"I think I've heard of that short blade somewhere before," one of the Sand Ninjas said.
"Yeah, I've seen it too!" another ninja replied.
"That's... the weapon of the legendary former Konoha ninja."
"Konoha's White Fang!!"
"That's right! My father told me stories about him," another ninja added.
"Konoha's White Fang is a legend, famous long before the Three Ninjas of Konoha," one more chimed in. "His short sword skills were unparalleled, and he gained great renown in the ninja world."
"But not long after, Konoha's White Fang disappeared. It's as if he vanished from the world," someone else observed.
"Wait... I remember now! It's rumored that Konoha's White Fang had silver hair, just like him!"
As the words spread, all eyes turned toward Kakashi's silver hair.
At that moment, realization dawned on the Sand Ninjas.
"I remember now... Konoha's White Fang's name was Hatake Sakumo."
"That means he's Kakashi's father!" one of them exclaimed.
The Sand Ninjas continued to analyze the connection between Konoha's White Fang and Kakashi, based on his appearance and the blade in his hand.
Kakashi, who had just pierced Gaara's sand armor with his White Fang, narrowed his eyes. Gaara, looking at the broken sand falling to the ground, felt a sharp pain in his chest. Though the White Fang had not pierced his skin, the pain from the impact was excruciating.
Gaara's expression twisted with rage, and a cruel smile spread across his face as he bared his fangs.
"You dare to hurt me?" he roared, his voice full of malice.
The next moment, Kakashi's senses screamed. A wave of intense killing intent, like a tsunami, surged from Gaara's body. The air was thick with a sinister chakra that began to coil around him.
Without hesitation, Kakashi slapped his palm against the remaining sand armor on Gaara's body and used the recoil to jump backward.
The ground where he had just been standing erupted in a torrent of sand, rising like a waterfall.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
As Kakashi retreated, he leaped into the air, quickly forming hand seals. Chakra surged through his body, gathering in his throat as a massive fireball, three meters in diameter, roared to life. The fireball shot toward Gaara, an enormous beast of flame that threatened to engulf him.
But Gaara, unflinching, transformed in an instant.
A monstrous hand, resembling the claw of a giant raccoon cat, reached out and swatted down.
Boom!
The sound of the impact rang through the air, deafening everyone. The ground shook violently, and the force of the blow sent a shockwave through the battlefield.
The sight that followed was even more terrifying—half of Gaara's body had transformed into Shukaku, the tailed beast sealed within him.
This transformation was a result of the hatred and murderous intent Kakashi's attack had unleashed, causing Gaara to lose control of the beast within.
Kakashi's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected Gaara to lose control and let Shukaku take over, or perhaps it had been intentional.
Releasing the tailed beast Jinchūriki in battle was a devastating tactic, a weapon of mass destruction.
The Sand Ninjas, watching the transformation, instinctively began to retreat. They knew the immense power Shukaku wielded on the battlefield, but they also understood the risks. Gaara's uncontrolled transformation meant he was no longer fully in control of his actions, but the power he now wielded was beyond anything they could face.
"AHH!!!"
The earth-shattering roar of Shukaku echoed across the battlefield, causing the air to vibrate with its ferocity. Everyone felt a chill run down their spine, their bodies instinctively freezing in fear.
Realizing the danger, Kakashi acted without hesitation. He quickly opened his Sharingan, the scarlet eye flashing to life. The veins on his forehead bulged as he focused intently on the raging Gaara.
Half of Gaara's body had transformed into Shukaku, dragging the enormous tailed beast arm with it. The massive, mutated arm stretched over ten meters long, sending shockwaves with each step.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Trees were uprooted as the arm swung toward Kakashi, crushing everything in its path.
Bang!
A tremendous impact rang out, and everyone held their breath, thinking Kakashi had been struck and killed.
But then, a shadow leaped into the air, cutting through the dust and smoke. It was Kakashi, barely avoiding the blow. His Sharingan flared as he dashed into the air, evading Shukaku's crushing strike.
Gaara, with half of his body transformed into the beast, bared his teeth in a cruel smile. He knew Kakashi had evaded the attack.
Kakashi didn't hesitate for a moment. He quickly summoned lightning to his hands, the crackling energy dancing across his fingers.
In a flash, Kakashi drew the White Fang from his back, channeling the lightning into the blade. The broken sword gleamed with electric power.
His eyes narrowed as he focused all his strength into the attack. With a powerful thrust, he aimed the electrified White Fang straight at Gaara.
The air itself seemed to bend as the lightning-enhanced blade cut through it, making a sharp, whistling sound as it shot toward Gaara.
Swish!
The White Fang found its mark and plunged into Gaara's transformed body.
Blood sprayed into the air, painting the battlefield with a vivid crimson. The impact left the entire area stunned.
But before anyone could fully process what had just happened, Kakashi's eyes widened in realization. His blade had been pushed back by a powerful force.
Gaara's wound began to heal almost instantly, as the sand around him responded, closing up the wound at a visible speed.
Kakashi, recognizing the futility of the attack, didn't hesitate. He immediately stepped back, throwing kunai to create distractions. A smoke bomb exploded, and Kakashi vanished in an instant.
The battle between Kakashi and Gaara, the tailed beast Jinchūriki, had only just begun.
Meanwhile, the Sand Ninja army pressed forward, continuing their invasion into the Land of Fire. Small-scale battles erupted across the region, and for the next half-month, Shukaku's rampage seemed unstoppable.