Drip. Drip.
Nawaki stood in knee-deep water, his hands in his pockets.
Beyond the iron gate, the Nine-Tails' vertical pupils stared at him.
"Brat from the Senju Clan." The Nine-Tails' voice boomed like thunder, sending ripples across the water. "You think you can enter my territory?"
Nawaki said nothing.
The Nine-Tails bared its fangs. "You think awakening Wood Release means you can order me around like that bastard Hashirama Senju? An insect is still an insect. If it weren't for this damned seal outside, I would've torn you apart already!"
Nawaki dug a finger into his ear.
"Finished?" Nawaki looked at it.
The Nine-Tails froze for a moment.
"Not going to behave?" Nawaki pulled both hands from his pockets and pressed them together before his chest. "Then I'll beat you."
Boom!
The water's surface exploded.
Twelve thick Wood Dragons shot out from beneath the water without warning. Ignoring the iron gate, they forced their way through its gaps and into the cage.
The Nine-Tails flew into a rage. "You're courting death!"
It swung a massive claw, swatting at the Wood Dragons with violent chakra.
Bang!
Rather than shattering, the Wood Dragons coiled around its claw.
"Roar—" The Nine-Tails howled.
A second and third Wood Dragon followed close behind.
A faint green glow shimmered over the Wood Dragons' bodies. It was pure Sage Body chakra. This chakra naturally suppressed tailed beasts, and the instant it made contact, the Nine-Tails felt its power being wildly drained away.
"Bastard! Let me go!" The Nine-Tails struggled madly, its nine tails smashing about inside the cage and making the iron gate clang loudly.
It was useless.
The Wood Dragons only tightened further.
Four Wood Dragons locked down its limbs, two wrapped around its neck, and the rest pinned its nine tails firmly to the ground.