Genji and the others cried out in alarm, but Taiichi remained unmoved.
A tailed beast bomb was certainly powerful. Unfortunately-it took too long to charge.
As the tailed beast bomb neared completion, bloodthirsty cruelty flashed in the Three-Tails' enormous eyes.
Taiichi curled his lip and spat, "Idiot!"
He formed a few hand seals, and two thick rock pillars shot out from the giant hands enclosing the Three-Tails, one above and one below.
Before everyone's stunned eyes, they slammed into its enormous turtle head from both directions.
Its gaping mouth snapped shut, swallowing the nearly completed tailed beast bomb.
The bloodlust in its eyes instantly gave way to terror. Before it could react any further, a violent explosion erupted inside its mouth.
Even though it was not a fully formed tailed beast bomb-
Even though it was its own chakra-
It had still exploded inside its terribly vulnerable mouth and head.
Wisps of smoke drifted from the Three-Tails' eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth. Anyone could tell it was finished. If it survived, that alone would attest to its formidable vitality.
Sure enough, as the two rock pillars withdrew, its enormous turtle head flopped out, hanging limply in midair without a trace of consciousness.
The next moment, the Three-Tails' massive body began to shrink. Its tailed beast transformation ended, and its tremendous power surged back into the seal on Karatachi Yagura's abdomen.
Led by Genji, the Mist Village shinobi hurried forward, immediately placing themselves between Taiichi and the jinchuriki.
Taiichi made a generous show of goodwill, without the slightest shame over the numerous covert tricks he had played. He offered an appropriately friendly smile and even stepped back a few paces to maintain a safe distance.
Only after seeing Taiichi's actions did Genji and the others breathe a sigh of relief.
His