"Boom—"
Shukaku's enormous tail slammed hard into Kumamoto, and the violent impact made the few surviving houses nearby tremble.
Even Kumamoto, with its thick hide and sturdy build, couldn't help roaring after taking that blow. The ground beneath its feet shattered in an instant.
But Shukaku merely grunted. There was no triumphant smile on its face.
At that very moment, its enormous tail was being held tightly in Kumamoto's embrace!
Kumamoto looked almost human as it stood there, its two incredibly thick forepaws clutching Shukaku's tail tightly. Its bear face was twisted into a fierce grimace.
At the sight, Shukaku's expression darkened. It growled furiously.
"Damn you, little runt! How dare you touch my tail!"
"Just die already!"
Its enormous mouth snapped open, and a ball of wind gathered at the corner of its savage maw.
"Wind Release: Air Bullet!"
With a furious shout, the streaking ball of wind slammed into Kumamoto at point-blank range. The terrifyingly spinning gust seemed to tear and slice through everything.
Even Kumamoto's thick fur was ripped apart by the fearsome Air Bullet, leaving blood streaming from its body!
Struck so badly while clinging tightly to Shukaku's tail, Kumamoto's forepaws suddenly loosened. It threw its head back and let out an uncontrollable cry of pain.
"Roar!!"
Shukaku had barely begun to look pleased at having freed itself when its expression froze the very next moment!
Still roaring in pain, Kumamoto felt the tail slipping from its paws. It stopped roaring, lunged forward with both paws, and pulled that enormous tail right back into its embrace!
The intense pain had made its beastly eyes turn slightly red, and Kumamoto was growing more and more agitated. When it smelled the blood on its body, the suppressed wildness within it erupted.
"Roar!"
With a furious growl, it bared