Hinata stumbled, her legs buckling beneath her as the weight of chakra exhaustion crashed upon her shoulders. Sweat dotted her brow, and her byakugan flickered involuntarily, the veins around her eyes pulsing as she struggled to maintain the technique.

  Karin caught her before she hit the dirt floor of the expanding tunnel. "Easy there. You've pushed yourself too hard."

  "I need to keep going." Hinata's voice came out as a rasp, but she forced herself upright. "The tunnel isn't complete."

  "And you've summoned enough rabbits to finish it." Karin adjusted her glasses, her red hair brushing against Hinata's cheek as she supported her weight. "Four large-class summons in your condition is already impressive."

  Ahead of them, the tunneling rabbits worked with impressive efficiency. Anbori, completely black and barely visible in the dim light, directed the operation with surprising authority for his small size. Carrot worked alongside him, her orange fur catching what little light filtered down the passage as she wielded her digging tools with practiced precision.

  "Anbori, how much farther?" Karin called out.

  The black rabbit paused, his nose twitching. "Perhaps another five kilometers out. The soil here is loose enough."

  Hinata watched the rabbits work, her pale eyes betraying her envy. "If only I had gotten a summoning tattoo like Sakura. The drain wouldn't be so severe."

  "You can barely stand as it is," Karin muttered, helping her to a sitting position against the tunnel wall. "Even with a tattoo, four summons would leave you drained. What matters is you got them here," Karin said, her tone softening as she glanced at the huddle of academy students further back in the tunnel. The loyal teachers had fought fiercely against Mizuki and the other traitors, but who knows if they were still alive. The youngsters huddled together, fear evident in their wide eyes.

  Karin suddenly stiffened, her eyes unfocusing as she stretched her sensory abilities outward. The unique Uzumaki sensing technique allowed her to perceive chakra signatures throughout much of the village.

  "What do you see?" Shikamaru asked, noticing her change in posture.

  "A counter-attack," Karin whispered, a smile growing on her face. "Konoha forces are pushing back. Multiple chakra signatures—powerful ones—are moving against the invaders." She closed her eyes, concentrating harder. "I can sense the Inuzuka clan's distinctive signatures moving as a unit... the Hyuga too."

  Hinata perked up. "Father..."

  "The counter-attack is working," Kiba grinned, punching his fist into his palm while Akamaru barked in agreement. "I knew they couldn't keep Konoha down!"

  But Karin's expression suddenly shifted, her face draining of color. She grabbed the wall to steady herself, a shiver running through her frame.

  "What is it?" Shino asked, his quiet voice cutting through the momentary celebration.

  "Something's... wrong," Karin whispered. "The Sound ninja's chakra—it's changing. Surging. It's like nothing I've ever felt before." She swallowed hard. "The counter-attack... it's broken. Our forces are being pressed back again."

  The tunnel fell silent except for the continued digging of the rabbits and the quiet whimpering of some of the younger students.

  Shikamaru's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the dirt beneath his feet. His fists clenched and unclenched, the normally lazy genius visibly wrestling with an internal conflict.

  "Anbori," he finally called, his voice strained.

  The black rabbit's ears perked up. "Yes?"

  "Change of direction. Redirect the tunnel toward the Nara compound."

  Kiba's head snapped up. "What? But we're already heading toward the evacuation point!"

  "The Nara compound has secret tunnels," Shikamaru said, not meeting anyone's eyes. "Tunnels that lead out of the village entirely."

  Kiba stared at him, understanding dawning on his face, followed quickly by outrage. "You want to run? You want us to abandon the village while everyone else fights?"

  Shikamaru remained silent, his face a mask of forced calm.

  "Say something!" Kiba growled, taking a step toward the Nara heir. "Your clan is up there too! Your father—"

  "Don't you think I know that?" Shikamaru's voice remained level, but there was steel beneath it now. "This is too troublesome."

