Both Guren and Naruto were swept away by the water currents generated by the Tailed Beast Bomb explosion and taken underwater. Guren couldn't maintain her pretense any longer and was directly washed ashore. The Three-tails chose Guren, who was closest to it, as its first target.
"No!" Yukimaru appeared out of nowhere, emanating a peculiar chakra that miraculously calmed down the raging Three-tails.
"Just moments ago, the rampaging tailed beast has suddenly become calm? What's going on?" Shino crawled out of the water in a sorry state and stood on the water's surface, observing the now serene Three-tails.
"It's probably the same as before. It must be him." Naruto's expression changed slightly. Although he was no longer a jinchuriki, having been one in the past, he had a unique sentiment towards jinchuriki or those with special abilities used to control tailed beasts.
It was as if he didn't want harm to come to his kind. Especially now, Naruto was almost certain that Yukimaru was manipulating the Three-tails through Yukimaru's suffeRinjig expression when he controlled the beast. It wasn't a control that came from the heart. That's precisely why Naruto was determined to stop Yukimaru.
"I've successfully prevented Konoha's people from sealing the Three-tails. Take Yukimaru and retreat quickly," Guren stood on the shore, pretending as if everything was fine. However, she knew very well that she was extremely weakened at this point.
"So, it was you, the key person who influences Yukimaru. In that case, you've done a great service for Lord Orochimaru." Rinjiji, who had already noticed Guren's significant power reduction, saw this as his opportunity to strike. He carefully used an ambush and successfully stabbed a kunai with an explosive tag into Guren's abdomen.
"You..." Guren squatted by the shore, blood flowing from her wound.
Roar!
The Three-tails roared once again. Yukimaru's control over the Three-tails was only temporary, and it ceased when he saw Guren was unharmed. The beast became violent once more. Its massive body charged forward, creating powerful waves that surged towards Guren and the others.
However, Yukimaru was carried away by Rinji, while the injured and already weakened Guren was swept aside again.
"Big Sis Guren!" Yukimaru's face was filled with worry, but Rinji blocked him.
"You see it too. Your big sis Guren is dying. If you don't control the Three-tails now, then..." Rinji continuously provoked Yukimaru, and Guren couldn't stop it. She was well aware that Yukimaru did possess the ability to control the Three-tails, but his control was always short-lived, and the burden was immense. Rinji's actions were clearly disregarding Yukimaru's well-being, forcibly pushing him to unleash his abilities.
"I... I don't know what to do." Yukimaru was at a loss, not knowing how to proceed. His previous actions were driven by desperation.
"Damn it... I killed his mother before, and now I have to watch him die before me?" Guren thought bitterly. Just as she was about to use the Forbidden Technique, the Pressure Points of Harm and Death, to convert her life force into chakra, a voice entered Guren's ears.
"Do you want Yukimaru to be free from being used by Orochimaru? You don't want him to be forced to use his ability to control the Three-tails, right? With his current ability, even if he forcefully uses it, he can only restrict the Three-tails for a very short time. But it burdens his life, constantly depleting his life force. You don't want him to be manipulated by that Rinji, do you?"
Strangely, this voice seemed deafeningly loud, like a Taoist mantra, yet only Guren could hear it. Yukimaru and Rinji, who were nearby and preparing to utilize the ability to control the Three-tails, couldn't hear it.
"Who are you? I don't care who you are, but state your purpose," Guren said in a weak voice.
"Good. I can help Yukimaru break free from Orochimaru's control and ensure he won't be harmed or manipulated by that Rinji. I can also prevent him from being used to control the Three-tails. He can live an ordinary life. The condition is that you pledge your loyalty to me," the voice came again, clearly belonging to Ryoha. Previously, when Ryoha watched her battles multiple times, he didn't think much of her while watching the anime. However, now that he had seen her fights firsthand, he felt an admiration for her. What's more, since Ryoha had decided to participate in the Fourth War, even though it wasn't about the quantity of people but the quality, Ryoha's team was somewhat lacking in numbers. Guren clearly met Ryoha's criteria, and with proper guidance and training, her strength would undoubtedly skyrocket.
She had already demonstrated such formidable power without receiving Orochimaru's training. If she were properly cultivated, she could surpass even Sasuke, let alone his Sharingan. If the Sharingan could evolve, couldn't Guren's Crystal Release also evolve? Ryoha knew very well that he possessed so many Bloodline Limit, and he understood that the potential of any Bloodline Limit depended on its user.
The Sharingan was powerful, but how many Uchiha clan members could unlock the Mangekyou Sharingan? How many could unlock the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan? How many could unlock the Rinnegan? The Sharingan could evolve, and in the same way, Ryoha knew that other Bloodline Limit could also evolve. It depended on how the user developed and evolved their own Bloodline Limit. Guren had purely self-taught herself and reached such a level with her Crystal Release.
If she joined, with the guidance and training from Ryoha and his team, they would have an additional force in the Fourth War. Although Ryoha didn't particularly care about it, having another strong member in his team wouldn't be a bad thing, right? Furthermore, not everyone in Ryoha's team was a powerhouse. At the very least, Bulma was just a woman with physical abilities surpassing ordinary people. Having an additional bodyguard would provide more reassurance.
"Don't make me laugh. Break free from Orochimaru? Who do you think you are?" Guren said disdainfully.
"You don't need to worry about who I am. Now it's up to you to decide how you want to proceed. Will you watch Yukimaru be used and forced to control the Three-tails to save you, only to be continuously manipulated until death? Or will you let him live an ordinary life? As for whether I have the ability to free him from Orochimaru, you'll find out soon. If I don't, you can consider my request as nonsense."