Chp-93: All Fear Comes From Insufficient Firepower

"Orochimaru-sama, the Hidden Sand Village has deployed their tailed beast!"

"The flank! Shukaku has breached the flank..."

A panicked sensor ninja reported the intelligence.

"I know."

Orochimaru's voice was as cold as ice. His gaze was fixed on the gigantic figure that had suddenly appeared on the battlefield. Even from this distance, the enormous body of the tailed beast was clearly visible.

"This is troublesome. I didn't expect them to use a tailed beast... the Hidden Sand Village..."

Orochimaru's expression grew grim. Should he summon Manda? With Manda's power, he might barely manage to hold back Shukaku. However, that miserly snake would surely demand an exorbitant price, perhaps even asking for 500 live human sacrifices, including Konoha's own ninjas as food. What a hassle...

Orochimaru hesitated.

...

Shukaku cackled madly, venting the rage accumulated from years of imprisonment. It opened its mouth, spewing a terrifying wind-release chakra that engulfed everything in its path like a hurricane.

"Use Fire Release to counter it!"

On Konoha's side, ninjas were quickly organizing to repel Shukaku's attack.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

...

A variety of Fire Release ninjutsu were unleashed from Konoha's ninjas, merging into a massive tide of flames that surged towards the hurricane-like wind. Fire counters wind, but against the sheer volume and chakra of a tailed beast, the fire was repeatedly shattered.

"Damn it!"

The leading Jonin's face darkened. Suddenly, he saw a small, slender figure with long black hair dart forward. Before he could stop her, a cold voice rang out.

"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

A torrent of terrifying flames erupted from her mouth, transforming into a massive wave of fire that clashed with the hurricane. 

"Such a powerful Fire Release..."

The Jonin's eyelid twitched. Was this Uchiha ninja really just a teenager? How terrifying...

Behind him, many Konoha ninjas followed suit, leaping forward and quickly forming hand seals to unleash another wave of Fire Release jutsu. Shukaku's attack was finally blocked. The flames seared its body like the bites of ants.

"Curse you!"

Shukaku screeched angrily, seemingly infuriated that mere ants had blocked its attack.

As Uchiha Rin attempted another Majestic Destroyer Flame, the massive chakra expenditure made her dizzy, causing her to stumble slightly. A strong, dependable presence caught her from behind.

"You've done well, Rin. Leave the rest to me."

Uchiha Rin turned around to see a pair of pure white eyes smiling at her.

"Satoru..."

"Is it because of your training with the clan? I didn't know your Fire Release was this powerful."

"There's a lot you don't know!"

Uchiha Rin pouted, turning her head away proudly.

Shukaku was enraged.

"Filthy humans, die!"

Its enormous yellow tail came crashing down like a swatting fly, sending a group of Konoha ninjas flying.

"Hurry! Use Earth Release to hinder its movements."

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart!"

Earthen walls rose from the ground, only to be shattered under Shukaku's foot. Shukaku's shrill screams seemed to taunt its opponents.

"Can we really stand against a calamity-level tailed beast?"

"It's too strong. We're no match for it!"

Fear and helplessness spread among the Konoha ninjas. Just then, a cold voice echoed.

"All fear comes from insufficient firepower!"

They turned in shock, seeing a cloud of white smoke appear around Satoru, revealing a swarm of shadow clones.

"Shadow Clones? But that's useless! A tailed beast isn't something numbers can counter."

As the white smoke cleared, the clones weren't the only ones appearing. Alongside them were rows of pitch-black metal cannons! Some had barrels so large they made the surrounding Konoha ninjas' eyes twitch in disbelief.

"What are those things?"

"Boss, are we going to hit that thing?"

"Yes, the one-tailed beast isn't much. Consider it practice."

"Roger!"

The leading clone shouted.

"Second company commander! Where's your electromagnetic railgun?!"

"Here!"

A clone shouted back, pushing a massive metal cannon and aiming it at the bewildered Shukaku.

"Ready..."

The dark barrel began to flicker with blue lightning, a bright light emanating from its depths. Unlike the electromagnetic cannons used against the Rock ninjas, this was version 2.0, a true electromagnetic railgun. The barrel was twice as large, and the projectile's propulsion method had been upgraded, matching the power of a carrier-class railgun from Satoru's previous world.

Shukaku, still confused, wore a childlike expression of curiosity. What was this thing?

The leading clone suddenly yelled.

"Fire!"

...

Boom!

With a thunderous sound, a massive blue beam shot across the battlefield, covering hundreds of meters in an instant, striking Shukaku's chest.

Screech!

The elongated metal projectile demonstrated terrifying tearing and penetrating power, instantly ripping open Shukaku's chest and leaving a massive gash.

"Ahhhh..."

Shukaku screamed in pain, its body collapsing from the powerful impact, causing the ground to shake. Watching this scene, the surrounding Konoha ninjas were momentarily stunned, even Uchiha Rin gaping in shock.

"Indeed, compared to chakra-based jutsu, physical projectiles are more satisfying when fighting a tailed beast!"

Satoru couldn't help but laugh. It's nice to meet you, Shukaku. I hope you enjoy it—it's pure physical!

"Fire!"

"Fire!"

The leading clone continued to shout, unleashing countless blue beams from the cannons, raining down on Shukaku.

"Ahhhh... humans!"

Shukaku tried to fight back, but the largest cannons seemed to anticipate its movements. Whenever it tried to rise, another shot would hit its knees, sending it crashing back down.

"Satoru... really..."

Uchiha Rin thought of her earlier worries and found them laughable.

"Are tailed beasts really this weak?"

"That can't be right! It was so fierce when it attacked me!"

The surrounding Konoha ninjas swallowed hard, staring blankly at the scene. The unscientific display before them felt surreal. Shukaku's condition was pitiful. Its chest was still healing, only to be torn apart again by the continuous bombardment.

Some clones were particularly malicious, targeting between its legs. While tailed beasts couldn't die, they could certainly feel humiliation. Enraged, Shukaku decided to lie flat. If getting up meant getting hit, it might as well stay down.

Lying on its side, it aimed its head at Satoru, black and purple chakra swirling, forming a black sphere with a high-pitched scream. Tailed Beast Bombs were a skill all tailed beasts possessed. Shukaku rarely used them, but Satoru had pushed it too far. What Shukaku didn't notice was that the largest cannon was also flickering with blue light.

Whoosh!

A massive blue beam shot out, accurately piercing Shukaku's mouth. Shukaku felt its mouth stuffed with something, and the Tailed Beast Bomb exploded inside.

When the smoke cleared, the Konoha ninjas saw Shukaku's headless body. As a chakra entity, tailed beasts couldn't die, but after such a brutal onslaught, Shukaku could no longer maintain its full form. Its headless body shrank.

From afar, Rasa watched, his eyelids twitching. What on earth? Even Shukaku couldn't withstand this? I'm a tailed beast, damn it! I'm such a huge-tailed beast! This was like a prime minister getting shot unexpectedly on the street. Is this for real? Is this for real?

No, those flickering blue lights... they seemed familiar. Weren't they...

Rasa's pupils shrank, feeling his heart clench. Controlling his gold dust, he flew upwards, seeing a group of Hyuga Satoru clones operating metal cannons.

Painful memories flooded his mind, his eyes bloodshot.

"So, it's you!"