  "Then why are we running?" Kiba snarled, lunging forward only to be held back by Shino's firm grip.

  "Kiba," Shino warned, his insects buzzing audibly under his coat. "Consider the situation logically."

  "Logic? My mom and sister are fighting up there!" Kiba struggled against Shino's hold. "My whole clan!"

  Shikamaru's composure finally cracked. "And if they fall? What then?" He gestured sharply at the academy students. "My father's orders were clear. My mission isn't to join the fight—it's to get these children to safety."

  "Your father told you to run?"

  "He told me to ensure the future of Konoha," Shikamaru snapped, his voice uncharacteristically sharp. "If Orochimaru wins today, these kids are all that's left of the village we know. The seed of the force that will retake it someday."

  Kiba's anger faltered as he looked back at the huddled students, their faces pale and frightened in the dim light. Some of them couldn't be older than six or seven, clutching each other for comfort.

  "The Will of Fire doesn't die with a single battle," Shikamaru continued, his voice lower now. "Sometimes, the most important thing isn't winning the current fight—it's making sure there's someone left to fight the next one."

  The weight of responsibility settled on Kiba's shoulders like a physical burden. He looked at the children again, then back at Shikamaru.

  "Konoha won't lose," he said finally, his voice rough with emotion. "It won't."

  "I agree," Shikamaru nodded. "I'm just making sure."

  A flutter of movement caught their attention as Shino's insects returned to him, landing on his outstretched finger. The Aburame's expression remained hidden behind his high collar and glasses, but his posture tensed.

  "My female has located some of our comrades," he said. "They appear to be wounded."

  "Who?" Hinata asked, attempting to stand despite her fatigue.

  "Ino, Chouji, and the Mist kunoichi—Hotaru." Shino turned toward one of the side passages. "I've directed my insects to lead them here."

  Karin extended her sensory abilities again. "I feel them now. Their chakra is fluctuating—they're definitely injured."

  "Shino, help get them here," Shikamaru ordered. "Kiba, guard the main entry point."

  A few minutes later Kiba's nostrils flared as the scent of blood reached him down the tunnel. He turned in the direction Shino indicated, stance widening.

  "They're coming. I can smell them—and they're hurt bad."

  In moments, the sounds of shuffling footsteps echoed through the passage. Three figures emerged from the shadows, leaning heavily against one another.

  Ino stumbled forward first, her usually immaculate appearance now marred by dirt and blood. Her purple bodysuit was torn at the thigh, revealing a deep gash that had soaked the fabric with crimson. She'd fashioned a makeshift tourniquet above the wound, but it wasn't holding well.

  "Could use a hand here," she called, her voice strained but still carrying that defiant Yamanaka edge.

  Behind her, Hotaru supported Chouji's considerable weight, her own face pinched with pain. Her right arm hung awkwardly at her side, and an array cuts stretched across her exposed shoulder. Despite her injuries, she managed to keep the much larger Chouji upright as he stumbled blindly forward.

  Chouji's condition appeared worst of all. Blood trickled from both ears, and his eyes darted around unfocused. His pupils dilated unevenly as he tried and failed to track movement. When he spoke, his voice came out too loud.

  "WHO'S THERE? I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING!"

  "Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, rushing forward with Kiba to relieve Hotaru of Chouji's weight. "Get them further inside. Karin, we need you."

  Karin was already moving, rummaging through her medical pouch. She'd positioned herself near one of the dimly lit sections of the tunnel where several light tags provided illumination. "Bring them here. I need to see what I'm working with."

  They helped the wounded into the makeshift treatment area. The academy students watched with wide, frightened eyes as their injured seniors were laid out on the dirt floor. One of the teachers tried to distract the younger ones, but the older academy students looked on with a mixture of fear and grim fascination.

  "Ino first," Karin decided, examining the gash on the blonde's leg. "You're losing too much blood."

