Kakuzu unleashed threads from his hands, shooting them into the ground while simultaneously spitting out multiple "Lightning Style: Lightning Bullets of Death" jutsu. The scene crackled with tension as bolts of lightning illuminated the battlefield.
Kakashi, undeterred, quickly formed a series of hand signs. Slamming his palms onto the ground, he activated "Lightning Style: Lightning Spider Jutsu." A large spider-like construct of lightning materialized around him. The spider absorbed the oncoming lightning bullets head-on before detonating in a powerful surge, creating a blast that halted Kakuzu's advancing threads that were going towards the kids.
"You're not getting past me, Kakuzu," Kakashi said firmly, readying himself for the next assault.
Yuto teleported away just as an earth spike shot toward his previous location, narrowly avoiding a fatal hit. The earth mask, surrounded by threads connecting it to the ground, launched an array of earth spikes and threads to trap and kill him. Yuto skillfully kept the mask distracted, dodging attacks and analyzing its movements.
Meanwhile, Naruko's clones emerged from the ground, encircling the earth mask from a safe distance. Each clone held ten exploding kunai, which they hurled at the mask. Simultaneously, the clones performed hand signs and unleashed "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough" jutsu to amplify the explosions.
Reacting quickly, the earth mask activated "Earth Style: Earth Distortion Jutsu," cracking the ground and creating a protective barrier while sending waves of large earth spikes at the clones. The subsequent explosion shook the battlefield, obliterating the barrier but leaving the mask unscathed. Naruko's clones were destroyed, but she gritted her teeth and created more.
"Stubborn thing, aren't you?" Naruko muttered as her clones prepared to strike again.
Hitomi leapt back swiftly, narrowly avoiding a water tentacle crashing into her previous position. Before she could regain her footing, a surge of threads shot toward her, forcing her to use the Body Flicker Technique to evade them. Suddenly, the water mask released a powerful torrent of water in a wide arc, catching her off guard.
From above, Fuu swooped in and grabbed Hitomi, flying them into the air just in time to dodge the oncoming wave. "Thanks, Fuu!" Hitomi panted, before asking, "Do you have any idea how we can take that thing down? It's relentless!"
Fuu's expression was serious as she replied, "I'm still thinking, but... nothing solid yet. We'll need to figure something out soon!"
Yuto slammed a poison energy ball against the stone spikes before teleporting away, his mind racing. 'If this keeps up, we're going to lose,' he thought grimly, his muscles straining under the continuous battle. Suddenly, the earth mask used Earth Style: Earth Dragon Jutsu, sending a massive construct of earth hurtling toward him. Yuto quickly began absorbing the chakra, his reserves already depleted from the fight.
Kakuzu, seeing the opportunity, grinned wickedly. With a flick of his threads, he unleashed Lightning Style: Electromagnetic Murder, a deadly current streaking toward Yuto. Kakashi, occupied with Kakuzu's relentless threads, couldn't intervene.
The attack came too fast. Yuto turned, trying to teleport to one of his kunai, but his chakra control faltered. Wide-eyed, he braced himself, knowing he wouldn't make it in time. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as Kakashi, Hitomi, and Fuu watched in horror.
Then, a massive gust of wind blasted the lightning attack away. A chilling, oppressive aura filled the battlefield, halting everyone in their tracks. The source was unmistakable—Naruko.
Her body trembled with rage, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Memories of Yuto being struck down in the previous battle replayed in her mind, fueling her fury. Her irises turned blood-red with slitted pupils. Her whisker marks darkened and thickened, and her hair grew longer, resembling flowing tails. A fiery orange aura surrounded her, crackling with raw power—the Initial Jinchuriki Form used by Naruto in the Chunin exam arc.
Kakashi's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the malicious chakra. 'The seal—did it break?' he wondered. But then he realized, 'No... This is controlled. She's using the Nine-Tails' chakra consciously.'
Yuto, Hitomi, and Fuu felt the overwhelming pressure radiating from Naruko, their bodies instinctively tensing. Even Kakuzu paused, his grin replaced by a frown. "This… might be a problem," he muttered.
Naruko's sharp glare focused on Kakuzu, her voice low and seething. "You won't touch him again."
Naruko disappeared from her spot, reappearing right in front of the earth mask with a sudden burst of speed. Before the mask could react, she leaped into the air, dodging the earth spikes and threads aiming to ensnare her. Her chakra flared violently as she unleashed a Wind Style: Great Breakthrough. The jutsu, amplified tenfold by her Nine-Tails-enhanced chakra, sent a devastating gust that slammed into the earth mask, shaking the battlefield.
With a swift Body Flicker, Naruko reappeared behind the earth mask, delivering a crushing kick that sent it airborne. She then appeared above it, slamming it down with both hands, creating a massive crater upon impact. The earth mask cracked under the tremendous force but remained intact.
Kakuzu, seeing his mask in danger, moved to intervene, but Kakashi dashed forward with a Chidori, slicing off one of Kakuzu's arms. "You're not going anywhere," Kakashi growled, his eyes sharp with determination.
Kakuzu hissed in anger, quickly using his threads to retrieve and stitch his arm back together. His glare at Kakashi was filled with murderous intent, but the interruption bought Naruko enough time.
Focusing all her fury, Naruko delivered a final, devastating punch to the earth mask, her strength amplified by the Nine-Tails' chakra. The impact shattered the mask, and the earth construct collapsed, going limp as its core was destroyed.
Yuto observed Naruko's Nine-Tails initial form, noting the oppressive aura that surpassed the one he remembered from the Chunin Exams arc in the anime. He analyzed that her rigorous training under Guy Sensei had significantly enhanced her physical strength and chakra control, allowing her to draw on more Biju chakra during her first attempt.
'If she pushes just a little more, the one-tail cloak might manifest,' Yuto thought. 'She wouldn't have been able to destroy the earth mask otherwise. Her intense training must have bridged the gap, especially since Kakuzu divides his strength among his masks, weakening them individually.'
(Pls give me some power stones!)
(Find out next time on Naruto:Eye system)