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The three chakra orbs orbiting Neji's body converged between his palms, blazing with light.
ROAR!
The sound of a tiger's cry split the air.
A massive white tiger burst forth slightly smaller than Yugito's fully transformed Two-Tails, yet no less imposing. White lightning crackled over its body in wild arcs, its presence radiating raw power.
This wasn't just an ordinary technique. Neji had fused two high-level martial skills into this form, giving the Chakra Beast the persistence and control of a female martial artist's summoned beast remaining on the field and moving at his will.
The clouds follow the dragon, the wind follows the tiger.
With a thunderous roar, the tiger pounced, slamming the Two-Tails to the ground in a violent surge of force.
MRRROOOWW!
The blue-flamed Tailed Beast found itself momentarily pinned. Yugito's eyes widened her full strength couldn't break free immediately.
Two spectral tails lashed like whips, striking the tiger's flank with explosive force. Lightning and fire collided in bursts of blinding light.
The Two-Tails rolled and sank her twin rows of serrated teeth into the tiger's shoulder.
Electricity and blue fire erupted from her jaws in a violent surge. Her mismatched eyes flared, and the heat pouring from her maw intensified.
WHOOOSH!
A torrent of flame spewed forth, spreading like wildfire across the tiger's body. The blue fire clung stubbornly, eating away at the construct.
Neji's expression stayed calm. "As expected… that alone isn't enough. But it's pushed her to her limit."
Through the mask, his Tenseigan saw Yugito's human form within the Two-Tails' body, chakra output at its peak. That meant her "experience yield" had reached maximum value it was time to finish this.
Ordinary jōnin barely interested him. Unless they tapped forbidden techniques like Lee opening the Gates, Tsunade activating her Yin Seal, or the Fourth Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode their value was limited.
But jinchūriki in full beast form? They were boss-level targets. The more tails they manifested, the greater the payoff.
And right now, the Two-Tails was worth the most she'd ever be.
Neji gathered chakra into his hands once more. The sudden surge made the Two-Tails release her bite, her instincts screaming a warning too late.
Chakra Beast: Thunder Dragon's Descent!
A dragon's roar echoed across the battlefield. A massive dragon of pure lightning erupted forth, spiraling toward its prey. Yugito barely managed to dodge, the searing heat from its passage raking over her side.
She had been wary from the start, but even so, the scale and variety of Neji's techniques shook her.
If this continued… she would lose.
"What are you thinking about?" Neji's voice came from above.
She looked up just in time to see him bring his blade down. The ground split in a jagged scar beneath the strike. She leapt aside straight into the sweeping tail of the Thunder Dragon, which slammed into her beast form.
The impact hurled her through several stone spires, embedding her in a cliff face.
Blood spilled from her mouth as her huge body trembled. Blue flames fought to burn away the lingering lightning damage crackling over her.
High above, Neji glanced toward the village then back to Yugito. "Time to end this. Someone… is on their way."
In the distance, the Fourth Raikage blazed toward them in a cloak of lightning, his speed shattering the ground.
Neji raised his hand. On the ground, the white tiger tensed. In the air, the Thunder Dragon coiled.
They struck together.
The roar of dragon and tiger merged into a single cataclysmic blast. Lightning and raw chakra detonated in an explosion that split the mountain peak.
The Raikage froze mid-stride, eyes wide at the sight of a mountaintop sheared away. The shock only lasted a heartbeat before he pushed himself faster he could no longer feel the Two-Tails' chakra.
When he arrived, he saw only destruction and a black-clad figure vanishing with Yugito at their side.
He landed among the rubble, fury blazing in his eyes, and drove his lightning-wrapped fist into the ground.
"They've gone too far… I won't forgive this!"
Was it Akatsuki?
The warning from Konoha echoed in his mind, and he laid the blame squarely at their feet. The D-Organization was too mysterious Akatsuki, with its known power, was the more likely culprit.
"Akatsuki! The Hidden Cloud will make you pay!"
His blow shattered a nearby boulder into dust.
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D-Organization Base
Yugito stood motionless, her eyes empty, Neji's Tenseigan control locking her mind and body.
Just like Toneri once manipulated Hinata, she was now little more than a puppet in his hands.
Eyes closed, Neji felt the fragments merge within him One-Tail, Two-Tails, Three-Tails—forming a single, larger piece. The chaotic fog over its surface receded, revealing the leafy crown of an immense tree.
Only four pieces remained: Four-Tails, Six-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Ten-Tails.
The Eight-Tails could wait unless the Raikage was foolish enough to let Killer Bee wander outside the village.
The Four-Tails was in Iwagakure. The Six-Tails in Kirigakure. Both would need to be taken soon.
And the Ten-Tails… Neji's gaze darkened. Once he had the others, he would make his move.
Pain… I'll deal with you ahead of schedule.
As for Yugito, his eyes narrowed. "The next experiment will use you."
He left the room, already planning his next hunt. There were beasts to claim… and it was almost time to meet Kabuto, Orochimaru, and Sasuke.
Three years had passed. He wondered how far they'd come and whether Edo Tensei was perfected.
'If so… would Self-Reincarnation work on the reanimated? It likely wouldn't restore true life, but it was worth testing.'
Soon, he thought.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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