Ch-70 Tailed Beast Beam.

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Michikatsu emerged from the vase, his breath heavy and his thoughts racing. "Facing Roshi in his tailed beast form is an insurmountable challenge for me," he sighed. "One punch from him, and I'd be reduced to a pile of rubble. He may not know my full capabilities, but even with my rapid regeneration, I won't be able to keep up with the speed at which he dismantles my body."

As Michikatsu materialized from the vase, Roshi felt his presence and let out a thunderous roar, charging in his direction.

"I just have to hold him off for a few more minutes," Michikatsu muttered, determination burning in his eyes. "Then, I'll finally have the chance to escape."

With a swift, fluid motion, Michikatsu conjured a resplendent vase, his muscles straining with the effort, and hurled it in a different direction with all his might. The vase soared through the air, creating a mesmerizing arc.

Just as before, Roshi materialized in front of Michikatsu, sharp claws poised to tear him apart. Michikatsu vanished into thin air and reappeared in the exact spot where he had tossed the vase moments ago. This dance of deception continued, with Roshi in his tailed beast form frantically dashing back and forth in his attempts to kill Michikatsu.

Roshi reached his breaking point and began conjuring the signature move of a tailed beast, the fearsome 'Tailed Beast Ball.' He was acutely aware that using it would trigger Michikatsu's peculiar ability to vanish, rendering his efforts futile. With a deep breath, he swallowed the 'Tailed Beast Ball,' causing his stomach to balloon like an inflated balloon. He then unleashed a potent beam from his mouth, a destructive force aimed squarely at Michikatsu. Roshi opted for the beam of the 'Tailed Beast Ball' due to its incredible speed, surpassing the travel speed of the ball itself.

However, Michikatsu was no stranger to Roshi's tactics. He had foreseen this move the moment Roshi ingested the 'Tailed Beast Ball.' Without hesitation, as Roshi released the deadly beam, Michikatsu vanished from his position and reappeared beside the vase that had been present earlier.

Surviving this near-death experience, Michikatsu displayed no fear. Instead, a confident smile graced his face. His grin was well-founded, stemming from the realization that he had just assimilated the ability to create a 'Tailed Beast Ball.' This newfound power would serve as his trump card in future encounters, achieved through his extraordinary ability known as 'Divine Reflection.'

Michikatsu assessed the situation, confident that the time he had bought would be ample for Nawaki and the others to make their escape. With that in mind, he decided it was time for him to depart.

In a voice that resonated across the battlefield, Michikatsu declared, "It appears the moment has come for my exit. Perhaps fate will bring us face to face again on the battlefield."

Roshi, unable to articulate his frustration, vented his anger through a thunderous roar, a clear indication of his displeasure at Michikatsu's departure. He charged toward Michikatsu with unbridled fury, but as before, Michikatsu vanished well before Roshi could reach him. This time, there would be no return for Michikatsu; he had made his escape, leaving no trace in the vicinity of the battlefield.

Despite Roshi's persistent efforts to locate Michikatsu using his heightened sensory abilities, his rage only intensified as the fugitive remained elusive. He roared in frustration, knowing that there was little he could do to rectify the situation. Eventually, Roshi, who had assumed a second version of tailed beast mode, reverted to his human form.

After taking a few minutes to regain his composure, Roshi seethed with anger. "Damn it, I allowed him to slip through my fingers."

Roshi lay on the ground, riddled with self-doubt and frustration. "He must be mocking me," he lamented, his voice heavy with regret. "Just like before, I couldn't keep my word and prevent his escape. My declaration to stop him at any cost has become nothing but empty words."

At that very moment, a voice echoed from within him, and the speaker was none other than Son Goku. "I told you, if you had granted me control, you would have been even more formidable, and victory would have been within your grasp."

Roshi's response was laced with a hint of skepticism. "Hmph! I understand that, but I also know that if I had yielded control to you, you might have exploited the situation. I trust you, but I can't trust blindly."

Son Goku persisted, his tone critical. "Nevertheless, you failed to apprehend a young opponent who was significantly weaker than you."

Annoyance flickered in Roshi's eyes as he replied, "I don't need you to remind me of that."

"Even though Michikatsu managed to escape, we've gathered valuable information about him," Roshi reflected, his expression turning solemn. "His threat level must be elevated further because if he continues to grow in power, I can't even fathom how mighty Konoha might become."

With a sense of gravity, Roshi rose from his prone position, though not without difficulty. The adverse effects of entering tailed beast mode, especially the second version, took their toll on his body. Nevertheless, he departed from the scene, determined to address the looming challenges ahead.

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