Shadows of the Ten-Tails

Chapter 10: "Shadows of the Ten-Tails"

Location: Konoha – Training Grounds – Dawn

The air was crisp, the first light of dawn painting the training grounds in hues of gold and pink. Galen Anthony stood at the center, his lightsaber unlit but resting in his hand, its weight a reminder of the battles to come. Around him, Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, and a small group of Konoha's elite—Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, and Hinata—formed a loose circle. Kaguya stood apart, her presence still drawing wary glances, though her calm demeanor softened the tension.

"Today's not about strength," Galen began, his voice carrying the quiet authority of a teacher. "It's about connection. The Force and chakra are different, but they flow from the same source—life itself. If you can feel that, you can face anything."

Naruto cracked his knuckles, grinning. "So, what's the plan? More floating rocks?"

Galen smirked. "Something bigger." He raised a hand, and the ground trembled faintly. A massive boulder, easily twice Naruto's height, rose from the earth, hovering steadily. "You're going to move this. Together."

Shikamaru sighed. "Troublesome. Why not just blow it up?"

"Because power isn't always about destruction," Galen said. "It's about control. Precision. Trust."

Hinata stepped forward, her Byakugan activating. "I… I can try."

Galen nodded. "Good. Hinata, you'll guide the flow. Naruto, you're the anchor. Sakura, focus on stability. The rest of you, support them. Kaguya, you'll monitor their chakra."

Kaguya inclined her head, her eyes scanning the group. "Their energies are chaotic, but… there is potential."

The team began, tentative at first. Naruto's chakra surged like a wildfire, nearly knocking the boulder off balance. Sakura's precise control steadied it, while Hinata's gentle guidance kept the flow smooth. Shikamaru's shadow tendrils wove through the group, linking their efforts, while Ino and Choji added their own strength.

Galen watched, his senses attuned to the Force. He could feel it—their energies merging, not perfectly, but enough to create something new. The boulder wobbled, then rose higher, spinning slowly in the air.

Naruto laughed. "We're doing it!"

"Don't get cocky," Kakashi warned, his Sharingan spinning as he observed.

Suddenly, a ripple passed through the Force. Galen's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "Stop."

The boulder dropped with a thud, and the group turned to him, confused.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked.

Galen's hand tightened on his lightsaber. "We're not alone."

Kaguya's expression darkened. "I feel it too. A distortion… like a tear in the world."

Before anyone could respond, the air shimmered, and a spiral of black and red energy erupted in the clearing. Obito Uchiha stepped through, his orange mask gleaming in the dawn light. Behind him, Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, his shark-like teeth glinting, and Zetsu's half-black, half-white form slithered from the ground.

"Galen Anthony," Obito said, his voice cold and distorted. "You've been a thorn in our side."

Naruto stepped forward, kunai in hand. "You're not taking me, Mask Guy!"

Obito's Sharingan glowed. "You're not my target today, Nine-Tails. I'm here for him." He pointed at Galen.

Galen ignited his lightsaber, the blue blade humming to life. "Then let's make this quick."

Location: Training Grounds – The Battle Begins

The clash was immediate. Obito vanished into a swirl of Kamui, reappearing behind Galen with a kunai aimed at his back. Galen spun, his lightsaber deflecting the strike with a shower of sparks. The Force surged through him, sharpening his senses, guiding his movements.

Kisame charged at Kakashi, Samehada swinging. "Let's see if you've still got it, Copy Ninja!"

Kakashi dodged, his Raikiri crackling. "You're as annoying as ever, Kisame."

Naruto and the others faced Zetsu, whose body split into multiple clones, each sprouting wooden tendrils. Shikamaru's shadow possession caught one, while Hinata's Gentle Fist disrupted another's chakra.

Kaguya stood back, her hands glowing faintly—not with chakra, but with a faint echo of the Force, taught to her by Galen. She focused, her mind piercing Zetsu's essence. "He's not human," she warned. "He's a creation of the Ōtsutsuki. Aim for the core!"

Sakura smashed a Zetsu clone into the ground, her fist glowing with chakra. "Got it!"

Galen and Obito's duel was a blur of motion. Obito's Kamui made him untouchable, phasing through Galen's strikes, but Galen's Force-enhanced reflexes kept him one step ahead. He raised a hand, and a wave of telekinetic energy blasted Obito back, forcing him to materialize.

"You can't win," Obito snarled. "The Infinite Tsukuyomi is inevitable."

Galen's eyes glowed faintly. "Your dream is a lie, Obito. It's not peace—it's control."

Obito laughed, bitter and hollow. "You sound like Rin."

The name hit Galen like a shockwave. He saw it in the Force—Obito's pain, his loss, the moment Rin died. "You're not honoring her," Galen said softly. "You're burying her memory in blood."

Obito froze, his Sharingan flickering. For a moment, the mask seemed to crack—not physically, but emotionally.

But Zetsu's voice hissed from the shadows. "Focus, Tobi! He's manipulating you!"

Obito's resolve hardened. He raised his hand, and the air warped as he summoned a massive shuriken from Kamui's dimension. Galen deflected it with a Force push, but the distraction allowed Obito to close the distance, his fist connecting with Galen's chest.

