On the main battlefield—
Both Kumogakure and Konoha shinobi instinctively cleared a wide space.
At its center stood Yusuke and Yugito.
Killing intent thickened the air.
Before the battle even resumed, the chakra erupting from both of them made the atmosphere feel heavy and suffocating.
Without hesitation—
Yugito transformed fully.
The Two-Tails manifested completely.
A massive blue-flamed cat demon stared at Yusuke with predatory focus.
In full tailed-beast form, her speed and strength underwent another qualitative leap.
Even in Fire Release Chakra Mode, Yusuke could not match a tailed beast in raw physical power.
Yugito's beautiful eyes burned with murderous intent.
"'Flame Demon' Yusuke."
"Prepare to die!"
With a sharp burst—
The blazing cat lunged, claw slicing through the air.
Yusuke didn't dodge in time.
His body was torn cleanly in half.
Upper and lower halves separated—
Yet no blood spilled.
Only roaring flames burned along the severed edge.
Yugito leapt back, clicking her tongue.
"Still not dead?"
"Tch. What a nuisance."
Yusuke's flame-elemental body was even more troublesome than the Hōzuki Clan's Hydrification Technique.
Water bodies could be countered by Lightning Release.
But extinguishing living flame?
Far more difficult.
Ninjutsu and taijutsu were largely ineffective.
Genjutsu remained a possibility—
But that wasn't Yugito's specialty.
And Yusuke was Uchiha.
Outmatching him in illusions was unrealistic.
Since her techniques couldn't hurt him—
She chose endurance.
She leaned forward slightly, a confident smile tugging at her lips.
Your fire can't hurt me.
But you can't hurt me either.
As a perfect jinchūriki, her chakra reserves were monstrous.
Could he really outlast her?
Yusuke's Thoughts
Unlike Yugito, Yusuke wasn't focused on the fight's flow.
He was thinking—
Should I knock her out and take her back?
Tailed beasts existed to be captured, didn't they?
The future Akatsuki had done it casually.
He was no weaker than those individuals.
Why not catch one for himself?
From beginning to end—
His expression remained relaxed.
For others, tailed beasts were calamities.
For him—
They were manageable.
Blade Against Beast
Yugito lunged again, claws blazing.
This time, Yusuke drew his sword fully.
Yugito's eyes sharpened.
"A flesh-and-blood body…"
"Trying to contend with a tailed beast?"
"Arrogant fool."
The massive claw descended like a falling mountain.
To onlookers, Yusuke looked fragile—
Like he'd be crushed in an instant.
Clang!
Metal rang sharply.
The claw met steel.
Yusuke stood unmoving.
The enormous tailed-beast claw—
Was stopped.
A collective gasp spread across the battlefield.
A human—
Matching a tailed beast in strength?
Even holding ground?
Until now, they'd only heard rumors of the Third Raikage fighting tailed beasts barehanded.
Now—
Yusuke proved that a blade could do the same.
Morale Shift
Shikaku seized the moment instantly.
Through Inoichi's communication technique, his voice echoed across the Konoha forces.
"All units!"
"Commander Yusuke has suppressed the Two-Tails jinchūriki!"
"The tide of victory has shifted!"
"Press forward! Our families await our triumphant return!"
Konoha's morale exploded.
Kumo's, meanwhile, began to crumble.
"Lady Yugito is being suppressed?"
"That can't be…"
"If even she can't break through, what hope do we have?"
The battlefield tilted decisively.
Escalation
On the front line—
Yugito unleashed relentless assaults.
Yet Yusuke, with nothing but a sword, matched her evenly in full tailed-beast form.
"Damn it…"
"'Flame Demon' Yusuke…"
"You're troublesome."
Frustration seeped in.
He was young—
Yet felt as powerful as the Raikage.
Her flames and physical strikes couldn't harm his elemental body.
Meanwhile—
His flying slashes carved painfully into her massive form.
Full tailed-beast form amplified destructive power—
But increased her target size.
As Itachi would one day say—
Every technique has its flaw.
Kumo was already collapsing.
Continuing this stalemate risked total annihilation.
Yugito's patience snapped.
She glared at Yusuke.
"This is boring."
"One move."
"We decide it in one move."
"Now I'll show you my true secret technique."
Yusuke smiled faintly.
"Finally bringing out your real trump card?"
"Perfect."
The Final Clash Approaches
The Two-Tails roared skyward.
The shockwave dispersed smoke and mist across the battlefield.
Red and blue chakra condensed, spiraling violently.
A black sphere began forming at the beast's mouth—
Dense.
Compressed.
Filled with annihilation.
Tailed Beast Bomb.
At the same time—
Yusuke sheathed his sword.
His stance shifted.
A drawing posture.
Though no visible chakra flared—
The pressure from his sword intent was equally terrifying.
Both had revealed their trump cards.
The moment of decision—
Had arrived.
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