  "Chouji's worse," Ino protested, though her face had gone pale from blood loss. "Dosu caught him with a direct hit from that sound gauntlet."

  "Which is why we need to stabilize you quickly so I can help him properly," Karin countered, already unwrapping the makeshift bandage. She whistled through her teeth at the severity of the wound. "Wind technique?"

  "Temari," Ino confirmed, wincing. "That fan is brutal—cuts right through defenses."

  Karin nodded, cleaning the wound with practiced efficiency before holding out her arm. "Bite."

  Ino recoiled slightly. "What?"

  "It's how my healing ability works. Just bite my arm."

  Ino hesitated only briefly before complying, her teeth sinking into Karin's forearm. The effect was immediate—chakra flowed visibly beneath Karin's skin, traveling to Ino. The blonde's color improved, and the bleeding from her leg wound slowed dramatically.

  "That's..." Ino pulled away, her eyes widening. "That's incredible."

  "Keep pressure on it while I check Chouji," Karin instructed, handing Ino a clean bandage.

  Kiba and Shikamaru had settled Chouji against the tunnel wall. The Akimichi heir's eyes continued to dart around randomly, unable to focus on any one thing. His hands clenched and unclenched as he tried to orient himself.

  "WHO'S THERE? SHIKAMARU? INO?" His voice boomed in the confined space, causing several of the academy students to cover their ears.

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  "Both eardrums ruptured," Karin diagnosed, gently turning his head to examine the blood trailing from his ears. "And likely a concussion from the force of the attack."

  "IS SOMEONE TALKING? I CAN'T—" Chouji's panicked voice cut off as Karin moved into his field of vision.

  She knelt before him, making sure she was directly in his line of sight. His pupils contracted slightly as he finally managed to focus on her face, illuminated by the soft glow of the light tags.

  "Are you..." Chouji's voice dropped to what he probably thought was a whisper but came out at normal volume. "Are you an angel?"

  The simple, disoriented question hung in the air for a moment before Karin's face flushed crimson. Behind her, Kiba made a choking sound while Shino's insects buzzed audibly beneath his coat—a sure sign of the Aburame's irritation.

  "I'm not—that's not—" Karin stammered, then composed herself. "Here, bite my arm. It will help."

  "WHAT?" Chouji shouted.

  With a sigh, Karin simply pressed her arm against his mouth. "Bite."

  Understanding dawned in Chouji's unfocused eyes, and he complied. The effect wasn't as dramatic as with Ino, but some color returned to his face.

  "The damage to his ears is extensive," Karin explained to the others. "My ability can start the healing process, but it won't fix everything immediately."

  "CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT'S HAPPENING?" Chouji asked, his voice still too loud.

  "You're going to be fine," Karin said, exaggerating her mouth movements so he could read her lips.

  His expression softened. "Oh. Thank you, angel lady."

  Kiba growled low in his throat. "Seriously?"

  "He's disoriented," Shino stated flatly, though his insects continued their agitated buzzing.

  "Your teammates go to hell and back, and you're jealous over a compliment from a guy who can't hear or see straight?" Ino called over from her spot, eyebrow raised. "Real mature."

  Karin ignored them all, moving on to check Hotaru's injuries. The Mist kunoichi sat quietly, her face etched with pain but maintaining admirable composure.

  "Dislocated shoulder and second-degree burns," Karin diagnosed. "I'll need to set the shoulder first."

  Hotaru nodded grimly. "Do it quickly."

  Karin positioned herself behind Hotaru, placing her hands carefully. "On three. One—" She jerked suddenly, popping the shoulder back into place.

  Hotaru bit back a cry, her face paling. "You said on three," she gasped.

  "Everyone tenses on three," Karin replied matter-of-factly. "Makes it harder. Now bite."

  Hotaru complied, her teeth sinking into Karin's now-bruised arm. The burns across her shoulder began to fade slightly as Karin's healing chakra did its work.

