The thunderous explosion drew the attention of the Cloud Village ninja in the distance, and they all turned toward Cloud Thunder Canyon.
One dark-skinned, bald Cloud Village ninja panicked. "This is bad! Killer Bee-sama is in trouble! We have to get over there!"
Two Cloud Village ninja rushed over and surveyed the canyon from a high mountain.
The Tailed Beast Ball Killer B had unleashed had completely destroyed Cloud Thunder Canyon. Several peaks had collapsed into the lake in the explosion.
On a mound of earth at the very center stood an enormous beast with eight tails, resembling both an ox and an octopus.
The Cloud Village ninja recognized him. "...Killer Bee-sama? Why has he transformed into the Eight-Tails?"
"Didn't Raikage-sama specifically tell him not to do that?"
The Eight-Tails was immensely powerful. Even a casual strike could destroy a mountain.
Unless there was absolutely no other choice, Killer B was forbidden from transforming into the Eight-Tails.
The young, yellow-skinned ninja noticed the strangers facing the Eight-Tails.
"Look! Killer Bee-sama is fighting some people!"
The bald ninja looked over and recognized them. "Those are the uniforms of the Akatsuki, the organization that captured Yugito! They're from the Akatsuki!"
In the waters of Cloud Thunder Canyon.
"Suigetsu, wake up! Suigetsu!"
Karin supported Suigetsu, who lay unconscious in the water.
It was a miracle that Suigetsu had survived taking a Tailed Beast Ball head-on, but now he was drooling.
When the Tailed Beast Ball struck him, Suigetsu had turned his entire body into water, avoiding most of the explosion. Even so, part of his body had been vaporized by it.
From a mountain peak, Itachi watched Sasuke's back rise and fall as he breathed. He murmured, "Sasuke, what choice will you make?"
Sasuke panted heavily, his face filled with exhaustion and defeat.