One Last Gamble

Tetsuma forced himself up, his vision blurred, muscles screaming in agony. Blood dripped from countless wounds, but his grip on his blade never wavered.

Before him—

Ginkaku howled, his six tails thrashing violently, his body pulsating with raw chakra. His golden fur burned with the intensity of the Nine-Tails' stolen power.

A monster.

Tetsuma took a deep breath.

He was at his limit. He knew that.

But so was Ginkaku.

One last gamble.

The Senju warrior burst forward, his body encased in Steel Release, pushing his flesh beyond its limits. His Kusanagi Blade glowed silver, crackling with lightning.

Ginkaku lunged—his monstrous claws aiming to tear Tetsuma apart.

CLANG!

The impact shattered the ground beneath them.

Tetsuma twisted midair, barely avoiding a tail that could have snapped him in half. His blade sliced deep across Ginkaku's ribs.

Not enough.

The beast roared, chakra exploding from his body—

Tetsuma's feet skidded backward.

Then, in a flash—

Tobirama appeared.

His Thunder Sword in hand, his presence towering.

His voice, calm but sharp—

"Now."

Tobirama struck.

His sword pierced straight through Ginkaku's heart.

For a moment—

Silence.

Then—

Ginkaku let out one final, deafening roar.

In his dying frenzy, he swung a final, desperate strike.

Tetsuma barely had time to react.

Claws met flesh.

A sickening tear echoed through the battlefield.

Tobirama staggered back.

His white armor shattered.

Blood poured from a massive, gaping wound in his chest—his ribcage exposed, his lungs barely holding together.

Tetsuma's eyes widened in horror.

The Second Hokage—**his teacher, his leader—**had been mortally wounded.

Ginkaku's massive body collapsed, lifeless.

Tetsuma rushed forward, catching Tobirama before he could fall.

His hands trembled, pressing against the wound, trying—desperately—to stop the bleeding.

"SENSEI!"

Tobirama coughed blood, his breathing ragged.

His hand weakly gripped Tetsuma's shoulder.

"It's… not over yet."

Tetsuma gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched so tight it hurt.

He knew.

They still had to escape.

And Tobirama—

Wouldn't make it out alive.