What's Going On? This Wasn't in the Original Story?!

At that moment, Ling Yue seemed like a completely different person.

Her eyes were hollow, yet burning with extreme rage. The arcs of electricity dancing around her carried an ominous blood-red hue. With every step she took, the ground cracked slightly and turned scorched black, radiating dangerous, unstable energy fluctuations.

"Yue! Are you okay?!" Naruto was both shocked and anxious when he saw the dangerous, violent crimson lightning erupting from Ling Yue's body. He wanted to rush over, but the ever-gathering waves of sand from Shukaku forced him back.

Sakura threw herself beside the unconscious Sasuke, frantically trying to stop his bleeding. "Sasuke! Hang in there!"

Ling Yue was deaf to her companions' cries. In her eyes, only the monster that had hurt Sasuke remained.

Overwhelming fury and an indescribable stabbing pain drove her onward. The uncontrollable crimson lightning within her grew stronger and stronger, and even the air around her became scorching and distorted.

The 15% comprehension of [Fire God of Thunder] had not brought control, but a nearly suicidal burst of violent power!

"Die!" she snarled hoarsely, and the ground beneath her feet exploded!

Her entire body transformed into a streak of crimson lightning. This was no longer a nimble charge, but an unstoppable rush carrying the momentum of destruction as she shot straight toward Shukaku's ever-expanding body!

"You're courting death!" Gaara let out a raspy roar. A gigantic hand of sand, carrying enough force to crush everything, slammed toward that tiny yet dangerous crimson light!

The crimson lightning collided violently with the giant sand palm!

Something astonishing happened!

That violent crimson thunder actually tore through and melted straight through the thick sand palm! Without slowing, it continued charging toward Gaara at the core!

"What?!" Even Gaara seemed startled. He hurriedly mobilized more sand for defense!

But Ling Yue's speed and destructive power had reached a terrifying level!

Everywhere the crimson lightning passed, sand shattered and burned black!

She was like a lightning spear wreathed in bloody flames, madly drilling through Shukaku's defenses, aiming directly for the core!

However, the burden this power placed on her body was equally terrifying!

With every inch she advanced, she felt excruciating pain in her meridians. Her chakra was burning away wildly, and even her life force was slipping away!

"Aaaah!" She desperately squeezed out every last bit of her potential, with only that target in her eyes!

"Bastard! Don't look down on me!" Shukaku was completely enraged, and its immense chakra erupted in full!

More sand surged up, crashing toward the crimson figure from all directions, trying to drown her completely and grind her to dust!

Ling Yue was about to be swallowed by the endless sea of sand!

"Yue! Come back!" Naruto's eyes turned bloodshot with panic as he watched his companions fall one after another, badly wounded.

Watching Ling Yue charge like a moth into a flame toward that invincible monster, an unprecedented fury and unwillingness surged up in his heart!

He bit his thumb open, then rapidly formed hand seals with both hands, pouring the enormous chakra within him—the chakra he could barely control—into the technique without reservation!

"Summoning Technique!"

A burst of white smoke exploded, louder and heavier than any Shadow Clone Naruto had ever created! The massive shockwave even blew away the surrounding sand and dust!

A colossal orange toad descended onto the battlefield with a thunderous crash. It wore a short blue jacket, bandages wrapped around its waist, and a gigantic pipe clenched in its mouth. A scar crossed one of its eyes.

Gamabunta!!!

"Hm?" Bunta's enormous frog eyes swept across the chaotic battlefield. He saw the forming Shukaku, then glanced at the tiny Naruto beneath him. His voice rumbled with surprise and displeasure. "Hey, brat, what kind of trouble is it this time? Your opponent is Shukaku? You've got to be kidding me!"

"Boss Toad! Hurry! Save Yue! Save Sasuke! Defeat that monster!" Naruto shouted anxiously, pointing at Shukaku.

Only then did Bunta notice the crimson lightning desperately attacking Shukaku's defenses, about to be swallowed by the sea of sand, as well as Sasuke lying motionless in the distance and the weeping Sakura.

"Tch, the One-Tail's jinchuriki has gone berserk? You brats sure know how to cause trouble..." Though Bunta complained, he did not move slowly. He drew the massive short blade, Gamahiro, and slashed at the wave of sand crashing toward Ling Yue with overwhelming force!

The sand wave was shattered by the immense strike!

Ling Yue, who had almost been buried in sand, felt the pressure suddenly lighten. Her reckless frenzy eased slightly, and the crimson lightning dimmed considerably.

She landed on the ground, gasping heavily, her body swaying as if she might collapse. Every meridian in her body burned with pain.

Bunta's slash had saved her for the moment.

"Hm? This Lightning Release power..." Bunta's huge frog eyes glanced at Ling Yue. He seemed to have noticed the abnormal crimson lightning around her, but he had no time to investigate.

His attention was focused mainly on Shukaku.

"Shukaku! You bastard, settle down!" Bunta roared. His giant blade swung again, colliding fiercely with the massive sand claw Shukaku had formed!

The shockwave, accompanied by a deafening boom, swept in every direction!

The battle between the two giant summoned beasts had officially begun! The scene instantly escalated to a world-destroying scale!

Naruto leaped onto Bunta's head and shouted out directions. Sakura took the chance to drag Sasuke farther away to a safer place for emergency treatment.

Ling Yue knelt on one knee, watching the battle between the two monsters before looking toward the unconscious Sasuke in the distance. She panted violently as she forcibly suppressed the still-restless crimson lightning within her.

