Chapter 31
Fugaku was still seeking a coup d'etat, hoping to use the power of the Nine-Tails to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and other Konoha leaders. Hence, when Hiruzen deliberately provoked the Nine-Tails, his plan succeeded easily.
The Nine-Tails was lured from the heart of Konoha to the outskirts.
After all, neither Fugaku nor Hiruzen wanted Konoha to be utterly destroyed. Fugaku, confident in his victory, was already imagining himself as the Fifth Hokage, while Hiruzen, as Hokage, felt a duty to protect the villagers.
Both wanted to avoid leaving Konoha in an irreparable state due to their conflict.
Despite the Nine-Tails’ enormous size and the destruction its roars caused, thanks to Fugaku's control, it was relatively restrained in its actions against anything other than Hiruzen, Danzo, and their forces.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bomb!"
One of the Nine-Tails’ massive tails blocked the blazing fireball. The beast swiped at Hiruzen with its claws, but he leaped away just in time.
The claws embedded into the ground, causing the forest to crack and crumble.
Hiruzen glanced back, gritting his teeth.