Yugito Nii, Yuukimaru, Rōshi, Han, Utakata, Fū, and Gaara—all seven of them, just like Naruto earlier, entered varying degrees of partial Tailed Beast transformation.
By observing the battlefield, they quickly realized the effectiveness of this combat style: miniaturized Tailed Beast forms sacrificed some raw destructive power in exchange for endurance, agility, and sustainability.
While their individual attacks were weaker, they had numbers.
More people meant faster pressure, relentless harassment, and constant openings. Combined with the tremendous speed boost granted by their smaller forms, the battlefield quickly turned chaotic.
Even Uchiha Hikaru was forced to respond seriously enough to activate Susanoo's skeletal form.
Bone-white ribs manifested around him, blocking incoming attacks while allowing him to counterattack safely.
After all, this was only a test of their strength. There was no need to go all out.
If he truly became serious, once those Rinnegan eyes opened, things would spiral out of control far too quickly.
For now, the Mangekyō was enough.
A skeletal Susanoo was plenty to "play" with them.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, the clash between Killer Bee and A had reached a fever pitch.
Yet something felt strange.
From beginning to end, Killer Bee still hadn't drawn on the Eight-Tails' power.
He relied solely on his own chakra, swordsmanship, and raw physical strength to face the Fourth Raikage head-on.
As their blows collided, Bee's mind drifted—reliving fragments of the past.
...
Very good. From today on, we're brothers.
Eat more meat. Grow strong faster.
Okay, big brother!
Compared to that, this mission is simple—snatch the scroll from the enemy team.
Okay, big brother!
Compared to before, this Lightning Release: Double Lariat is still far weaker than I imagined… I can only rely on your strength right now.
One day, I'll surpass you, big brother. I'll stand as proudly as you do. That's my dream.
And when that day comes… it'll be my turn to teach you a lesson.
...
Until the day the Third Raikage fell in battle.
That single event forced A to shoulder the mantle of Fourth Raikage.
At the funeral, when Killer Bee arrived, he saw only the mourning hall.
He couldn't find his brother.
"Where's big brother? This way? Or that way?"
"He smashed through the wall over there," someone said. "Follow the trail. You'll find him."
"Alright."
Bee crawled through the broken wall, step by step. He was still young, his movements clumsy, his voice rapping as usual—trying to lighten the mood, trying to keep people smiling.
Until he reached the end.
In the dim light ahead, he saw A's back.
Bent.
Shaking.
In more than ten years, Bee had never seen his brother like this.
In his heart, A had always been confident, dominant, invincible.
But now… one of the most important people in his brother's life was gone.
Still, it didn't matter.
He—Killer Bee—would become his brother's strongest support.
"Cheer up, big brother!"
"From today on… you're the Raikage."
A paused.
"I know the war isn't over," A said hoarsely.
"I must protect the village as Raikage. This is Father's will."
As Bee listened, his hands—mid-rap—slowly dropped.
The smile on his face disappeared for the first time.
"Bi," A said, turning away, "starting today, you'll enter Unraikyō and train with the Tailed Beast Bomb."
"I will never let the enemy hurt you."
Bee frowned behind his sunglasses. Confusion… and disappointment.
"My Thunder Blades—"
"That's enough!" A snapped.
"If enemies invade, you won't leave the village. You'll destroy them from afar with Tailed Beast Bombs!"
"Listen carefully!"
"You are never allowed to leave the village again!"
A turned back.
Tears streamed down the face of this iron-willed man.
He had lost his father.
And now, he was terrified of losing his brother too.
...
Steel blades clashed against reinforced armguards, sparks flying in all directions.
"Bi!" A roared mid-battle.
"Why aren't you using the Eight-Tails?! Are you looking down on me?!"
His blood boiled.
"Ani," Bee replied calmly, "you still don't understand."
"There's no point talking anymore."
"Real men settle things with their fists!"
"Let's decide it with that move!"
"Lightning Release: Double Lariat!" ×2
Lightning erupted around A's body. He stomped forward, bent his right arm into a plowshape, and charged.
Bee mirrored him.
Right arm raised, bent, eyes steady behind his sunglasses—pouring every ounce of strength into this attack.
Each step shattered the ground beneath them.
Each stride multiplied their power.
BOOM!
Their arms slammed into each other's necks and collarbones.
Neither retreated.
Neither held back.
Big brother… you're still as strong as ever.
But I'm not the short kid who needed your help anymore.
My body is at its limit… but my will will break through!
"DOUBLE LARIAT!!!"
Bee roared, forcing his arm forward once more.
Through the surge of chakra, through that shout, A felt it—
His brother's heart.
Their wills connected.
A was blown backward, crashing through a massive boulder and carving a deep crater into the ground.
"…Compared to the Double Lariat…" A muttered.
He pushed the rubble aside and stood again.
Looking at Killer Bee, his expression complicated, realization finally dawned.
He had forgotten something.
"Bi… as Jinchūriki, you are special. Essential to every village."
"In this war, Uchiha Obito's target is you."
"That's why… we chose not to let you leave."
Bee walked forward slowly.
"Because they—and I—have the confidence to never lose."
"And the determination to win."
"As Jinchūriki, we can't hide behind our comrades when danger comes."
"Ani… our greatest strength doesn't come from being Jinchūriki."
"It's something I gained long before I ever met the Eight-Tails."
"The words I can never abandon."
"With them… I am truly strong."
A froze.
"…I see."
"…The words we spoke… that day, at the True Waterfall?"
Bee grinned.
"Finally figured it out, huh? You idiot brother."
"Standing tall↗, teaching my big brother a lesson↘—that's not just a dream anymore↗, yo~"
[You are special to me.
We are the strongest partners.
We are brothers.]
...
...