That was... too impulsive.

That power was far beyond what she could control now. She had nearly gotten herself killed too.

But... seeing Sasuke gravely wounded and unconscious because he had saved her, that fury and... heart-pounding fear were impossible to suppress.

[Ding! Hidden skill [Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Fire God of Thunder] comprehension has increased to 15%.

Warning: This skill is extremely dangerous. Forced use may result in severe backlash. Host, please comprehend it cautiously and do not rely on emotional triggers.]

The system's warning calmed her down considerably.

Right. Anger could not solve the problem. She had to become calmer and stronger.

She struggled to her feet and walked over to Sakura and Sasuke.

"How's Sasuke?" Her voice was somewhat hoarse.

Tear streaks still marked Sakura's face, but her hands remained steady as she wrapped his wounds. "The bleeding has stopped for now, but he lost too much blood, his chakra is exhausted, and there's also that sand spear wound... We have to get him back to the village for further treatment as soon as possible!"

Ling Yue looked at Sasuke's pale face, her feelings complicated. This guy... usually so smug, but when it mattered...

Just then, Bunta and Shukaku's battle reached a fever pitch.

Although Shukaku had only partially awakened, the amount and power of a tailed beast's chakra were simply too immense. Bunta had extensive combat experience, but he was gradually falling behind, with several cuts from sand spears appearing on his body.

"Damn it! This guy's sand never ends!" Bunta cursed.

"Boss Toad! Come on!" Naruto anxiously paced in circles atop his head.

Shukaku seemed to be growing impatient. It opened its huge mouth again, and terrifying chakra began to gather!

"That thing! Watch out!" Naruto cried out. He had seen the power of that attack before.

"Tailed Beast Bomb?!" Bunta's expression also turned grave as he prepared to defend with all his strength.

Ling Yue frowned. They could not let it fire! Its range was too great. They had nowhere to hide!

She looked at Naruto and shouted, "Naruto! Use that! Use your strongest Shadow Clone Technique to distract it! Create an opening for Boss Toad!"

Naruto froze for a moment, then immediately understood. "Got it! Watch this! Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

Thousands upon thousands of Naruto's Shadow Clones appeared in an instant, densely packed as they charged at Shukaku one after another, trying to disrupt its gathering chakra!

"Annoying insects!" Shukaku irritably swung its sand arms, swatting at them. The gathering speed of the Tailed Beast Bomb was indeed affected!

"Perfect timing!" Bunta seized the opportunity and took a deep breath, his chest swelling high!

"Water Release: Water Bullet!"

A massive sphere of water, like a cannonball, shot from Bunta's mouth and smashed fiercely into Shukaku's head!

The water cannon collided violently with Shukaku's head, sending water and sand flying across the sky!

Shukaku staggered from the blow. The gathering of the Tailed Beast Bomb was completely interrupted, and it let out an enraged roar!

"It worked!" Naruto exclaimed in delight.

However, Shukaku's fury had also reached its peak!

"You... have completely enraged me!" it roared. More sand surged up from beneath the earth, and its form began changing further. A huge tail was slowly taking shape!

It was going to transform fully into a tailed beast!

"This is bad!" Bunta's expression changed. "Brat! We have to use that move! Use your greatest power and attack its head! Knock him awake!"

"My greatest power?" Naruto froze, then looked at his own hand. "I... how am I supposed to do that?"

"Use the Nine-Tails' chakra! Shout out all your strength, all your unwillingness and anger! Gather it in your fist!" Bunta roared. "Just like when you broke that Hyuga brat's fate!"

Naruto looked at his badly wounded companions below, at Boss Toad still struggling to hold on, and at the rampaging Gaara. A flash of understanding appeared in his eyes.

He closed his eyes and felt the immense, violent power sealed within his body.

Then he opened them with determination. It was as though flames burned in his blue eyes!

"I... I'm going to protect everyone! I'm going to save Sasuke and Yue! I'm going to knock Gaara awake!"

Enormous orange-red chakra burst from his body, forming a massive chakra cloak! Whisker-like markings appeared on his face, and his teeth became sharp!

He raised his fist, wrapped in dense Nine-Tails chakra, and leaped down from Bunta's head, plunging straight toward Gaara's true body!

"Give Gaara... back!!!"

The fist, filled with powerful resolve and immense chakra, smashed fiercely into Gaara's face!

A blinding flash erupted!

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

When the light faded, Naruto stood before Gaara, panting heavily, his fist still pressed against Gaara's face.

The Shukaku Sand Armor on Gaara's face cracked apart inch by inch, revealing his original features beneath.

He stared blankly at Naruto. The madness and brutality in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by confusion and... shock.

The sand stopped raging and slowly settled.

The rampage... had ended.

"W-We won?" Naruto collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion, staring at his fist in disbelief.

Bunta also let out a breath of relief and sheathed his short blade.

Ling Yue watched this scene and sighed in relief as well. Her tightly wound nerves finally relaxed, and a fierce wave of weakness hit her, nearly making her fall.

However, just when everyone thought the crisis had passed—

The sand that had settled around Gaara suddenly began to surge violently again without warning!

But it was not attacking. Instead, it instantly contracted inward and condensed!

In an instant, it formed a gigantic, impregnable sphere of sand, tightly sealing Gaara and Naruto—who was sitting on the ground in exhaustion right beside him—inside together!

"Naruto!" Sakura screamed in terror.

Bunta was shocked as well. "What's going on?!"

Ling Yue's expression changed drastically! This never happened in the original story?!