"So this is how the Nine-Tails' power can be used," Menma murmured. Then he raised both hands and began forming Hand Seals. "Summoning Jutsu: Nine Mask Svāhā!"
As the jutsu took effect, rings of dark purple light appeared behind Menma.
Menma continued, slowly chanting, "Azure, White, Vermilion, Black, Void, South, North, Three, Jade—Nine Masked Beasts!"
With each word he spoke, a corresponding ring appeared. Once all nine rings had manifested, the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, Snake, Southern Dipper Sage, Northern Dipper Sage, Death God, and Celestial Maiden—representing Azure, White, Vermilion, Black, Void, South, North, Three, and Jade—flew out of the rings one by one.
Looking at the Nine Masked Beasts gathered in front of him, Menma wore an expression of deep astonishment.
As their summoner, he naturally knew what the Nine Masked Beasts really were. Put simply, whether it was the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, or the Death God and Celestial Maiden, they were all Nine-Masked Fox Spirits. In other words, they were formed from the Nine-Tails' power. You could even think of them collectively as the Nine-Tails' nine tails!
For that very reason, the Nine Masked Beasts' strength was tied to the Nine-Tails.
As the strongest Tailed Beast, even the Yang Nine-Tails, with only half its Chakra, possessed more Chakra than any of the other Tailed Beasts.
So each of these Nine Masked Beasts, having received one-ninth of the Yang Nine-Tails' Chakra, possessed a fearsome amount of Chakra. Combined with their various unbelievable abilities, they were practically the equivalent of a shinobi force with balanced offense and defense and no weaknesses!
Behind the bars of the seal, the Nine-Tails had originally had no intention of paying Menma any attention. But when it sensed that Menma had summoned the Nine Masked Beasts,