Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe

In close battles where skill levels are nearly equal, strategy can indeed turn the tide. However, if there is a vast disparity in strength between opponents, no amount of strategy can compensate. For instance, in The Legend of Qin, Han Fei is known for his brilliant schemes, but even he couldn't prevent the fall of his nation when faced with the overwhelming might of the Qin Empire.

A similar scenario unfolds in the original Fourth Great Ninja War, where despite the vast numbers of the Allied Shinobi Forces, they still couldn't prevail against Madara and Obito. Had it not been for the Sage of the Six Paths bestowing power upon Sasuke and Naruto, the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan might have succeeded.

Now, Shikaku Nara and his team are similarly stymied by the power of the Akatsuki, unable to devise a strategy to overcome them. This stalemate extends across battles in Iwagakure, Konohagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure.

"Jiakaku Snap!" After Madara blasted the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki Rōshi away, Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, transformed into a massive, white Five-Tails beast. Chakra surged through his limbs, causing an explosion in the water beneath him. Shrouded in steam, he leaped toward Madara's Susanoo with immense speed.

The Five-Tails Jinchuriki resembles a unicorn, although instead of a single horn, it has five, just like its tails. Its unique ability is Vapor Style, similar to Mei Terumi's, using steam to amplify its power. Mei Terumi merely employs steam's high temperature to burn enemies, but Han's mastery allows him to strengthen his body and even manifest an armor of steam, making him nearly impervious to close-range attacks.

Daniel Davis had previously acquired Vapor Style users through the resources of the Castle of Flames. However, those users were far weaker, mainly releasing bursts of steam without much combat skill, relying on simplistic jutsu exchanges and basic taijutsu clashes.

Boom.

The Five-Tails' horns struck Madara's Susanoo, generating a powerful shockwave. However, the blow didn't shake Susanoo's frame.

A moment later, the Five-Tails was sent flying back, repelled by Susanoo's counterstrike.

"Don't kill them; it's a hassle to revive the tailed beasts," said the Second Tsuchikage Mū from above, his voice carrying Daniel Davis's tone rather than his own.

The nine tailed beasts can revive even if killed, but the revival time is unpredictable. These creatures are seen as natural disasters for a reason; history is filled with records of humanity clashing with the tailed beasts, sometimes due to human provocation, other times by the beasts themselves.

The nine tailed beasts initially stayed away from human settlements because of the Sage of the Six Paths. However, Black Zetsu, the hidden manipulator, had long been stirring up enmity, spurring conflicts between humans and the tailed beasts.

Even without Black Zetsu's schemes, humanity would have inevitably sought to subdue these powerful creatures, desiring their fur, bones, or simply wanting to capture such rare beings, particularly under orders from nobles. Observing humanity's development, many species have been pushed away from their native habitats.

The Five Great Shinobi Villages refrained from expansion due to the shinobi wars, preserving their territories for years. But by the era of Boruto, with the Shinobi Alliance in place, these villages rapidly grew, with skyscrapers and expanding borders. At this rate, humanity might eventually clash with summoning beasts.

From an environmental standpoint, a world without development or conflict might even benefit nature. This theory aligns with some extreme environmental groups in the Marvel universe who argue against human expansion, similar to radical animal rights advocates.

"I know what to do; I don't need your reminder." Madara looked up, visibly displeased at Daniel's comment. In reality, he had already restrained himself. If he had used his full strength, the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki would likely be dead.

"Tailed Beast Bomb? Fine, let's play." Watching the Four-Tails and Five-Tails gathering massive Chakra spheres, Madara folded his arms and looked on with disdain, making no effort to interrupt them.

"I'll avenge you, Hotaru," shouted Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, in pain. He transformed into his beast form and began rampaging, not against the Akatsuki but against his comrades from Kirigakure, leaving the shinobi from his village stunned.

Kirigakure's misfortune was compounded by the mysterious disappearance of the Three-Tails and the defection of the Six-Tails' Jinchuriki. They wouldn't have even located Utakata without intelligence from Konoha, and neither village knew of the bond between Utakata and Hotaru.

Of the nine Jinchuriki, only Utakata outright defected. Others remained loyal to their villages, even those harboring resentment. Yugito Nii from Kumogakure and the Iwagakure Jinchuriki all continued to serve faithfully.

