"Today, even without us Iwagakure making a move, you're dead for sure!"
While Ōnoki was hiding in the shadows, reveling in his scheme of using others as his blade, two jinchūriki had already entered full tailed-beast state, and the summoned beast—the Myōjū—erupted with another wave of chakra shockwaves before letting out a sky-shattering roar.
The blazing light tore across the night sky, its piercing shrieks drilling into people's ears. Panic spread as screams, desperate cries for help, and the chaos of a stampeding crowd filled the air. The Myōjū's chakra shockwaves lashed out relentlessly, and the exits of the massive arena were only at the central and lower levels. Those stuck higher up or further back had nowhere to escape, trapped like turtles in a jar.
Every blast left more shrieks echoing from the stands. People surged toward the exits in a frenzy, shoving and trampling one another. Shinobi rushed forward to draw the beast's attention, giving civilians in the south, west, and north stands a slim chance to escape.
But with such a vast crowd, panic quickly spiraled. As the mob flailed in chaos, the Myōjū's attention shifted back toward them.
Ninjutsu rained down—Wind Release, Water Release, Lightning Release—anything that could be fired directly to keep the beast distracted from the spectators.
Meanwhile, the fifty-one genin competitors were scattered—some wounded, others fleeing. If not for several jōnin forming a blockade around the two berserk jinchūriki and the rampaging Myōjū, the casualties would already have been catastrophic.
Adding to the chaos, Deidara's clay bombs rained down one after another. The boy seemed to be enjoying himself, forgetting entirely that this was no time for "art."
"Shigeo Hyūga, if you dare use Lightning Release again, I'll kill you! Just you wait!" Deidara roared.
If he hadn't shouted that, others might have believed he was focusing on the beasts. But in truth, his obsession was with killing Shigeo.
Shigeo shot into the air, bringing his hand down sharply against the back of Deidara's neck. "Brat, can't you read the situation? Or is this all just your Iwagakure's scheme?"
Deidara collapsed unconscious, while below, the battlefield was drenched in blood.
Kakashi staggered, bleeding heavily from wounds inflicted by Matatabi's claws. The Myōjū roared again, and its sound waves induced hallucinations. Shinobi began lashing out blindly—even against their own allies.
Uchiha Itachi supported Kakashi, his brow furrowed in anguish as his mind raced for a solution. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Then, in that dire moment, his eyes throbbed with searing pain—his Sharingan had awakened.
During the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, just one beast had devastated the village. Now, with two jinchūriki in full transformation and a summoned monster, the situation was even worse.
Even with a dozen jōnin fighting, their numbers were pitiful compared to what a whole village could muster. Was this truly uncontrollable?
Shinobi hurled themselves forward only to be flung back by one shockwave after another. Their numbers dwindled rapidly.
Shigeo clenched his fists tight. He had no choice left.
He created two shadow clones. His true body lunged toward the Myōjū, aiming to buy time for civilians to flee.
One clone confronted Matatabi, the Two-Tails; the other faced Chōmei, the Seven-Tails. Both jinchūriki were lost to madness, their only instinct to slaughter. If his clones could hold them off, there might still be hope.
The beasts' roars shredded eardrums. No one could approach.
Taki and Kumo hadn't brought sealing teams, and the Iwa "staff" only pretended to fight. Beyond shielding their own genin, they did almost nothing to restrain the chaos.
Might Guy and Nara Shikaku worked desperately, both shielding their Konoha students and guarding against allies who had fallen under the Myōjū's genjutsu. Once their students were safe, Guy joined Shigeo on the front line.
The Myōjū unleashed its illusion-laden breath again. Guy faltered, dazed. Shigeo sensed it, but when he turned, it was already too late. Guy was trading blows with Uchiha Itachi.
"Sensei, please snap out of it!"
Itachi had only just awakened his Sharingan and had no mastery of it yet. Facing Guy's overwhelming taijutsu speed, he was thrown into disarray.
"Damn it…" Kakashi charged at the jinchūriki—only to be intercepted by Obito, stepping from his warped space.
"Your fight is with me."
His mask was the same as that of the mysterious man from the Nine-Tails' attack. Rage flooded Kakashi's face. "It was you—you killed my sensei and his wife!"
He launched at Obito, and the two clashed furiously.
In the blink of an eye, all support around Shigeo was occupied elsewhere.
The Two-Tails' claws slashed with terrifying speed, shredding one of Shigeo's clones into smoke.
The Seven-Tails loomed seventeen meters tall. Without even using its aerial advantage, it bombarded the arena with waves of insect-like chakra blasts. Explosive scales detonated across a wide area, instantly destroying Shigeo's other clone.
Shigeo began drawing in nature energy to enter Sage Mode—but the Myōjū's illusory fumes choked the flow, preventing him from absorbing natural energy.
And then, as the beast let out another roar, a shrill whistle echoed from some unseen corner of the arena.
The Myōjū's breathing grew ragged, and its illusionary aura intensified, blanketing an even wider area.
Spectators who had been fleeing suddenly froze. Cries and panic died away. Children hiding beneath the stands rose stiffly to their feet, eyes glazed. Even several instructors guarding them swayed unsteadily, consciousness wavering.
(End of Chapter)
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