Although it was unclear why Shukaku's destructive Tailed Beast Ball had ultimately shot into the sky, the giant beast, after a brief abnormality, once again fell into a manipulated, berserk state.
With a casual swing of his giant claws, he sent nearby houses flying and tearing apart like toys, scattering bricks and wood chips everywhere, and filling the air with smoke and dust.
Naruto frowned, realizing that if he engaged Shukaku in a fierce battle here, the entire Konoha Village would likely be razed to the ground by the aftermath of their fight before a victor could be decided.
His plan abruptly changed from "sealing Shukaku back" to — he must first lure this massive threat out of Konoha!
Inside the sealing space, Kurama seemed to sense Naruto's intention. If he didn't use Ninjutsu that could have a very wide range of impact, but instead simply relied on his strength to forcibly throw this dumb tanuki out of Konoha... such a thing, with his power, he might be able to do.
"Naruto!" Kurama's serious voice rang out, "Use Full Tailed Beast Mode!"
"Huh? Tailed Beast Mode?" Kurama's sudden suggestion startled Naruto. Could he still enter Full Tailed Beast Mode in his current state?...Could it be that as long as Kurama willingly cooperated, he could break through the restrictions of the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style?
"Yes!" Kurama affirmed, his massive body in the sealing space began to gather Chakra, forming a hand sign, "But this is also the first attempt! I will assist with Chakra shaping, but the seal is still there, and the main control of the body will be yours! Even if we succeed, we probably only have three minutes at most!"
Feeling the unprecedentedly docile, vast, and completely open Nine-Tails Chakra within him, Naruto understood — Is this... the power of a perfect Jinchuriki?
"Let's go, Kurama!"
"Oh—!"
With a firm response, an even more brilliant, sun-like golden Chakra burst forth from Naruto's body! The light instantly swallowed his figure.
At the same time, the manipulated Shukaku once again opened his massive maw, and the recently recovered Chakra furiously gathered, as another destructive Tailed Beast Ball began to condense in his mouth. This time, his crimson eyes were locked onto the most densely populated area of the Konoha Village shelter entrance!
"Oh no! He's coming again!"
"Stop him quickly! He must not be allowed to target the shelter!"
"It's like this again... Fourth Hokage-sama... please protect Konoha..."
Some old Ninja who had experienced the Nine-Tails Attack, and many Konoha Ninja filled with a resolve to die, had a determined look in their eyes. They grabbed bundles of exploding tags and, like moths to a flame, charged suicidally towards Shukaku, shouting, attempting to interfere with or even change the trajectory of the Tailed Beast Ball's launch at the cost of their lives!
However, their efforts were like an ant trying to shake a tree. They leaped and stuck exploding tags onto Shukaku's face, but the explosive flames failed to leave even a single mark. The next moment, Shukaku's massive claw slammed down towards these tiny figures!
Are we going to die... "Roar!!!!"
The next moment, an incomparably brilliant golden light, even more dazzling than the sun, erupted fiercely between Shukaku and those Konoha Ninja. Within the light, a Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, majestic as a mountain and flowing with golden radiance, once again stood upon the land of Konoha like a guardian deity!
"Bang—!!!"
A heavy thud echoed! Shukaku's giant claw, capable of crushing mountains, was firmly blocked by an even more condensed and massive golden fox claw, unable to advance an inch!
Perfected Tailed Beast Mode · Nine-Tailed — Descends!
Immediately after, to the astonishment of everyone, the golden Nine-Tailed, with an agility unbefitting its massive body, extended another giant claw and seized Shukaku's almost invisible, thick, short neck!
"Stupid tanuki... get—out of here!"
Accompanied by the roaring will of Kurama and Naruto, the golden Nine-Tailed erupted with terrifying, mountain-splitting power, forcefully swinging Shukaku's equally massive body, like throwing a sandbag, smashing him fiercely towards the direction outside of Konoha Village!
"Rumble—!!!"
Shukaku's massive body flew backward like a meteor, smashing through Konoha's outer wall, and finally crashing heavily into the forest at the edge of the Village, stirring up a sky full of dust!
With the fierce descent and brutal intervention of the Nine-Tailed's perfect form, the Tailed Beast Ball that was about to be launched from Shukaku's mouth, due to the interrupted Chakra flow, fluctuated violently a few times, and finally dissipated unwillingly, turning into sporadic purple-black Chakra scattering in the air.
Shukaku, who had re-emerged in the forest outside Konoha Village, seemed to be thoroughly enraged by the Nine-Tailed's sudden attack. His bulging abdomen rapidly expanded at a visible speed, and then, he raised his giant claw and fiercely slapped his swollen belly!
It was Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet!
A torrent of violent Wind Release energy mixed with countless grains of sand, emitting an ear-splitting shriek, blasted towards the golden Nine-Tailed standing at the edge of Konoha! Wherever it passed, the ground was plowed with deep furrows, and trees were uprooted and torn to shreds!
The Konoha Ninja and villagers who had just escaped Shukaku's claws, thinking they were temporarily safe, hadn't even had time to catch their breath when they saw this destructive storm approaching again. The color that had just faded from their faces instantly disappeared, replaced by even deeper terror and despair.
However, the anticipated scene of two giant beasts colliding and Konoha being destroyed by the aftermath did not occur.
"Boom—!!!"
A dull, thunderous roar shook the atmosphere!
The Drilling Air Bullet, capable of leveling mountains, was firmly blocked the moment it hit Konoha's border by a suddenly appearing golden Chakra barrier! The violent Wind Release energy stirred up intense ripples on the barrier's surface, but could not break through an inch, eventually dissipating unwillingly to both sides.
Behind the barrier, the golden Nine-Tailed slowly turned its head, its massive, golden-flamed eyes sweeping over the still-shocked crowd behind it, finally locking onto Shukaku in the distance again.
"I won't let you... take anyone's life."
The Konoha Ninja and villagers stared blankly at the golden giant beast guarding them like a mountain, at the warm light barrier that had blocked the destructive energy, their minds a blank.
"That... that's the Nine-Tailed? How is that possible..."
A middle-aged Ninja who had experienced the Nine-Tails Attack murmured, his Kunai clattering to the ground. He had personally witnessed how this ferocious beast rampaged through Konoha, taking the lives of countless comrades, including his beloved Fourth Hokage. But now, this monster, a symbol of calamity, was actually protecting Konoha?
"Is he protecting us? The golden one..."
A little girl, tightly held by her mother, timidly pointed at the Nine-Tailed, her eyes filled with confusion and a hint of reliance. In her understanding, monsters were all terrifying, but this golden "big fox" in front of her made her feel inexplicably safe.
"I... I used to call him a demon fox..." A villager's face turned pale as he recalled the disgusted glances and vicious words he had once directed at the blond youth, complex emotions welling up in his heart.
"Let's talk about the past after the war is over!" A wounded Jonin struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, "He's protecting Konoha! Everyone, cooperate with his actions and clear out the remaining enemies in the Village!"
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