forward, covering ground with alarming speed.

  Kakashi's hands flashed through signs. "Water Style: Water Wall!"

  A protective barrier of water erupted from the ground, washing away the first wave of scorpions. But the rest simply climbed over their fallen brethren, continuing their advance.

  "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Kakashi inhaled deeply before expelling a massive fireball that incinerated another section of the swarm.

  Still, they kept coming.

  "Having trouble with the little ones, Kakashi?" Arufainu called over, even as she wrestled with the giant scorpion. "Need a paw?"

  "I've got it," Kakashi replied, forming more signs. "Just finish that big one!"

  "Geez youse gettin pushy." Arufainu released the scorpion's mangled claw and leapt back, creating distance. "Let's wrap dis up—I gots odder appointments today, so don't waste my time, capiche?"

  She inhaled deeply, her chest expanding to twice its normal size. "Canine Art: Sonic Howl!"

  The howl that erupted from Arufainu's jaws was unlike anything natural—a concentrated wall of sound that struck the giant scorpion with physical force. The creature's carapace cracked under the assault, ichor leaking from newly formed fissures across its body.

  Staggered but not defeated, the scorpion charged again, its remaining claw snapping furiously.

  Arufainu met the charge head-on, her massive body crashing into the scorpion. They rolled across the plaza, demolishing market stalls and further damaging nearby buildings.

  Kakashi, meanwhile, found himself surrounded by scorpions. As they closed in from all sides, he uncovered his Sharingan fully.

  "Time to end this," he murmured, channeling chakra through his entire body. "Lightning Style: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!"

  Lightning chakra erupted from his hand, taking the form of a hound that raced through the scorpion swarm, electrocuting everything in its path. The smaller scorpions convulsed and popped out of existence one after another as the lightning beast tore through their ranks.

  The Sand jonin realized her summons were failing. "Reinforcement Jutsu: Carapace Strengthening!"

  The giant scorpion's cracked shell began to harden and thicken, the fissures closing as its body grew even larger.

  "Oh no you don't," Arufainu growled. She lunged forward, clamping her jaws around the scorpion's tail just below the stinger. With a vicious jerk of her head, she tore the stinger clean off.

  The scorpion's screech was deafening this time. It thrashed wildly, its remaining legs scrabbling for purchase on the broken ground.

  "Finish it!" Kakashi called, engaging the Sand jonin directly. His kunai clashed against her own blade, steel ringing against steel.

  Arufainu needed no further encouragement. She planted her massive paws on the scorpion's back and bent her head down.

  "Sorry, pal—it's just business." Her jaws closed around the junction between the scorpion's head and body, crunching through the reinforced carapace with terrifying ease.

  One final bite, and the giant arachnid went limp before dissolving into smoke.

  The Sand jonin screamed in pain as the death of her summon sent feedback through their connection. Kakashi used the opening to drive his kunai through her shoulder, pinning her to the ground.

  "It's over," he said. "Your summon is gone, and you're outnumbered."

  The woman glared up at him, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "This isn't over... Konoha will fall today."

  "I wouldn't bet on it," Kakashi replied, knocking her unconscious with a precise strike to the neck.

  He turned to see Arufainu licking ichor from her paws with a disgusted expression.

  "Dat ting tasted terrible," she complained. "Like eatin' a sewer pipe filled with hot sauce. You owe me a propa meal after dis, Kakashi."

  "Once we've saved the village," Kakashi promised, moving to check on the paralyzed shinobi. To his relief, they were already showing signs of recovery now that the source of the venom was gone.

  Aoba stirred, groaning. "Kakashi? What happened?"

  "Giant scorpion. Don't worry about it." Kakashi helped him to his feet. "Can you walk?"

  Aoba nodded shakily. "I think so. The others?"

  "They'll recover soon. Get them to the medical tents when they do."

  Arufainu padded over, her massive paws leaving prints in the broken concrete. "Dat was a good warmup," she said, glancing around at the still-chaotic village. "But looks like we got more ta do before dis shindig's over."

  Explosions echoed from the direction of the arena, followed by a surge of malevolent chakra that made even Arufainu's hackles rise.

  "Dat don't feel right," she growled, ears flattening beneath her fedora. "Whatevas happenin' over dere, it ain't no regula dust-up."

  Kakashi nodded grimly and leap on to Arufainu's head. "Let's go. The real fight's just beginning."

  "Well ya sure know how ta make a gal feel special, Kakashi." The tone was sarcastic but the giant summon already heading toward their next battle.