The Will: A New Leader for the Sky Ninja!

As Zero-Tails' body shattered completely, Shinnō emerged from within it.

His aged, withered face was a picture of dishevelment and disbelief.

Even now, he could not fully grasp what had happened.

Zero-Tails was a terrifying Tailed Beast of unimaginable power, a calamity with enough energy to run all of Ancor Vantian. Had the energy his opponent released really burst it apart?

What kind of absurd spectacle was this?

Or had his opponent trapped him in another evil illusion?

The latter seemed far more likely, and Shinnō grew increasingly certain of it.

And if he could recognize the illusion for what it was, all he had to do was break it.

Just as I'd expect from a clan Konoha brands evil.

Resorting to such disgusting tricks again and again!

A vicious look gradually replaced the shock on Shinnō's face. His wrinkled eyes fixed on the hateful young man before him like those of a vulture that had starved for days.

But before he could disrupt the chakra within him and shout the decisive word, "Release!"

A hideous voice drifted up from beneath the fissure Zero-Tails' tentacles had torn open.

With it came fear, madness, and terror that leaped straight into his heart!

Those feelings clearly were not Shinnō's own. He was desperate to rip away the mask of this illusion and tear that bastard to pieces.

Which meant they could have only one source:

Zero-Tails!

He had willingly sacrificed himself to the monster and fused their lives together. That was why he could feel what it felt!

And right now, something—or several things, several strange creatures—seemed to be tearing at it, fighting over it, and devouring it!

What on earth is happening?

The question rose in his mind. Even the "Release!" poised on his tongue died away beneath that mounting tide