Shukaku Husky

"Kakashi, let's have a match and see who can deal more damage to the tailed beast!"

Might Guy, with his thick brows and large eyes, wore a tight green combat suit.

Facing the enormous One-Tail Shukaku, Might Guy leaped into the air and delivered a flying axe kick toward Shukaku.

"Guy, be careful!"

With his Sharingan activated, Kakashi could clearly see Shukaku's movements.

Seeing Might Guy's attack, Shukaku actually noticed it, prompting Kakashi to warn him.

As if to confirm Kakashi's judgment, Shukaku reacted.

"Kehehe..."

Shukaku let out a piercing laugh, his eyes filled with contempt and brutality.

Staring at Might Guy as he came down with his axe kick, Shukaku roared, "You're courting death!"

Shukaku swung his beast tail upward, striking at Might Guy with a devastating blow.

"Not good!" Seeing the beast tail sweeping up at him, Might Guy's body tensed.

As a jonin, Might Guy knew how to handle such a situation.

"Eight Gates—Gate of Opening! Gate of Healing! Gate of Life!"

Opening three gates in succession, Might Guy's face flushed bright red.

The power throughout his body surged, and Might Guy forcibly pulled back his axe kick in midair.

"Reverse Lotus!"

His legs kicked down repeatedly, sending air bullets hurtling toward Shukaku's beast tail.

With a loud bang, Might Guy shattered the beast tail.

However, Might Guy was also sent flying by Shukaku's tail.

"Sage Art—Great Flame Bullet!"

Jiraiya never underestimated the threat of a tailed beast.

He had begun preparing Sage Mode earlier, and the moment it was complete, he unleashed a Sage Art ninjutsu.

A massive fireball roughly twenty meters in diameter radiated scorching heat as it shot toward One-Tail Shukaku's body.

"Absolute Defense!"

Though Shukaku was a tailed beast, that did not mean it lacked intelligence.

Tailed beast chakra surged within its body, repairing its shattered tail while also forming a defense around it.

Yellow sand burst from the ground, forming a massive sand barrier before the fireball.

Compressed under Shukaku's control, the barrier transformed into a black wall.

Boom!

Jiraiya's Sage Art fireball struck Shukaku's defensive barrier. The fireball exploded with a thunderous roar, but only managed to destroy Shukaku's barrier.

"Lightning Release—Chidori!"

A piercing thunderclap rang out as Kakashi continuously dodged the falling fragments of the shattered barrier and closed in on Shukaku.

In his right hand, a lightning blade formed from silver lightning crackled fiercely.

Boom!

As he neared Shukaku's body, Kakashi's Chidori struck Shukaku directly.

The Chidori's immense destructive power instantly tore a wound into Shukaku's body.

After landing the blow, Kakashi immediately turned and retreated.

He knew very well that he was in extreme danger now.

"Roar!"

A furious roar shook the heavens as Shukaku went berserk.

Massive amounts of chakra began pouring forth, and yellow sand filled the sky.

"Now—Kurenai!"

Kakashi shouted and looked toward Yuhi Kurenai, who had been prepared for some time.

"Four Violet Flames Formation!"

Under Yuhi Kurenai's command, four Konoha ninja formed hand seals at the same time.

Using the four of them as points, four purple pillars of light shot into the sky.

They finally enclosed One-Tail Shukaku, Kakashi, and the others within the sealing barrier of the Four Violet Flames Formation.

"Everyone, let loose and attack with everything you have!"

The moment the Four Violet Flames Formation took shape, Jiraiya and the others began attacking without restraint.

Although everyone had attacked just now, they had still held back somewhat.

After all, the battle was taking place inside the village. If they truly went all out, it would cause severe damage to the village.

"Sage Art—Fire of the Immortal Dragon!"

"Eight Gates—Gate of Pain! Gate of Limit!"

The dazzling ninjutsu flew from their hands as if they cost nothing, bombarding the One-Tail Shukaku without restraint.

Continuous explosions and furious roars rang out, and the situation appeared to be improving.

Just as everyone saw Shukaku on the verge of defeat, it went all out.

Though it could not really be called going all out. It was currently imprisoned inside Gaara's body, so the strength it could wield was limited.

Thus, no matter how desperately it fought, it would be fine.

Even if someone died, it would be Gaara, not it. It had nothing to do with Shukaku.

In fact, it wished for Gaara to die. That way, it might be able to take the opportunity to escape from Gaara's body.

The chakra in the surroundings began to gather, slowly changing from intangible into tangible form.

Orbs formed one after another, gathering and merging in the air.

"Not good, it's a Tailed Beast Ball!"

Jiraiya's pupils constricted. He had not expected Shukaku to use a Tailed Beast Ball.

The others were also shaken, clearly caught off guard.

"This is bad. The Four Violet Flames Formation probably won't be able to withstand the Tailed Beast Ball. When that happens, the village will definitely suffer a devastating blow!"

Yuhi Kurenai's face turned pale. Clearly, this was her first time seeing such a large-scale ninjutsu as a Tailed Beast Ball.

Everyone stiffened at her words.

"This is bad!" Jiraiya frowned deeply.

"You all attack Shukaku first and see if you can interrupt it. Buy me some time—I need to use Sage Mode!"

Hearing Jiraiya say this, everyone chose to trust him.

They exchanged glances, then charged at Shukaku once more.

Even Yuhi Kurenai rushed toward Shukaku with kunai and explosive tags in hand.

Though the One-Tail Shukaku was forming a Tailed Beast Ball, it was not incapable of moving.

Its tail swung, lashing out at everyone in a frenzied barrage.

Boom, boom, boom...

Everyone scattered to evade, unable to attack with their full strength.

"Kurenai, watch out!" Kakashi shouted.

Shukaku's beastly tail came crashing down on Yuhi Kurenai with tremendous force.

If that strike landed, she would be crippled at the very least.

Yuhi Kurenai gritted her teeth. She knew there was no way she could dodge with her speed.

She could only grip her kunai and prepare to fight to the death.

Bang!

Yuhi Kurenai felt a fierce gust sweep over her as an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist.

Turning her head, she saw a young man—Mirai.

Mirai grinned at Yuhi Kurenai. "You okay?"

As he spoke, his lips were practically against Yuhi Kurenai's ear.

His warm breath teased her, and with Mirai's arm around her waist, Yuhi Kurenai's face instantly flushed crimson.

"I-I'm fine!" Yuhi Kurenai's heartbeat began to quicken.

"That's good! If something happened to you, I'd be heartbroken!"

Even on the battlefield, Mirai did not forget to flirt.

"Mirai! Why are you here?!"

Kakashi looked at the suddenly appeared Mirai with curiosity and shock.

Just moments ago, Mirai had suddenly appeared, taken a hit from the Tailed Beast head-on, and emerged completely unscathed.

Mirai brought Yuhi Kurenai to Jiraiya's side and saw that he had his eyes closed, replenishing energy for Sage Mode.

"Wake up, wake up!"

Mirai roused Jiraiya.

Jiraiya opened his eyes, saw Mirai beside him, and snapped, "What are you doing?!"

"What do you think you're doing? If you're waiting to die, you might as well lie down. Why are you posing here?"

Jiraiya's face twitched.