The Cloud Village ninjas scrambled to regroup, their disciplined teamwork stabilizing their ranks despite the chaos. However, this was precisely what Naruto wanted.
"Odama Rasengan!"
A massive spiraling sphere of chakra formed in Naruto's hands, unstable and radiating a terrifying power. This technique, a refined version of the Rasengan, packed an explosive punch.
"Hit by that, and you're as good as dead," Neji muttered, watching in awe as Naruto prepared the attack. The sheer chakra radiating from the technique sent shivers down his spine.
"It takes too long to prepare," Kakashi observed critically. "But once perfected, it'll be a devastating weapon."
Naruto hurled the Odama Rasengan toward the clustered Cloud ninjas. The glowing sphere hurtled forward like a runaway freight train, its speed and power overwhelming.
The Cloud ninjas froze, realizing they couldn't dodge in time.
"Yo! You think you can bully Uncle B?" Killer B shouted, his voice cutting through the tension.
Killer B charged forward, his seven swords infused with lightning chakra. Each blade vibrated at high frequency, aimed at slicing through the spiraling mass.
But the moment the Odama Rasengan met Killer B's swords, it detonated with a massive explosion.
The shockwave rippled through the battlefield, sending debris flying and kicking up a cloud of dust that blanketed the area. Even the Shin-Konoha team, hidden at a distance, felt the impact.
"Agh—cough!" Might Guy spat out dirt and groaned. "Naruto, maybe save that kind of power for special occasions."
Neji, still wide-eyed, shook his head. "Killer B actually tried to take that head-on... That guy's insane."
"He's not dead," Tsunade said, her tone grim. "There's still a strong life force coming from the blast zone."
As the dust settled, a massive octopus-like figure emerged, its eight tentacles writhing menacingly. The creature's dark red body bore countless suckers, and atop its bull-like head sat a jagged, broken horn.
"Eight-Tails... Gyūki," Kakashi muttered.
Killer B, now fully transformed into his tailed beast form, glared at the Shin-Konoha team.
"You've pushed Uncle B too far!" Killer B growled, his voice a mix of human and beast. "Now I'm mad for real!"
The sheer size and ferocity of the Eight-Tails sent a wave of unease through the group.
"You people are so weak," Killer B sneered, his massive tentacles smashing into the ground. "You're not leaving here alive!"
As Killer B charged, the Shin-Konoha team scattered, leaving Naruto to face him head-on.
"Time to show what I've got," Naruto muttered, reaching inward to the Nine-Tails.
"You'd better not let my chakra overwhelm your little mind," Kurama warned, though his voice carried a rare note of trust.
Nine fiery tails erupted from Naruto's back, forming an ethereal fox-shaped aura. The Nine-Tails' full form materialized around him, its massive size rivaling that of the Eight-Tails.
"So you're the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki," Killer B said, his tone tinged with grudging respect. "Didn't think I'd run into you here, Uzumaki Naruto. What's Shin-Konoha trying to pull, huh? Starting a war?"
"We're not here for war," Naruto shot back. "But if you don't back down, I'll show you what the Nine-Tails can do."
The two titanic beasts clashed, their immense power shaking the earth. Tentacles and tails locked together, neither side giving an inch.
Meanwhile, Tsunade and the others made their move, heading toward the supply wagons. Most of the Cloud escorts had been neutralized in Naruto's earlier attack.
"These supplies should be worth at least 50 million ryo," Neji estimated as he inspected the goods.
"Then we're taking it," Tsunade declared. "Guy, you're in charge of getting it to the coast."
"Leave it to me!" Might Guy reloaded the supplies onto their prepared wagons and began moving out.
But Killer B, noticing the movement, roared in fury. "You're after our supplies?! Over my dead body!"
Breaking free from Naruto's hold, Killer B lunged toward Guy and the fleeing wagons.
"You're not going anywhere!" Naruto intercepted Killer B mid-charge, their clash sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
Killer B, now more furious than ever, spewed ink from one of Gyūki's tentacles. The inky substance formed clones that swarmed Might Guy, immobilizing him in a sealing technique.
Guy's body turned completely black, rendering him unable to move.
"This isn't good," Kakashi muttered, recognizing the sealing jutsu. "Killer B's no ordinary Jinchūriki—he's much tougher than we anticipated."
Naruto growled, glaring at Killer B. The plan to secure the supplies was falling apart, and it was all because of this single opponent.
The Nine-Tails' chakra surged through Naruto's body, enveloping him in a fiery red aura. His eyes glowed gold, and his hair stood wild as the tailed beast's power took hold.
"Naruto, calm down!" Tsunade shouted. "Don't let the Nine-Tails take over!"
But Naruto's focus was solely on Killer B. His human consciousness began to blur, and the beast within threatened to take control.
==============================================
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other chapter.
==============================================