The ten-meter Rasenshuriken smashed through the Sand ninjas' Earth Walls as if they were paper.
The walls crumbled at the slightest touch, like foam meeting concentrated acid—utterly powerless.
The spinning shuriken didn't slow down. After pulverizing the defenses, it descended straight into the heart of the Sand forces.
BOOM!
With a deafening roar, the shuriken exploded among the ranks. At that moment, the ten-meter Rasenshuriken compressed into a more traditional Rasengan shape.
The explosion expanded, sending smoke and dust billowing into the sky.
The devastation wasn't minor—dozens of Sand ninjas fell immediately.
When the dust settled, a semi-circular crater, twenty to thirty meters wide, remained.
Pakura's eyes blazed red as he stared at Yuki Seisui. Chiyo, Karura, and Ebizo were equally stunned.
Bunpuku, witnessing the attack, silently closed his eyes and muttered, "Amida Buddha."
Finally, he understood why the village had brought him here.
Though not imprisoned, he wasn't ignorant—at the Suna base, Ebizo had briefed him on the Suna's current situation and Seisui's incredible strength.
Back then, Bunpuku had assumed it was mere cooperation.
But now, he realized Ebizo had told the truth.
Bunpuku closed his eyes tightly and stepped forward, calm as ever.
"The beauty of the world lies in life itself. You, master, harbor far too much killing intent."
He walked steadily, eyes fixed on Seisui floating above, his gaze clear and unwavering.
"Monk?" Seisui's lips curved into a slight smile. He had noticed this monk as soon as he arrived and had already speculated on his identity.
Sunagakure had brought a monk—Bunpuku, the First Jinchuriki of the One-Tail.
"So?" Seisui crossed his arms, calmly observing him from above. His crimson eyes flickered with unreadable intent.
"Are you here to punish me?"
"I lack both the ability and the qualification," Bunpuku said, shaking his head.
"I am merely here to warn you, master. Killing is never the answer."
As he spoke, his eyes closed again, and an overwhelming, ferocious aura erupted from him.
Sand swirled around him, gradually coalescing. In moments, the form of a tanuki began to take shape.
Seeing this, Ebizo shouted to the ninja troops behind him.
"Bypass them! Attack the Konoha ninjas in the back! Let the One-Tail hold him here!"
Seisui, however, paid little attention. His focus was entirely on Shukaku, the One-Tail.
Finally, the beast fully emerged.
"HAHAHA! I'm out!"
"Kid, let me show you the power of yours truly!"
"The might of the strongest tailed beast! HAHAHA!" Shukaku laughed arrogantly.
Seisui squinted slightly, "One-Tail, huh? Expected as much."
"But if I'm not mistaken, the strongest tailed beast is the Nine-Tails, right?"
He smirked, watching Shukaku's overconfidence with amusement.
"You filthy human!" Shukaku cursed.
"That stinky fox could never be my match!"
"I'm just playing around!"
"I, the One-Tail, am the strongest! The Nine-Tails is nothing but the last!"
"Is that so?" Seisui remained composed, hands clasped as chakra surged, blowing his hair back.
"Then you can tell Kurama yourself!"
He activated a summoning jutsu, releasing all remaining chakra except the already fused Sage Chakra. The golden chakra cloak flickered but remained intact.
The cloak was mainly formed by Kurama's chakra and Sage Mode—so long as these two persisted, there was no problem.
Seisui's crimson eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked down on Shukaku.
"Summon: Nine-Tails!!!"
Shukaku, ready to boast, was taken aback.
"You—a mere human—how could you summon that stinky fox?!" Before it could finish, a plume of white smoke erupted beneath Seisui, and a massive paw emerged.
ROAR!!
A violent, earth-shaking roar tore through the smoke, revealing the orange-red Nine-Tails.
Kurama has arrived!
Seisui landed gracefully atop Kurama's head, ending his flight.
"Kurama, he just said the One-Tail is the strongest among the tailed beasts, and you rank last," Seisui said.
"Until now, he's only been playing around with you."
"Is that so?!" Kurama's eyes glimmered with ferocity as it turned toward Shukaku.
"Stupid tanuki, it's been a long time since I've fought you!"
Shukaku faltered slightly, realizing a human had truly summoned Kurama. Surrounded by so many people, it couldn't show weakness.
"Filthy fox, this time you'll see my true power!"
Shukaku unleashed
Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!
As the only tailed beast able to use hand signs for ninjutsu, Shukaku stood out among the Nine-Tails.
Kurama, perched calmly, prepared to face the attack.
"Don't dodge—watch this!" Seisui instructed.
Kurama assessed the incoming technique. Even taking it head-on would only hurt a little—nothing catastrophic.
"Little tanuki, do you know what it means to be the strongest tailed beast?!"
Kurama ignored the attack, focusing instead on Shukaku.
Shukaku grew furious at Kurama's lack of avoidance.
As the Vacuum Bullet approached, Seisui's eyes flared crimson. Dark chakra surged from his legs, enveloping Kurama completely.
In an instant, Susanoo covered Kurama as the attack struck, generating a cloud of smoke.
Kurama roared again, the shockwave carrying the smoke outward, revealing it unharmed beneath a layer of black armor.
Under the black Susanoo, Kurama now truly embodied the image of the Nine-Tailed Fox.