Lend Me Your Strength

"That guy reminds me of someone; don't underestimate him!" Inside Bunpuku, a tanuki covered in cursed seal patterns spoke up to warn him.

"I understand." As if having made up his mind, Bunpuku pressed his palms together and said solemnly, "I beg of you, Shukaku, please lend me your power!"

"You really are an annoying fellow."

The moment Shukaku finished speaking, Bunpuku felt his entire body surge with power.

"Sand Shuriken!"

Dozens of protrusions appeared on the Armor of Sand, and then the protruding sand blocks shot toward Senju Genma, transforming into shuriken mid-flight.

The Sand Shuriken struck Senju Genma with precision.

Just as Bunpuku was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Senju Genma transformed into a wooden dummy.

Bunpuku realized he had been tricked and looked around, searching for Senju Genma's figure.

"You don't know how to fight at all, do you? I'm right here!" Senju Genma stood behind Bunpuku and landed a punch imbued with the Strength of a Hundred on his back.

At the same time, the location of the two shifted.

The noisy battlefield vanished, and the place they stood transformed into a silent desert.

A kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God formula was stuck in the sand by Senju Genma's feet.

Water Style: Hard Vortex Water Blade!

Before Bunpuku had flown even half a meter after taking Senju Genma's punch, a water vortex appeared in Senju Genma's hand, condensing into a water spear that rotated rapidly in unpredictable, layered directions.

As soon as the water spear touched Bunpuku's body, it formed a massive water tornado, blasting him away.

Senju Genma clenched his fist and said with an excited expression, "I really am a genius, to think I could combine the Body Replacement Technique, the Flying Thunder God Technique, the Strength of a Hundred, and Water Style."

"Let's name this move Taijutsu Secret Art: Super Water Style Godspeed Slash Zero Style!"

"Where is this?" Inside the sea of sand, a sand sphere the height of a man rose up and floated slowly to the ground; Bunpuku's voice emanated from within.

Desert Waves!

"So you're not dead yet!" Senju Genma waved his hand and said casually, "We're in the desert ten kilometers north of the battlefield. You don't need to worry about being too far from home and forgetting your roots; this is still within the Land of Wind."

"Is that so? That's good. This war is the first time I've left the village since I was a child, and I don't want to leave the Land of Wind so soon." Bunpuku remained inside the sand sphere, his Armor of Sand already covered in cracks. "Do you ever miss your homeland?"

Senju Genma smiled and said, "Occasionally, I suppose! After all, there is a lover there worth missing."

"Hey! Bunpuku, you two are enemies, why are you chatting?" Shukaku interjected.

Bunpuku whispered, "But I don't feel like this child is a bad person."

Shukaku shouted, "But this is war!"

"Alright, Shukaku, stop making a fuss. Be a good boy, won't you?"

"Am I being too nice to you? How are you talking to this Great One?!" Shukaku let out a shriek, his voice turning sharp. "Don't think that just because you're like the Old Man, I won't beat you up!"

Bunpuku smiled and said nothing.

"The small talk ends here. Let's continue the fight!" Senju Genma suddenly declared.

Bunpuku nodded and sat cross-legged within the sand sphere.

Strange Sand Arm!

The sand on the ground instantly transformed into a sand arm resembling Shukaku's, reaching out to grab Senju Genma.

Senju Genma swung his fists repeatedly, shattering the sand arms.

"Sage Art: Chidori Sharp Spear!" Seizing the opportunity, Senju Genma transformed the black and white lightning into the shape of a long spear and shot it toward the sand sphere where Bunpuku was located.

Because Sage Chakra was infused into the Chidori, it not only far exceeded a normal Chidori Sharp Spear in attack range and destructive power, but its extension speed was also much faster.

In an instant, it pierced through the sand sphere, which had astonishing defensive capabilities.

"Don't underestimate us, brat." Shukaku, inside Bunpuku's body, let out a shout, and a giant spear with red patterns appeared in front of Bunpuku.

Spear of Shukaku!

The Chidori Sharp Spear, which had easily pierced the Desert Waves, was actually blocked by this giant spear and could not advance an inch.

The sand sphere enveloping Bunpuku began to disintegrate, but neither Bunpuku nor Shukaku cared; this layer of protection, which had been easily breached, no longer had any meaning.

Bunpuku's body underwent a visible change, becoming covered in sand.

It wasn't forming an Armor of Sand, but rather remodeling Bunpuku's appearance into another creature—like a small version of Shukaku, though it was a Shukaku that had gone on a diet.

There was no sense of obesity; instead, the figure was well-proportioned and full of a sense of power.

It seemed Shukaku also understood that his own physique wasn't great and wasn't suited for combat.

Bunpuku threw the Spear of Shukaku, his figure vanished instantly, and he moved across the sand at a speed difficult for the naked eye to track.

Senju Genma tilted his body slightly to dodge the attack of the Spear of Shukaku and sighed, "No hand seals, which means it's not the Body Flicker Technique, but relying on physical strength? The power of a Tailed Beast is truly terrifying!"

Although Senju Genma didn't usually need hand seals to use ninjutsu, including the Body Flicker Technique, that was because of his unique constitution.

Whether it was the standard Body Flicker, Water Flicker, or Sand Flicker, they all required seals; normal people needed to weave them to use such techniques, but Bunpuku had performed no such movements while moving.

"Kowai ne (How scary)!" Despite saying it was scary, Senju Genma's face showed a nonchalant expression; he wasn't afraid in the slightest.

Bunpuku appeared at his side, raising a mutated, oversized hand to strike.

"Too slow!" Senju Genma glanced back at him, his eyes turning crimson.

"This is..." Shukaku exclaimed in shock.

Silver-white chakra ribs manifested around Senju Genma's body; he was sent flying after absorbing the impact of Bunpuku's attack.

However, he landed on the sand a moment later and steadied himself. The ribs of his Susanoo had cracked, but they quickly repaired themselves.

I must never get cocky again! Senju Genma let out a sigh of relief, feeling a lingering fear; he had nearly gotten himself killed by being reckless just now.

"Shukaku, do you know what this thing is?" Bunpuku asked, puzzled. Having spent his life confined to the village under the strict watch of its ninjas, his experience was limited, but Shukaku's reaction clearly indicated that the beast recognized it.

"That's none of your business!" Shukaku snorted, seemingly recalling a scene from a thousand years ago, and replied irritably, "This guy shouldn't be on the level of that man yet. Don't be afraid of him. Show him the might of this Great One—use that technique!"

Bunpuku asked, "Are you sure you want to use it?"

"Stop talking nonsense and just cooperate with me!" Shukaku's voice was so loud it made Bunpuku's ears ache. "Desert Layered Imperial Funeral Seal!"

Under Shukaku's manipulation, the surrounding sand began to flow toward Senju Genma. A massive amount of sand formed a high-density, pyramid-shaped funeral seal, trapping Senju Genma within.

"Is it over?" Bunpuku swallowed hard and asked nervously.

It was the first time he had seen Shukaku lose his composure like this. Usually, the beast remained indifferent regardless of the situation, yet upon seeing those strange ribs, it had chosen to use a lethal technique immediately.

"Of course it is! With this Great One taking action personally, there is no way anything could go wrong!" Shukaku's voice sounded incredibly smug.

But not long after, both man and beast widened their eyes in disbelief.