Galen skidded back, pain flaring, but he didn't falter. He reached out with the Force, not to attack, but to see. Obito's mind was a storm of grief and rage, but beneath it, a flicker of doubt.

"I can help you," Galen said, dodging another strike. "You don't have to be this."

Obito's voice was venomous. "You know nothing!"

But Galen pressed on, his words as sharp as his blade. "Rin wouldn't want this. She'd want you to live, not destroy."

Obito hesitated—just a fraction of a second. It was enough.

Galen swept his hand, and a pulse of Force energy slammed Obito into a tree, pinning him. The lightsaber hummed at Obito's throat. "Yield."

Obito glared, but before he could respond, Zetsu's tendrils shot from the ground, wrapping around Galen's legs. Kisame roared, breaking free from Kakashi and charging at Galen.

Kaguya moved.

She didn't fight with chakra, but with the Force—a raw, unrefined version Galen had begun to teach her. She raised her hands, and the tendrils froze mid-air, trembling as if caught in an invisible grip. "Enough," she said, her voice carrying an echo of her former power.

Zetsu hissed. "Traitor!"

Kaguya's eyes narrowed. "You are the traitor, Black Zetsu. You serve no one but your own ambition."

With a flick of her wrist, she sent Zetsu's form crashing into the ground, shattering his clones. Kisame paused, glancing at Obito, who was still pinned.

Obito's voice was low. "This isn't over."

He vanished into Kamui, taking Kisame and Zetsu with him. The clearing fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of the Konoha ninja.

Naruto ran to Galen. "You okay, man?"

Galen deactivated his lightsaber, wincing as he touched his chest. "I'll live. But they'll be back."

Kaguya approached, her expression unreadable. "Obito is wounded—not physically, but in his soul. You reached him."

Galen nodded. "He's not lost yet. But we need to be ready for what's coming."

Location: Konoha – Hokage's Office – Evening

Tsunade slammed her fist on the desk, cracking it. "They attacked us in broad daylight! In our own village!"

Jiraiya frowned, his usual humor absent. "They're getting bold. That means they're close to their goal."

Galen stood before the desk, Kaguya at his side. "They want the Nine-Tails, but they're also afraid—of us. Of what we're building here."

Kakashi leaned against the wall. "You shook Obito. I saw it. That's not something I've ever seen before."

Naruto clenched his fists. "So what's the plan? We can't just wait for them to come back!"

Galen turned to Kaguya. "You said the Ōtsutsuki have weaknesses. What are they?"

Kaguya's voice was steady. "Their power comes from unity—pairs or clans working together. Alone, they are vulnerable. Obito and Zetsu rely on each other. Separate them, and their plan falters."

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a strategy. Divide and conquer."

Tsunade nodded. "Then we need to draw them out. Set a trap."

Galen's eyes gleamed. "I have an idea. But it'll require Naruto… and Sasuke."

Naruto blinked. "Sasuke? He's still out there, doing… whatever he's doing."

Galen smiled faintly. "I know where he is. The Force will guide me to him."

Location: A Remote Forest – Midnight

The moon hung low, casting silver light through the trees. Sasuke Uchiha sat on a fallen log, his sword resting across his knees. His Sharingan glowed faintly, scanning the darkness. He was alone, but not at peace—his mind churned with Galen's words, with the truth about Itachi, with the vision of a burning world.

A twig snapped.

Sasuke stood, blade drawn. "Show yourself."

Galen stepped from the shadows, his cloak blending with the night. "It's just me."

Sasuke's grip tightened. "What do you want?"

"To talk," Galen said, stopping a few feet away. "The Akatsuki are moving. They're targeting Naruto. And they'll come for you too."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "I don't need your protection."

"I know," Galen said. "But the world needs you. I showed you the future—Madara, Kaguya, the war. You can't stop it alone."

Sasuke looked away, his jaw tight. "Why should I trust you? Or Konoha? They lied to me. They used Itachi."

"They did," Galen admitted. "But they're changing. Tsunade's fighting to clean up the darkness. Naruto's fighting for a better future. And I'm fighting for balance. You can be part of that… or you can keep running."

Sasuke's voice was low. "What if I can't forgive them?"

"You don't have to," Galen said. "Just fight with them. For now."

Silence stretched between them. Then Sasuke sheathed his sword. "What's your plan?"

Galen's lips curved slightly. "We're going to bait a trap. And you're the key."

Location: Konoha – Hokage Monument – Dawn

The village was quiet, the first light of a new day creeping over the horizon. Galen stood atop the monument, Naruto and Sasuke at his side. Kaguya, Tsunade, and the others waited below, ready to spring the trap.

Naruto glanced at Sasuke. "You sure about this, Teme?"

Sasuke's expression was unreadable. "Don't call me that."

Galen raised a hand, the Force humming around him. "They're coming. I can feel it."

Far in the distance, a ripple of energy tore through the sky. Obito's Kamui portal opened, and the Akatsuki emerged, their silhouettes dark against the rising sun.

Galen ignited his lightsaber, its blue glow a beacon. "Let's end this."

Sasuke's Sharingan flared. Naruto's chakra surged, a faint golden glow enveloping him. Kaguya's hands glowed with the Force, her resolve unshakable.

The battle for the shinobi world had begun.