A slight trace of Tailed Beast chakra.
They streaked through the air with brilliant tails of flame, drawing a beautiful arc as they sped towards Naruto.
Yugito clasped her hands in front of her, eyes fixed intently on Naruto.
The intel indicated that the speed of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was unmatched.
Although her technique had tracking capabilities, she wasn't entirely confident in its effectiveness.
But what shocked her was that Naruto remained unmoved, standing in the sky without even turning his head from the battle between the Nine-Tails and the Eight-Tails.
Blue flames shot forth—
Just as they were about to hit Naruto, golden chains whipped out from behind him, striking the blue fireball and easily reducing it to dispersing smoke.
Yugito gritted her teeth.
The attack had failed.
What infuriated her further was Naruto's attitude.
Was he really dismissing her like this?
She activated her Tailed Beast chakra, a dark red shroud enveloping her body.
She leaped high towards Naruto, claws glinting menacingly.
As she closed in, even as the claws slashed forward, Naruto made no move to evade, allowing the attack to connect.
Yugito's excitement turned to dismay in an instant.
Naruto didn't defend, and though her attack tore his clothes, the once-ferocious claws only left shallow marks on his body, healing completely even before withdrawing.
"Such weak attacks won't suffices," Naruto said softly, "Save your strength; you're no match for me."
"Why not join me in watching the Nine-Tails and the Eight-Tails fight?"
"They're quite a spectacle, aren't they?"
Yugito landed, gritting her teeth again, and her Tailed Beast chakra surged more violently.
From her body, blue-black flames danced as dark as ink.
This Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's power far exceeded her expectations.
Half-beast transformations fail to cause any harm.
What level has he reached?
Tutai and Shi did not join the battle.
They're trying to break the force of this aura, but in such a short time, they've tried dozens of methods, none of which have been effective.
"It seems to be just pure aura," Shi said, clenching his fists. "It's not the result of a technique."
He is a versatile ninja.
Genjutsu, taijutsu, and medical ninjutsu — he has trained all to a jonin level.
The Raikage praised him as being very much like the "Third Hokage."
His conclusions are highly convincing.
"That's really bad," Tutai frowned, "If that's the case, we probably can't help Yugito and Bee."
Under this aura, it's difficult to even perform ninjutsu.
And to make matters worse, despite the grand mobilization by the Hidden Cloud, gathering so much power, it's all been useless.
In the end, the ones dealing with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki are just those two jinchuriki.
Moreover, the intelligence did not mention that the Nine-Tails could emerge from the jinchuriki's body and fight as a separate entity.
The situation shifted from an overwhelming advantage to a "fair match" of two-on-two.
Yet for the Hidden Cloud, this is the greatest "unfairness."
"We still have a chance," Shi whispered, "Remember that plan? They've already started moving."
That was a plan long in the making.
Upon learning Naruto has a vast perception range, they anticipated that Naruto would settle the red-haired Uzumaki and come searching.
If this does happen, another team led by a jonin would be dispatched to capture Karin Uzumaki.
Using her to threaten the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Targeting the "weak point" is the essence of ninja tactics.
Tutai nodded: "Is that so?"
Even though events are indeed unfolding as planned, for some reason, he felt a faint sense of unease.
There are already some variables.
The many forces prepared in advance have been ineffectual.
Will the operation to capture Karin
proceed smoothly?
Deep within the forest.
"As expected, the Hidden Cloud has targeted me as their weak point." Karin opened her eyes and smirked. "They sent a squad over."
Her sensory ability, though not as adept as Naruto's, could still cover several kilometers, enough to handle ordinary ninjas.
Those rapidly approaching chakra signatures couldn't escape her detection.
"I'll protect you," Yin Nine-Tails said slowly. "How many are there?"
Karin got up, picked a direction, and calmly said, "One Jonin, three Chunin."
"A standard team setup."
"Thank you, Nine-Tails."
"However."
"I'm not the person I used to be."
"Let me handle them myself. If it doesn't work out, I'll ask for your help."
The Yin Nine-Tails grunted, flicking its tail.
In less than two minutes.
The Jonin landed on the ground: "The chakra of the Uzumaki clan is right here!"
"Search for her trail."
"She's not strong, probably just a Chunin at best."
"Capture her quickly."
Just as one Chunin circled a tree, he suddenly froze, panic surging inside.
He looked down.
