"Damn brat!!!"
To use its own body as a roast…
Outrageous.
Matatabi's blue flames surged violently,
as if it could swallow Sarutobi Hakuto whole in the next instant.
Yet, the Eight-Tails didn't act rashly.
Sarutobi Hakuto, who had just been hurled away, now floated midair.
This heightened Matatabi's caution by another level.
Flying?!
In all of Matatabi's memory, only the Sage of Six Paths could move like this.
Ōnoki from Iwagakure? Not even close.
Having felt the full force of Sarutobi Hakuto's laser eyes,
he was in high spirits.
Though powerful, the beams were a bit underwhelming:
good against high-attack, low-defense ninja,
but against tailed beasts' thick hides?
They were mostly good for roasting meat.
"What's the matter?"
"Not coming at me?"
Seeing Matatabi's wary stance,
Sarutobi Hakuto shrugged and decided to take the initiative.
Boom—
As he moved, a sonic boom erupted.
His speed was so extreme that Matatabi couldn't even track him.
"Bam!!!"
Matatabi, still scanning the sky for Sarutobi Hakuto,
felt a violent pain hit its jaw.
The force sent its massive body flying.
But this was only the beginning.
Before Matatabi could even recover,
Sarutobi Hakuto darted around him, striking from every angle.
Fists, kicks, strikes—
Matatabi was a punching bag in the air, utterly helpless.
"D-Damn it!"
"What speed is this?!!"
"I-I can't react in time!"
The Eight-Tails struggled to even speak.
No matter how it tried to track Sarutobi Hakuto,
it was sent flying again and again.
Yugito inside panicked.
Who had ever seen a tailed beast treated like a sandbag?
Even the Third Raikage was exhausted fighting the Eight-Tails,
yet this… this was beyond terrifying.
Not even human.
"Bam!!!"
Finally, Sarutobi Hakuto landed a crushing punch straight from above,
slamming Matatabi into the ground.
This hit nearly rattled its cat-like brain.
Dazed, Matatabi climbed to its feet,
enraged at being treated like a mere toy.
"You little brat!!! DIE!!!"
A massive Tailed Beast Bomb formed,
its blue flames flaring intensely—
undeniably Matatabi's strongest attack.
Sarutobi Hakuto didn't even flinch.
He let it hit him head-on.
Boom—
The Tailed Beast Bomb detonated,
and a mushroom cloud rose.
Blue flames still raged within,
like hellfire incarnate.
"Hahaha! Arrogant brat!"
"How dare you take my Tailed Beast Bomb head-on?!"
"Do you know who you're messing with?!"
Matatabi's laughter echoed,
and Fugaku, pressing down the Eight-Tails,
saw what was happening.
His heart sank.
Even his Susanoo nearly collapsed under the shock.
But then, from the heart of the explosion,
a figure slowly emerged.
"Ziziziz~"
"Tailed Beast Bomb? That's it?!"
Sarutobi Hakuto casually waved his hand,
snuffing out the raging flames,
clearing even the thick smoke.
Matatabi froze.
Its expression blank.
"It… it can't be… This can't be real…"
This was a Tailed Beast Bomb—
a full-powered attack from a tailed beast!
What… what was this person?
Sarutobi Hakuto, having tested the super-defense capability,
was more than satisfied.
Taking a Tailed Beast Bomb head-on was now trivial.
But, refusing to be rude,
he decided to have a little fun.
With a sudden sonic boom,
Sarutobi Hakuto vanished.
Matatabi shivered,
its flames burning, yet it felt like ice.
Before it could react,
it felt its tail being grabbed.
Turning,
it saw Sarutobi Hakuto seriously examining its tails.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
"Don't get any ideas!"
Sarutobi Hakuto twisted two of Matatabi's tails around his hands
and began dragging the Eight-Tails toward him.
The sheer force was overwhelming.
Matatabi, despite using all limbs,
couldn't resist Sarutobi Hakuto.
Fugaku, whose heart had been in freefall moments ago,
suddenly brightened.
Seeing Sarutobi Hakuto's incredible power,
he resolved to follow closely.
Indeed,
only Saruhiki Sarutobi Hakuto could restore the Uchiha clan's glory.
Sarutobi Hakuto ran toward Fugaku,
dragging the struggling Eight-Tails behind him.
Fugaku hastily dispelled his Susanoo,
clearing the battlefield.
Killer B, however, panicked.
Seeing Matatabi beaten like this,
he wanted Gyūki to take control.
But the Eight-Tails refused.
Annoyed, it mentally cursed Killer B:
'Trying to play games now?
Do you want me to die for you?
Look at me now!'
No matter how much Killer B called, there was no response.
He had no choice but to fight Sarutobi Hakuto directly.
Sarutobi Hakuto reached him.
Before Killer B could react,
the blazing blue form of Matatabi slammed toward him.
"Holy crap!"