Shukaku's Grudge (2)

The unusual behavior of the One-Tail, Shukaku, naturally drew the attention of those on the battlefield.

Inside a hidden residence nearby, a young red-haired man, observing the situation through his Sand Eye, tightened his expression and muttered to himself.

"Who on earth... could provoke such intense hatred from Shukaku!?"

Just then, his brow furrowed, and he exclaimed in surprise.

"No! Shukaku is trying to break away from the battlefield, and Bunpuku's consciousness has been completely suppressed!"

As he spoke, Shukaku's face on the battlefield displayed an incredibly human-like expression of rage. It arched its brows, its mouth curling into a hideous grin as it stared fixedly in one direction.

Ignoring Orochimaru and Manda, the beast slowly crouched its massive, bloated body, its hind leg muscles coiled tight, its giant tail pressed flat against its frame.

At that very moment.

Orochimaru commanded Manda to launch a full-scale attack. Under the terrifying impact of the giant snake, Shukaku's body was struck before it could leap.

"BOOM!"

The sound of the violent collision echoed across the field. Shukaku's two sharp claws dug deep into Manda's skull, its massive body sliding backward across the ground.

The two remained locked in a stalemate.

"You bastards, how dare you interrupt me at a time like this!!"

Having had its jump interrupted, a furious Shukaku glared at Manda, growling with a twisted expression.

Manda ignored the beast, focusing all its effort on using its massive serpentine body to restrain every movement Shukaku made.

Even as it coiled tightly around the beast, the giant snake's body was visibly trembling violently.

"Orochimaru, I have done what I was hired to do. You will have to handle the rest yourself. Don't forget, my 200 corpses!"

Manda's snake-like pupils fixed on Orochimaru atop its head as it spoke in a low,