Uchiha Ren activated Susanoo. A massive blue blade formed in its hand as he looked down at Mito Uzumaki.
He could feel it—
That overwhelming, mountain-crushing power.
The kind of strength that became addictive after just one taste.
"Damn it—let's clash head-on!"
Ren swung his blade repeatedly, sending massive arcs of sword energy crashing toward Mito.
"Come on!!!"
Mito's expression twisted inside the chakra cloak.
This kind of battle—
Was exactly what she wanted.
She had spent twenty years restraining herself.
Back in the war era, she had smashed enemies with her fists—raw violence was her style.
One reason she married into the Senju clan—
Was because no one in the Uzumaki youth could beat her.
"If you can't even beat a woman, what kind of man are you?"
A very simple worldview.
Then she saw Hashirama Senju's Wood Release—
Blotting out the sky.
Fine. Marriage it is.
Don't know him? Doesn't matter.
As long as he's strong.
Feelings can come later.
The Warring States era—
Was just that straightforward.
Mito's chakra grew more violent.
Two more tails emerged.
Her body dropped to all fours.
Her roar shattered the stones on the ground.
"Tailed Beast Bomb!"
One move—
Used to perfection.
A massive black sphere formed again—
Even larger than before.
Boom!
The sword energy collided with the Tailed Beast Bomb.
A blinding flash erupted—
Followed by thick smoke.
Smoke clears, no damage law activated.
Ren kept swinging relentlessly.
He gave Mito no breathing room.
Tailed Beast Bombs had cooldowns!
"Keep going!!!"
"Weren't you enjoying shooting at me earlier?!"
Ren's tone turned wild.
Being suppressed by a woman's ranged attacks—
Did not sit well with him.
Mito endured the barrage, sprinting through the forest like a beast.
Ren chased behind her, slashing relentlessly.
Like a towering hunter chasing down prey.
At the same time—
Mito continued squeezing chakra from the Nine-Tails.
Which made the Nine-Tails miserable.
A tailed beast was a mass of chakra—
Draining chakra felt like draining its life.
After about a minute—
Mito's chakra peaked again.
A ferocious roar echoed.
The Nine-Tails' true form emerged—
A massive fox, comparable in size to Susanoo.
Ren dashed forward instantly.
Chasing earlier had been satisfying—
But dealt little real damage.
Now—
A giant fox standing still?
Perfect target.
His blade came down with immense force.
Mito raised both claws to block.
Her tails whipped forward like fists—
Striking Ren repeatedly.
The blows nearly stunned him.
Seizing the moment—
Mito lunged forward and bit into Susanoo's shoulder.
Pain transferred directly.
Ren grimaced.
He kicked the Nine-Tails in the stomach—
Dropping his blade entirely.
One hand grabbed its head—
The other shoved straight into its mouth.
Gag it.
Mito instantly felt something jam into her throat.
A violent gag reflex surged up.
She hadn't felt that—
Since Hashirama died.
She leapt back immediately, regaining distance.
Then charged again.
The battle turned into pure close combat.
Two colossal figures—
Punching, kicking—
Even resorting to dirty tricks.
Eye gouging.
Low blows.
Like street thugs brawling on a bridge.
It didn't look flashy—
But throw a genin in there?
They'd be erased instantly.
Like an ADC jumping into two top-laners dueling.
The shockwaves alone flattened kilometers of forest.
The spectators had already learned their lesson—
They stayed far away, watching with complicated expressions.
This—
Was beyond Kage-level.
Ren punched the Nine-Tails in the face.
It bit down on Susanoo's fist.
Their strength was evenly matched.
Victory wouldn't come quickly.
This won't work…
Mito had the Nine-Tails—
In terms of endurance, she had the advantage.
Ren needed another approach.
His gaze shifted to the Nine-Tails.
The Mangekyō Sharingan had natural suppression over tailed beasts.
Sealed beasts were different—
Control lay with the jinchūriki.
But—
Communication might still be possible.
Ren wasn't sure.
But it was worth trying.
He rushed forward.
Grabbing the Nine-Tails with both hands—
He leaned in.
Mangekyō power pierced through the chakra cloak—
Entering Mito's eyes.
A fragment of his consciousness—
Entered the seal space.
It wasn't like the anime.
No dark prison.
No cage.
Instead—
A vast crimson world.
A deeper layer of the Nine-Tails' consciousness.
"An evil Uchiha brat?"
A voice echoed.
Kurama loomed above him.
Its expression—
Filled with hatred.
That familiar Mangekyō chakra—
Triggered instinctive disgust.
Sealing only extracted power.
But Mangekyō—
Could dominate a tailed beast's will.
Back then, Madara Uchiha had entered this space—
Beaten it down—
And enslaved it.
Now—
Another Uchiha had arrived.
Memories of being treated like livestock resurfaced.
Madara treated all tailed beasts equally—
As tools.
As slaves.
Though—
Hashirama wasn't much better.
At least—
He spoke nicely.
"Kurama, your power is incredible!"
…
The Nine-Tails stopped itself.
Those memories weren't pleasant either.
Now—
It glared at Ren.
It wanted to crush him—
But hesitated.
Madara's shadow still lingered.
Against Mangekyō—
Tailed beasts were completely suppressed.
It dared not act rashly.
Ren frowned slightly.
Evil Uchiha brat?
Did Tobirama teach you that?
Still—
He didn't argue.
He needed its cooperation.
So he chose patience.
"Kurama."
"Hello."
Ren greeted calmly.
The moment that name was spoken—
The Nine-Tails' pupils shrank violently.
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