If he could somehow attain Sage Mode, a man-made version of Amaterasu would be within reach.
"Boil Release, Great Strength... no wonder people crave the Tailed Beasts," Wakaho mused, feeling a mix of delight and contemplation.
Humans, by nature, are greedy.
Sealing the Tailed Beasts within themselves to gain power wasn't the initial "collaborative approach" between humans and Tailed Beasts.
In the normal course of events, there was likely a period of mutual benefit where the Tailed Beasts were willing to lend their power to humans, helping them.
However, the humans who received this power often sought to monopolize it, leading to a gradual shift... gradually...
"Five-Tails is coming this way! Stay hidden!!"
"Listen up, buy us some time. Reinforcements will arrive soon!"
"Wait until it gets a bit closer..."
As the Five-Tails was about to pass through a canyon, a loud roar echoed, and the Iwagakure ninjas lying in ambush suddenly appeared!
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
The Iwagakure ninjas combined their Earth Style techniques to create an enormous earth wall, first blocking the Five-Tails' path and then sealing the canyon's entrance!
Using the terrain and the towering mountains on both sides, the Iwagakure ninjas had crafted a gigantic Earth Style cage for the Five-Tails!
But that wasn't all.
"Barrier Team!!!" Another roar followed.
"Barrier Team?" Wakaho was somewhat surprised.
Iwagakure... they really don't want to part with the Five-Tails!
"Hold on tight, Kokuo," Wakaho's voice echoed through the mental link, as Kokuo continued charging, steaming and snorting, lowering its head to reveal its four horns and barreling towards the earth wall.
Boom——!!
The seemingly towering earth wall crumbled before the Five-Tails as if it were mere paper. The Five-Tails burst through the blockade before the Barrier Team even had a chance to activate their barrier!
"Hopefully, Orochimaru-sensei won't take this route later..." Wakaho glanced back, silently hoping.
It seemed unlikely he would have the chance to test the mini-Amaterasu on any Iwagakure ninjas along the way, as Kokuo wasn't giving him the opportunity.
"But we should be nearing the border of the Fire Country soon," Wakaho pondered. "I wonder what they'll think when they see the Five-Tails charging towards them..."
He raised an eyebrow, "Will they act immediately?"
It seemed quite plausible.
Anyone witnessing a Tailed Beast from an enemy village storming into their own would likely scramble to mount a defense!
Would he be in a tight spot? Or would it be legitimate self-defense? Or perhaps, cleaning up an espionage organization?
So many options, haha...
But Wakaho was clearly overthinking.
Orochimaru, being the Third Hokage's disciple and a man set to inherit the position of Fourth Hokage, surely had an emergency long-range communication method with the Hokage's office.
There were also those little frogs, after all.
At the very moment Wakaho was charging toward Konoha on Kokuo, a small snake had already slithered out from Orochimaru's residence, winding its way through streets and alleys, evading stray cats and dogs, as well as human feet.
It finally reached the Hokage's office, climbing onto the desk where the Third Hokage was engaged with his crystal ball.
The Third Hokage's expression tightened as he realized something was amiss.
"This is... oh no! Is Orochimaru in trouble?!"