Shino, wearing his signature sunglasses, calmly remarked, "That's what being a shinobi is really like."
Ya sighed helplessly, "Come on, the battle hasn't even started yet. Do you have to kill my vibe like that?"
Tenten added, "It's not meant to discourage you. We're just being realistic."
Ino nodded. "We've already started organizing our own teams here. I wonder how things are going on Morkel and Naruto's end."
"They're Akatsuki's main targets. What if they've already been found?"
Shikamaru cut in, "Seriously, instead of worrying about him, maybe worry about yourself first. Morkel's strength is far beyond ours."
Ino frowned. "Still…"
—
In Konoha Village.
After the main forces left the village, only the elderly, injured, and a few combat-ready shinobi remained to guard the home front.
Konohamaru had stepped up to take guard duty. Standing atop the village gate with Wu Dong and Meng Huang, he looked out at the distant approaching forces.
"This is terrifying… War is really about to begin," said Meng Huang nervously.
Konohamaru pounded his chest. "Don't worry! I'll protect you—and the village!"
"No matter what, I won't let Big Brother Morkel down!"
—
On Turtle Island.
Inside the chakra training chamber where tailed beast energy was sealed and mastered, Naruto had just succeeded in obtaining the Nine-Tails' chakra. Now it was Morkel's turn.
Killer Bee asked, "You sure you can handle three sealed tailed beasts at once?"
Morkel nodded confidently. "Don't worry. If I can seal them, I can extract their chakra too."
Suddenly, Morkel's expression shifted.
Naruto grew concerned. "What's wrong? Are the tailed beasts resisting?"
Morkel shook his head. "No... They're giving me their chakra voluntarily."
Killer Bee and Naruto were speechless.
It had taken them immense effort to earn the tailed beasts' trust—and now Morkel got chakra handed to him willingly? The comparison was disheartening.
Even Morkel looked... slightly disappointed.
—
Inside Morkel's Sealed Space
The three tailed beasts were gaunt and shriveled like dried fruit after donating their chakra.
Four-Tails muttered, "Thank goodness we gave up our chakra quickly. Otherwise, we'd be beaten today."
Three-Tails groaned. "I swear, this life feels like night school."
Six-Tails panicked. "Shut up! You trying to get us killed?"
Three-Tails quickly backtracked, "I mean, I'm just grateful to have a Jinchūriki like Morkel!"
—
Back in the chamber, Killer Bee said, "Alright, now that both of you have tailed beast chakra, it's time to learn the next technique."
He led Naruto and Morkel to a room hidden behind a stone door, revealing a glowing training hall.
Naruto looked around. "What's the next move? Are we learning something ultimate?"
Killer Bee nodded. "Exactly. Now you'll try transforming into tailed beasts and mastering the Tailed Beast Bomb—one of the most destructive techniques a Jinchūriki can use!"
Naruto hesitated. "But what if I lose control of the Nine-Tails again?"
Killer Bee reassured him. "Relax. You're using purified chakra now. There's no risk."
He then began transforming, his body covered by massive octopus tentacles. Seconds later, the full form of the Eight-Tails appeared.
"See?" said Killer Bee, still in control. "Simple!"
Naruto closed his eyes and focused…
With a puff, a strange fox-like creature appeared—more mouse than menace.
Naruto was horrified. "What the heck is this?!"
Killer Bee laughed. "You're not fully synced with Nine-Tails yet. You've got a long road ahead."
He turned to Morkel. "Alright, your turn."
Morkel nodded and closed his eyes, focusing on the chakra from the three tailed beasts.
BOOM!
A cloud of smoke erupted. As it cleared, Killer Bee and Naruto were frozen in shock.
Morkel stood transformed—but not in any recognizable tailed beast form.
He glanced at their horrified expressions. "Is it that bad? Am I ugly or something?"
Killer Bee stammered, "Ugly? That's not the word… Just… difficult to describe."
He handed Morkel a small mirror.
Morkel looked and was stunned.
His form was an absurd combination:
A Three-Tails glans-like head with a red eye and Six-Tails' slug eye.
Tentacle pupils.
Four-Tails' iron hoop horns.
A monkey's body with a turtle shell on his back.
One arm and leg normal, the other two slimy tentacles.
Thirteen tails sprouting behind him.
"WHAT THE HELL AM I?!"
Even Cthulhu would look away in fear.
He immediately released the transformation and sighed in relief as his human form returned.
"I'm never doing that again."
Killer Bee chuckled. "Try using just one tailed beast's chakra next time."
