"Roooar—!!!"
A heaven-shaking roar burst forth, brimming with savage joy at finally breaking free.
Shukaku flung its arms high and waved them gleefully, its shrill voice splitting the air above the forest:
"Yes! This great one… is finally out! Kyahahaha!!!"
It cackled, its colossal body hopping with excitement and showering sand in every direction.
Tejima Shinichi stood atop a crown of leaves, brows knitting slightly.
Simply put, that laugh… was downright evil!!!
Shukaku cut its grating laughter short and stabbed a massive left claw toward Shinichi on the treetop, voice dripping with mockery and murder:
"Thanks, brat! Letting this great one stretch his legs! But as thanks…"
Its fang-filled maw split wide.
"…This great one will kill you! Kyahaha!"
Without waiting for an answer, it slammed a gigantic left paw against its own round belly.
"Wind Release: Air Bullet—!!"
A chakra sphere far larger than any Gaara had ever formed shot straight at Shinichi.
Speed and power were on a totally different level.
Shinichi's hands flashed through seals, then clapped together.
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall—!!"
Rumble—!
Thick curved trunks burst from the soil, weaving into a solid arched barricade that shielded him completely.
"Boom—!!!"
The Air Bullet slammed the wall with a deafening blast.
Fierce shockwaves laced with wind blades shredded the surrounding trees; splinters and sand filled the sky.
The Wood Locking Wall shuddered, scorched and cracked, but held firm against the terrifying strike.
The earth-shaking collision turned every hidden examinee from every nation pale with dread.
"Y-You've got to be kidding… a casual clash… and it rewrites the landscape?!"
"That Konoha Genin… is he really our age?"
"Maybe Konoha sneaked their Kage into the Exams just to scare us?!"
"Hey… you might be right!!!"
…Through a gap in the timber, Shinichi watched the storm outside, eyes narrowing.
"Power… on a totally different scale from Gaara's version."
Several figures flickered onto nearby branches—the Konoha Anbu had arrived.
"Tejima Shinichi! It's too dangerous—withdraw with us—"
The Anbu squad leader spoke in urgent tones.
Without turning, Shinichi cut him off, voice hard:
"Thanks for the concern, but… stand aside. This is a fight you can't join!!!"
The masked Anbu froze, stunned and incredulous beneath their porcelain.
Elite operatives answering directly to the Hokage… ordered around by a Genin?
Told they were "unable to participate" in this battle!!?
Yet one glance at the roaring Tailed Beast, one feel of that suffocating chakra, and the sight of the colossal wooden wall that had taken its blow—words died in their throats.
Facts spoke louder than pride.
The Anbu captain hesitated, voice hoarse:
"…Understood. But one more thing: the Hokage has been informed and is on his way!"
He paused, then added quickly:
"Also—beware. S-rank missing-nin Orochimaru has been confirmed inside the Forest of Death. He was once the Third Hokage's pupil—extremely dangerous—stay alert!!"
Still staring at Shukaku, Shinichi gave a slight nod to show he'd heard.
Seeing that, the Anbu flickered away, retreating to the perimeter.
Irritated that its Air Bullet had been blocked and the "flies" had fled, Shukaku snarled, abandoned ranged jutsu, and hurled its titanic frame straight at Shinichi.
Claws swept down, smashing the arched timber.
"Boom—!!!"
Already battered, the Wood Locking Wall shattered under the beast's raw strength.
Splinters exploded outward like shrapnel.
In the same instant, Shukaku's thick tail whipped through the air, faster than anything its size had a right to be, straight at the exposed Shinichi.
Blinding speed!
Shinichi's pupils shrank; chakra flared in his soles, and he shot forward in a low slide, skimming just beneath the lethal tail-tip.
"Crash—!!"
The tail carved an abyssal gouge where he had stood, stones spraying like bullets.
In the swirling dust, Shinichi flipped backward and landed lightly on open ground.
A Tailed Beast going all-out truly brought pressure like nothing before.
'If I'm fighting a Tailed Beast… I'll have to use that move.'
He snapped his hands together.
"Wood Release—"
The massive trunk beneath him shuddered as an enormous wooden dragon burst forth.
Ancient grain spiraled along its length; the ferocious head reared skyward in a silent roar that promised binding and suppression.
"—Wood Dragon Technique!"
The moment it appeared, the dragon shot toward Shukaku, coiling around legs, waist, and torso in rapid loops.
Then—tightened!
"What the hell?! Get off me!"
Shukaku raged, claws raking frantically; sand arms pounded the dragon, thudding and spraying chips.
But the wood was tougher than expected—shattered sections regrew in moments, constricting even harder.
And worse—Shukaku felt its own chakra being siphoned away through every point of contact.
"Damn it! It… it's draining my chakra?!"