The June heat was already beginning to feel oppressive.
A wind carrying a faint scent of burning swept past his face from the horizon. Everything around them blurred into long, streaking lines as they moved at high speeds. Soon, they cleared a vast stretch of mountain forest, and the camp built by the Uchiha clan finally leaped into view.
Looking at the camp, which seemed as lively as any other day, Ren could faintly hear the sounds of voices arguing within.
"The Hyūga clan is the strongest!"
"Bullshit! Uchiha is the peak!"
"And how do you plan to deal with this move?"
"Hiss!!"
"Don't hold me back! Today, I'm definitely going to slap this grandson. Don't think I didn't see it—he definitely activated his Byakugan just now!"
It was Hyūga Kenji, a subordinate of Hyūga Hizashi, getting into another spat with an Uchiha. For the title of Konoha's strongest clan, the Hyūga and Uchiha had always maintained a fierce sense of rivalry. The reason for this particular row was likely Kenji sneaking a peek at someone's hand with his Byakugan during a card game...
Hearing the commotion, Ren Uchiha breathed a sigh of relief. His heart, which had been hanging in his throat, finally began to settle.
However, before they could leap down to the camp entrance, Aburame Ryoma's expression suddenly changed. He reached out an arm, physically barring Ren's path.
"Wait. Something is wrong!"
"My parasitic insects stationed at the northern stone flats have sensed abnormal chakra fluctuations!"
"The north? I thought that was just..."
Ren froze, coming to a dead stop. He looked toward the north, where a field of barren, withered stone flats sat slightly higher than the surrounding primeval forest.
The northern side of the Valley of Hell was an active geothermal volcanic zone. It was a massive eruption in the past that had formed the valley itself. Currently, it was the source of much of the Land of Hot Springs' water, boasting over a dozen types of springs effective for treating hypertension, skin diseases, and nervous exhaustion.
During his month and a half in the valley, Ren had visited several times after training to soothe his exhausted body. He was well-acquainted with the area.
Right now, it was time for the camp to start fires for dinner. Aside from Ryoma's patrol squad, almost all the Konoha ninjas should be inside the camp.
So, who would be out there? And what were they trying to do?
At that moment, north of the Valley of Hell, amidst the steaming hot spring pools.
Two figures, one tall and one short, slowly materialized through the thick mist.
The taller one was dark-skinned, wearing the white uniform of Kumogakure and a pair of sunglasses. He carried seven swords on his back, their hilts wrapped in fresh red ribbons. This was the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki who had previously attacked Ren: Killer B!
"B-senpai..."
"Can I really control a power like this?"
Standing beside Killer B was a young girl with beige hair, looking no older than seven or eight. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail that reached her waist. Her pretty face held a trace of steeled resolve, but her young age gave her an undeniably cute appearance.
Killer B remained silent for a moment, unsure of how to answer the girl's question.
Compared to him, this girl—Yugito Nii—had actually been a Jinchūriki for much longer. The Two-Tails had been sealed within her when she was only two years old. Since then, she had undergone grueling training under the cold, resentful gazes of those around her.
All of it... was for Kumogakure. For this very moment.
But to send a seven-year-old child onto the blood-soaked battlefields of the Third Great Ninja War; to turn her into a weapon of war, a cold-blooded executioner, a creator of hellscapes from this moment forward...
All just to prove her "capacity," her value to the village, and—much like the mentor she admired—to escape those hateful glares.
Killer B was silent. He didn't know how to comfort her, nor did he know how to teach her. Yugito wasn't like him; he had shared a bond of brotherhood with the future Raikage before becoming a Jinchūriki, using that deep love to suppress his inner demons and achieve a reconciliation with the Eight-Tails as a "Perfect Jinchūriki."
She had no such love. She only had resentment and a desperate need to prove herself! In her young eyes, there was only a fire that burned against injustice!
The mist around them swayed, whistling through the porous, water-eroded rocks like ghostly moans, forming agonizing faces in the air.
B turned and knelt before the girl. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he stared into the blue flames flickering in her eyes. After a moment of silence, dropping his usual rhyming嘻哈 (hip-hop) tone, he spoke solemnly:
"Yugito—"
"Just do it here. Let go."
"After all, you are a proud, wise, and courageous kunoichi, the host of the Monster Cat!"
"Just as you have always worked for!"
With that, B stood up and looked toward the forest in front of the Valley of Hell. He glared toward the camp built by the Uchiha, searching for that disciple of Orochimaru who was hidden somewhere within. A deep, smoldering rage burned in his eyes as well.
"And I shall repay this debt of blood in kind!"
"I understand!" Yugito Nii nodded, a look of grim determination crossing her youthful face.
She gritted her teeth, using the massive amount of chakra flowing through her body to hook into the soul-devouring power in her chest! Her teeth silently sharpened into fangs. A tail made of flickering blue flames drifted upward!
Blue cat-fire patterns manifested on her skin as her eyes turned a deathly pale white. Her carefully braided ponytail snapped open, dancing wildly toward the sky! A terrifying shockwave of chakra erupted from the spot, shaking the very earth!
—BOOM!!
In an instant, a colossal, terrifying beast stood upon the land—a monster with two blue-flame tails that seemed to touch the sky!
Beside her, Killer B smirked and nodded in approval. "Well done!"
"Yugito, strive to keep your consciousness clear! Remember what I told you!"
Struggling to maintain the Tailed Beast Transformation, Yugito gritted her teeth and answered with a tremor in her voice:
"Yes... Senpai..."
"I must never... come into direct contact with the brat named Ren Uchiha!"
"Right here... keep the distance... and use the strongest Tailed Beast Bomb... to wipe them all out!"
The last shred of her conscious mind etched itself into the beast's body. She controlled the massive frame of the Two-Tails, her steps cracking the earth and causing the hot springs to spray violently. The white mist was instantly torn asunder by the rising monster, revealing its awe-inspiring form!
It stood tall, threw its head back, and roared toward the heavens!
"—ROOOOAR!!"
A sphere of condensed blue-black chakra began to form, swirling at a 2:8 ratio of Positive and Negative Chakra! It shaped into a Tailed Beast Bomb that radiated an aura of pure terror!
"That's it!"
"That's it!"
Killer B clenched his fist, rage thumping against his chest! He raised his arm, his thumb and index finger extended in a 'six' gesture, and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"The battle has begun! Let us march forward with power!"
Eight thick octopus tentacles burst from his back, coiling and surging! In a flash, another terrifying giant stood tall, its mouth wildly accumulating explosive chakra!
The two great beasts roared in unison!
Hurricane-force winds exploded from their maws as the recoil crushed the ground beneath their feet! Standing on the barren flats north of the valley, they aimed directly at the tiny camp nestled in the vast forest.
The next second, two Tailed Beast Bombs, radiating an aura of extreme horror, screamed through the air!
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