Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

Konoha's surprise attack came and went with lightning speed. From Namikaze Minato's initial assault to the engraving of the Flying Thunder God seal on Roshi's body, the entire operation lasted only a few minutes.

When the Iwa ninjas realized Konoha's forces had retreated, they also discovered their leader, Roshi, was no longer on the battlefield.

The night was eerily silent, and the dim moonlight filtered through layers of black mist.

In the barren desert, where strong winds whipped yellow sand into swirling clouds, a red-haired young man stood atop a sand dune. His eyes were closed as though meditating. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, gazing sharply at the land ahead.

"Did it work?"

Raiden muttered, his voice low. He extended a hand, releasing a bolt of lightning into the sky. Simultaneously, a thick red barrier began to rise around the area, covering thousands of square meters. The barrier radiated a terrifying chakra, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

"Whoosh!"

With a sharp sound, Roshi, now in his half-Tailed Beast form, appeared on a sand dune a short distance away. His wary eyes scanned his surroundings. Only moments ago, he had been fighting Namikaze Minato in the dense forest; now, he found himself in a desolate desert, enclosed by a square red barrier.

"Where am I? Is this Namikaze Minato's technique?" Roshi muttered, his gaze narrowing as he spotted Raiden in the distance. Realizing the trap, his expression darkened.

"Long time no see, old man."

"This is the grave I've prepared for you. Do you like it?" Raiden asked coldly.

His right hand gripped the hilt of a long blade at his waist, drawing it in one swift motion. He showed no signs of rushing, his gaze calm and calculating.

Outside the barrier, Namikaze Minato appeared at one of the barrier's edges, where a group of Konoha Barrier Squad ninjas were pouring chakra into the formation.

"He actually did it. This is the legendary Four Scarlet Sun Array," Minato murmured, astonished.

The Four Scarlet Sun Array, a powerful upgrade of the Four Purple Flame Array, required the chakra of four Kage-level ninjas to establish. In this case, Raiden's shadow clones sustained three of the formation's nodes, with Minato serving as the fourth anchor.

A ninja in a strange uniform approached Minato and bowed slightly.

"Minato-sama, per Raiden-sama's instructions, this formation is now under your control. The Barrier Squad will fully support you."

Minato nodded, stepping forward to replace one of the ninjas. He knelt by the barrier, taking over the flow of chakra.

Inside the barrier, Raiden smirked as he stabilized the formation. He turned his attention back to Roshi, his voice filled with steely resolve.

"Let's begin."

A black sealing circle suddenly appeared beneath Roshi's feet, spreading rapidly toward his body. The oppressive power of the seal pressed down on Roshi, forcing him to roar in defiance.

"Roar!"

"Curse you! Curse all of you!"

Roshi's half-Tailed Beast form began to shift. His chakra surged wildly as his body grew larger, shedding its humanoid shape. Within moments, Roshi had fully transformed into the Four-Tails, towering nearly 200 meters high. Its body radiated intense heat, and its four crimson tails whipped violently through the air.

"So, you've completely turned into a Tailed Beast?" Raiden muttered, his expression momentarily dazed. He quickly recovered, forming a one-handed seal. Chakra surged through him as the black sealing circle expanded beneath the Four-Tails, slowing its movements.

"Boy, I can sense the fox's scent on you," the Four-Tails growled, its voice deep and guttural. "It's disgusting!"

Raiden's eyes narrowed. He immediately realized that Roshi's transformation had failed; the Four-Tails had seized control of Roshi's consciousness.

"Looks like Roshi has already fallen. Perfect," Raiden said coldly.

He planted the Sakegari no Tachi in the ground beside him, clasped his hands together, and summoned nine golden chakra chains from his back. These chains shot toward the Four-Tails with precision, wrapping tightly around its body.

Sensing the chains' sealing power, the Four-Tails thrashed violently, spewing molten lava from its mouth. But the sealing circle held firm, and the golden chains tightened further, even binding its flailing tails.

"Roar! You wretched brat! Release me!" the Four-Tails bellowed.

Raiden grunted, feeling the strain of containing the immense chakra. Despite the power of the Kongo Fūsa and the Four Scarlet Sun Array, the Four-Tails' sheer strength began to push back against the seal.

"Even with Sage Mode and the Kongo Fūsa, it's barely enough," Raiden muttered. "I need more chakra. Looks like it's time to use the Yin Seal."

Releasing the Yin Seal, Raiden unleashed a torrent of stored chakra. The intricate curse marks spread across his body, enhancing his strength severalfold. With the additional power, the seals stabilized, and the golden chains tightened further around the Four-Tails.

"You're not going anywhere, Four-Tails," Raiden declared.

With the Four-Tails immobilized, Raiden retrieved a scroll from his pouch and unfurled it. A burst of white mist revealed a container resembling a rice cooker.

The sight of the sealing vessel sent the Four-Tails into a frenzy. Lava gushed from its body, burning through the runes beneath it.

"Damn you! I won't be sealed again!" the Four-Tails roared, struggling with all its might.

But Raiden was unyielding. The Yin Seal's power reinforced the barrier, locking the Four-Tails in place. As the creature's struggles intensified, Raiden's focus sharpened.

"Come on, Four-Tails. It's time for you to enter your new home."

With a decisive movement, Raiden prepared to complete the sealing process.

(End of Chapter)