"Matatabi! I need your help!"
Realizing the terrifying strength of the two enemies before her, Yugito immediately reached out to the Tailed Beast within her.
It must be said that Kumogakure had a unique way of dealing with Tailed Beasts. Almost every generation of Jinchuriki, after moving past the initial stage of friction, could achieve near-perfect control over their beast.
Furthermore, the Two-Tails was the most polite, even-tempered, and mild-mannered of all the Tailed Beasts. It responded instantly: "Take all the chakra you need!"
In a flash, massive amounts of deep blue spectral fire erupted from the Jinchuriki's body. Within seconds, Yugito had transformed into a gargantuan feline.
To be precise, she had undergone a complete Tailed Beast Transformation!
Looking at the blue-and-white creature composed of specialized chakra flames, Neji didn't show the slightest hint of fear. Instead, the corners of his mouth curled into a cruel smile as he raised his arms into a peculiar starting stance.
While it looked somewhat similar to the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, a secret technique of the Gentle Fist, both his footwork and movements were vastly different.
The Gentle Fist usually prioritized fluidity and flow; once a single strike landed, the victim was essentially forced to endure the entire follow-up combo. His current movements, however, were closer to the "one-hit kill" philosophy of the Strong Fist.
Specifically, the chakra concentrated in the pressure points of his right hand had reached a near-physical density. Even Karin, who had attained the Sage Body, felt her scalp go numb at the sight. She whispered in awe, "That guy Neji... he's just like Allen-sama said. Calm and rational on the surface, but a madman to the bone. To think he developed a technique like this in secret."
On the other side, the Two-Tails, Matatabi, couldn't help but warn its Jinchuriki: "Be careful! This boy's power is extraordinary! The chakra concentrated in his hand is staggering. If you're hit, even you will be in mortal danger."
"What? You mean..." Yugito's voice trembled slightly. She was clearly shaken.
"Yes! This young man is strong. He absolutely has the power to kill me!" Matatabi gave a definitive answer without hesitation.
As the saying goes, strength is relative.
In the eyes of most commoners and shinobi, Tailed Beasts were undoubtedly powerful, bordering on invincible. But for those standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world, killing or even subduing a Tailed Beast was not a particularly difficult task.
This was why, ever since the nine Tailed Beasts were first captured and distributed, they had rarely caused significant upheaval on their own. Even the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha wasn't a testament to the fox's power so much as it was to the power of the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyo Sharingan.
Back in Madara's era, he treated the Nine-Tails like a common Summoning Jutsu, calling it forth and dismissing it at will. He handled the "strongest" Tailed Beast with such ease that the fox was left with no dignity or pride. It was likely during that era that the Nine-Tails developed its chronic fear of the Uchiha and the Sharingan.
Staring at the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, who stood frozen in place, Neji sneered. "Not going to attack? Then I won't stand on ceremony! This might hurt a bit, so please try to endure it. Don't go dying on me, that would be quite troublesome."
The moment he finished speaking, his entire being blurred into a streak of white light.
"Damn! So fast!"
Though Yugito had been on high alert, she still couldn't react in time. She could only watch as that hand, overflowing with concentrated chakra, lightly tapped her abdomen.
BOOM!!!!
The strike was accompanied by a deafening sonic boom!
Her entire spine snapped instantly, and her upper body was jerked backward, sent sprawling toward the ground. After a wave of agony, her lower half lost all sensation.
As for her internal organs, the intestines, liver, gallbladder, and kidneys, they were shattered on the spot. Even the protective layer of Tailed Beast chakra provided zero defense.
Such horrifying destructive power left the Resistance, who still lacked top-tier fighters, completely slack-jawed. Even Karin's mouth hung open in shock.
Clearly, this strike wasn't just pure chakra; it had been infused with the power of Yang Release.
And Yang Release happened to be the greatest counter to Tailed Beasts!
"This... how is this possible!"
Lying in a pool of blood, Yugito's eyes were wide with shock. She couldn't believe that she, in a state of full Tailed Beast Transformation, had been one-shotted without even a chance to fight back.
"Oh? You're actually still alive. A Jinchuriki is a Jinchuriki; your tenacity is impressive."
Neji bent down and, without a shred of chivalry, hoisted the paralyzed Yugito off the ground and tossed her to his companion. "She's yours. Use a seal to suppress the Tailed Beast's chakra. I don't want any more trouble on the way back."
"No problem, leave it to me. But I assume you aren't planning to just head back quietly, right?" Karin asked with interest as she skillfully applied an Uzumaki Clan sealing jutsu to sever the link between the Jinchuriki and the beast.
Neji nodded slowly. "Of course. Now that we've taken the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, a man of the Raikage's temperament won't just take it lying down. They'll definitely send a rescue team to try and reclaim her before we reach Otogakure. My job is to ensure that rescue team never returns."
"Hah! I didn't realize you were so vindictive. But since we get along well enough, I'll give you a hand. Just remember, you owe me a favor. You'll have to pay me back when we get home," Karin said with a playful wink.
"Deal!"
Neji agreed without a second thought. To avenge his father, he was willing to go to any lengths to make Kumogakure pay a devastating price.
As for the favor... it would likely just involve helping create opportunities for Karin and Allen to be alone.
However, as someone who had "seen it all," Neji knew Karin's pursuit would lead nowhere. Allen had made it clear long ago that he pursued a path of power. Until he reached the end of that path, he would never stop.
This meant that no matter what people or scenery he encountered on his journey, his original intent would never waver.
And so, with their agreement struck, Karin quickly began moving toward Otogakure with the half-dead Yugito.
Neji remained behind, patiently waiting for the Kumogakure pursuit team to arrive. He was certain that since the Jinchuriki was in this town held by the Resistance, Kumogakure spies would be lurking nearby.
In a day or two at most, the news would reach the Raikage, and they would scramble a rescue mission. Once the Jinchuriki was brought inside the walls of Otogakure, everything would become irreversible.