  "Your ability," Hotaru said when she'd released Karin's arm, "is remarkable. I've never seen anything like it."

  "Uzumaki trait," Karin replied with a small, proud smile. "Our vitality makes us good healers—if you know how to tap into it."

  "Like Naruto's crazy stamina," Kiba said, nodding.

  Karin slumped against the tunnel wall, her breathing labored after healing the three injured shinobi. The bite marks on her arm stood out angry and red against her pale skin. She closed her eyes, her sensory abilities stretching outward again—searching.

  "Your chakra network is strained," Hinata observed, her Byakugan active despite her own exhaustion. "You should rest."

  Karin shook her head. "I'm trying to check on Naruto."

  A flash of understanding crossed Hinata's face. "You're worried about him."

  "Of course I am," Karin snapped, then caught herself, adjusting her glasses with a trembling hand. "Three bijū in one place is a disaster waiting to happen. And he's right in the middle of it."

  Hinata's expression remained serene, almost unnaturally calm given the circumstances. "Naruto-kun will be fine."

  "How can you be so sure?" Karin demanded, frustration bleeding into her voice. "From what I can sense, Gaara's bijū is fully manifested."

  "Because he promised he would be," Hinata said simply, as if that explained everything. When Karin stared at her in disbelief, she added, "Naruto-kun never goes back on his word. That's his nindō, his ninja way."

  Karin opened her mouth to argue but was interrupted by Hotaru's light laughter.

  "You're both right, in a way," the Mist kunoichi said, rotating her recently relocated shoulder with a wince. "Haku is helping your Naruto, and that changes everything."

  "But Gaara—" Karin began.

  "Will be handled," Hotaru cut in with absolute certainty. "You haven't seen Haku at his best. He may look delicate, but he's called the 'Ice Demon' of Kiri for a reason." Her eyes gleamed with admiration. "Utakata-sensei has been training him personally in controlling the Three-Tails. He's probably already subdued Gaara."

  Ino raised an eyebrow. "You sound pretty confident about that."

  "Once Gaara is down, Utakata-sensei will be free to deal with the invaders," Hotaru continued, her voice taking on an almost reverential quality. "Then this invasion will be over quickly."

  "Your sensei is that powerful?" Chouji asked loudly, still unable to modulate his voice properly.

  Hotaru nodded emphatically. "He's the strongest shinobi I've ever seen. I once watched him defeat thirty rogue ninjas using just his bubble techniques."

  "Thirty?" Kiba exchanged skeptical glances with Shino.

  "Thirty-two, actually," Hotaru corrected, missing the skepticism entirely. "And that was before he was even trying. With the Six-Tails' power..." She trailed off, apparently unable to find words grand enough to describe her sensei's capabilities.

  Shikamaru's lips quirked into the ghost of a smile. "I'm sure he's impressive."

  Before Hotaru could launch into what promised to be an enthusiastic elaboration of Utakata's abilities, footsteps echoed from one of the side tunnels. Kiba immediately tensed, his nostrils flaring as he tried to identify the newcomers by scent.

  "Friends," he announced a moment later, though he remained alert.

  Three figures emerged from the shadows—Neji and Lee supporting a third, larger form between them. The green-clad shinobi was limping slightly, while Neji's normally immaculate appearance was marred by dust and several small cuts across his face. But it was the man between them who drew everyone's attention.

  "Iruka-sensei!" several voices called out in unison.

  The Academy instructor was barely conscious, his head lolling forward. A trail of dried blood ran from his hairline down the side of his face, and his flak jacket was torn and scorched in several places.

  "Found him... near the Academy," Lee explained between labored breaths. "He was trying to find the missing students."

  "He's concussed," Neji added clinically. "Possibly from a blow to the back of the head. Someone attacked him from behind."

  Shikamaru's eyes narrowed. "Mizuki?"

