"Ahhh!!!"
Originally, Akashō had thought that he might unlock a new Villain Template at any time in the future, and would need to grind reputation all over again. Compared to those minor fodder, these Kage-level powerhouses were clearly extremely valuable resources. Although each one could provide a huge amount of reputation, killing one meant one less, and they were slow to replace.
So unless absolutely necessary, Akashō didn't want to kill them so easily—after all, they would still be useful in the future.
But right now, Akashō was clearly getting carried away. He crazily controlled the steam to unleash his attacks. Resources? Reputation? What mattered more than his own enjoyment?
Being overly cautious and worrying about everything wasn't the mindset a true villain should have!
Han was trapped in Akashō's palm, enduring a torture as if being roasted alive. His screams rang out without end.
At that moment, a pitch-black sphere suddenly shot over and slammed into the joint of Akashō's arm. Though only the size of a basketball, it pierced through his defenses, drilling deep into the bone.
Boom!!
With a thunderous explosion, blood burst outward. A massive hole instantly appeared in the middle of Akashō's arm.
Amid flying flesh and blood, Akashō immediately lost control of that arm. Han seized the opportunity and quickly escaped from his grasp.
Turning his head, Akashō saw a figure on a distant cliff—clad in dark red, with horns on his head and four tails swaying behind him—roaring in his direction.
"Another Jinchūriki?"
Akashō clicked his tongue in annoyance, glancing at the arm that had been holding Han—it was now completely severed in the middle.
That level of power wasn't any weaker than the explosions caused by his own transformation. Was that a Jinchūriki's ability, or something unique to that individual?
If it was from a Jinchūriki, things might get troublesome.
"That is… the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Rōshi?"
From a safe distance, Nara Shikaku observed the battlefield and muttered,
"Wasn't he traveling? Why is he here?"
"But this is also an opportunity."
Nara Shikaku pulled Akimichi Chōza over and began whispering something into his ear.
"You're late."
Having broken free, Han landed beside Rōshi and spoke in a hoarse voice.
Rōshi glanced at Han, whose body was still trembling uncontrollably, and snorted.
"Good thing I was nearby. Otherwise, I'd be burning incense for you next year."
Recalling the hellish burning pain from earlier, Han gave a bitter smile.
"So? With four tails, can you handle it?"
"And what if I can't? I still had to come save you."
Rōshi shot back, then looked toward the towering figure that had risen again.
"Why not fully transform?"
"They haven't fully withdrawn yet."
"So you still haven't completely mastered full transformation."
"You're one to talk, considering you can't do it either."
"Tch. Still needed me to save you."
Just as the two Jinchūriki were bickering, Nara Shikaku quietly approached them.
"Gentlemen, may I have a word?"
"A Leaf ninja? You've got guts coming here. Aren't you afraid I'll slap you to death?"
Rōshi shot back without hesitation.
"While your Tailed Beast Bombs can indeed deal effective damage to that monster, you're well aware of the charge-up time required."
Nara Shikaku spoke calmly, as if convinced Rōshi would compromise.
"He's right."
Han nodded and added, "Rōshi's partial transformation isn't fully under control. It affects his rationality."
Nara Shikaku nodded in understanding.
"What do you want us to do?"
In the distance, Akashō looked down at the two conspicuous "ants." He casually tore off his barely attached right forearm, then swung it and hurled the massive limb toward them.
"Don't even think about it!!"
A sudden roar rang out as a chubby figure leapt forward, blocking in front of the three.
"Super Expansion Technique!!"
Under the immense wind pressure from the incoming arm, Akimichi Chōza's face twisted, but his body rapidly expanded. In the blink of an eye, he became a giant over ten meters tall.
"Ha!!!"
Boom!!!
The forearm, nearly equal in size, slammed into Chōza's chest. The massive force drove his feet, planted firmly in the ground, sliding back dozens of meters, kicking up countless rocks and dust.
"Butterfly Mode!!"
Chōza's eyes widened. Realizing Super Expansion alone couldn't stop it, he immediately unleashed his trump card. A pair of massive blue chakra wings spread from his back.
When the dust settled, Chōza was still standing—holding up Akashō's arm.
