"What was that sound?"
Tsuchidai was already on edge. Was he worried about Uchiha Itsuki?
Of course!
According to the intel, Uchiha Itsuki was a madman, completely unpredictable.
Absolutely crazy!
Back in Konoha, to take the Uchiha clan and leave, he blew up several small shinobi clans and even blasted the Hokage Rock, forcing Konoha to bow down.
It's said that nowadays, the Third Hokage often stands in front of the Hokage Rock, staring blankly at where his image used to be.
Many people feel sorry for him.
Facing an opponent like that, how could Tsuchidai not be nervous?
That's why!
Tsuchidai stationed sensory ninja to check every few minutes.
He was terrified!
Terrified of Itsuki's explosive tags!
If Itsuki sneaked a hundred thousand tags into their ranks, the battle would be over before it even started.
Who knows where he got so many from.
But considering Uchiha Itsuki had spent ten years preparing to defect, it wasn't that hard to accept.
In ten years, hidden in the shadows, silently collecting explosive tags—with his abilities, he must've amassed a huge amount!
"Tsuchidai, be careful!"
Killer Bee glanced to the side, casually shaking to the rhythm of his rap. "I can't help you guys anymore, you're on your own!"
"Killer Bee, what do you mean..."
Tsuchidai didn't need more explanation; he understood completely.
"Meow!"
A sharp cat's cry pierced the air.
The fully transformed Two-Tails appeared in everyone's sight, staring coldly at Killer Bee.
Its massive form, blazing with flames, was a clear sign of danger.
"Yo yo yo, Yugito! Long time no see! How you doin'?"
Killer Bee remained relaxed, continuing his rap.
In the past, fighting the Two-Tails was too easy for him.
Even if she had grown stronger, the gap between the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails was still enormous.
This was one of the reasons why the Raikage looked down on the Two-Tails.
"Yugito? Heh, she's still asleep! After I beat you down, I'll wake her up so you can have a chat."
The Two-Tails grinned, speaking clearly.
Killer Bee's rap halted.
His eyes widened.
Was a tailed beast just speaking to him?
How was that possible?
Tailed beasts had intelligence, but they generally disliked communicating with humans.
Only the Eight-Tails, after Killer Bee became a perfect jinchuriki and resolved their inner conflicts, began to talk to humans.
So how did the Two-Tails...
"How could this be?" Killer Bee's voice grew somber. "What happened to Yugito?"
"I told you, she's sleeping!"
The Two-Tails bared sharp fangs, looking somewhat proud.
She revealed her identity under Itsuki's orders.
According to Itsuki, the Two-Tails was part of the Fire Shadow Village. Fighting for her home, she should declare her name.
The Two-Tails didn't quite understand why Itsuki said that.
But!
She had to admit, she was a little touched.
Did she finally have a home too?
In fact, she already knew Itsuki had plans to build her a residence around his home.
When she first heard about it, she was stunned.
Building a house for a tailed beast?
Crazy Uchiha!
But she couldn't deny, this gesture made her feel a slight sense of belonging to Fire Shadow Village.
No!
To be precise, the Two-Tails felt a bit of connection to Uchiha Itsuki.
Even the Eight-Tails, in truth, only respected one person.
The Eight-Tails respected Killer Bee!
The Two-Tails respected not Yugito, but Itsuki!
The Eight-Tails' voice echoed in Killer Bee's mind.
"Bee, that's right. The one standing before you isn't a jinchuriki; it's the Two-Tails herself, in control of the body!"
"What about Yugito..."
"This was likely her decision," the Eight-Tails said solemnly. "Though it's unclear why, it seems Yugito and the Two-Tails have reached some sort of agreement. Yugito is asleep, and the Two-Tails is in control."
Killer Bee was stunned. "This... state..."
The Eight-Tails fell silent.
He had never seen this before, but he knew one thing: a fierce battle was imminent.
The Two-Tails had fully unleashed her power, and Yugito was no longer restraining her.
This was the Two-Tails at full strength!
"Meow!"
With a shrill cry, the Two-Tails lunged at the Eight-Tails.
"Let's go, Hachibi!"
"Got it!"
The Eight-Tails immediately transformed into his tailed beast form.
"Whoosh!"
The Two-Tails took a deep breath and exhaled a massive blue fireball.
"Boom!"
The Eight-Tails smashed it with a single punch, then swung its tails towards the Two-Tails.
The Two-Tails dodged nimbly, circling around the Eight-Tails.
A tailed beast bomb was forming in her mouth.
"This is bad..."
The Eight-Tails' heart sank.
Just as he suspected, the opponent was at full strength.
Normally, when tailed beasts fought, they would clash head-on.
They were often controlled, limited to simple combat methods.
This made many tailed beasts abandon their natural advantages.
Like the Two-Tails.
This demon cat, though massive, was most skilled in speed.
Now, the Two-Tails had fully embraced her nature, facing off against the Eight-Tails in her strongest form.
By contrast, the Eight-Tails had lost his aquatic advantage on land.
He could still fight, but his combat ability was reduced.
"Tailed Beast Bomb!"
The Two-Tails unleashed the tailed beast bomb from her mouth.
The purple-black bomb slammed into the Eight-Tails.
"Roar!"
The Eight-Tails staggered from the impact, nearly falling.
He roared in anger, firing a tailed beast bomb back at the Two-Tails.
Whoosh!
The Two-Tails leaped high into the air, dodging the attack and continuing her hit-and-run tactics.
She planned to use her agility to wear him down!
"Damn it, move in!"
Tsuchidai, watching this, was both shocked and enraged.
The Eight-Tails was losing ground to the Two-Tails?
This was unbelievable!
But there was another reason.
They were surrounded by Kumo shinobi, and the Eight-Tails couldn't unleash his full power.
Not to mention, if the Eight-Tails went wild here, how many Kumo shinobi would survive?
"Clank!"
Chains shot out towards the Two-Tails, aiming to bind her for just a moment—enough to give the Eight-Tails a chance to strike.
"Haha! With a bang, I shine bright as I arrive!"
A wild laugh rang out.
Uchiha's wild nin , Itsuki, had arrived!
He was already in his Mangekyō Sharingan state, and Susano'o appeared.
The giant kept charging forward!
The ground trembled beneath his feet!
"Roar!"
A deep roar echoed through the air.
The Kumo shinobi trembled in fear.
So powerful!
Too powerful!
Looking at the massive figure that rivaled a tailed beast, the overwhelming aura, the violent chakra...
Some of the Kumo shinobi were so scared that they dropped their weapons.
If that thing charged through, how many Kumo shinobi would survive?
The shinobi army would be torn apart.
"Snap!"
Suddenly!
The charging Susano'o came to a halt.
Three tentacles had wrapped around it.
"Hmm?" Itsuki blinked, turning to look.
It was the Eight-Tails!
He had intercepted Itsuki!
Itsuki chuckled, "Yo, Killer Bee, long time no see!"
Killer Bee smiled back, just about to greet Itsuki. "Itsuki, Ki, Ki, Ki..."
To the shock of the Kumo shinobi, the massive Susano'o dragged the tailed-beastified Killer Bee and started running again.
A deep trench was carved into the ground where Killer Bee was being dragged.
And Killer Bee's voice could still be heard chanting, "Ki, Ki, Ki..."
(End of Chapter)