Chapter 276

"What is that?"

"A lion?"

"Is that the focus?! That lion is actually going toe-to-toe with Yugito!"

"Everyone, get back!"

As Arcanine and Yugito in her half-Tailed Beast form appeared on the battlefield, both the Konoha and Cloud shinobi withdrew rapidly, leaving a massive open space in the middle of the battlefield.

The Konoha shinobi were intimidated by Yugito's half-Tailed Beast transformation, while the Cloud shinobi were equally shocked by the summoned lion that could fight Yugito on equal ground.

"...?"

Arcanine looked at the suddenly retreating shinobi from both sides, feeling a bit lost.

According to the plan, he should have charged into the battlefield and then disappeared amidst the chaos. But with so many shinobi watching, escaping wasn't going to be easy.

"Is that an Arcanine?"

"Do we have Arcanine in our village?"

"You idiot, doesn't Naruto's grandpa have an Arcanine?"

"So, does that mean this Arcanine is on our side?"

"What are you talking about? Do you see any other village with Pokémon?"

The Konoha shinobi felt their morale surge as they looked at the majestic Arcanine on the battlefield.

"Everyone, get ready! When the time is right, strike against the Cloud."

Nara Suzaku was already forming hand seals, keeping his eyes glued to Arcanine.

He didn't know why Arcanine was here, but it was a major opportunity. They couldn't handle the fully-transformed Two-Tails alone, and if it were just the Two-Tails on the battlefield, he would have already ordered a retreat. However, with a Pokémon that seemed capable of challenging a Tailed Beast, there was still hope.

"These Cloud shinobi… They actually released a Tailed Beast!"

Suzaku frowned, watching Yugito's chakra swell and expand, indicating she was about to fully release the Tailed Beast.

According to the tacit rules between the Five Great Nations, a Jinchuriki could participate in battles, but unleashing the full form of a Tailed Beast was considered a breach of battlefield conduct.

This could force the opposing village to release their Tailed Beast too, causing massive destruction.

The biggest issue was that once a Tailed Beast was out, it might not go back in.

'Yugito, let me out!'

"Mm."

Yugito was well aware of battlefield conduct, but Cloud was equally aware of Konoha's current situation.

According to the Fourth Raikage's analysis, Konoha would be unable to re-seal the Nine-Tails even if they released it, so unless they faced imminent defeat, they wouldn't release the most dangerous Tailed Beast.

Even if the Nine-Tails came out, wouldn't Two-Tails and Eight-Tails be able to handle it?

With this assurance, Yugito didn't hesitate. Cloud believed they held the upper hand in Tailed Beast power.

Before long, the massive form of Matatabi, the Two-Tails, appeared on the battlefield.

The enormous, blue-flame-covered cat, standing at 51 meters tall, wasn't unusual in the world of the seas, but in the shinobi world, it was incredibly intimidating.

"Roar!"

Despite being a cat, Matatabi's cry resembled that of a tiger or a leopard.

"Woof!"

Arcanine, unfazed, howled in return. After all, he came from the world of the seas. A 51-meter cat was nothing compared to the hundred-meter-long Sea Kings he'd defeated with his flames.

He let out a long howl, looking like a lion but sounding like a wolf.

"Little pup, you're in big trouble!"

Through Yugito's perspective, Matatabi felt humiliated by Arcanine. Her hostility toward him intensified as she ignored Yugito's command to attack the Konoha shinobi.

Matatabi wasn't like the Eight-Tails, who had a good relationship with his Jinchuriki. She didn't feel obliged to listen to Yugito. She'd help her if she felt like it; if not, she'd do as she pleased.

This was also why Yugito, despite her power, was not a "perfect Jinchuriki."

"Grr…"

'Try me.'

Arcanine bared his teeth, exuding an intense fierceness.

He was no longer the troublemaking pup causing chaos in the daycare. He had slain countless pirates on the open sea.

He presented a very different demeanor to enemies and allies.

"Such nerve!"

Matatabi grew enraged.

Opening her jaws, she launched a massive fireball at Arcanine.

If Yugito had unleashed it, Arcanine could have taken it head-on, but he dared not take Matatabi's attack lightly.

