Shukaku's release dwarfed even Manda's appearance from days prior. It was a mountain looming over the forest, its shadow swallowing the trees below. The sudden manifestation brought every battle in the Forest of Death to a screeching halt. Every shinobi stopped, eyes widening in terror, before turning to flee toward the edges of the forest.
After all, this was a Tailed Beast—a calamity on legs.
"Hehehehehe!"
"To celebrate my rebirth, you stinking fox's jinchuriki, I'll start by killing you!"
Roaring at the sky, Shukaku hadn't forgotten Gaara's command. Its diamond-shaped pupils darted around, instantly locking onto Menma, who was wrapped in a chakra tail around Hinata and the others, perched on a treetop below.
"Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet!"
Shukaku's belly swelled rapidly, its mouth gaping open. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
High-pressure wind bullets, compressed from the air, whistled through the forest, sweeping toward them.
Menma merely raised his eyelids, glancing at the incoming barrage with bored indifference.
Then, terrifying Nine-Tails chakra erupted.
Whoosh!
In an instant, the pale red chakra cloak solidified into a golden-red luster. Eight enormous fox tails—sharp as blades—snapped into existence. With a casual wave, all the high-pressure wind bullets popped like balloons in the sky ahead.
"A tailed beast using ninjutsu instead of a Tailed Beast Ball?" Menma's voice wasn't loud, but the contempt was palpable. "What? Can't afford to use Tailed Beast chakra?"
Simultaneously, inside the sealed space, Kurama took the opportunity to chat with Shukaku.
"Hahaha! Everyone knows you can't use your chakra efficiently, you stupid tanuki!"
The combined taunts shattered Shukaku's composure.
"Damn it! The jinchuriki of that stinky fox is just as annoying as the fox itself!"
Since you want to see a Tailed Beast Ball, then I'll grant your wish!
Rage twisted Shukaku's expression as it opened its mouth again. Crimson and blue chakra gathered and condensed rapidly. In the blink of an eye, a black sphere of pure destruction hovered before its maw.
"Die!"
Just as it prepared to launch the attack, Shukaku realized Menma had vanished below. Its pupils contracted sharply as his voice rang out in its ears again.
"It's condensing too slowly. And too small. I don't have time to play chakra-bashing games with you. You'd better eat it yourself."
"What?!"
Shukaku's eyes widened in disbelief as it stared at the Tailed Beast Ball hovering before its mouth. The nine enormous fox tails, previously concealed, were now wildly fluttering. The next second, the ball was struck by a tremendous force, flying backward like a soccer ball straight into its mouth.
Simultaneously, the fluttering tails vanished. An immense force slammed into its jaws, forcibly clamping its mouth shut. Shukaku's massive body was lifted into the air with the momentum.
Finally, it saw Menma kicking upward beneath it.
So fast. And why are there nine tails? It was only one before...
Those were Shukaku's final thoughts.
The Tailed Beast Ball exploded inside its mouth, transforming into a golden sun suspended in mid-air. Gaara, hovering above it, was caught in the blast. His body was torn to shreds as he crashed heavily to the ground.
"You won..." Gaara murmured, his eyes unfocused, looking down at Menma standing beside him. "Being loved... gave my life meaning. Cough..."
"Gaara!"
From afar, Temari and Kankuro rushed forward in a panic. Seeing Gaara's pitiful state, Kankuro immediately drew a Crow Puppet from his back and attacked Menma.
Menma didn't even look. A single tail strike obliterated the puppet, sending Kankuro flying backward, severely injured.
Menma originally intended to wipe out the approaching Sand Ninja, but a message from a dissipating shadow clone made him frown. He glanced in the direction Sasuke had gone, then vanished.
Temari ignored the departing Menma. Her eyes red, she pressed her glowing green chakra hand against Gaara's bleeding lower back.
"Gaara! Hold on! I'll heal you!"
But Gaara was already on the verge of death, his eyes covered in a milky white film. Looking at Temari's face, he raised a trembling hand toward the sky.
"Yashamaru... you came to see me? I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... don't hate me..."
He reached behind him. "Mommy... Mommy, where are you?"
Temari, fighting back tears, spotted the broken gourd not far away. She picked it up and placed it in Gaara's hands. He touched the gourd, hugging it tight as a smile spread across his face.
"Mommy... I can finally come to you..."
Hearing this, Temari finally broke down. "I'll take you home! I'll scold Dad for you! Please, Gaara, don't die!"
She lifted him, staggering forward. Gaara, in his final moments, heard her words. With an apologetic smile, he raised a trembling hand to wipe away her tears.
"I'm sorry, sister... this ninja world is so bitter. In the next life... I don't want to come back."
His arm slipped down. The light faded from his eyes, leaving only a faint, relieved smile on his face.
Across the forest—
"Water Release: Water Shark Bullet!"
"Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome!"
The water shark shattered the ice wall, and Sasuke emerged from behind, panting heavily. His pale red chakra was almost completely dissipated.
"This tailed beast chakra is amazing," Kisame said, his clothes tattered, holding the barbed Samehada. "Even after Samehada absorbed so much, it still boosted your strength."
He glanced at Itachi on the other side and sighed. "The person behind you is terrifying too. Just a shadow clone fought Itachi this long."
Itachi gripped Sasuke's trembling body, his Sharingan activated, a frown creasing his brow. He was puzzled.
"Why is it Nine-Tails chakra? And who was that shadow clone?"
Before he could figure it out, his Sharingan flashed. He instantly jumped back.
Boom!
A massive crater appeared where he had stood. Menma stood in the center, nine tails lashing like swords.
Crack.
The sound of joints grinding echoed. Menma pinched his fingers, looking at Itachi with cold interest.
"S-rank rogue ninja, Itachi Uchiha?"
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