Whether Tailed Beasts can regenerate lost body parts remains a mystery in the shinobi world.
First, cases of Tailed Beasts being severely injured are rare, so there aren't many examples to study. Second, each Tailed Beast has unique characteristics, so one's regenerative ability doesn't imply another's.
For example, the Eight-Tails had regenerated eight tails severed during a battle with the Third Raikage. Yet, in a fight with the Fourth Raikage, one of its horns was cut off and has never grown back. This suggests that tail regeneration might be a unique trait, similar to octopus tentacle regeneration.
Since Tailed Beasts are composed of massive amounts of chakra in physical form, they should theoretically be able to recover any lost body parts, as long as chakra exists in the world—unless the chakra is permanently devoured.
For instance, if Dak were to use the Door-Door Fruit to remove a Tailed Beast's tail to another dimension, that portion of the chakra would be lost forever. Similarly, if the Dark-Dark Fruit's ability were used to devour chakra, it would result in a permanent loss.
Thus, the Eight-Tails' missing horn may be gone either because it vanished from the world or because the beast itself didn't wish to regenerate it.
As for Matatabi's lost tail, it's likely to grow back soon—assuming, of course, that Matatabi, or her Jinchuriki Yugito, survive the battle without being killed by Naruto or Kurama.
"Woof!"
'Naruto!'
Sensing Naruto's increasingly dark and ominous energy, Arcanine left Matatabi, rushing to the side of Naruto, who now bore eight tails.
Naruto, in this state, would normally lash out indiscriminately at anyone nearby, affected by the Nine-Tails' chakra cloak laced with hatred. However, in this instance, Naruto's eyes were fixed solely on Matatabi, making him unconsciously avoid attacking Arcanine, whom he felt no hostility toward and instinctively trusted.
With Naruto's attention elsewhere, Arcanine easily picked him up and sprinted away.
Vulpix, understanding the danger, promptly returned to her Poké Ball to avoid causing trouble.
Now, Arcanine had only one option:
'Take Naruto into the Breeding House!'
Not Pokémon Island, but the Breeding House.
Currently, travel between worlds was possible only through the teleportation arrays at the Breeding House branches, requiring identification for access.
However, in the early days, before Pokémon Island developed, the Breeding House had distributed a special item to a select few high-ranking officials in the Alliance:
The Pocket Badge
Anyone possessing this badge could open any door in any world and enter the Breeding House.
In the Breeding House, everyone except core staff and Pokémon would have their powers suppressed.
This was Arcanine's solution to save Naruto.
Fortunately, Zef, as a former Navy Instructor, owned one of these badges and had entrusted it to Arcanine as a safeguard.
Once inside, Naruto's transformation would be forcibly halted, and he would revert to his normal state, with the entity within him suppressed entirely.
While on Pokémon Island, Arcanine had never sensed anything unusual from within Naruto. This confirmed to him that whatever was inside Naruto was suppressed, possibly to the point of unconsciousness.
"Roar~"
Arcanine hadn't run far before he stopped, setting Naruto down.
Naruto, in his Eight-Tails state, tried to charge back to Matatabi but was pinned down by Arcanine's paw.
Opening his mouth, Arcanine created a fiery door, picked Naruto back up, and leaped through it.
Thud!
The instant Naruto's body crossed into the Breeding House, he reverted to his human form, immediately falling unconscious.
The Nine-Tails chakra had overwhelmed his young, untrained body.
…
Alliance City General Hospital.
After thorough examination, Naruto's physical condition was determined to be poor. He wouldn't be leaving his hospital bed for at least a month.
As for his mental state, a good rest would restore him. Even without Asura's chakra, Naruto wasn't one to be easily affected by negative emotions.
Besides, with his cheerful friend Luffy visiting frequently, Naruto's spirits wouldn't be a problem.
However, Zef had strictly grounded Naruto and Arcanine until the war in the shinobi world concluded, forbidding them from leaving Alliance City.
He had even used his former Navy connections to ask his old students in the Security Force to keep an eye on Naruto to prevent him from running off again.
No one could understand Zef's feelings upon seeing Naruto rushed into surgery and Arcanine covered in blood.
Arcanine had lost an eye.
But that was a minor issue.
With the various tools available on Pokémon Island, or even in the shinobi world, losing an eye was a small injury. While it might be tricky to heal in the world of seas, in the shinobi world, it was manageable.
If there's one area where the shinobi world surpasses the seas, it would be genjutsu and medical ninjutsu.
The shinobi world's medical techniques even surpass Pokémon Island's tools in terms of practical use.
If future shinobi world doctors sought to work for the Pokémon Alliance, the medical department might become their stronghold.
Their high-level medical skills relied on a variety of ninjutsu and dojutsu, and upon certification, Dak would allow doctors limited chakra control in the operating room.
"You sure you don't need me to get something from Dak?" Zef asked, looking sternly at Arcanine.
Despite his sympathy for Arcanine, he was still frustrated that the Pokémon had followed Naruto onto the battlefield.
He was willing to swallow his pride and ask Dak for rare medicines, but Arcanine declined.
Not out of reluctance or pride.
"Woof! Woof!"
'I don't need it. I look cool!'
Arcanine barked, sticking out his tongue like a carefree pup. He thought his one-eyed look was stylish and had no plans to fix it.
"Idiot."
Zef shook his head, letting the matter go.
During Naruto's hospitalization, his friends came to visit one by one.
Most of Naruto's friends had come to Alliance City for the Pokémon Battle Tournament, so visiting Alliance City General Hospital was convenient.
The first visitor was Sasuke from the Whitebeard Pirates, Naruto's close friend.
"What happened to you?"
Sasuke looked at Naruto with a faint smirk, as if mocking his weakness.
In reality, he had rushed over as soon as he'd heard the news, even skipping Sachi's upcoming match.
"I… kinda forgot, haha." Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.
Naruto didn't realize that the big blue cat he'd seen was a Tailed Beast, and he felt a little embarrassed.
All he remembered was the anger he felt upon seeing Arcanine hurt, but the rest was a blank. He had woken up on the hospital bed.
Naruto felt guilty.
Because of his recklessness, he'd worried his grandpa and caused Arcanine to lose an eye.
Though Zef had assured him Arcanine's eye could be healed, Naruto still felt immense guilt toward both Zefa and Arcanine.
Whenever he saw them, he couldn't help but lower his head in shame.
This time, under house arrest, Naruto had no thoughts of sneaking back to the shinobi world.
True, Konoha, which his parents had protected, was important.
But now…
Now he had something even more valuable.
Given a choice between his current family and Konoha, Naruto chose his family.
Besides, Konoha was safe for now, so Naruto felt less urgency, though he still worried a bit.
After Sasuke, Luffy, Ace, and other members of the Monkey family came by.
"You're recovering well?" Ace observed Naruto.
To Ace and Sabo, Naruto was like a younger version of their brother, Luffy—a dear friend.
It was like how Ace felt meeting Zoro, Sanji, and the others in Alabasta.
"Yeah, still a bit sore, but I'm mostly fine!" Naruto nodded.
"And Hinata? Have you seen her?" Luffy asked, leaning over the bed to ask about his sister.
"Hinata… She was grounded by her father as soon as she returned to the village," Naruto recalled, scratching his chin.
"What?! I'll punch—"
Luffy erupted in anger, but Ace and the others quickly restrained him.
"Idiot! This is a good thing," Ace muttered, holding his impulsive brother back.
(End of Chapter)
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