He actually blocked it?
Akashō narrowed his eyes. Even with Chōza's enlarged body, the raw calculation suggested he shouldn't have been able to stop that attack.
Was it because of those wings?
Akashō stared at the chakra wings behind Chōza. Was that a jutsu too?
The ninja power system was truly full of surprises.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Just as Akashō prepared to attack again, a burst of white smoke exploded behind him. A massive purple serpent shot out, wrapping tightly around his legs.
"Damn Orochimaru! Don't forget my hundred sacrifices later!"
Caught off guard, Akashō nearly lost his balance.
Such a huge snake… also summoned by Orochimaru? And it could talk?
As Akashō reached down to grab the snake, Chōza suddenly sprinted forward from afar.
Charging up to Akashō, Chōza leapt into the air, dodged a grab, and threw a punch at his head.
In Akashō's eyes, Chōza's form seemed to blur and fade.
This was the strongest attack in Butterfly Mode—converting fat into power—
"Butterfly Bombing!"
Boom!!!
The punch, even stronger than Han's, blew apart more than half of Akashō's already battered head.
As his brain reeled, the giant serpent yanked its body, causing Akashō to topple sideways.
"Fall back!!"
Yamanaka Inoichi's voice echoed in Chōza's mind. Understanding instantly, Chōza knew Nara Shikaku's side had succeeded. Next was the final killing blow!
Chōza retreated rapidly. The serpent around Akashō's legs vanished in a puff of smoke as Orochimaru dismissed the summoning.
In the distance, two blood-red figures crouched like beasts, heads raised, mouths wide open as red and blue chakra gathered.
"Tailed Beast Bomb!!"
Whoosh—
Two black spheres streaked through the air and slammed directly into Akashō's half-destroyed head.
Boom—
A massive explosion engulfed his head entirely. Even the hidden main body at the back of his neck was affected, blood spraying from nose and mouth under the shockwave.
But the pain snapped Akashō back to clarity.
"Interesting… interesting! Hahahaha!"
His mind surged into an unprecedented state of excitement.
Even when completely countered, they could still coordinate their abilities to deal such damage.
Were these people really enemies… or perfectly synchronized teammates?
From within the smoke, Akashō pushed himself up with one hand. His shattered head emerged back into view.
"He's still alive!?"
From a relatively safe distance, Nara Shikaku frowned deeply and said to Yamanaka Inoichi,
"Tell Han—all the ninjas who can withdraw have already left. That monster is at the end of its strength. Proceed as planned!"
"Yes!"
At the center of the battlefield stood Akashō, barely able to keep upright. Hundreds of meters ahead were the two blood-red Jinchūriki. Behind him were a panting Chōza, out of Butterfly Mode and Super Expansion, and a dust-covered Orochimaru.
Only then did Akashō notice something was off—the surrounding ninja forces had already retreated several kilometers away.
"My turn."
Steam burst from Han's back as he turned into a crimson streak and charged forward. Meanwhile, the tailed beast chakra cloak around Rōshi faded, and he turned to leave.
Orochimaru also carried the exhausted Chōza away.
Watching the lone figure charging at him, Akashō felt puzzled.
Were they deliberately creating a one-on-one arena?
Heh. But what difference could a few kilometers make?
The giant fat man and Orochimaru's snake had already played their roles and were no longer useful. Was there anyone left who could restrain the Colossal Titan?
Just as Akashō prepared to ignore Han and attack the retreating ninja forces, Han suddenly leapt into the air, letting out a thunderous roar.
To Akashō, the sound grew increasingly sharp and piercing.
"Moo!!!!"
Like the bellow of an old ox, the sound instantly drew his attention—but before he could turn his head, a tremendous force struck his waist.
"What!?"
Shock flashed through Akashō's mind. What kind of power was this? It felt even stronger than the Colossal Titan's strength!
Puchi!!
Two horn-like white objects pierced out from his abdomen. Blood gushed out like torrential rain. The immense force at his waist continued, lifting his massive body off the ground.
Boom!!!
The force shifted direction. The world spun, and Akashō's body flipped before being slammed brutally into the ground.