Morkel shook his head. "No thanks. I prefer staying human. I can still use tailed beast chakra without transforming."
He summoned chakra, and red energy surrounded him, forming a cloak adorned with magatama symbols.
Killer Bee was surprised. "But without full transformation, how will you use Tailed Beast Bomb?"
"Show me how it works," Morkel replied.
Killer Bee explained, "After transforming, you compress yin and yang chakra at an 8:2 ratio in your mouth and release it. Simple and devastating."
"Got it."
Morkel opened his mouth and began gathering chakra.
A violent energy wave filled the room. A black dot of compressed chakra formed at the center of Morkel's mouth.
Killer Bee was horrified. "Wait, wait—don't keep it in your mouth! Push it outwards before you—"
Before he could finish, Morkel's cheeks puffed, his face panicked.
BOOM!
The chakra bomb exploded inside his mouth!
The shockwave tore through the chakra-reinforced room, flattening the surrounding terrain.
As the dust settled, Morkel groaned, rubbing his sore jaw. "Next time, I'll push it out faster…"
Killer Bee looked at the crater in disbelief. "You blew up half the training ruins…"
Morkel shrugged. "How much is it going to cost?"
Killer Bee looked grave. "This was a historic relic. Including damages to Turtle Island… it'll be around…" He held up five fingers.
"Fifty million?" Morkel asked.
"No," Killer Bee said, voice tight. "Five billion. Historic sites don't come cheap."
"FIVE BILLION? Just for spitting a chakra ball?!"
Cloud Shinobi rushed over, thinking it was an Akatsuki attack. Motoi led the group.
Killer Bee waved them off. "Just a training mishap."
The ninjas were stunned. "This room was built to withstand tailed beast bombs…"
Just then, Turtle Island trembled violently.
Morkel flew into the air with a rock technique and saw that his bomb had damaged the turtle's shell.
"It's okay, I'll heal it."
He froze the surrounding sea and began treatment.
—
Elsewhere, over the ocean…
Deidara and Kabuto, riding a clay bird, watched the horizon.
Kabuto said, "Though I revived you through Impure World Reincarnation, I left your mind free. You're still an artist."
Deidara nodded. "You're not bad! By the way, after I blew myself up, the world must've admired my art, right?"
Kabuto shook his head. "Sorry, but Morkel survived. And your explosion? Hardly anyone remembers it."
Deidara was devastated. "No one appreciates real art anymore!"
Kabuto quickly added, "That's why I brought you back. You'll have another chance—against Morkel."
Deidara hesitated. "Isn't that... suicide?"
Kabuto smirked. "Relax. You're a reanimated corpse—near invincible. And I'm just a clone."
Suddenly, a blinding white light filled the sky.
Deidara gasped. "A second sun?!"
Kabuto shouted, "No—it's a chakra cannon!"
The sea below evaporated as the blast neared.
BOOM!
The chakra cannon reduced them to ashes.
In the Akatsuki base, Kabuto's original body opened his eyes. "What was that? A chakra cannon?! How did Morkel attack across the sea?"
Even he didn't believe it.
—
On the sea, Deidara reformed and sighed. "Strong technique... but lacks artistic beauty."
—
Meanwhile, in the Cloud Village.
Ninjas from the Five Great Nations were being grouped, but arguments kept breaking out.
A Sand Shinobi growled, "I'm not teaming up with those Rock guys!"
Rock Shinobi fired back, "Wanna say that again?"
Konoha ninjas joined in: "Sand Shinobi betrayed us during the Chūnin Exams!"
Cloud Shinobi yelled, "You're ones to talk! Akatsuki is full of ex-Konoha members!"
Hyuga clan members stepped forward. "And how about when you killed Lord Hizashi?!"
It spiraled out of control.
On the platform, the Five Kage sighed in unison.
Years of war had bred too much distrust.
Tsuchikage nudged Gaara. "You're the army captain. Time to speak."
Gaara calmly separated the fighters with sand.
"I am Gaara, Kazekage of Sunagakure—and I believe in love!"
He gave a rousing speech.
The disputes calmed.
Female shinobi swooned. "Gaara's so cool!"
"He's not even 17 yet!"
"I still prefer Morkel…"
"Yeah, if he's so amazing, why isn't he the army captain?"
"Because he's the one we all must protect."
Tsuchikage whispered to Raikage, "I wonder what it'd be like if Morkel commanded the army."
Raikage smirked. "With that kind of power? Anything's possible."