"Kill, kill, kill! You all deserve to die!!"
Shukaku swung its claws and tail at the same time, sweeping them toward the surrounding ninja.
"Pfft!!"
"Ah!!"
Whether they were Sunagakure or Konoha ninja, those who failed to dodge were sent flying. The Chunin were killed outright, and even the Jonin were gravely injured!!
Shukaku's indiscriminate attack sent the surrounding ninja fleeing in terror, not daring to pause for even a moment.
In just a few minutes, no ninja dared approach within five hundred meters of Shukaku.
The only exception was Uchiha Chen, standing with his arms folded about three hundred meters in front of it.
"That's Sunagakure's One-Tail Tailed Beast, Shukaku! They actually released it!"
"The Tailed Beast is heading straight for Uchiha Chen. This is bad—he's in danger!"
"What's going on? Has Uchiha Chen been scared stiff? Why isn't he running?"
"Do you think... is it possible that Uchiha Chen can take on the One-Tail?"
"Have you lost your mind too? What makes you think Uchiha Chen can fight Shukaku?"
"Didn't you see that Lord Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato haven't gone to help him...?"
On the battlefield, the ninja of both Sunagakure and Konoha were stunned by the sudden appearance of the enormous creature. They stopped fighting in unison and retreated to their respective sides to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
"You dare show off in front of the great me?"
"Die!"
Shukaku laughed arrogantly as its enormous claw stretched out at incredible speed, reaching straight for Uchiha Chen.
Uchiha Chen's expression turned serious. This was his first time facing a Tailed Beast in person, and its strength was nothing like Pakura's or Ya's.
"Ultra Big Ball Rasengan!!"
Uchiha Chen held out his right hand, palm up. As chakra gathered, a Rasengan formed in his palm, then continued to swell until it was six or seven times the size of a water barrel.
The instant the Ultra Big Ball Rasengan was complete, Uchiha Chen crouched and leaped into the air. Then he plunged downward, slamming it hard into the One-Tail's claw as it swung upward.
"Rumble!!!"
The Ultra Big Ball Rasengan collided with the claw, unleashing a series of thunderous booms. A powerful energy storm swept in every direction.
Although the ninja on both sides had anticipated this and retreated a great distance, the energy storm's range was simply too vast. Many were still caught in it!
The ninja did everything they could to withstand the gale unleashed by the energy storm. The weaker ones were blown more than ten meters away, while only those at Jonin level or above could keep their footing and watch the fight.
"Uchiha Chen actually blocked Shukaku's attack!"
"What... what kind of ninjutsu is that? How can it be so powerful?"
"That looks like the Rasengan, the ninjutsu created by Namikaze Minato. But the Rasengan I've seen him use never covered an area this large!"
"That chakra is terrifying. He must have nearly run out after using it once, right?"
The unaffected Konoha ninja looked at Uchiha Chen in a whole new light. Their worry, confusion, and unease gave way to shock and excitement!
A human kid had actually pulled off a ninjutsu like that!
Shukaku's gaze toward Uchiha Chen shifted as well. It hadn't expected such a small-looking human to block its attack.
The pressure coming from that ball was considerable, and Shukaku had been forced to use more strength to meet it.
"As expected, ordinary ninjutsu won't work against a Tailed Beast. Looks like I'll have to use that move."
Uchiha Chen studied the Ultra Big Ball Rasengan locked against the Tailed Beast's claw, his expression thoughtful.
He thrust the Ultra Big Ball Rasengan forward, then used the recoil to jump backward and quickly put some distance between them.
"Hmph, finally out of chakra, are you?"
As the last trace of chakra in the Rasengan vanished from his palm, the One-Tail burst into laughter again, its piercing voice carrying across the entire battlefield.
"As expected, he still can't stand up to a Tailed Beast?"
"But he held his own against one for so long and got away unscathed. That's already incredible!"
"Next, Lord Jiraiya or Namikaze Minato should step in, right?"
"Wait, look! Uchiha Chen is gathering chakra again, but why does it look different?"
Nearly everyone on the battlefield was watching Uchiha Chen fight Shukaku.
"Die! Wind Release: Air Bullet!!"
Shukaku opened its enormous maw and slapped its belly with a massive claw. Several enormous wind bullets shot out, moving at incredible speed!
Let's see you survive this one~
Shukaku narrowed its eyes and couldn't help grinning, its smile stretching almost to its ears.
But the grin on Shukaku's face soon froze.
"Sage Art: Wind Release: Chain Big Ball Rasenshuriken!"
At some point, yellow markings had appeared around Uchiha Chen's eyes. He swung his arms as if launching shuriken, hurling one Senjutsu Chakra-infused Rasenshuriken after another as if they were free.
"Boom!!"
"Boom, boom!!!"
A string of explosions rang out without pause, and waves of energy storms followed one after another.
The ground was constantly scoured by the storms. Saying they scraped away three feet of earth would hardly be an exaggeration!
Shukaku's Air Bullets were exhausted, but Uchiha Chen still had several Big Ball Rasenshuriken left. They slammed mercilessly into Shukaku's massive body.
"Thud!"
"Thud, thud!!"
The tremendous impact forced Shukaku backward. Its huge body shook the ground with every step, like an earthquake. It stumbled back more than ten paces before finally managing to steady itself.
"Sage Art: Ultra-Ultra Big Ball Rasengan!"
Uchiha Chen pressed his advantage. Senjutsu Chakra poured into the Rasengan in his hand until he had formed one nearly as large as Shukaku itself!!
Everyone on the battlefield was stunned.
Even Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, and the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked no less shocked.
"Whoosh!"
Like an arrow loosed from a bow, Uchiha Chen appeared in front of Shukaku, who had just regained its footing, carrying the enormous Rasengan. He slammed it down hard.
"Boom!!!"
In an instant, the world lost its color. A blinding light made it impossible for anyone to see what was happening on the battlefield.
An energy storm more than ten times as violent as the last swept across the entire battlefield.
"Run!!"
Everyone fled toward their respective sides in terror, not even daring to look back. They feared that if they ran even a little too slowly, they would lose their lives.