In the world of shinobi, there is a type of power known as the "Perfect Jinchuriki," where the tailed beast and its host achieve perfect harmony, maximizing both their powers.
However, a Perfect Jinchuriki cannot fight indefinitely. After a certain point, the tailed beast must retreat and regenerate its chakra.
This is the difference between the tailed beast's "core chakra" and the chakra it uses in battle. The core chakra is akin to its true essence and cannot be used recklessly; it's as if a person were ripping pieces of their own flesh to throw in combat.
Tailed beasts are unique forms of life. Like shinobi, they can replenish their chakra after expending it, but it takes time to regenerate. This difference in chakra types is what defines them.
From dozens of kilometers away, shinobi could hear Shukaku's roars of fury and pain.
Outside Konoha, Shikamaru's team was chasing down Temari and Kankuro.
In truth, Shikamaru didn't want this assignment, as the two Sand shinobi clearly wouldn't be easy to handle.
But he knew this was no time to slack off. Temari and Kankuro were on Gaara's team, so they likely held valuable information. Resolving to see it through, he led the team in pursuit.
Temari and Kankuro didn't fear the team chasing them, but they were still running. Something was wrong with their plan. They were supposed to coordinate with the tailed beast to attack the village. So where was Gaara? Where was the tailed beast?
Without Gaara, trying to battle in Konoha would be suicide.
"Those pests just won't quit. Shouldn't we just take them down?" Kankuro was growing frustrated with being pursued.
"No. It's not that easy. Didn't you see the intel? These three brats are Konoha's next-generation Ino-Shika-Cho. Individually, they may not be strong, but together, they're very dangerous.
Right now, we need to find Gaara or Master Baki and figure out what's going on."
Behind them, Shikamaru realized they couldn't keep stalling. Ino had trained hard after being inspired by Sakura, and the team's natural talent had resulted in significant improvement.
"Ino, go for it."
"Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
In the middle of high-speed movement, Mind Transfer Jutsu is nearly impossible to land accurately, but Shikamaru didn't need a perfect hit—just enough to disrupt them.
In that instant, Temari felt a brief dizziness. Although she quickly dispelled it, it caused her to lose her balance, almost falling from the tree.
"Temari!" Kankuro reached out to steady her, their combined movements slowing them down.
A shadow quickly extended across the ground toward them.
"Not good!" Kankuro grabbed Temari and pushed her aside, but his body was immediately caught by the shadow.
"No, this isn't his real body," Shikamaru realized the moment he bound Kankuro.
The puppet on Kankuro's back suddenly split open, revealing his real body.
Using chakra threads to control his puppet, he activated its weapons and prepared to counterattack.
But at that moment, a loud shout rang out.
"Human Bullet Tank!!"
Kankuro's reaction was a mixture of disbelief and horror. As a puppeteer, his battles were usually calculated and precise. He would hide his real body and attack using his puppet.
It was like a high-stakes robot competition with both "players" behind the scenes. Kankuro's tactics usually countered Shikamaru's well.
But then Choji's Human Bullet Tank technique felt like someone bringing a bulldozer to the robot competition, smashing not only the robots but the entire arena.
Is this really a ninja technique?
The power of Choji's Human Bullet Tank technique was well known. Among those who'd faced him, only Kakuzu had survived it head-on, while everyone else had run the moment they saw it.
Kankuro watched in horror as his puppet was torn apart like a child's toy, pieces flying everywhere, and he was hit hard enough to be flung into the air.
"Wind Style: Great Sickle Weasel!" Temari unfurled her large fan, sending a blast of wind at Choji and Shikamaru to drive them back as she tried to help Kankuro.
But then Ino's voice rang out from behind her.
"Mind Transfer Jutsu!" Temari's body froze on the spot.
"No…" Kankuro realized they had lost. He never expected they would be defeated so quickly. Konoha's Ino-Shika-Cho team, when serious, was simply unstoppable.
Shikamaru synchronized with Ino's Mind Transfer Jutsu, fully restraining the two of them. Ino and Choji then securely tied them up, completing the mission successfully.
They were the first team to complete their mission.
Meanwhile, Naruto and Neji's teams were still locked in a struggle against Kimimaro.
"His movements have slowed down? But his chakra hasn't weakened. Could it be…?" Neji noticed Kimimaro's strange condition and suspected his body was giving out.
"Everyone, spread out and avoid direct confrontation."
Realizing this, the two teams distanced themselves. At the same time, Kimimaro felt his own limit approaching.
He glanced toward the VIP stands, where Orochimaru's fight had not yet ended. A look of resolve crossed his face.
The battle between Orochimaru and Hiruzen had also reached its final stages.
Unlike in the original storyline, where Orochimaru mostly stood back and let others fight, this time he was attacking far more frequently.
"Ten Thousand Snakes Formation!" A wave of snakes flooded the battlefield.
Hiruzen, breathing heavily, had already spent significant energy fighting the First and Second Hokage. Facing two immortal ninjas was incredibly taxing.
Now, against Orochimaru's attacks, he was struggling to keep up.
"Hiruzen, can you keep going?"
The Monkey King Enma also sensed Hiruzen's exhaustion. What puzzled him most was that, after dozens of rounds of battle, no one had come to assist the Third Hokage.
Some of Hiruzen's bodyguards were outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, but they were only Special Jonin and unable to break the barrier.
But the absence of Konoha's elite shinobi was odd. Not one had come to even attempt a rescue.
"Hiruzen, what's going on? Why isn't there any backup?"
"..." This question left Hiruzen speechless.
Yes, why was there no backup? Not a single person...
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Currently on Chapter 134 - Obito Attacks