Chapter 26 Interrupting the Guardian Crane's Tailed Beast Ball
However, Bunpuku's condition is even worse.
"Lord Pakura! Please order a retreat!"
Shukaku was displaying its immense power, but the power within its body was failing.
With its old and weak body, it was simply too difficult to withstand the enormous power of the tailed beast.
"There is no chance in this battle. I will hold the rear to buy you all time. Please, sir, give the order to retreat immediately!"
"Master Bunpuku..."
Pakura, wounded, looked at Shukaku with a conflicted expression.
However, she also saw the situation clearly. As Bunpuku said, there was no chance to turn the tide of the war now.
Orochimaru was only injured, but Bunpuku had already reached his limit. Once Bunpuku fell, Pakura would be no match for Orochimaru.
With the top-tier combatants defeated, the battle situation for ordinary ninjas would inevitably collapse completely.
This is the last chance to retreat.
However... it can't be us who have to retreat.
Pakura fired a signal flare into the sky, indicating a retreat, and shouted at the same time:
"Retreat!"
Then she looked at Shukaku and said in a deep voice:
"Master Bunpuku, you should also retreat. I will cover the rear."
"Lord Pakura!"
"You are an extremely important Jinchuriki of the Tailed Beast to Sunagakure, far more important than me. We cannot afford to lose you here!"
Pakura once again dodged the large swarm of snakes that were pursuing them, and shouted resolutely:
"No need for further words! Retreat immediately and make sure to bring Shukaku back to Sunagakure!"
"..."
Just then, Orochimaru attacked with Hidden Shadow Snake Hand, injuring Pakura once again.
"Is the old monk already unable to provide support?"
Although Orochimaru was also injured and looked quite disheveled, his fighting strength was still extremely high. Hearing the conversation between the two, he smiled sinisterly:
"You two don't need to be modest; you're both going to die here!"
"It seems there's no other way..."
Bunpuku's expression was bitter as he communicated with Shukaku in spirit.
"Shukaku..."
"Old man Bunpuku, if you can't support us, then forget it! That disgusting snake ninja has too many survival techniques. We really can't take him down in a short time. You should just listen to that woman. There's still time. I'll take you back!"
Shukaku and Bunpuku had a very good relationship, and at this time, Shukaku clearly sensed Bunpuku's condition and advised him to leave.
However, Bunpuku shook his head and said:
"Shukaku, I would like to ask you to intercept the Konoha ninja and help Sunagakure retreat."
"This is fine, it's no big deal."
"Then… use the Tailed Beast Ball to deal with Orochimaru!" Bunpuku said in a deep voice.
"What!?" Shukaku exclaimed in surprise.
"Stop fooling around! Your body can't handle me using the Tailed Beast Ball!"
"It's alright, I was just a candle flickering in the wind anyway... I must at least take down one of Konoha's strongest before I die!"
"you..."
"If even the Tailed Beast Ball can't kill Orochimaru, then at least kill some more powerful Jonin... This is my last request, please! Shukaku!"
"Sigh... I get it!"
Bunpuku and Shukaku communicated instantly in their minds.
Shukaku spread its arms, and countless grains of sand abandoned their pursuit of Orochimaru, instead flying towards the surrounding ordinary ninjas, blocking the attacks of the Konoha ninjas and covering the retreat of Sunagakure.
"Lord Orochimaru!" Shinnosuke said anxiously upon seeing this.
"It's alright, let them go!" Orochimaru laughed.
If even the Sand Village is running away, it means that the old Jinchuriki monk has truly reached his limit.
Orochimaru naturally wouldn't risk his life to stop those ordinary ninjas from leaving.
On the contrary, he would be more pleased if the other side wasted their energy on those insignificant ordinary ninjas at the last moment.
"Fugaku, do your best to restrain Shukaku and wear down the old monk, then we'll win!"
"Yes…" Fugaku Uchiha answered with difficulty.
Orochimaru looked at Shukaku with a smug expression, feeling that victory was just one step away.
However, the next moment, the sand suddenly flew back, condensing into a large, upside-down bowl that covered the main battlefield.
Pakura and several other Jonin who originally wanted to stay behind to assist the rearguard were pushed out by the sand.
"Master Bunpuku!"
Those who remained inside were only Shukaku, Orochimaru, Shinnosuke, Fugaku, and other top Konoha ninjas.
The chief commander was also among them.
He had been wandering around the edge of the main battlefield and had killed dozens of Sunagakure ninjas.
He was considering whether or not to attack the Jinchuriki.
As a result, he ended up getting trapped himself as well.
Shukaku opened its mouth wide, and an enormous, awe-inspiring surge of chakra erupted, condensing into a black energy ball in front of its maw.
As the chakra increased, the black sphere became more solid, and the aura it emitted became increasingly terrifying.
"Holy crap! A Tailed Beast Ball!?"
The commander was startled.
He recognized it at a glance; it was the Tailed Beast Ball, the ultimate attack of the Tailed Beasts!
Although the other eight tailed beasts combined are not as powerful as half of the Nine-Tails, there are different levels among the tailed beasts. In any case, Shukaku is still extremely powerful. If this thing were to fight here, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"What is that!?"
The powerful figures of Konoha stared at the black ball, and even Orochimaru was utterly shocked!
"Is this the strongest attack of the Tailed Beasts?
The old monk wants to take us all down with him!?"
"Run!"
Orochimaru roared and, looking flustered, fled with Shinnosuke and Fugaku Uchiha.
He accelerated to the limit and reached the edge in an instant. Then, with a single blow, he broke through the sand wall and rushed out!
Shukaku watched them escape without stopping them.
Using the Tailed Beast Ball requires complete concentration, and Shukaku can no longer be distracted by other actions.
Anyway, there was no way to stop him. If Orochimaru could be stopped by such a casually placed sand wall, he would have been crushed to death long ago.
It's enough to block it a little.
Just then.
A kunai suddenly flew towards Shukaku.
Shukaku noticed, but ignored it completely.
What use is a mere handful of kunai?
At this moment, the jet-black Tailed Beast Ball had completely solidified. Shukaku stared fiercely at Orochimaru, who was frantically fleeing for his life, and was about to launch the Tailed Beast Ball.
However, the next moment.
The kunai broke through Shukaku's body and struck Bunpuku inside Shukaku's body.
"Huh!?"
Bunpuku groaned, looking at the kunai piercing his shoulder with a pained expression and an expression of utter disbelief in his eyes!
Even Orochimaru couldn't easily break through Shukaku's body, so how did this kunai penetrate Shukaku's defenses and hit him?
"Old man Bunpuku! Impossible! What's going on!?"
Shukaku was also stunned!
Even a Kage-level expert had to use a powerful technique to break through his defenses.
How could that kunai have passed through so silently?!
Could this kunai be even more powerful than a Kage-level ninjutsu?
That's obviously impossible! Even the incredibly powerful Hashirama Senju couldn't pierce a tailed beast's body with a single kunai, could he?
Bunpuku was already at his limit, extremely weak, when he was suddenly injured. His mind was shaken, and he lost consciousness.
As the Jinchūriki fell into a coma, Shukaku, composed of sand grains, collapsed, and the Tailed Beast Ball slowly dissipated.
"This guy was the one who threw the kunai?"
Before disappearing, Shukaku glanced at Souji and memorized his appearance.
Finally, using the last bit of strength, he safely landed the unconscious Bunpuku on the ground, and said to Pakura:
"You! Quickly take Old Man Bunpuku away!"
~~~~~~^°^~~~~~~~
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End of this chapter...