The two massive tailed beasts were completely unaffected by the hallucinogenic miasma. The Two-Tails charged toward Might Guy and Uchiha Itachi, who were holding their breaths, while the Seven-Tails began preparing a Tailed Beast Bomb aimed directly at the densest part of the crowd.
"Magnet Release — Protection!" Shigeo Hyūga spread his magnetic sand to shield the two.
Matatabi's claws raked furiously against the magnetic defense, each strike carving deep grooves into the barrier. Yet the Magnet Release seemed alive, instantly replenishing itself with the flow of chakra, nullifying the damage entirely.
"It's Magnet Release—a Kekkei Genkai! But if I'm not mistaken, he just used Dust Release earlier. How can anyone possess two different Kekkei Genkai?" Temari of the Sand concealed her nose and mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief as she watched Shigeo fighting.
Shigeo, noticing the ever-thickening miasma, shouted, "All of you who can use Wind Release—what are you waiting for? Don't just stand there!"
If holding one's breath could resist the miasma, then surely Wind Release could blow it away.
Without hesitation, Shigeo performed the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. Dozens of his clones spread throughout the arena, all using Wind Release to whip up a roaring tempest that dispersed the choking haze. Seeing this, other ninja quickly joined in.
With the miasma scattered, Shigeo's clones dashed toward the Seven-Tails, drawing its focus and pulling its Tailed Beast Bomb's trajectory away from the panicked spectators.
Thunder cracked across the sky as rain began to pour, and the demonic beast screamed suddenly, "Chiii-ooo!"
Another chakra shockwave burst forth from the beast, tearing craters into the spectator stands. Its screech, reminiscent of the Ten-Tails' wails, drove the two fully manifested Tailed Beasts into further frenzy.
The demon beast locked onto Shigeo. The Seven-Tails aimed its Tailed Beast Bomb at his swarming clones, while Matatabi, frustrated by its failure to break through the magnetic sand, turned its rage toward the crowd.
Both Tailed Beasts began forming Tailed Beast Bombs, while the demon beast gathered an even larger chakra shockwave. The situation worsened by the second.
This time, the chakra blast wasn't the real danger—the combined detonation of two Tailed Beast Bombs would flatten the entire city of Takeshi.
Even at full power, Shigeo knew he could only divert one. The other would still annihilate the village.
A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
He had never considered himself a saint. If he were selfish, he could simply teleport himself away with his dimensional jutsu and abandon the disaster.
But he hadn't run. At this most critical moment, he was still trying everything to protect everyone else.
"Then there's only one choice left."
Shigeo smirked self-mockingly, then closed his eyes. With a sudden surge, a colossal wave of chakra burst from his body, flooding the entire arena with blinding light—this was the power of a tailed beast.
The overwhelming chakra left all hidden observers stunned.
"What's happening? Is he also a jinchūriki?" Onoki of the Stone stared down from the stands, utterly shocked.
No one could answer him. If the combined chakra of the Two-Tails and Seven-Tails could rival the demon beast, then Shigeo's chakra alone dwarfed them both.
His form transformed into a tailed beast state no one had ever seen before—part Nine-Tails, part Three-Tails, with traits of the Five-Tails and Six-Tails, shifting and flowing with radiant energy, impossible to identify.
"Retreat—everyone retreat!"
Nara Shikaku, watching from the passageways, ordered the children to evacuate at once.
With the miasma gone, the rest of the crowd also surged toward the exits.
But the two tailed beasts turned, their Tailed Beast Bombs fully charged, and aimed them at the most obvious target—the glowing Shigeo Hyūga.
There was no way he would give them the chance. Shigeo hurled himself forward, cloaked in immense tailed beast chakra, and collided head-on with the Two-Tails and Seven-Tails.
The deafening impact shook the entire arena. His chakra-fueled fists pummeled both beasts, canceling their Tailed Beast Bombs in the process. Even the demon beast wasn't spared—Shigeo's blows smashed directly into its gaping maw, splattering blood and forcing tears from its eyes.
With a thunderous roar, the beast vanished in a puff of smoke—it had fled.
The moment it disappeared, the air cleared. Shigeo felt his body finally absorbing natural energy again.
He thrust out two massive chakra hands, grabbing both tailed beasts. "Give me back my friends!"
As his shout echoed, his body shrank back to human form, though the chakra arms remained, pinning Matatabi and Chōmei in place.
"Sage Art — Wood Release: Myōjinmon!"
A cascade of divine red gates slammed down from the sky, stacking one atop another until the two beasts lay completely pinned.
"Sealing Technique — Eight Trigrams Seal!"
Sealing formulae spread across their bodies, radiant light exploding outward.
Everyone who had tried to flee stopped in awe. Was this the power of a god?
The other Leaf students gawked, finally understanding. No wonder the village had sent him straight to the exams. He wasn't relying on luck or trickery—his power towered far beyond anything they could dream of.
There was no "dumb luck." There was no "dirt-cheap victory." Shigeo was a true shinobi, his strength utterly undeniable.
As the glow faded, Fū and Yugito Nii collapsed beneath the divine gates, human once again.
Shigeo had resealed their beasts safely back into them. Their lives were preserved.
The Takigakure and Kumogakure ninja rushed in to retrieve their jinchūriki.
Elsewhere, Kakashi was locked in desperate combat with Uchiha Obito. Realizing the battle was lost, Obito seized the chance to warp away into his space-time dimension.
Meanwhile, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu watched from the stone walls, their fused form half-hidden. Both were shaken.
"What the hell is he?" Black Zetsu whispered. "Which tailed beast could he possibly be the jinchūriki of?"
(End of Chapter)
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