Naruto was now in a completely uncontrollable state, launching a furious attack on Gaara.
Gaara, also having lost control, exchanged punches with Naruto without attempting to defend himself.
However, Naruto seemed to have the upper hand.
Gaara lashed his tail at Naruto with enough force to send him flying, but Naruto gripped the ground with one hand, leaving five deep scratches, and refused to budge.
In response, Naruto twisted his body during a handstand, delivering a powerful kick to Gaara's chin that sent him airborne.
Seeing Gaara lifted off the ground, Sasuke seized the opportunity. He gathered Chidori in his right hand, aiming to pierce Gaara's body.
But just as Sasuke lunged forward, Shindai blocked his path.
"Don't go," Shindai warned. "If you do, you'll get caught between Naruto and that redheaded punk."
As soon as Shindai finished speaking, a third arm made of sand emerged from Gaara's body, colliding violently with Naruto's fist and sending sand flying everywhere.
Had Sasuke gone in earlier, those punches might have struck him instead.
Sasuke anxiously said, "Hurry up and think of something! It seems the more tails Naruto grows, the worse his loss of control becomes. His fourth tail is about to emerge!"
"Tch, you're asking for help but still acting like this? Fine, just watch from the sidelines."
Shindai formed Hand Seals.
[Magnet Release! Iron Sand Binding Coffin!]
Shindai surrounded Naruto's body with iron sand, immobilizing him completely.
Then he quickly flashed in front of Naruto, preparing to activate the device—when suddenly, a fist cloaked in crimson aura erupted from Naruto, catching Shindai off guard with a direct hit to the face.
Stunned by the blow, Shindai spun through the air several times before landing.
At the same time, a voice different from Naruto's own came from Naruto: "You damn liar!"
Before hitting the ground, Shindai was caught by Kakashi.
Kakashi sighed, "That was the Nine-Tails' voice, wasn't it? When did you manage to deceive the Nine-Tails?"
Although Sasuke knew he shouldn't be thinking this way, he couldn't help feeling genuinely amused.
Rubbing his swollen cheek, Shindai snapped angrily, "So what if I lied to you? I wanted to trick you! You're just too gullible—you deserved it!"
Letting out a furious roar, Naruto looked ready to kill Shindai, and his fourth tail was nearly fully formed.
Shindai reinforced the pressure of the Iron Sand Binding Coffin, then instantly reappeared in front of Naruto. He placed the device crafted through Orochimaru and Kabuto's research on Naruto's head and pressed the crimson button.
The Device pressed against Naruto's head instantly transformed into something resembling a helmet, emitting chakra that severed the Nine-Tails' chakra within him. This Device also had a sealing effect, blocking any further influence of the Nine-Tails' chakra on Naruto.
The Tailed Beast Cloak surrounding Naruto immediately dissipated, although his eyes remained beast-like for a moment. His gaze gradually regained clarity, revealing a trace of innocent stupidity.
"Huh? What just happened to me?"
Shindai twitched his lips. "There you go again—lost control."
Naruto immediately jumped up in frustration. "Huh? That stinky fox promised to lend me chakra to take down that raccoon, but he tricked me!"
Shindai rolled his eyes. "If he tricked you or not—I don't know. But with your frail body, even if the Nine-Tails hadn't deceived you, you still wouldn't have been able to handle its massive tailed beast chakra without losing control."
However, an even bigger threat was about to appear.
Gaara's savage roar echoed out: "I'll kill you all! Every last one of you will die!"
Gaara's body rapidly expanded, and the enormous Shukaku appeared inside the arena.
At this point, though, this Shukaku was merely Kara, still dominated by Gaara's consciousness.
Naruto stared blankly at Shukaku. "So this is the tailed beast residing inside him?"
Gaara stood atop Shukaku's head. "Witness the true power of Sand's Living Embodiment!"
[Feigning Sleep Technique]!
Gaara plunged himself into deep slumber, allowing the One-Tail Shukaku within him to fully awaken.
As soon as Shukaku appeared, it shrieked in excitement. "Finally out! Freedom at last, baby!"
Shukaku's gaze landed on Naruto. "Target spotted! Take you out, and he dies with you!"
Under Shukaku's stare, Naruto couldn't help feeling afraid and instinctively took a step back.
But suddenly, Shindai actively removed the Device from Naruto's head before saying to him, "You wanted to fight Shukaku, right? Then keep giving him chakra! Otherwise, I'll tell Shukaku how completely you've been fooling him!"
Naruto looked at Shindai in bewilderment. "Ah?"
The next instant, the Tailed Beast Cloak reappeared around Naruto, with another fist emerging from it striking toward Shindai—but this time, Shindai dodged.
Among heaven and earth, face matters most. If Shukaku ever found out it had been thoroughly deceived by a human, it would definitely laugh at him forever. Although the Nine-Tails dislikes Shindai, it hates Shukaku even more!
Naruto quickly blurted out, "Hey, this has nothing to do with me!"
"I know it's not your fault," Shindai replied calmly, handing the Device to Kakashi, "If Naruto develops a third tail anytime soon, press this Device onto his head and push the crimson button."
Shindai flicked his lighter, exhaled a puff of smoke toward Shukaku, and sighed, "Now comes the real trouble. Kakashi, take Naruto and Sasuke to reinforce the others, then bring Obito over here. We'll handle this guy!"
Shindai's eyes sharpened as he stared at Shukaku, with Pakura and Hikaku Uchiha standing firmly on either side of him.
Facing a Tailed Beast, Kakashi's ninjutsu wouldn't be enough—it would require techniques capable of causing massive damage, which he didn't possess.
Kakashi nodded and said, "I understand. Hold on a bit while I go get Obito!"
"Wind Release: Air Bullets!"
Shukaku slapped his big belly and fired a high-density chakra-filled air blast from his mouth.
Shindai shouted urgently at Hikaku Uchiha, "Hikaku Uchiha! Give me Naruto's chakra!"
Hikaku Uchiha immediately activated the Eight Trigrams Sealing Array, transferring Naruto's chakra to Shindai.
The Tailed Beast Chakra within Naruto transferred onto Shindai's body.
Soon, a thin red glow appeared around Shindai.
This was exactly what Shindai had planned—he was using Naruto, or more accurately, the Nine-Tails itself, as a power bank.
[Supernova Shindai!]
Infused with the Nine-Tails' chakra, the Supernova Shindai in Shindai's hand turned slightly red, its power significantly enhanced. He hurled it forward, intercepting and neutralizing Shukaku's Air Bullet.
Shindai, Pakura, and Hikaku Uchiha worked together here to hold off Shukaku.
Thanks to the Nine-Tails' chakra within Naruto, they didn't have to worry about running out of chakra, giving them the stamina needed to keep Shukaku occupied.
Meanwhile, as everyone fought desperately on the battlefield, Hizashi Hyuga set his own plan in motion within the Hyuga clan compound.
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