The Helplessness of Despair

And now that Shukaku's tail had been severed, it was equivalent to cutting off its limbs!

"Gamabunta, you underestimate me too much. I'm Shukaku!"

Shukaku grinned and gave a powerful flick. A brand-new tail instantly grew back.

"How is that possible?"

Gamabunta's eyes widened. He simply could not believe that Shukaku's tail had grown back.

His heart was filled with shock. He had never imagined Shukaku's body possessed such an ability. Now, he was truly out of options.

Seeing how powerful the legendary tailed beast, One-Tail Shukaku, was, Zhi Ge could not help but sigh.

Think about the opponents he had faced before: Sand Village Genin, Grass Village Chunin, Sound Ninja Village Chunin.

Though he could not exactly say they had been effortless, he had taken them down with ease.

For a Genin like himself, those were the battles that matched his level.

But ever since he had entered the damn official matches of the Chunin Exams, damn it!

What kind of monsters had he been running into?!

The Second Hokage, known as the King of Forbidden Techniques, Orochimaru, and his summoned beast, Manda!

He had barely managed to avoid dying at their hands, and now he had to face the legendary tailed beast, One-Tail Shukaku!

Was there any justice in this?!

"Zhi Ge, don't hesitate! We can only fight together now!"

The Toad Boss shouted at Zhi Ge with a grave expression. After steadying himself, Zhi Ge rose to his feet without the slightest hesitation.

"I agree! I refuse to believe the two of us can't defeat this monster!"

"Damn it!"

The Toad Boss gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Shukaku, charging forward with his sword in hand.

Shukaku did not back down either, directly charging to meet the Toad Boss.

"Rumble!!!"

The two collided, and the energy wave from the explosion instantly spread outward, snapping the surrounding trees one after another.

The Toad Boss was clearly struggling to withstand Shukaku's strength, his body being forced steadily backward.

"Ha ha ha! This is the gap between us! Our strength is worlds apart! Let's see what you can do now!"

Shukaku laughed arrogantly. It was thoroughly pleased with itself. In its eyes, as a mighty tailed beast and one of the strongest beings in the Ninja World, it feared no one.

Just as it was about to mock the Toad Boss a little more, a strange smile suddenly appeared at the corner of the Toad Boss's mouth!

"Heh heh, let's see if you don't surrender obediently this time."

The Toad Boss let out a sinister chuckle, then waved a hand toward his side!

"Whoosh... whoosh..."

The Toad Boss hurled Zhi Ge directly toward Shukaku!

"Thanks, Toad Boss! Watch me win this with one strike! Rubber Siege Cannon!!!"

Sent flying by the Toad Boss, Zhi Ge unleashed his strongest attack and smashed it toward Shukaku's head.

Shukaku merely curled its lip in disdain and opened its mouth, firing a fireball at Zhi Ge!

"Boom boom boom..."

The fireball collided with the Rubber Cannon, erupting in a violent roar that made the entire hill seem to tremble!

"Gamabunta! You've truly disappointed me! You think a combo attack with some brat can actually affect me?"

Shukaku glanced disdainfully at the Toad Boss, then opened its mouth and spewed a stream of black flames.

"W-What kind of flames are those?!"

The Toad Boss's pupils contracted, and deep fear rose within him. He felt as though his body were about to melt!

Not only that, he could feel their intense corrosiveness. Even the clothes on his body had been corroded beyond recognition.

"No!!!"

The Toad Boss struggled wildly, but unfortunately, his body seemed stuck to rubber, completely unable to move.

He could only watch helplessly as the flames spread toward him.

"Roar!!!"

The Toad Boss let out a miserable cry, while Shukaku snorted smugly.

"Gamabunta, you brought this upon yourself!"

Icy killing intent flickered in Shukaku's eyes.

"Gamabunta! Today, I will take your life!"

Shukaku roared furiously, its body suddenly swelling as it leaped into the air and charged toward Gamabunta's position!

The Toad Boss was nearly unable to hold on, but his eyes remained filled with frenzied fury!

"Toad Boss! You've done enough! Hurry and leave!"

Naruto looked at Gamabunta's battered body, his face filled with sorrow.

Gamabunta shook his head slightly, a resolute expression appearing on his face. His gaze was firm. "No! If I abandon you, I don't deserve to be called Boss by any of you! I've never done anything so dishonorable!"

After saying that, Gamabunta turned his gaze back to Shukaku.

"Let me handle this! Rubber Firework Rain!!!"

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Zhi Ge's figure instantly shot into the air. He clapped his hands together, and both his arms and legs stretched out at once, flying toward Shukaku like fireworks!

"Stop dreaming! Wind Release! Raging Wind Rotation!!!"

Shukaku sneered and immediately unleashed its most practiced ultimate technique!

"Rumble! Rumble!!!"

Countless violent hurricanes formed into a giant dragon and swept toward Zhi Ge.

"Bang!"

The wind dragon and Firework Rain collided violently, unleashing an earth-shaking explosion. Zhi Ge was sent flying and crashed hard onto the ground.

"Ha ha ha, you won't be able to withstand that move!"

Shukaku laughed loudly and charged at Zhi Ge again. It intended to swallow the rat before it alive!

Zhi Ge was flung away by the hurricane, then slammed heavily into the ground, a trace of blood spilling from his mouth.

The Armament Haki covering Zhi Ge's body had completely shattered. If he suffered another blow of the same magnitude, even his rubber body might not be enough to keep him from dying outright.

"No! Zhi Ge!"

"Zhi Ge!!!"

The Toad Boss, Naruto, and Sasuke all cried out in alarm, while Shukaku laughed disdainfully.

"Just wait for death! Ha ha ha ha!"

Shukaku laughed madly, staring at the three of them as a cruel curve formed at its mouth.

Seeing Shukaku's savage appearance, Zhi Ge revealed a despairing expression. He knew there was no saving him now!

"I never expected Uchiha Zhige to end up this miserable. I have a system with me, yet I'm still getting beaten into this pathetic state..."

Zhi Ge sighed, his eyes filled with unwillingness. He had thought that he could finally wash away his past humiliation in this battle!

But at that moment, he suddenly felt his body beginning to undergo a strange change.