Boom!
While Uchiha Shinji performed the First Hokage cell transplant on Karin, completing the most critical step of his Rinnegan Plan, a fierce battle between two jinchuriki erupted in a secluded valley dozens of miles from Hidden Leaf Village.
"Aaah!"
Amid a wave of shouts, countless Narutos surged toward Gaara from all directions.
"Damn it! Why? Why won't it end?"
Though Gaara clutched his face, the twisted, ferocious expression was visible through his fingers.
As if echoing his emotions, the sea of sand around him churned restlessly, whimpering like a beast in the night wind.
On the cliff above, a group of shinobi intently watched the clash between the two jinchuriki.
Noticing Gaara's growing instability, Chiyo of the Sand Village frowned slightly and glanced at Tsunade. "Something's off."
Temari and Kankuro, standing beside Chiyo, were already frantic. They knew their brother Gaara too well. This was exactly how he looked before losing control in the village, and their trembling was instinctive.
Tsunade, standing at the cliff's edge, brushed back her hair, tousled by the night breeze. "Don't worry. Since we made a promise, Hidden Leaf will keep its word."
Chiyo glanced at Yakumo beside Tsunade and said, "Then we're counting on you."
Tensions between the villages had flared after a Sand Village volunteer was attacked in Hidden Leaf Hospital. But before the rift could widen, the Akatsuki's 'B' struck, looming over Hidden Leaf with a hundred-meter-tall Susanoo, trampling the dignity of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Faced with Akatsuki's threat, the discord over Wood Release was quickly patched up. To maintain the alliance, each village made concessions. To compensate for the volunteer's death, Hidden Leaf took on the responsibility of training the Sand Village's jinchuriki.
The decision was also strategic—stronger jinchuriki would make it harder for Akatsuki to target the tailed beasts. Crucially, Yakumo's Wood Release gave Hidden Leaf a reliable means to suppress rampaging jinchuriki. Without it, even training Naruto would have required careful consideration.
Roar!
A guttural roar echoed from the valley.
To the horror of the Sand shinobi, Gaara's body began to change. Features of the One-Tail, Shukaku, spread across his form.
"The possessed state has emerged," Chiyo muttered inwardly.
In the past, when Gaara reached this point, the Fourth Kazekage had to intervene immediately, or Shukaku would manifest fully, making suppression far more difficult.
Tsunade noticed this too and turned to Yakumo. "How's it looking?"
Yakumo, her Koryugan activated, observed closely before replying, "Gaara's own chakra is being completely overwhelmed by the One-Tail's tailed beast chakra."
Chiyo, overhearing, was stunned. "Her Koryugan can observe from this distance? Isn't that even stronger than Hidden Leaf's Byakugan?"
Temari demanded, "Then why aren't you doing anything?"
Shizune stepped forward, gesturing for Temari to calm down.
In the valley, as Gaara's will faded, more of Shukaku's chakra leaked out. Soon, the red-haired boy transformed into a half-human, half-demon creature with massive claws and a long tail.
"This…" Naruto, hidden among his shadow clones, froze in shock at Gaara's appearance.
Gaara roared, "You're dead! Dead!"
Naruto's heart clenched. The roar carried Gaara's voice, but it was laced with an unfamiliar, sinister tone.
Hmph!
Suddenly, a cold snort echoed in Naruto's mind.
Naruto asked, "Big Fox, what're you up to?"
The Nine-Tails sneered, "Without my power, you don't stand a chance against him!"
Naruto didn't argue, nodding. "Alright, Big Fox, I'll borrow a bit of rent then!"
The Nine-Tails chuckled, releasing its chakra. Compared to the Uzumaki clan's previous jinchuriki, it saw Naruto as a fool. It was confident it could addict him to its power, turning him into its pawn.
The exchange in Naruto's mind took only a moment. As the Nine-Tails unleashed its chakra, Naruto dropped to all fours like a beast, enveloped in a crimson tailed beast cloak.
"It's the tailed beast cloak," Jiraiya said, frowning. "Naruto's beastifying too."
Tsunade noted, "It's smoother than before. He's getting the hang of using tailed beast chakra."
Temari and Kankuro's faces darkened. To them, a rampaging Gaara was the epitome of terror. Yet, Hidden Leaf's jinchuriki, now beastified, exuded an even more dreadful aura.
"That… that blond idiot is that terrifying?" Kankuro stammered.
Whoosh!
With a sonic boom, Naruto, cloaked in tailed beast chakra, lunged at the monstrous Gaara on all fours.
Boom!
The valley erupted with deafening roars.
Not only the Sand shinobi but even Tsunade and Jiraiya grew solemn. If Naruto and Gaara's earlier clash was within the realm of shinobi, now it was no longer a fight between ninja—it was a collision of monsters.
Chiyo, watching with bated breath, asked, "Is this really going to work?"
Tsunade replied gravely, "To master a tailed beast, you must first confront it. This step is unavoidable. Running from it solves nothing."
After a pause, Chiyo asked, "And if the jinchuriki can't tame the tailed beast?"
Tsunade didn't respond, only shaking her head slightly.
Chiyo sighed. The answer was clear: Hidden Leaf could provide the opportunity for the Sand's jinchuriki to face the One-Tail and ensure safety measures to prevent a full rampage. Whether Gaara could subdue Shukaku, however, was beyond their responsibility.