Hello, Kurama?

Uchiha Nan activated Susanoo. A blue Ninja Blade appeared in his hand as he looked down at Mito Uzumaki.

Uchiha Nan felt the power of Susanoo—a force that surged like a landslide with the slightest movement.

Once you experienced such overwhelming power, it was addictive.

"Damn it, let's trade blows!"

Uchiha Nan swung his Ninja Blade rapidly, sending a massive slash of energy hurtling toward Mito Uzumaki.

"Bring it!!!"

Mito Uzumaki's face twisted into a fierce grin beneath her Chakra Cloak. A fight like this was exactly what she'd been hoping for.

She'd spent twenty years cultivating her mind and body. Back on the battlefield, she'd been able to take out a Genin with every punch. She worshipped brute force!

When she'd married into the Senju Clan, it hadn't just been to maintain the friendship between the Uzumaki Clan and the Senju Clan. Another big reason was that no one among the younger generation of the Uzumaki Clan could beat her.

If you couldn't even beat a woman in a fight, what kind of man were you?

Well, it was a rather simple-minded code of honor.

She'd heard that Hashirama Senju of the Senju Clan was powerful. At first, Mito Uzumaki hadn't thought much of it—until the day she saw Wood Release blot out the sky.

A political marriage? Fine by her! It didn't matter if they didn't know each other. As long as the man was strong, they could build their relationship over time!

That was how pure and simple people were in the Warring States Period!

The Chakra inside Mito Uzumaki grew more and more violent. Two more tails sprouted behind her, and she dropped onto all fours. Her roar shook the rubble on the ground into fragments.

Tailed Beast Ball!

A familiar move was all you needed to win!

The black Tailed Beast Ball appeared again, only this time it was considerably larger.

The slash of energy collided with the Tailed Beast Ball. A massive explosion flashed with blinding white light, followed by a huge cloud of smoke.

The "no injuries when there's smoke" rule kicked in!

Uchiha Nan kept swinging his Ninja Blade, giving Mito Uzumaki no chance to catch her breath. Tailed Beast Balls needed time to recharge!

"Keep going!!!"

"Weren't you enjoying yourself when you blasted me just now?"

Uchiha Nan's voice was manic. Being pinned down and blasted by a woman had left him seriously annoyed.

Mito Uzumaki braved the massive slashes of energy, parkouring through the dense forest as Uchiha Nan chased after her, swinging his blade wildly. He was like a towering hunter pursuing a fox that was cornered and waiting to be slaughtered.

Mito Uzumaki kept running while squeezing more and more of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Chakra out of her body, leaving Kurama utterly miserable.

Kurama was a being made of Chakra. Having his Chakra drained felt as awful as having his life force drained.

After about a minute, Mito Uzumaki finally felt that her ultimate move's Chakra gauge was full!

A fox's roar rang out as Kurama's true form emerged. A demon fox, about as tall as Uchiha Nan's Susanoo, appeared on the battlefield.

Uchiha Nan sprang forward. Chasing Mito Uzumaki and hacking at her as she fled had felt great, but it hadn't caused any real damage.

Now there was a huge fox right there for him to hack at. There was no way he could miss.

Uchiha Nan brought down a heavy, powerful blow. Mito Uzumaki raised both paws to block it with difficulty, then swung her tails. Each one slammed into Uchiha Nan like a fist, nearly knocking him senseless.

Seizing the moment when Uchiha Nan was dazed, Mito Uzumaki lunged at him and began biting Susanoo's shoulder. Their senses—and their pain—were linked.

Uchiha Nan cried out in pain and kicked the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox in the stomach. He'd already forgotten about the Ninja Blade in his hand and simply tossed it aside.

He grabbed the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's head with one hand and shoved the other into its mouth!

He went straight for its throat!

Mito Uzumaki felt something lodge in her throat, and an urge to vomit surged through her.

She hadn't felt that way since Hashirama died.

Mito Uzumaki sprang away from Susanoo and squared off against Uchiha Nan again. Then they clashed once more, grappling with each other.

The two giants traded punches and kicks, and their tricks grew more varied. They gouged at each other's eyes and threw low blows, fighting like thugs scrapping by a bridge.

It might not look that powerful, but try throwing a Genin in there. They'd probably melt instantly. It was like two unstoppable top-laners duking it out while an ADC suddenly charged into the middle.

The shockwaves from their battle had already razed the trees for miles around.

The spectators, having learned their lesson, had run far away. They watched the battle with complicated expressions. The clash between two giant beasts, each dozens of meters tall, was truly breathtaking.

The power of a level beyond Kage couldn't be compared to Kage Level.

Uchiha Nan punched the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox in the face. After taking the hit, the fox bit down on Susanoo's fist. Their strength was evenly matched, making it hard to decide a winner quickly.

This couldn't go on!

Mito Uzumaki had the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox inside her, so she had the advantage in stamina. He had to think of something.

Uchiha Nan turned his attention to Kurama. The Mangekyō Sharingan had an unusual degree of control over wild Tailed Beasts. A sealed Tailed Beast was like one locked away in a dark room, with the Jinchūriki holding the reins.

The Mangekyō Sharingan's ability to control a Tailed Beast was greatly weakened in that situation, but using its ocular power to communicate with one should still be possible, right?

Uchiha Nan wasn't sure, but he thought it was worth a try.

Uchiha Nan charged at the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox and pinned him down with both hands, bringing his face close to Kurama's. The Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular power passed through the Tailed Beast Cloak and entered Mito Uzumaki's eyes.

A sliver of Uchiha Nan's consciousness entered the Sealing Space.

The Sealing Space wasn't like the one Uchiha Nan had seen in the anime. It wasn't a dim, dungeon-like place, and there wasn't even a barred gate. Instead, it was a vast, fiery-red space.

This was the deeper realm of Kurama's consciousness.

"An evil little brat from the Uchiha?"

Kurama's voice rang out. His enormous form loomed over Uchiha Nan, his face filled with resentment.

The familiar ocular power of the Mangekyō Sharingan instinctively repulsed him.

A seal could only draw on the Tailed Beasts' power. The ocular power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, on the other hand, could directly control their minds. Back then, Madara Uchiha had used his powerful ocular power to force his way into this space, beaten Kurama to a pulp, and taken complete control of him.

Now another Uchiha had come here—and he had the Mangekyō Sharingan, too. It brought back memories of when Kurama had been treated like a beast of burden.

Madara Uchiha had always treated the Tailed Beasts equally: they were all livestock, meant to be enslaved.

Hashirama Senju hadn't been much better, but at least Hashirama knew how to talk nicely. He even gave compliments!

"Kurama, your power is amazing!"

Thinking of that, Kurama decided to stop reminiscing. The memories that came after weren't very pleasant.

Kurama's face twisted with resentment. He badly wanted to slap Uchiha Nan to death, but in the end, he held back. Madara Uchiha had been far too intimidating.

The Tailed Beasts were completely countered by the Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular power, so Kurama didn't dare act rashly against Uchiha Nan.

Uchiha Nan heard Kurama's words and frowned slightly.

Why did he open with "evil Uchiha brat"? Had he learned that from Tobirama Senju?

Faced with this rude giant fox, Uchiha Nan decided not to hold it against him. After all, he still needed Kurama's help.

"Kurama, hello!"

Uchiha Nan spoke. At the sound of that name, Kurama's pupils instantly widened.