Chapter 273: Perfect Form
Though unclear why Shukaku's destructive Tailed Beast Bomb had ultimately shot toward the sky, right now, after a brief abnormality, this behemoth had once again fallen into a controlled berserk state.
It merely casually swung its giant claws to send surrounding houses flying and tearing apart like toys, bricks and wooden debris scattering everywhere, smoke and dust pervading.
Naruto's brows furrowed tightly, realizing that if he engaged in fierce battle with Shukaku right here, before determining victory, the entire Konoha Village would first be leveled by their combat aftershocks.
His plan urgently changed from "beat Shukaku back into the seal" to—he must first lure this massive threat out of Konoha!
Within the seal space, Kurama seemed to sense Naruto's intention. If not using those jutsu that might affect an extremely wide range, but purely relying on strength to forcibly throw this stupid tanuki out of Konoha... with its power, perhaps it could be done.
"Naruto!" The Nine-Tails' serious voice rang out. "Use complete Tailed Beast transformation!"
"Eh? Tailed Beast transformation?" The Nine-Tails' sudden proposal made Naruto freeze. Under this current mode, he could still perform complete Tailed Beast transformation? ...Could it be that as long as the Nine-Tails willingly cooperated, it could break through the Eight Trigrams Seal's restrictions?
"Mm!" The Nine-Tails confirmed. Its massive body began condensing chakra within the seal space, assuming a seal-forming posture. "But this is also our first attempt! I will use chakra to assist with shaping, but the seal remains—bodily control is yours! Even if we succeed, we probably only have three minutes at most!"
Feeling that unprecedented docile, vast chakra completely opening itself to him within his body, understanding dawned in Naruto's heart—this was... a Perfect Jinchuriki's power?
"Let's go, Kurama!"
"Oh—!"
With a resolute response, even more brilliant, sun-like dazzling golden chakra thunderously erupted from within Naruto's body! The radiance instantly swallowed his figure.
Simultaneously, the controlled Shukaku again opened its gaping maw. Its just-recovered chakra frantically gathered. Another destructive Tailed Beast Bomb began condensing in its mouth, and this time, those crimson eyes locked firmly onto Konoha Village's most densely populated shelter entrance area!
"Not good! It's coming again!"
"Hurry and stop it! Absolutely cannot let it target the shelter!"
"Again like this... Fourth Lord... please protect Konoha..."
Some veteran ninja who'd experienced the Nine-Tails' rampage, along with numerous Konoha ninja harboring mortal resolve, showed determination flash in their eyes. They grabbed bundles of explosive tags and like moths to flame, roaring as they launched suicidal charges toward Shukaku, attempting to use their lives as the price to interfere with or even change the Tailed Beast Bomb's firing direction!
However, their efforts were like ants trying to shake a tree. Leaping to stick explosive tags on Shukaku's face, the explosion's firelight couldn't even leave a trace. The next moment, Shukaku's massive claw was already viciously slapping down toward these tiny figures!
Were they going to die...
"ROAR!!!!!!!"
The next moment, an incomparably brilliant golden light more dazzling than the sun boldly erupted between Shukaku and those Konoha ninja. Within the radiance, a majestic mountain-like Nine-Tailed Fox flowing with golden brilliance throughout its body, like a guardian deity, once again stood upon Konoha's land!
BANG—!!!
A heavy impact sound rang out! Shukaku's claw sufficient to crush mountains was steadily caught by an even more condensed, massive golden fox claw, unable to advance an inch!
Complete Tailed Beast Transformation: Nine-Tails—descended!
Immediately after, under everyone's shocked gazes, the golden Nine-Tails with agility unsuited to its massive body extended its other giant claw, gripping Shukaku's barely visible stubby thick neck!
"Stupid tanuki... get out of here!!"
Accompanied by Kurama and Naruto's mixed roaring will, the golden Nine-Tails erupted with mountain-splitting, stone-shattering terrifying power, forcibly swinging up Shukaku's equally massive body and like throwing a sandbag, viciously hurling it toward outside Konoha Village's direction!
RUMBLE—!!!
Shukaku's massive body flew backward like a meteor, crashing through Konoha's outer wall, ultimately crashing heavily into the forest at the village edge, kicking up clouds of dust!
As the Nine-Tails' perfect form boldly descended with crude intervention, the Tailed Beast Bomb about to fire from Shukaku's mouth had its chakra flow interrupted, violently fluctuating several times before unwillingly dissipating, transforming into scattered purple-black chakra dispersing in the air.
Shukaku standing up again in the forest outside Konoha Village seemed thoroughly enraged by the Nine-Tails' sudden attack. Its round belly expanded at visible speed, then it raised its massive claw, viciously slapping toward its swollen stomach!
It was Wind Style: Air Bullet!
The berserk Wind Style energy torrent mixed with countless sand grains released eardrum-tearing shrieks, bombarding toward the golden Nine-Tails standing at Konoha's edge! Wherever it passed, the ground was plowed into deep furrows, trees uprooted and torn to shreds!
Those Konoha ninja and villagers who'd just barely survived Shukaku's claws, thinking they were temporarily saved, hadn't had time to catch their breath when they saw this destructive storm attacking again. The color that had just returned to their faces instantly vanished, replaced by deeper terror and despair.
However, the anticipated scene of two giant beasts colliding and Konoha being destroyed by aftershocks didn't occur.
BOOM—!!!
A dull thunder-like roar shook the atmosphere!
That Air Bullet sufficient to level mountain peaks was steadily blocked by a suddenly manifesting golden chakra barrier the instant it struck Konoha's boundary! The violent Wind Style energy stirred intense ripples on the barrier surface yet couldn't break through in the slightest, ultimately unwillingly dispersing to both sides and dissipating.
Behind the barrier, the golden Nine-Tails slowly turned its head. Those massive eyes burning with golden flames swept over the still-shaken crowd behind it, ultimately locking onto distant Shukaku again.
"I won't let you... take anyone's life."
Konoha's ninja and villagers stared blankly at that mountain-like golden giant beast protecting them ahead, at that warm light wall that had blocked destructive energy, their minds completely blank.
"That... that's the Nine-Tails? How is this possible..."
A middle-aged ninja who'd experienced the Nine-Tails' rampage murmured, the kunai in his hand clattering to the ground. He'd personally witnessed how this fierce beast rampaged through Konoha, taking countless comrades' lives, including his beloved Fourth Hokage. Yet now, this monster symbolizing calamity was actually protecting Konoha?
"Is it protecting us? That golden..."
A small girl held tightly in her mother's embrace timidly pointed at the Nine-Tails, her eyes filled with confusion and a trace of reliance. In her understanding, monsters were all terrifying, yet this golden "big fox" before her made people feel inexplicably secure.
"I... I used to curse him as a demon fox..." A villager's face was deathly pale, recalling the disgusted looks and vicious words he'd directed at that blonde youth before, complex emotions surging in his heart.
"We can discuss past matters after the war ends!" An injured jonin struggled to stand, wiping blood from his mouth corner. "It's protecting Konoha! Everyone, coordinate with its actions and clear out remaining enemies in the village!"
****
80+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces