Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

The struggle of the Four-Tails was intense, with chakra wildly overflowing within the barrier. Terrifying lava constantly erupted from Son Gokū's body, and the corrosion of the lava destroyed part of the seal runes restraining it on the ground. With some freedom regained, Son Gokū turned its head, aimed at Raiden, and began condensing a Tailed Beast Bomb in its mouth.

"Humph!"

Raiden, who was unsealing the "rice cooker" container, noticed Son Gokū rapidly gathering chakra. Without hesitation, he manipulated a chakra chain from the Kongō Fūsa that restrained Son Gokū. Just as Son Gokū was about to unleash the Tailed Beast Bomb, the chain struck its cheek, diverting the attack. The bomb veered off course, colliding with the barrier instead. A massive explosion ensued, sending shockwaves and yellow sand flying in all directions.

The explosion and the ensuing sandstorm enveloped the barrier. Namikaze Minato, stationed outside the barrier, felt the chakra he was injecting into it deplete significantly. Though the red barrier withstood the explosion without breaking, its color faded noticeably.

Outside the Four Crimson Ray Formation, a figure emerged from the sand near Raiden's shadow clone maintaining the barrier. As the figure drew closer, the clone sensed its presence and turned abruptly.

"Who's there?" Raiden's shadow clone demanded sharply. In an instant, a flytrap-like figure lunged forward, stabbing the clone with a sharp wooden spike.

The shadow clone vanished upon being fatally struck, and the Four Crimson Ray Formation disintegrated, its crimson walls fading away.

"The barrier is down!"

"It's broken!!!"

A nearby Konoha ninja, upon seeing the formation collapse, initially froze in disbelief before crying out in alarm. Namikaze Minato's expression tightened, and he immediately rushed toward the barrier.

"What's going on? Did something happen to Raiden's shadow clones?"

Minato knew three of the barrier's focal points were managed by Raiden's clones. He feared that Raiden, inside the barrier, might have encountered trouble battling the ferocious Jinchūriki of Son Gokū.

The knowledge of the shadow clone returned to Raiden upon its destruction. He immediately recognized the attacker's figure—a grotesque, unforgettable shape ingrained in his memory even after all these years.

"Zetsu?!"

"Damn it! Of all times, he chooses now?! Has our information been leaked?"

Raiden glanced at the now-open "rice cooker" container, then at the restrained Son Gokū. He hesitated. Sealing a tailed beast would consume immense chakra, but Raiden suspected Zetsu wasn't acting alone. If Uchiha Madara was nearby, conserving chakra was paramount for survival.

"Raiden, are you okay?"

Namikaze Minato suddenly appeared beside Raiden, concern etched on his face. He reached out to check Raiden's condition.

"!"

A cold gleam flashed as Raiden swung the Totsuka Blade upward, aiming at Minato. Taken by surprise, Minato had no time to react, and the blade struck him. However, instead of blood, a white substance spilled as the figure collapsed to the ground, revealing a clone.

"White Zetsu…" Raiden muttered, glaring at the fallen impostor.

"How did you figure it out?" A voice emerged as a black-and-white figure appeared from the ground nearby. The white half sneered, "I replicated Minato's chakra perfectly. How did you know?"

Raiden responded with a swift arrow of lightning. The crackling bolt struck the ground, leaving a smoldering crater—but no corpse. A shadow darted toward Raiden, materializing into a dark figure that hissed:

"You're out of time! Four-Tails isn't sealed yet. The one who masters the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques must die!"

The dark figure merged into Raiden's shadow, attempting to envelop him. Reacting quickly, Raiden unleashed a surge of purple lightning, coating his body in an electrified armor.

"Snap!"

The shadow latched onto Raiden, and he felt his chakra rapidly draining.

"Damn it, this thing is tricky!" Raiden cursed internally. With a swift slash of the Totsuka Blade, the shadow detached and retreated, rejoining its white counterpart.

"Hoo!" A kunai pierced the ground near Raiden, followed by Namikaze Minato's sudden arrival. "Raiden, are you okay?" he asked with genuine concern.

Raiden glared at Minato. "If it weren't for your Flying Thunder God, I might've attacked you too. That impostor used the exact same words you just did."

Raiden had recognized the fake Minato earlier by its lack of the distinct aura of Mount Myōboku, which Minato carried as a Toad Sage. This psychic connection couldn't be replicated, confirming the impostor's identity.

"Who are these guys?" Minato asked, his gaze fixed on the strange black-and-white entity.

"No idea," Raiden replied, "but their intent is clear." He turned to Minato. "I'll leave this one to you. I have to seal the Four-Tails."

Minato nodded as Raiden rushed toward Son Gokū with the "rice cooker" in hand. Zetsū's voice rang out: "Not so fast!" The black half dove underground toward Raiden while the white half split into two. One mimicked Raiden's appearance, complete with chakra-infused lightning armor.

Minato's eyes widened in disbelief. "What kind of jutsu can perfectly replicate someone like that?"

(End of this chapter)