Suppressing Shukaku

The toad boss Gamabunta had appeared!

Staring at the enormous figure before him, Sasuke Uchiha was once again stunned.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique... Summoning Technique... How much else is this guy hiding?"

Watching Gamabunta appear, Lin Mu fell into thought as well.

Temari and Kankuro, the two he'd just fought, had already run off the moment Shukaku appeared.

But Lin Mu couldn't run away!

According to the original storyline, Naruto Uzumaki would use Gamabunta's power to wake Gaara, then ultimately defeat him with the Nine-Tails' power.

But if things played out that way, he wouldn't be able to complete the special mission the system had just issued!

What should he do? What should he do? What should he do?!

There was no penalty for failing the mission, but making him give up such a generous reward...

Lin Mu really couldn't bear to!

No!

Lin Mu kept his eyes fixed on the battlefield. He had to find a chance to suppress Gaara!

At that moment, Gamabunta was already locked in a fierce battle with Gaara!

Gamabunta was the toad boss for a reason. Even with Gaara in his One-Tail full form, he was still outclassed in experience.

"Whoosh!"

Gamabunta leaped into the air and slashed straight through Shukaku's body.

"Arrrrgh!"

Gaara's arm was severed!

The intense pain drew a deafening scream from him.

"How interesting, Naruto Uzumaki! In that case... I'll let you see the true power of the Avatar of Sand!"

A vicious glint flashed in Gaara's eyes as his figure slowly appeared atop the One-Tail, Shukaku.

Gamabunta's gaze sharpened when he saw Gaara standing atop Shukaku.

"That black eye... he's been possessed by Shukaku, too. It caused him to develop insomnia."

"Insomnia?"

Naruto looked puzzled.

"Someone possessed by the One-Tail, Shukaku, can't get a full night's sleep... It's terrifying! If they fall asleep, Shukaku gradually devours their personality. One day, they'll lose themselves completely!"

Gamabunta kept his eyes fixed on Gaara, then slowly explained his condition to Naruto.

He continued:

"Since he can hardly sleep at all, the host's personality tends to become unstable. But... while the host is awake, Shukaku's original power is suppressed. However, if the host falls asleep..."

Standing atop Shukaku, Gaara formed a hand seal, then closed his eyes and abruptly toppled over!

In that instant, the One-Tail's pupils flashed gold, taking the shape of coins.

At the same time, his aura changed completely. If Shukaku had seemed somewhat human before, now he had become a completely savage beast!

"His aura changed completely..."

Uneasy, Naruto looked at Gamabunta, unsure what to do.

Gamabunta could sense the danger too. His muscles tensed as he gripped his sword tightly.

"Now he's the real Shukaku!"

Shukaku stood motionless in the middle of the forest for a moment, then suddenly burst into a shrill laugh unlike any he'd given before.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha! I'm finally out!"

Shukaku's huge, coin-shaped pupils darted around before suddenly locking onto Gamabunta and Naruto.

"Ha ha ha ha ha! I've found the ones I want to kill!"

Shukaku seemed to have gone mad.

He'd been sealed away for far too long!

The moment he emerged, he could no longer restrain his murderous urges!

He looked at Gamabunta, his belly swelling as he struck it with his one remaining giant claw.

"Wind Release: Air Bullet!"

His overwhelming chakra gathered into a terrifying blast of wind, which shot toward Gamabunta at an incredible speed.

Gamabunta's expression turned grave. He leaped aside and formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Gun Bullet!"

He spat out a huge ball of water, which met Shukaku's Air Bullet with equally terrifying force.

"Wind Release: Air Bullet!"

The One-Tail, Shukaku, went berserk. Chakra continued to gather inside him as he fired blast after blast of wind.

Gamabunta fought with all his might, repeatedly forming water cannons to defend himself.

But the One-Tail, Shukaku, had the upper hand.

Gamabunta was struck by an Air Bullet in midair. A tremendous boom rang out, and he crashed to the ground!

"What should we do? What should we do?"

Seeing how powerful the One-Tail was, Naruto, riding on Gamabunta's back, began to panic.

"You just have to punch the kid on the One-Tail's back. Listen to me..."

Dodging the One-Tail's attacks, Gamabunta spoke to Naruto:

"I'm not very good at the Transformation Technique. Since we're joined together, use it to turn me into a creature with powerful claws and sharp fangs. I'll hold the One-Tail still, and you can punch him!"

Naruto froze for a moment, but Gamabunta had already charged forward!

Sharp fangs and claws, sharp fangs and claws, sharp fangs and claws...

What creature had sharp fangs and claws?

Suddenly, inspiration struck Naruto. He formed hand seals.

"Transformation Technique!"

"Poof!"

A thick cloud of smoke billowed up, and a giant fox burst through it.

That fox... was the Nine-Tails!

Shukaku stared at the fox, stunned for a brief moment.

Gamabunta seized the opportunity, lunging forward and digging his two claws into the One-Tail's shoulders. At the same time, the Nine-Tails' nine tails lashed out and wrapped tightly around Shukaku.

Shukaku had already recovered. His massive body shook violently.

He'd worked so hard to get out. How could he let himself be sent back so easily?

Energy surged violently from Shukaku as he attacked Gamabunta.

Gamabunta was hit by the powerful assault and could no longer hold him down.

But if they missed this chance, they might never get another one this good!

It was a perfect opportunity for Lin Mu, too.

The instant Gamabunta transformed into the Nine-Tails, Lin Mu rushed toward the One-Tail, Shukaku.

As soon as Gamabunta restrained Shukaku, Lin Mu quickly ran along the One-Tail's body toward his head.

At once, the Deep Forest Bloom experience card appeared in his hand.

He squeezed hard!

The experience card shattered!

A strange but powerful force poured into his body, and the character for "sit" appeared in Lin Mu's palm.

The force seemed to be especially effective against Tailed Beasts. It even blocked the powerful burst of energy Shukaku had just unleashed.

"Bang!"

Gamabunta was sent flying by a swipe of Shukaku's claw, but by then, Lin Mu had reached Shukaku's head!

"Be suppressed, Deep Forest Bloom!"

Lin Mu raised his right hand and pressed the "sit" character in his palm against Shukaku's forehead.

That power, which was especially effective against Tailed Beasts, surged into Shukaku's body in an instant!