"Damn it, stay back!" shouted Mei Terumi as her shinobi fell under the Six-Tails' assault. The Six-Tails is a slug-like creature, attacking by spraying acid, much like a slug. Although its acid doesn't reach far, in combination with Utakata's bubble-based techniques, its offensive power is greatly enhanced. The synergy between them is exceptionally strong, unlike the compatibility between other Jinchuriki and their beasts.

In a similar pairing, Gaara and Shukaku might have coordinated well if not for their contrasting personalities. If Gaara had been a water-type shinobi, he would have clashed with Shukaku even more.

"Your Jinchuriki defected? That's a poor reflection on your leadership as Mizukage," said the Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hōzuki, looking helplessly at the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.

Since his revival, Gengetsu felt disheartened seeing how his village had declined from its once-great status, once famed for having the highest number of bloodline clans.

"Apologies, Second Lord Mizukage." Despite her frustration, Mei respectfully acknowledged him.

"Forget it. Lucky you've got me in check, or we'd be in serious trouble. Our elemental affinities clash terribly." Despite his irritation, Gengetsu refrained from further criticism. The circumstances of his controlled revival, forced to fight his own village, were deeply unsettling to him.

Gengetsu's abilities could wreak havoc, capable of leading shinobi to harm each other through his mirage techniques. In the original war, even when holding back, he took out many Allied Shinobi Forces members. This time, however, his skills were neutralized due to Mei's dual Kekkei Genkai. The steam-based detonation technique he'd attempted was promptly dispelled by her Vapor and Lava Styles. Even the giant clam he summoned was destroyed.

Reflecting on this unanticipated mismatch, Daniel regretted not sending Gengetsu against the Fourth Raikage. Unlike in animation, battles don't pause for opponents to recover, and once defeated, reanimated shinobi can be pinned down indefinitely if the opportunity is seized, allowing for sealing without recovery.

"Looks like making the village's own leaders fight against their shinobi backfired. Villains do tend to make fatal miscalculations," Daniel mused, realizing he had underestimated the tactical impact of such a misalignment.

The Second Mizukage's strengths lay in countering close-range opponents, such as the Fourth Raikage or even Tsunade, draining them with illusions.

"Shinra Tensei!"

On the Konoha front, Nagato watched as the fully transformed Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Yugito Nii, charged at him. With a powerful Shinra Tensei, he repelled her instantly. Although Yugito joined Konoha's forces against the Akatsuki, she stood no chance against Nagato in his prime.

Konoha, lacking the Nine-Tails, suffered far more. Nagato's main body fought alongside all Six Paths of Pain, reinforced by Konoha's reanimated veterans, and inflicted heavy casualties. The Second and Third Hokage proved especially deadly. Tsunade's attempts to stop her grandfather and sensei were futile; their speed outmatched hers, and she was distracted by Dan's presence among the reanimated.

"Get out of the way!" shouted Tobirama, driving his sword through a Konoha shinobi, his frustration evident but helpless to change his predicament. With mastery in Water Style and the Flying Thunder God Technique, Tobirama proved near-impossible to restrain, while the Third Hokage, despite being held back, was barely contained by Konoha's clans.

"I never knew Tobirama had such swordsmanship skill," remarked Daniel from atop the iron tower, watching the battle unfold across several screens. Turning to the bound Hashirama beside him, he added, "The brilliance of you two cast a long shadow over him."

Hashirama, Tobirama, and Madara were all famed figures of their time, but Tobirama's prowess was often overshadowed by his elder brother. Many believed he only became Hokage due to Hashirama's legacy. Similarly, Madara's brother's strength rivaled Hashirama's, yet he too remained largely unrecorded in history.

"Tobirama's genius in creating forbidden techniques like Flying Thunder God and Edo Tensei earned him eventual recognition, yet few know of his swordsmanship," Daniel mused, recalling Tobirama's Thunder Sword

 technique.

"But why?" Hashirama finally broke his silence, his gaze fixed on the scenes of Konoha's destruction.

"Why what?" Daniel replied, puzzled.

"You could unify the shinobi world with your power, Madara's, and Nagato's without launching a war. So why wage one?"

"We're in Amegakure. You've seen the devastation caused by three Great Shinobi Wars—countless civilians killed. Let me ask you, Hashirama: did you think it was only acceptable for Konoha to take lives, but not for others to strike back?"

Confronted by Daniel's question, Hashirama fell silent. Under Madara's influence, he had begun to realize that the peace he once fought for was a mirage. While he lived, peace endured, but in his absence, wars inevitably resumed.

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