If we were to categorize their combat abilities, Yugito, half-Tailed Beast Yugito, and Matatabi would rank at Levels 40, 50, and 60, respectively.

Arcanine's level, meanwhile, was 55, boosted by his rigorous training and physical condition.

His strong physique allowed him to reach this level and accumulate more fire-type energy, but his mastery of the two-colored Haki was a skill and didn't affect his level.

Thus, even at the same level, Arcanine's combat ability far surpassed typical Arcanine from the Pokémon world.

On the battlefield, he was not far off in power from the Tailed Beast Matatabi.

"Roar!"

'Flamethrower!'

Arcanine unleashed a blazing column of fire from his mouth.

The pillar of flame clashed with Matatabi's fireball, ultimately canceling each other out.

"Incredible!"

"Yeah!"

"Our Konoha is the strongest!"

"No wonder Lord Third said to hold on. Once our village's Pokémon grow strong enough, we'll sweep the entire ninja world. What's a Tailed Beast compared to that?"

"From now on, Arcanine deserves respect; call him the 'Crimson Lion!'"

Konoha shinobi were thrilled by the display.

Though Arcanine hadn't overpowered Matatabi, his opponent was one of the nine Tailed Beasts, each a major military asset for the Five Great Nations.

And what was Arcanine? A Pokémon.

Konoha had thousands of Pokémon with similar potential! How could that not inspire excitement?

"Stop standing around! Now's our chance; go!"

The Nara clan kept calm even in the heat of battle. With Shikamaru's command, the Konoha shinobi snapped back to attention, grabbing their weapons and charging at the Cloud shinobi.

The Cloud shinobi were still stunned by what they had witnessed.

Their morale had taken a hit.

One of the Tailed Beast's attacks had been intercepted by an unknown summoned beast?

"Don't just stand there, they're coming!"

Yugito's partner, C, yelled, snapping the Cloud shinobi back to reality.

Now wasn't the time for idle thoughts; the battle resumed.

Around Arcanine and Matatabi, shinobi gathered again.

Whenever a Cloud shinobi attempted to ambush Arcanine, they were intercepted by Konoha shinobi, who now saw Arcanine as a strategic anchor.

"Don't get cocky!!!"

Matatabi opened her mouth again.

But this time, it wasn't a mere fireball; she was about to release a Tailed Beast Bomb, crafted from yin-yang chakra.

A massive, blue-black chakra sphere appeared, filling the battlefield with oppressive energy.

Everyone couldn't help but glance in that direction.

'Great Fireball.'

Without hesitation, Arcanine unleashed his strongest technique.

A fireball formed in his mouth, morphing into a fiery 大-shaped explosion aimed at the Tailed Beast Bomb.

Boom!

The great fireball exploded on contact with the Tailed Beast Bomb, generating a powerful shockwave that injured numerous shinobi nearby.

However, the Tailed Beast Bomb didn't disappear; it only shrank a bit, remaining at about five to six meters in diameter and still holding immense power.

In terms of energy, Arcanine couldn't fully match the Two-Tails.

'Flare Blitz.'

Seeing the Tailed Beast Bomb heading his way, Arcanine swiftly dodged to the side.

Flames wrapped around him, boosting his speed as if he'd entered a "Fire Style Chakra Mode."

The Tailed Beast Bomb hit the ground, causing a massive explosion that claimed the lives of many shinobi from both villages.

Matatabi didn't care who was caught in her attacks; as long as they were human, she didn't value their lives.

Arcanine had no intention of leaving the battlefield.

He sensed that Matatabi's focus remained solely on him. If he fled, Naruto might be exposed.

He darted under Matatabi, using her massive size and slight sluggishness to get behind her.

'Crunch!'

Dark-type energy enveloped his fangs as he bit down on Matatabi.

"Meow!"

Matatabi finally let out a true cat's cry, leaping high into the air.

Boom.

When she landed, the entire battlefield trembled.

At this point, Arcanine had positioned himself on her back, clinging on despite her furious attempts to shake him off.

'Heavy Slam!'

Arcanine raised his paw high, earth-element energy covering his paw pad as he stomped down on Matatabi, adding Armament Haki for extra force.

Thud!

A deep, resonant impact echoed as Matatabi staggered, nearly collapsing.

(End of Chapter)

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