  "Most likely," Neji confirmed. "Iruka-sensei was barely coherent when we found him, but he kept mentioning Mizuki's name."

  They carefully lowered Iruka to the ground, where Karin immediately moved to examine him despite her obvious fatigue.

  "I can help," she said, already extending her arm.

  "No." Shikamaru caught her wrist gently but firmly. "You're too drained. Traditional first aid will have to do for now."

  Karin looked like she wanted to argue but reluctantly nodded. She began checking Iruka's pupils instead, her movements practiced and precise.

  "Neji, Lee," Shikamaru called after a moment of contemplation. "I need you two to guard the tunnel entrance."

  Lee straightened despite his injury, giving a thumbs-up that seemed incongruously bright in the dim tunnel. "Leave it to us! We will protect everyone with the full power of youth!"

  Neji simply nodded, his Byakugan already active as he scanned their surroundings.

  "If anything changes up above—anything at all—I want to know immediately," Shikamaru added.

  "You still believe heading to the Nara compound is our best option?" Hinata asked quietly.

  Shikamaru sighed, his hands forming the familiar thinking pose almost unconsciously. "I hope I'm just being overly cautious," he admitted after a moment. "But if things are as bad as Karin sensed..."

  He didn't finish the thought, but he didn't need to. The unspoken implications hung in the air between them—the possibility that they might be the last line of defense for Konoha's future.

  "The rabbits have made good progress," Shino reported, breaking the grim silence. "Why? Because their tunneling efficiency exceeds standard expectations."

  "Good," Shikamaru nodded. "Let's keep moving."

  Sarutobi's eyes widened as he watched the Sound ninja transform before him. Their bodies contorted, flesh rippling as bones shifted and reformed beneath skin that hardened into scales, sprouted fur, or developed unnatural pigmentation. Some grew additional appendages—claws, spines, and in one case what appeared to be vestigial wings. The cries of pain that escaped them ranged from human to bestial, echoing across the battlefield.

  "What have you done, Orochimaru?" Sarutobi asked, his voice low with horror and disgust.

  Orochimaru's lips curved into a self-satisfied smile. He gestured toward his transforming soldiers with a sweep of his pale hand.

  "Something remarkable, Sensei. Essence elixirs—practically a bloodline limit in a bottle." His eyes gleamed with pride. "I think you'll be rather proud once you see the results. I've quite advanced the work young Sakura is dabbling in."

  One Sound ninja's transformation completed with a wet cracking sound as his jaw elongated, revealing rows of needle-like teeth. Another's skin turned a mottled green, hardening into plates that resembled armor.

  "You used your own shinobi as test subjects," Sarutobi said.

  "And only approximately twenty-five percent will die from complications of the transformation." Orochimaru shrugged as if discussing a minor inconvenience. "Of those that survive, another quarter will likely remain locked in their new forms permanently. A few might experience sensory disruptions or psychological instability, but well over half will emerge perfectly functional, with significant enhancements."

  The reanimated First and Second Hokages observed the transformations with growing revulsion.

  "And after studying the failures," Orochimaru continued, "I anticipate raising the success rate to ninety percent for the next batch. Science advances through iteration, after all."

  His gaze drifted momentarily the distance. "I look forward to speaking with the rabbit queen. I sense a kindred spirit in her approach to biological enhancement."

  The Second Hokage's eyes narrowed. "Who summoned us?" he demanded, his voice carrying the authority that had made nations tremble. "What foolishness is this?"

  "That would be my wayward student," Sarutobi answered, never taking his eyes off Orochimaru.

  "Your student?" The Second Hokage turned his red eyes toward Sarutobi, disappointment etched into his face. "Then you've failed as a teacher, Saru. I expected better from you."

  Sarutobi's face hardened. "Perhaps. But it may interest you to know that Danzo's forces are currently aiding him in this coup. Your own student helped engineer the massacre of the Uchiha clan not so long ago."

