Today, Kaiji had planned to go to the Ninja library to get scrolls of E & D Rank Earth Style Ninjutsu and then go to the Medical Department to learn Iryo Ninjutsu, and also return those medical books.
But the moment he got ready to go to the Ninja library, what he saw truly gobsmacked him.
It wouldn't be shocking for him if the news of the Third Kazekage, Satei, going missing or Sasori defecting broke later, but the things taking place in front of his eyes were utterly unexpected.
Kaiji had just stepped out of his room when he heard a guttural ROAR! that tore through the morning air, shaking the very sand floor beneath his feet.
With this, many Genin came out of their rooms and quickly stepped out of the Genin Corps Department.
Head Isamu and Vice Head Ryota of the Department also came out with other members.
They looked up towards where this roar came from, and their jaws nearly hit the ground in shock.
Just near the Kazekage Building stood a sandy brown colored Tanuki, with dark blue cursed seal markings all over its face, body, and tail.
The sclerae of its eyes were black, with yellow irises and pupils that each took the shape of a black four-pointed star with four black dots around it.
It was none other than the One-Tails Bijuu, Ichibi no Shukaku.
This monstrous Tanuki stood in the heart of the village.
It was a sight that Kaiji hadn't expected, especially not in broad daylight.
The beast didn't dwarf the Kazekage Building, but its massive size was equivalent to the building.
Its claws tore at the stone, sending debris scattering.
Around the village, civilians were fear-struck by these sudden events; panicked screams could be heard echoing through the air.
Isamu tore his eyes from Ichibi and quickly said to the Genin, "Everyone take civilians to—"
BOOM!
But before he could complete his sentence, an explosion occurred from Ichibi's location, near the Kazekage Building.
Sunagakure obviously had defenses ready for this situation around the Kazekage Building, like they had been expecting it.
Around the Ichibi, a flurry of motion began.
Anbu, their masks stark against the sandy backdrop, darted with incredible speed.
At the top of the building, Elder Chiyo and Ebizo could also be seen leading them, along with another figure with dark hair, Yuta, another student of Satei like Rasa & Kasura.
A little further back from them were other Ninjas working feverishly, their hands moving in complex sequences.
A shimmering energy began to coalesce between them.
Ichibi's attack, aimed directly at them, was blocked by Chiyo's signature Jutsu, ''Chikamatsu's Ten Puppets Technique!'' with the support of Anbu and others.
"W-what is t-this monster?!"
"H-how can s-someons even fight a monster like him?!"
Panicked voices also started to come from the fear-struck Genin.
Hiroshi came close to Kaiji and in a low, panicked voice asked, "Kaiji, how are you calm in such situation?"
A few around them glanced at Kaiji, surprised by his apparent composure.
Kaiji didn't look at them and said, "I am not calm. I was just thinking where is Kazekage-sama? I didn't see him there?"
Hearing Kaiji, everyone's gaze went to the Ninjas fighting Ichibi at the Top of Kazekage's Building.
The Genin Corps Department was quite close to the Kazekage's Building, making it easy for them to see clearly.
Ryota also got shocked like the others and asked Isamu, "What could be the reason that Kazekage-sama isn't there?"
Isamu shook his head.
Just like Ryota, he was also just a Chunin.
From the way things were going, it looked like the village was ready for it, like they knew this could happen.
In Isamu's mind, this event, despite looking dangerous, would easily be taken care of by the Village Higher-ups.
The way the Village was ready made him doubt that this wasn't a sudden incident.
His thinking was reasonable.
Chiyo, Ebizo, Yuta, and others in the forefront didn't have grim expressions on their faces, but rather neutral, indifferent ones.
They were keeping Ichibi at bay until the Sealing Department Shinobi's behind them could perform a Seal on Ichibi, which was obviously taking time.
But just the next moment, Ichibi started gathering a terrifying purple ball of compressed Chakra in its maw – a Bijuudama.
The neutral looks on their faces vanished instantly.
Chiyo yelled immediately, "YUTA!"
Yuta quickly replied, "I am on it, Elder Chiyo!"
He said, while making a series of hand signs at very fast speed: Bird → Ox → Ram → Dog → Snake → Horse → Tiger → Monkey → Boar → Dragon → Ram → Hare → Snake.
The moment the Bijuudama was about to come close to the Kazekage's Building, Yuta came forward and shouted,
"DUST STORM: KINETIC DISPERSION!"
A swirling vortex of sand, infused with his Chakra, erupted from the ground before him, rapidly expanding into a dense, turbulent wall.
Unlike a mere sand shield, this was a dynamic storm, the countless grains within it vibrating with an unnerving, high-frequency hum.
The Bijuudama that was hurtled towards them, instead of simply passing through or exploding, began to be absorbed and dispersed by the meticulously controlled storm.
The storm didn't just block it; it consumed the Bijuudama.
This momentarily shocked Ichibi and few others, aside from those who knows about it.
Yuta started huffing and slammed onto his knees, exhausted from the immense chakra expenditure.
Ebizo looked at the Sealing Department Shinobi and asked in an urgent voice, "Did the seal ready?!"
One Shinobi replied, "Almost!"
Ebizo then looked at Chiyo, while helping and picking up Yuta.
Chiyo nodded and used her ten powerful puppets she had summoned by her Chikamatsu's Ten Puppets Technique.
She had them perform the "Sealing Technique: Lion Puppet Jutsu!" to bind Ichibi.
This Jutsu could bind Ichibi for a few moments but couldn't permanently or for a long duration.
But this was enough for them.
The Shinobi of the Sealing Technique used their containment Jutsu, standing in a circle, and in between them was a small gourd with many seals.
The moment they slammed their hands, Ichibi's humongous figure started to shrink.
ROAR!
Ichibi let out one last roar before vanishing, like he was never there to begin with.
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