Gaara was not injured.
The process of the tailed beast transformation had not been interrupted in the slightest.
With the One-Tail fully manifested, Shukaku completed his emergence without flaw. Compared to the incomplete or unstable transformations seen before, this was a far more perfect incarnation. Although still restrained by the limitations of the Jinchūriki's body and environment, the power Shukaku displayed at this moment was vastly superior to what ordinary shinobi could ever reach.
This was true tailed beast power.
Even if it did not completely reach its absolute peak, the chakra pressure alone was already firmly above the level of most Kage-class combatants.
Under such circumstances, it was utterly impossible for Hatake Kakashi and Sarutobi Asuma to fight Shukaku head-on. Even the idea of restraining him for an extended period was unrealistic.
However
Among those present on the battlefield, there were still individuals capable of standing against such a monster.
Just as Shukaku finished unleashing a massive Wind Release attack, one that had already claimed the lives of hundreds of ordinary spectators and forced Kakashi and the others into a defensive retreat the One-Tail's killing intent surged again, ready to continue its rampage.
At that exact moment
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!!!"
From Shukaku's diagonal flank
A massive figure appeared instantly.
Terrifying chakra fluctuations exploded outward, and with a deep, thunderous shout, the figure swung his right leg with overwhelming force.
"BANG!!!"
The kick landed squarely against the left side of Shukaku's enormous body.
The impact was devastating.
Not only was the chakra Shukaku had just condensed forcibly dispersed, but his colossal form was sent flying violently through the air, blasted toward the northwest away from the arena and deep into the outskirts of the Hidden Leaf Village.
"BOOM!!!"
"CRASH!!!"
Shukaku's massive body smashed into the ground, and the entire area shook violently as if struck by an earthquake.
An unparalleled blow.
A strike powerful enough to seize everyone's attention in an instant.
Maki, Baki, Kankurō, and the other Sunagakure shinobi stared in disbelief as they watched the One-Tail a tailed beast get sent flying like a projectile.
This was unthinkable.
Could it be
One of the Legendary Sannin had arrived?
Maki's gaze immediately shifted toward the figure who had launched the attack.
What he saw was not Jiraiya.
Instead, it was a man enveloped in a brilliant azure chakra aura, his entire body radiating violent energy.
"This is…!?"
Menma's earlier wild laughter vanished instantly.
As he stared at the blue figure, fear and solemnity filled his eyes.
In his mind, a name surfaced involuntarily.
'Might Guy… Eight Gates…!'
Menma muttered the words under his breath, his tone cold and tense.
Below, Kakashi, Shiranui Genma, and the others who had just been forced into a retreat by Shukaku also recognized the newcomer.
Relief washed over their faces.
"Kai!"
If not for that strike
If Shukaku had been allowed to continue releasing Wind Release techniques
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, more civilians would have died.
This was their village.
Their home.
"I'll leave those enemies to you, Kakashi," Might Guy's voice rang out as he landed atop the shattered wall. "I'll handle that monster!"
The Konoha Blue Beast stood tall, his entire body engulfed in surging chakra.
The Sixth Gate, Gate of Joy was open.
The pressure alone was suffocating.
Although the Eight Gates only undergo a true qualitative transformation at the final gate, the power granted by the earlier gates was still terrifying especially in Guy's hands.
With the Sixth Gate open, Might Guy already possessed combat strength rivaling most Kage-level shinobi.
In the original timeline, his Seventh Gate had been enough to overpower Kisame Hoshigaki, a jinchūriki-level opponent in his own right.
Now
Against a One-Tail that had not yet reached its absolute peak
Six Gates were enough.
"Whoosh!!!"
Guy exploded forward, chakra erupting beneath his feet as he charged straight toward the recovering Shukaku.
"Kai, wait!"
Kakashi barely had time to speak before Guy's figure vanished into the distance.
"Asuma, Genma, Kurenai this area is yours," Kakashi said quickly, turning his attention to the battlefield. "I'll go support Guy."
Then, Kakashi shifted his gaze toward Naruto.
His tone grew serious.
"Naruto, this is a battlefield now. No matter what happens, everything else must wait until this is over. this includes the village, and it includes Menma."
"Hesitation will only cause more damage," Kakashi continued. "To you, and to everyone else. You don't want to see what happens if you truly stand opposite Menma… do you?"
Naruto stiffened.
The weight of Kakashi's words finally sank in.
He looked toward Menma, who stood atop the broken wall in the distance.
Naruto took a deep breath, his fists clenching tightly, before nodding hard.
"I understand, Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said firmly. "I'll stop Menma. Everything else can wait until after."
Seeing the resolve return to Naruto's eyes, Kakashi nodded with relief.
Then
He leapt forward, intending to support Might Guy.
But Maki would not allow that.
A figure flashed into Kakashi's path.
"Wind Style: Wind Blade!"
A sharp, compressed blade of wind tore through the air, forcing Kakashi to halt and evade.
They had kept their distance earlier because Shukaku alone had been more than enough to overwhelm Konoha's forces.
And once Gaara had used the Fake Sleep Technique, Shukaku's consciousness no longer distinguished between allies and enemies, he attacked indiscriminately.
That was why the Sand and Sound shinobi had dispersed.
But now
The One-Tail was being threatened.
Maki didn't know who Might Guy was, but the chakra pressure he exuded and the single kick that sent Shukaku flying were more than enough to prove one thing:
He was dangerous.
With such a powerful shinobi already engaging the One-Tail, Maki could not allow Sharingan Kakashi to join the fight as well.
The One-Tail was a crucial pillar of their plan.
Failure was not an option.
"BANG!!!"
The clash echoed sharply, signaling the beginning of yet another deadly confrontation.