  A series of complicated expressions crossed the Second Hokage's face—surprise followed by calculation, a flicker of grim satisfaction, and finally something like resignation. His eyes met Sarutobi's for a split second, conveying a message that no one else caught.

  "One out of two isn't bad," the Second Hokage muttered.

  "Brother!" The First Hokage's reprimand was sharp, his face darkening with anger. "You cannot possibly—"

  "Enough talk," Zabuza growled, hefting his massive blade. "I've had my fill of Konoha's family drama."

  He lunged forward, Kubikiribōchō singing through the air toward the First Hokage, who blocked the strike with a hastily formed wooden shield. Chōjūrō followed immediately, his Hiramekarei slamming into the Second Hokage's defense.

  The battle erupted anew, shinobi clashing in a blur of movement too fast for civilian eyes to track.

  Below in the arena, Naruto and Haku crouched behind a barrier of ice, formulating their approach against the rampaging One-Tail.

  "I'll distract Shukaku with my clones," Naruto said, hands already forming the familiar sign. "You freeze his legs to limit mobility, then I'll try to wake Gaara. That sand armor will make it tough, but—"

  "On my mark," Haku agreed, one hand pressed against the ice barrier, eyes focused on the towering sand demon.

  A crash from above drew their attention to the Kage box. Naruto watched in horror as the Third Hokage was driven back by the combined assault of the reanimated Kages and Orochimaru.

  Haku's eyes, however, fixed on Zabuza, who had engaged the First Hokage directly. For a moment, Zabuza's speed and ferocity seemed to gain him an advantage, his blade cutting through wooden defenses faster than they could regenerate.

  Then everything changed.

  The First Hokage sidestepped an overhead swing, and in that brief opening, a branch erupted from the floor behind Zabuza, punching through his chest with brutal efficiency. The tip of the wooden spear emerged from his sternum, glistening with blood.

  "ZABUZA-SAN!" Haku's scream tore through the arena.

  Naruto turned in time to see Zabuza's body go limp, blood streaming down the wooden lance that impaled him. Chōjūrō's desperate attempt to reach his comrade was thwarted by the Second Hokage, who sent him flying with a powerful water jutsu.

  Something snapped in Haku's eyes. The temperature in the arena plummeted so rapidly that frost formed on every surface within seconds. Naruto's breath came out in white plumes as he stared at his temporary ally.

  "Haku! We need to stick to the plan!" Naruto shouted, but his words fell on deaf ears.

  Haku's skin began to bubble and shift, chakra pouring off him in visible waves of blue and red. The ice barrier around them shattered into thousands of shards that hung suspended in the air, each reflecting Haku's transformation.

  "No, no, no," Naruto muttered, backing away. "Not now!"

  A dome of water materialized around Haku, expanding outward with explosive force. Naruto created a dozen shadow clones that formed a human chain to pull him clear of the blast radius. When the water receded, Haku was gone, replaced by a massive turtle-like creature with three tails thrashing behind it.

  The Three-Tails roared, a sound that carried both rage and grief. Its eyes—all three of them—fixed not on Shukaku, but on the Kage box where the First Hokage stood.

  With frightening speed for something so large, the Three-Tails charged toward the barrier protecting the Kage box, intent on reaching Zabuza's killer. Shukaku, seemingly offended at being ignored, launched a barrage of wind bullets at the Three-Tails' flank.

  The collision of the two tailed beasts shook the entire arena. The Three-Tails spun, targeting its new attacker, and the battle shifted. Water and sand collided in devastating waves that tore through what remained of the fighting area. The air grew thick with moisture one moment and abrasive with sand the next.

  Naruto stood frozen, staring at the clash of titans. His carefully constructed plan had disintegrated in seconds. The Three-Tails showed no signs of Haku's consciousness remaining in control—only blind rage guided its movements.

  "What the hell do I do now?" Naruto whispered, flinching as a stray wind bullet decimated a section of wall nearby.