Chapter 121: I Am Matatabi
Manda initially wanted to retort, "You brat! Do you take me for a fool? Those people aren't easy prey, and they won't be so simple to deal with."
But before the massive serpent could complain further, the Sand ninja had already launched their attacks.
Was Manda, the self-proclaimed 10,000 Snake, someone to be trifled with? Absolutely not.
Leaving Manda behind as a rearguard, Tonari quickly regrouped with Tsunade and the others, making a dash out of the forest.
If earlier, Tsunade's words had left some doubts about Tonari's strength in the minds of their allies, this time, there were no reservations.
Summoning Manda alone? That level of chakra was comparable to a jōnin.
Even with its massive size, Manda wasn't particularly effective against agile jōnin. However, it excelled in clearing out weaker opponents like genin and chūnin, who didn't stand a chance.
But things were far from over.
"Do you think you can escape?"
Chiyo soon caught up, with several elite Sand jōnin in tow.
"This isn't going to work. You all go ahead—I'll stay behind and hold them off," Tsunade said calmly. Among them, she was unquestionably the strongest and had the highest chances of survival.
"No, let me stay," Dan immediately refused. "I'm the one who's had contact with the scroll from the beginning. What they want is me."
"Stop saying such foolish things!" Akimichi Daokaze grumbled in his deep voice. "We'll face them head-on. With Tsunade and Dan here, we have a chance to win."
Daokaze, a stocky figure who'd been quietly harboring anger over their comrades' deaths, couldn't stand it anymore. Though he wasn't as prominent as the others, his resolve shone through.
"I have a plan," Tonari interjected, his voice steady. "It might work, but I'll need your support."
Tsunade glanced at Tonari, her expression serious. "You mean..."
Tonari simply nodded.
"Alright!" Tsunade quickly made a decision, instructing everyone to assist Tonari in executing his plan.
Within thirty seconds, she laid out the strategy.
Once everyone understood their roles, the group split. Tsunade, Dan, and the others turned back to face their pursuers, while Tonari continued a bit further ahead, finding cover in the bushes.
Tonari closed his eyes and entered his sealed space.
"Beautiful One, give me all your power!" he shouted boldly.
The Two-Tails, Matatabi, lying peacefully within the cage, opened its eyes lazily. Staring at the determined Tonari, it hesitated.
"Are you sure? We've never tried this before. If you fail to withstand the malice within my chakra, you might lose yourself entirely."
Tonari met its gaze with unwavering resolve. "I trust you'll help me."
After over a year together, Tonari had grown to understand Matatabi's personality well. He also realized that his inability to achieve full synchronization with its power stemmed from never fully embracing it.
The Two-Tails often filtered the malice in its chakra for him, but he had never truly connected with its pain and perspective.
"Let's do this," Tonari said decisively.
Matatabi fell silent for a moment before stepping forward. Without hesitation, Tonari spread his arms wide, embracing its massive, furry frame.
In the outside world, the small Matatabi that usually perched on Tonari's shoulder vanished. His eyes remained closed, while dark markings resembling eyeliner began forming around them. A faint blue chakra began to seep from his body, rapidly enveloping him.
The chakra soon turned a dark crimson, his posture lowering as he dropped to all fours. A long, thin tail extended from a bulge on his back.
Meanwhile, Tsunade and the others confronted the Sand ninja head-on.
Without hesitation, Tsunade unleashed her trump card. The diamond-shaped seal on her forehead glowed, and black markings spread across her body.
Byakugō no Jutsu—the pinnacle of her regenerative and combat abilities.
With her chakra surging, her strength became even more monstrous. Each punch carried devastating force, as she charged directly at Chiyo's Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu.
Catching the red-faced puppet off-guard, Tsunade's punch incapacitated it instantly.
At the same time, Dan clasped his hands together, performing hand seals. A translucent shadow emerged from his body—it was his soul.
Spirit Transformation Technique, Dan's most powerful and infamous jutsu.
This forbidden technique allowed him to separate his spirit from his body, infiltrating and controlling others' bodies, or outright killing them. Unlike the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Transfer Jutsu, this was more aggressive and deadly.
The Akimichi clan member, Daokaze, roared. Two chains adorned with kunai coiled around his body.
"Secret Technique: Partial Multi-Size Jutsu!"
His already massive frame grew five to six times larger, the chains stretching taut as kunai pointed outward.
"Human Bullet Tank: Needle Spiked Form!"
Rolling into a giant, spiked ball, Daokaze hurtled toward a Sand ninja controlled by Dan's spirit. The resulting impact was nothing short of catastrophic.
Their teamwork was precise, the synergy honed over countless missions together. Even in dire situations, they fought as one.
But the Sand ninja weren't to be underestimated. Chiyo's puppets alone could annihilate small hidden villages. Combined with the sheer number of Sand ninja present, the odds remained grim.
Chiyo's voice rang out: "Focus on the silver-haired one! Kill him and retrieve the scroll!"
The Sand ninja surged forward with renewed determination.
Back at Tonari's location, his transformation reached its peak. His body became cloaked in a near-tangible chakra shroud, resembling a half-sleeved blue-black robe. Black trim adorned its edges, with flame-like patterns flickering faintly.
A necklace of three black tomoe rested on his chest, while his eyes transformed—one turning bright yellow, the other deep blue.
"So this is the perfect Two-Tails Mode," Tonari murmured, feeling the surging power within him.
Inside the sealed space, Matatabi spoke with rare seriousness.
"Tonari, I've never told you my real name, but it's time. Remember it well—Matatabi."
Tonari's grin widened. "Got it, Beautiful One!"
Matatabi sighed in exasperation. "...Never mind."
Returning to the battlefield, Tonari leapt into action. His chakra-enhanced blade cleaved through Sand ninja with alarming speed.
"Dan, I'll back you up!"
Dan, impressed by Tonari's newfound speed and strength, quickly adapted. His spirit darted from foe to foe, paralyzing them, while Tonari's blade finished the job.
Their seamless teamwork turned the tide. Even Daokaze, pushing his body to its limits, joined the fray.
Despite the overwhelming odds, the group of Konoha ninja began to rally. The coordinated assault from Dan, Tonari, and the others created chaos among the Sand ninja ranks.
As the battle raged, a complete Tailed Beast Bomb erupted, obliterating a swath of Sand ninja and leaving a massive crater in its wake.
Chiyo's face twisted in rage and despair. The devastation caused by the Two-Tails' power was unimaginable.
Despite the massive casualties, the Sand ninja regrouped, their will to fight unwavering.
But as Tonari's voice echoed across the battlefield, the tide shifted yet again.
"The main character always arrives at the climax. Let's end this!"
To Be Continued...