More than a dozen Kumogakure shinobi had arrived—each one trained in sealing techniques—but they now stood frozen at the entrance of the cliffside gorge.
"H-How can this be? Someone's actually suppressing a Tailed Beast…?"
One of them stared blankly ahead.
There, the massive, mountain-sized Matatabi—the Two-Tails—was being held down, her head slammed repeatedly by the golden-haired youth's fists.
No matter how fiercely Matatabi roared, Naruto's fists only continued raining down with brutal precision.
"HAHAHA! As expected—nothing beats real combat! Thank you, Yugito, you helped me become even stronger!"
Naruto laughed gleefully as he smashed his fists down again.
In the span of this fight, he'd thrown well over a thousand punches.
Quantity had finally shifted into quality—he had now partially mastered the monstrous strength technique.
While it wasn't yet on the level of Tsunade or Sakura, Naruto was no ordinary person. Even this early-stage mastery produced strength far surpassing any Bijū's innate might.
BOOM!!
Another Kumogakure shinobi swallowed hard as he watched Matatabi's head nearly get punched ten meters into the ground.
"I… I'm not dreaming, right? Aside from the Fourth Raikage, who else can beat a Bijū head-on like this!?"
The ninja beside him took a deep breath, formed a hand seal, and closed his eyes:
"Genjutsu: Release!"
He disrupted the flow of his chakra, dispelling any illusions.
But as he opened his eyes again, he gasped in horror:
"This isn't a genjutsu! Fire the signal!!"
He stared at the battlefield in shock. This was real.
A human was actually brawling with a Tailed Beast—and winning.
"He's… stronger than the Raikage?"
The shinobi hurriedly reached for a flare launcher. But just as they prepared to fire, a woman suddenly appeared before them.
Uchiha Izumi stood there, coldly staring, Mangekyō Sharingan gently spinning in her crimson eyes.
Just then, Naruto's voice rang out:
"Let them fire it. Our goal is to rescue someone, not destroy Kumogakure."
He continued pummeling the Two-Tails without even looking back.
Izumi nodded slightly and withdrew. The shinobi, drenched in cold sweat, fired the flare.
FWOOOSH! A crimson signal streaked into the sky.
—
Kumogakure, Raikage's Office atop the Great Peak
The Fourth Raikage paced anxiously.
"If that monster really shows up… how are we supposed to stop him!?"
Just recalling Naruto's power filled him with regret.
Back then, he'd been too focused on capturing the Sharingan, never considering the consequences of provoking a monster like him.
With that firepower and strength, only he and Killer B could stand a chance.
But if Naruto chose not to fight and just burn the village instead... all of Kumo would be reduced to ashes.
"Big bro… maybe we should just give her back."
Killer B sighed.
"There's no need to covet the Sharingan like that. Even if we get it, it'll take decades to train the users, and they might just turn against us…"
The Raikage's face flickered with hesitation.
The Sharingan—one of the Three Great Dōjutsu—could change the village's fate.
If Kumogakure acquired it, their military strength could skyrocket, maybe even surpass Konoha.
But just as he hesitated, the crimson flare streaked across the sky.
"That's... Yugito's signal!!!"
The Raikage's expression changed drastically as he leapt to his feet.
Killer B also tensed.
"If she had to signal for help… that means Namikaze Menma is really here."
With a thunderous roar, the Raikage punched a wall to pieces and shot out of the office, his body glowing with lightning.
Killer B looked worried, but quickly followed.
—
Moments later, at the Gorge
When the two arrived and saw what lay before them, their pupils shrank.
There lay Matatabi in full Bijū form—near-death, breathing weakly, her massive body twitching.
Beside her, several unconscious Kumogakure shinobi lay scattered.
And atop Matatabi's back stood a golden-haired youth and a black-haired girl.
Naruto waved cheerfully.
"You guys are so slow! I've been waiting forever."
Izumi's expression was icy as she looked at the Fourth Raikage.
"Where is my clansman?"
But the Raikage didn't respond. His eyes were locked on Matatabi, concern in his voice:
"Yugito! Are you okay!?"
Matatabi opened her mouth to respond, but Naruto suddenly slammed another punch into her head.
That was the final straw.
BOOM!
Matatabi's massive form burst apart into a wave of azure chakra.
Nii Yugito's pale, unconscious body fell to the ground, breathing weakly.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, casually summoned a cloak to cover her body, and then sat atop her stomach.
Grabbing her chin, he smirked.
"Just looking at her, I'd say she's not doing too well, huh?"
"NAMIKAZE MENMA!!!"
The Raikage exploded in fury and charged straight at Naruto.
Killer B exhaled and called within:
"Hachibi! Let's go!"
"Got it!"
The Eight-Tails roared to life, fully empowering Killer B, who immediately transformed into the massive Gyūki.
Eight giant tentacles reached toward Naruto.
But Izumi was faster. She formed hand seals and unleashed a massive blaze:
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique)!"
The tentacles ignited, the air filled with the sizzle of roasting meat.
"AHH—hot hot hot!"
Killer B winced in pain.
Izumi turned to him coldly.
"Your opponent is me. I won't let you interrupt that man's battle."
Killer B glanced toward Naruto.
"You trust him that much? My big bro is the Fourth Raikage—even stronger than me, a perfect jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails."
As they exchanged words, the faster of the two—Raikage and Naruto—had already collided.
They each threw a right hook—
BOOM!
The clash of raw power forced the Raikage back two steps, shock in his eyes as he stared at Naruto.
"Your strength… how has it grown so much!?"
(End of Chapter)
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