He had triggered an almost invisible transparent wire with his foot.
At both ends of the wire, the sound of sizzling explosive tags ignited.
They were explosive tags!
Realizing this, the tags exploded with a thunderous boom.
The Chunin was tossed by the powerful blast, his head, limbs, and chunks of flesh and bone scattering like flowers across the sky.
The commotion drew in the other three ninjas, making them approach cautiously.
Seeing their comrade's gruesome end made their faces go pale.
"Be careful, she set traps." The Jonin frowned, "It seems... she also has sensory abilities and knew of our arrival well in advance, preparing accordingly."
"He was careless."
Beside Naruto, Karin was hardly noticeable.
The advantage of this is that her intelligence seems unknown to outsiders.
Aside from the information leaking from the Grass Ninja Village: that she is a member of the "Uzumaki Clan" and possesses "healing abilities," everything else they know is virtually nothing.
Out of habit, they still categorized her as that "genin," at most an unremarkable chunin.
It seems now that's not the case.
They proceeded with even greater caution in their search.
The moment the three of them spread out within a certain distance, however—
In the forest, a golden chain suddenly launched from behind one of the chunin, binding his limbs and pinning him firmly to the ground.
The chunin had no time to react, barely able to turn his head.
A red-haired figure appeared before him.
It was Karin!
She held her hand up, a blue swirling energy orb the size of a fist spinning between her palms.
"Rasengan!"
Naruto had taught her this technique long ago.
The energy orb pressed against the chunin's stomach, the vortex and chakra tearing, twisting his abdomen, ripping apart the internal organs within.
He let out a scream of agony, his life force slowly fading.
The commotion alerted the remaining two individuals in the forest.
They instantly gathered together, responding swiftly.
Yet before them was only a corpse, face down, the one responsible unseen.
"Was it done by that member of the Uzumaki Clan?" the jonin gritted their teeth, clenching their fist.
They had indeed underestimated her.
Thinking too much of what the Grass Ninja said, that without Naruto Uzumaki's protection, she would be a "weakling who couldn't even truss a chicken."
But she did have some skills.
"How did she kill Long?" the only remaining chunin pondered, frowning.
He knew his teammate's strength.
Even if not a match for that Uzumaki, it shouldn't have been an instant kill.
He moved closer, intending to turn their teammate's body over.
From behind, it was unclear how he was struck.
Perhaps he could find clues from the front.
The jonin's pupils contracted; they quickly spoke, "Stop! Don't move the body!"
But the chunin's hand had already touched it, and upon hearing the jonin, he realized something, hurriedly pulling his hand back.
But it was already too late.
A hissing sound emanated.
The explosive tag detonated.
A chunin quickly formed hand signs, using Earth Release to cover himself, reducing the shock wave's impact. Though the blast threw him back, at least he clung to life.
The jonin sighed in relief.
Thank goodness.
This trap didn't result in any casualties.
That guy from the Uzumaki clan is really hard to deal with.
He managed to kill a chunin on sight and set up an almost flawless trap in such a rapidly changing scene.
Yet, he couldn't even finish exhaling.
The breath he released was sucked back in sharply.
The flying chunin was caught by a figure with red hair.
She grasped the chunin's hair with one hand, a kunai in the other.
Without hesitation, utterly decisive.
With a "thud," the kunai pierced the chunin's throat.
"Karin Uzumaki!" the jonin gritted his teeth, spitting out her name in anger.
Fine, he now remembered this person.
Karin tossed the body on the ground, stepping on his head as she lowered hers, speaking calmly: "You really underestimated me."
"I'm not that little girl from Grass anymore."
"After all, I've been alongside the strongest person in the ninja world. Even if someone truly lacks talent, they'd still pick up some skills unless they're a fool."
"Moreover, I should have some talent."
"I already feel guilty for not being able to help Naruto with those matters."
"If I were to drag Naruto down in such trivial matters as well."
"I'd rather be stabbed by him."
The jonin from the Cloud spat: "I now admit you have some skills."
"But be prepared to face my wrath."
Karin looked up, puzzled.
She was talking to the Nine-Tails.
What was this guy butting in for?
"You're the only one left." Karin looked at him with slight tension, "Naruto always said I have jonin-level strength."
"Let's see you prove it."
A jonin, huh.
Someone she once had to look up to, someone high above her.
(End of Chapter)