Shukaku's Unexpected Strength

"What did you say?!" At the mention of the Nine-Tails, Shukaku immediately flew into a rage.

Among the Tailed Beasts, his relationship with the Nine-Tails was the worst. It was not for any other reason, but because the Nine-Tails always liked to judge strength by the number of tails.

Shukaku admitted that the Nine-Tails was powerful, but he was not weak either. How could strength be judged by the number of tails?

For that reason, Shukaku and Kurama had fought many times.

The chakra fluctuations triggered by Shukaku's fury gave Uchiha Shunichi a clear understanding of what Tailed Beast power truly was.

In terms of chakra quantity alone, the One-Tail might indeed have had the least among the Tailed Beasts. However, he was also the only one among them who had learned Ninjutsu.

"It is indeed quite an impressive power, but compared to the Nine-Tails, it is still far inferior," Uchiha Shunichi said indifferently after sensing the rampaging chakra.

His goal was to make the true Tailed Beast emerge, not to come here and whisper secrets to one.

"Human, your plan succeeded. You have successfully enraged me. Didn't you want to witness my power? Then I shall graciously let you see it!"

As soon as Shukaku finished speaking, Uchiha Shunichi was expelled from the mental space.

Outside, Gamabunta was contending against Shukaku. Just as he was starting to feel rather proud of himself, Shukaku's grating laughter finally rang out.

"Gahaha! I'm finally out, you damn toad!" The instant Shukaku emerged, he spotted Gamabunta suppressing his body and sent him flying with a single blow.

Compared to a Tailed Beast, a summoned beast was still somewhat weaker. Gamabunta could bully Gaara just now, but once Shukaku truly emerged, Gamabunta was no longer a match for him.

Naruto and Gamakichi, standing nearby, both wore expressions of disbelief as they watched Gamabunta get thrown away.

Not long ago, Gamabunta had been suppressing that monster. How had the situation reversed in an instant?

Gamabunta had embarrassed himself before his son, but he had no time to care about that now.

He knew very well that the fellow before him had become completely different.

Jiraiya, where the hell did you run off to? Gamabunta was growing anxious. Their sizes were similar, but...

Uchiha Shunichi smiled as he watched Shukaku suddenly go berserk. Without a worthy opponent, how could his own hardships stand out?

Lightning flickered across his body as Uchiha Shunichi shot straight at Shukaku's face like a flying arrow!

However, Shukaku had no real physical body. His entire body was made of sand, so physical damage was almost ineffective against him.

Still, even if it was ineffective, Shukaku could feel pain.

"Bastard!" Shukaku angrily slapped his own face, but Uchiha Shunichi had already left that spot.

The enraged Shukaku began searching everywhere for Uchiha Shunichi. The moment he found him, a blood-red eye entered his vision.

It was the Mangekyō Sharingan...

Just as Uchiha Shunichi thought he could control Shukaku, Shukaku's eyes suddenly cleared, and a Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet shot straight toward him.

Uchiha Shunichi seemed to have an affinity with Wind Release today. He had just fought Danzo, a ninja proficient in Wind Release, and now he had run into Shukaku, who was also skilled in it.

The Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet used by a Tailed Beast was far more powerful than one used by a human ninja. Uchiha Shunichi had no time to dodge.

With no other choice, and disregarding the immense consumption, Uchiha Shunichi could only use Susanoo to block it.

Who would have thought that Susanoo had not been forced out during his battle with Danzo, yet he had no choice but to use it in this fight?

I'm still too weak. Hashirama Senju could seize the Nine-Tails in his hands. Uchiha Madara could control the Nine-Tails with his Dōjutsu. And me...

As he felt searing pain radiating through his body, tears of blood streamed from Uchiha Shunichi's eyes.

Perhaps because of his transmigration, Uchiha Shunichi's Mangekyō Sharingan was very similar to Kakashi's. Not only could it not be closed voluntarily, but it also consumed an enormous amount of power when used.

"What kind of monster is that?!"

Naruto and Sasuke were already dumbstruck. They never could have imagined that a ninja their own age could use such a powerful Ninjutsu.

After blocking the Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet, the Susanoo around Uchiha Shunichi vanished. Yet those mere few seconds were enough to cause a severe reaction in his body.

"Pfft!" Uchiha Shunichi had just wiped the bloody tears from his face when, before he could recover, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Leaving aside his creaking bones and the agonizing pain spreading throughout his body, the increasingly heavy weight on Uchiha Shunichi's eyelids alone was enough to force him to use Regression.

He had not expected this Regression to be something he had brought upon himself.

Uchiha Shunichi gave a bitter smile. He had to use Regression, but before that...

A crazed look appeared on Uchiha Shunichi's face. Susanoo emerged around him once more as an enormous amount of ocular power poured out. With a sweep of Susanoo's arm, a massive Yasaka Magatama flew directly toward Shukaku.

Then, before Uchiha Shunichi could even see the effects of his attack, he immediately activated the Dōjutsu in his left eye.

In an instant, Uchiha Shunichi's condition returned to how it had been several minutes earlier. His nearly depleted ocular power instantly recovered, and he no longer felt any pain throughout his body.

The abrupt shift from extreme pain back to normal left Uchiha Shunichi somewhat unable to process the changes in his body.

At that moment, Shukaku spat out a small Tailed Beast Ball, which collided with Uchiha Shunichi's Yasaka Magatama and caused a world-shaking explosion.

The explosion occurred very close to Shukaku. Coupled with his enormous body, even though the attack had not hit Shukaku directly, Uchiha Shunichi's objective had still been achieved.

Caught in the blast, Gaara, who had only just fallen asleep, woke up once again and began fighting the One-Tail Shukaku for control of his body.

Though Gaara was only a boy, he had been responsible for sealing Shukaku since infancy. Combined with the seal's power, no matter how unwilling Shukaku was, he could only obediently return to the seal.

The light faded from his eyes, and Gaara, covered in wounds, weakly collapsed to the ground.

He had not fallen asleep...

Because of the seal, no matter how exhausted or drowsy he was, Gaara could not rest.

Otherwise, Shukaku would have a chance to emerge.