Konan murmured, "So that's where its weak spot was… in such a place?"
Hinata blushed. "It… it must have hurt so much…"
Naruto said, "This is it—the whole battle comes down to this moment. I'm counting on you!"
"Understood!" replied Konan and Hinata in unison.
With their plan set, Konan and Hinata moved to either side, taking up their positions.
Naruto casually stabbed a kunai into the ground at his feet and strode forward.
—Thunderclap: Kurama Chakra Mode!
Crackle! Purple-gold lightning danced around Naruto, his blond hair stiffening into sharp spikes, his eyes gleaming with fierce intensity as he stared down the Monkey Demon King.
"Monkey Demon King, ready to see my strongest taijutsu?"
The ape bared its fangs. "Yo ho ho, never thought I'd meet someone dumb enough to challenge me in hand-to-hand combat! Fine, if you're so eager to die, I'll oblige you!"
Despite his bravado, the Monkey Demon King could sense the power of Naruto's chakra mode. Purple flames erupted from his fur!
—Hellfire Chakra Mode!
"Let's see you survive this!"
BOOM! The Monkey Demon King charged, fist blazing with hellfire, swinging with overwhelming force.
Naruto crossed his arms to block—
BOOM!!!
A pillar of purple fire exploded from the ape's punch, blasting Naruto back!
"Ugh… that hurt! And it's scorching!"
Gritting his teeth, Naruto endured the pain. Lightning arms arced from his shoulders, grabbing the Monkey Demon King's shoulders—
—Flying Thunder God!
WHOOSH!
In a blink, the Monkey Demon King was teleported to the exact spot where Naruto had planted his kunai!
"Nani?!"
While the ape was still stunned, Hinata and Konan—already in position—struck at once!
—Truth-Seeking Ball Chains!
—Paper God's Binding!
Hinata's chains, spun from Truth-Seeking Balls, locked down the ape's left arm. Konan's paper ropes bound the right.
Crackle!
Almost simultaneously, Naruto—cloaked in lightning—slid between the Monkey Demon King's legs. In that instant, crouched beneath him, his hands flashed into a Tiger Seal, fingertips crackling with razor-sharp lightning, aimed straight at the beast's single, hidden weak point—
—Thunderclap: One Thousand Years of Death!
Zap!
Lightning speared through the forbidden spot, driving deep into the core!
"GYAAAAAAHHHH!!" The Monkey Demon King let out a soul-rending scream as the flames across his body snuffed out.
Electricity surged through him. The ape turned, eyes wide with disbelief. "How… how did you know… my weak point…?!"
Naruto replied coolly, "I just don't miss details. Konan-nee's Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags might not be the strongest, but their full-coverage left you no choice but to use your hand to protect that spot…"
The Monkey Demon King managed a pained grin. "Hahaha… I can't complain. I lost fair and square. What a shame—I only got to use a tenth of my strength…"
Rustle!
A massive Kurama hand emerged from the chakra cloak, forming a Six Paths black rod.
Naruto asked, "So, how did you die?"
The ape grunted, "You really wanna know?"
Naruto scratched his head. "Well… I'm a little curious."
The Monkey Demon King cackled. "Hahaha! You'll never find out. I'll never tell you. It's the shame of my life!"
The truth? The Monkey Demon King died in a ridiculous accident—slipping while squatting near a cliff to relieve himself, falling into a bamboo grove, and being impaled in the most embarrassing way possible. Pride kept him from telling anyone or treating the wound, which eventually tore open in battle against an ancient ancestor of the Land of Lightning's Yozuki clan, leading to his death from blood loss.
Naruto shrugged. "Alright, if you won't say, I won't force you…"
"Just give me a quick end!"
CRACK!
The Six Paths black rod drove into the ape's spine.
Withdrawing his hands, Naruto formed a seal. "I've memorized your soul's spectrum. I'll give you a new soul next time."
—Reincarnation: Summoning Contract!
And with that, the Monkey Demon King was bound to Naruto by the power of the Rinnegan.
Panting, Naruto slumped to the ground. "Man… what a handful. If I hadn't known about that Adamantine Body, I don't know how long it would've taken to subdue him…"
"But how did he die, really? He doesn't look old—so it can't be old age, right?"
As Hinata and Konan walked over, Naruto asked, "What do you two think?"
Hinata guessed, "Maybe… illness?"
Konan mused, "Could be reckless living. The location of the weak spot says a lot. Maybe he wasn't even a primate—could've been cross-species, like a Dog Demon King or Bull Demon King?"
Naruto wiped sweat from his brow. "Konan-nee, maybe I'm overthinking, but you're not talking about something like 'Ryūkō' and 'Setsuna,' are you?"
Konan gave a sly smile. "I'll leave that to your imagination…"
Hinata blinked. "Ryūkō and Setsuna—aren't those the ANBU captains from our Hidden Rain Village? Did something happen with them?"
Naruto shook his head, mysterious. "Hinata, it's better you don't know."
He'd never forget what he saw that night, half a year ago.
Hinata thought: I'm so curious… I'll have to ask around later.
After a short rest, Naruto stood up.
"Well, only the Nine-Headed Snake Sage is left. Let's track it down and finish this!"
—
Meanwhile, deep in the forbidden zone's demon lair.
"It's the scent of prey…"
"Kill them."
"Yes, kill them…"
"I agree—kill them."
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
"Objection—I don't want to kill anymore!"
"Objection overruled. Majority rules!"
"Heh~ Kill them!"
"How should we do it?"
"I propose beating them to death!"
"I propose tearing them apart!"
"Strangling!"
"Swallowing!"
"Blasting!"
"Crushing!"
"Enough! Life only comes once—if you lose it, it's gone forever!"
"Shut up, you useless tail!"
"Fufufu… Gentlemen, there seem to be three prey. Why not try each killing method in turn?"
"Great idea!"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
"Fufufu~!! Then it's settled!"
With the vote complete, the demon in the cave opened its eyes.
It had one body and nine heads—eight in front, and the last head at the tip of its tail!
Each head was different, as if each possessed its own will.
BOOM!
With a thunderous crash, the demon burst from the cave, charging toward the scent of its prey!
Behind, the tail's head was dragged along, wailing, "You'll get what's coming to you—all of you! There'll be retribution!"
Tap.
As they advanced, Naruto stopped. "So it's coming straight for us…"
The Nine-Headed Snake Sage was on the attack!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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