Moon Ring Gorge.
The sky above had been dyed a strange crimson, with dust from the explosion floating in the air.
The entire Moon Ring Gorge perimeter looked like a doomsday landscape, devoid of any life.
Rumble!
The ground continued to collapse and explode, and the distant boulders that hadn't been completely vaporized by the first wave shattered entirely in the shockwave.
Hiss, hiss, hiss—
At the epicenter, lava, burnt to a molten state by the explosion's high temperature, was scorching the air.
Amidst this world-destroying scene, under the chaotic energy currents raging around, a sphere wrapped by several giant octopus tentacles was struggling to hold on.
"Bee! Wake up!"
At the last moment, Gyuki ignored Bee's refusal and rushed out to help Bee block the Ninjutsu's attack. But Bee had already fallen unconscious before being fully enveloped by the octopus tentacles.
Due to the Ninjutsu's restrictions, Gyuki couldn't fully transform into a Tailed Beast while Bee was unconscious. Moreover, that strange power kept interfering with his ability to heal Bee.
Thump, thump—
Crisp footsteps approached, and Gyuki's heart tightened.
Shinji, in a white haori, walked through the ruins as if on level ground, heading towards the sphere.
Looking at the two-meter-tall fleshy sphere before him, Shinji carefully examined it.
Excluding the later Naruto, Bee was definitely the most perfect Jinchuriki.
"Konoha ninja, are you trying to provoke a war between two great nations?" A rough voice interrupted Shinji's curiosity.
Shinji looked at the octopus ball in front of him and chuckled. "Didn't you start the exercise first?"
Gyuki instantly didn't know how to respond. It had originally intended to use the conversation to continue healing Bee's injuries.
Shinji raised his hand and clenched his fist, and instantly a layer of dark gray substance covered his fist.
"I'm giving you a choice now. Either retreat back into the Jinchuriki's body, or I'll smash your octopus tentacles." Shinji said, turning his head to look in the distance.
Several people were rapidly approaching from that direction.
However...
He wasn't without teammates either.
Whoosh—
Dozens of figures appeared directly behind him.
The newcomers were momentarily stunned when they saw the octopus tentacles before them.
"Kakashi-senpai, you're late." Shinji raised an eyebrow and said.
The current Kakashi was known as the 'King of Lateness' in Konoha.
"Ah, I was going to rush over, but then Hokage-sama's message just came through." Kakashi waved his hand and said.
"Where's Guy?" Kakashi asked Shinji, glancing at the octopus ball again.
"Guy-senpai is over there, there are Kumogakure people there." Shinji said, pointing in the direction he had just looked.
When he activated Sage Mode, he had already sensed that squad's Chakra.
"I'll go."
As soon as Kakashi heard this, he wanted to go support Guy.
"No need, they're coming over."
After Shinji finished speaking, he returned to the octopus ball and said calmly, "Last chance. Either you retreat, and Konoha and Kumogakure can still talk later."
"Or, be prepared for this war to begin because of your Jinchuriki."
Saying that, he placed his fist above the octopus tentacles.
After a long while, the wrapped octopus tentacles gradually turned into energy and retracted into Bee's body.
And Bee, who had been protected by Gyuki, finally revealed his appearance. He was covered in scars. After all, Shinji's Great Rasengan was not just an ordinary jutsu.
Kakashi looked solemnly at Bee on the ground. He raised his hand, and the ninjas who had followed him immediately dispersed around. Two of them grabbed Bee.
"Shinji, what are your thoughts?" Kakashi asked.
Shinji shook his head and said, "For now, it's not suitable for Konoha and Kumogakure to go to war."
This was also why Shikaku had initially only suggested that Konoha confront Kumogakure through a staged exercise.
Moreover, once war started, the other three great nations would also get involved.
Now, with Bee as leverage, Konoha could certainly have a good talk with Kumogakure.
"With this person as leverage now, I think sensei should be able to have a good talk with Kumogakure's Raikage."
Shinji finished speaking and raised an eyebrow at Kakashi.
"I understand." Kakashi sighed helplessly.
He turned, and began giving instructions to the ninjas behind him who were carrying communication devices.
At this moment, Guy quickly rushed out.
The Kumo ninjas behind him were stopped by the Konoha ninjas guarding the perimeter.
Shinji scanned the approaching people, while the Kumo ninjas looked anxiously at Bee lying on the ground.
Clang—
Konoha immediately entered a state of alert, all guarding against the Kumo ninjas.
Although Samui's expression hadn't changed, her eyes became extremely sharp, her gaze locked on Shinji.
One hand, however, stopped C, who was about to step forward, and slowly said, "Konoha ninja, I hope you can provide a reasonable explanation."
"The explanation is that your Kumogakure people crossed the border, and then I took them down."
Shinji didn't care about Samui's tone at all, shrugging his hands.
Hearing this, C's face was immediately filled with anger. A mere brat dared to claim he took down Bee-sama.
Wouldn't such words embarass him?
Although Samui also didn't believe that Shinji in front of her had defeated Bee, she didn't refute him, simply frowning deeply.
What she needed to do now was figure out how to bring Bee back.
The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was absolutely one of the most important strategic forces for Kumogakure.
Now in Konoha's hands, it posed the greatest threat to Kumogakure's security.
"Over there, I think you should first contact your Raikage and let him make a judgment." Kakashi said, slowly stepping forward with his hands in his pockets.
Samui looked at Shinji and Kakashi, as well as Guy who had brought them over. Just these three from Konoha made her feel as if she was facing a huge threat.
After a while, she finally spoke, "I will contact Raikage-sama, but..."
"Could we first treat Bee-sama?"
Bee's injuries looked very serious, and up until now, there was no sign of him waking up.
Shinji couldn't make this decision and turned to look at Kakashi.
Kakashi pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Only one person can come over, and they cannot carry weapons."
If anything went wrong, considering the overall strength comparison on the field, they could stop it immediately. Moreover, this Jinchuriki was a bargaining chip. If he really died, then the joke would be on them.
"C, please check Bee-sama's injuries, and don't be impulsive." Samui whispered the last sentence into C's ear.
C, who had been full of anger, calmed down upon hearing this. He removed his weapons, and raised his hands to signal to Kakashi and the others.