Whoosh!
With a flash, Maple, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, darted into the field as a blur, shouting, "Can I join in?"
Shinji glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
"Here I go!"
Maple had heard of Shinji's reputation and was mainly eager to challenge him. Seeing no objection from Shinji, she lunged toward him.
"Careful!"
Yakumo, startled, reacted swiftly.
In an instant, countless vines shot out from her sleeves, whistling through the air and swiftly entangling Maple mid-flight as she aimed for Shinji.
"Huh?!"
Caught by Yakumo's Wood Release, Maple let out a surprised yelp. She struggled but found that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free of the vines.
Worse, she felt her Tailed Beast chakra being absorbed by them.
"Is this the legendary Wood Release?"
Realizing what was happening, Maple's competitive spirit flared. She unleashed her chakra.
Whoosh!
In a flash, her body was enveloped in ferocious, crimson Tailed Beast chakra, cloaking her in a Tailed Beast coat.
Yakumo had only intended to stop Maple's reckless charge at Shinji, knowing his strength could easily injure her.
But she hadn't expected Maple to resort to Tailed Beast transformation to counter her Wood Release, leaving her in a tough spot.
Outside the field.
"Oh no!"
"Damn, she's not going berserk, is she?"
"Everyone, back off!"
The watching shinobi sprang into action, forming a perimeter and pushing the curious students and villagers beyond it.
The Kage, however, watched the unfolding scene with keen interest, curious to see how Yakumo and Shinji would handle the Tailed Beast-transformed Jinchuriki from the Hidden Waterfall Village.
Retreating with the crowd, Sakura anxiously asked Sasuke, "Sasuke, nothing bad will happen, right?"
Even the usually carefree Naruto grew worried. "I wonder if Maple's on good terms with that monster inside her. If she goes berserk, it'll be big trouble!"
Sasuke snorted. "You're underestimating Shinji and Yakumo! Even if they can't handle a berserk Maple, I'm still here!"
In the field.
Unlike the others, who were alarmed by Maple's Tailed Beast transformation, Shinji didn't flinch. His expression remained unchanged, calmly observing.
Yakumo, unable to focus on anything else, went all out to prevent Maple from rampaging in the village, fully unleashing her Wood Release.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In an instant, amidst roaring sounds, massive trees sprouted from the ground, replacing the vines and binding Maple, yanking her Tailed Beast-coated form from the air.
As the Wood Release tightened, Maple's struggles weakened. Unable to maintain her transformation, the Tailed Beast coat faded under the absorption, revealing a stunned Maple.
Huff.
Yakumo exhaled, releasing her Wood Release. She stepped forward, pulling Maple up from the ground. "You okay?"
Maple stared at Yakumo, dazed. "That's Wood Release?"
Yakumo cautioned, "Don't use Tailed Beast transformation so casually in the village. If I hadn't been nearby, it could've caused an accident."
"Oh!"
Maple nodded sheepishly, like a child caught misbehaving.
Noticing the growing crowd, Yakumo turned to Shinji. "Shinji, shall we call it a day?"
"Hm."
With a nod, Shinji turned and left.
His purpose in sparring with Yakumo was to test his baseline strength after releasing all wielded eyes and to accelerate his fusion with the First Hokage's cells through intense combat. Having achieved both, he had no interest in being gawked at further.
"It's over?"
"No wonder it's our Hidden Leaf's Wood Release—so easily subduing a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki!"
"Yeah, if we'd had a Wood Release shinobi back then, maybe that night's tragedy wouldn't have happened, and the Fourth wouldn't have…"
"Sigh!"
As the spar ended, the crowd dispersed, chatting among themselves.
The students crowded around, talking excitedly.
Naruto said, "Maple, Tailed Beast transformation in the village is too dangerous. Even I don't dare do that!"
"Hehe."
Maple scratched her head.
Unbeknownst to them, Maple's control over her Tailed Beast transformation far surpassed Naruto's, who had undergone Tailed Beast training. At this level, there was no risk of going berserk.
After all, the Seven-Tails Chomei was much more cooperative than the Nine-Tails Kurama! Plus, upon learning the Akatsuki was collecting Tailed Beasts to revive the Ten-Tails, Chomei's cooperation with Maple had only increased.
Sasuke sauntered into the group, coolly saying, "Now you see how strong our Hidden Leaf is? Even without Yakumo—"
"Mm-hm!"
Maple nodded enthusiastically, gazing at Yakumo with admiration.
Unknowingly, Yakumo's actions had earned her a little fangirl.
On the distant rooftop.
Seeing the situation resolved, Tsunade grew even more satisfied. "Yakumo's mastery of Wood Release is getting smoother. With her around, we don't have to worry about Naruto causing trouble!"
Jiraiya nodded slightly. "As long as those two can work together, they'll ensure the village's peace for at least thirty years."
Tsunade's expression hardened. "But before that, our generation must eliminate the Akatsuki threat. We can't leave that burden to them!"
"Indeed."
Jiraiya sighed softly.
The Akatsuki, their top threat, included his students Nagato and Konan, as well as his old friend Hiruko. If someone had to sacrifice to end this calamity, he was willing to be the first!
Tsunade asked, "How's the Five Kage Summit going?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "Same old. Without more intelligence, we're stuck."
Tsunade frowned, recalling something. "I heard some villages are secretly contacting Danzo. What are they up to?"
Jiraiya replied, "Danzo's probably trying to make a comeback!"
Since the Third Hokage took office, the Hidden Leaf had never been a one-man show. Even the highly respected Third had once stepped down.
After Tsunade and Jiraiya's failed raid on the Hidden Rain Village, the Akatsuki seized the chance to attack the Hidden Leaf, causing massive losses. This put immense pressure on the Third, giving Danzo an opportunity to stir things up again.