"A tentacle?"
Matatabi tilted its head slightly, turning its massive neck in confusion to look at the severed octopus tentacle lying nearby on the ground, as still as a dead object.
While it was enormous by human standards, it didn't look like something that could hide an entire Eight-Tails.
However, in the current ninja world, only Ren Uchiha knew the truth. Killer B, as a perfect Jinchūriki working in perfect harmony with the Eight-Tails, could utilize a high-level camouflage technique that was practically a bug:
The Octopus Leg Clone Jutsu.
This technique used a severed tentacle to hide the Jinchūriki's true body while leaving behind a high-level clone to operate the full Tailed Beast form—a clone so perfect that even a Mangekyō Sharingan struggled to distinguish it from the original. The clone and the main body shared nearly identical auras, flesh, and chakra signatures.
In the original history, the Eight-Tails captured by Sasuke Uchiha using the Mangekyō ability, Amaterasu, was a decoy created by this very jutsu. The real B had hid within a tentacle and slipped away to find "Kin-sensei" to learn singing once the coast was clear.
Ren wasn't certain if B was hiding in this specific severed leg, but then again...
Trying it didn't cost anything, did it?
With that thought, Ren nodded and stared darkly at the tentacle.
"That's right, Second Company Matatabi! Listen to my command—fire a shot at that thing!"
"It won't take much time!"
"Hmph." The Two-Tails let out a dissatisfied snort, clearly annoyed by Ren standing on its head and barking orders. However, it didn't refuse. As the brat said, it wouldn't take long.
In the next instant, Matatabi stopped its pursuit, turned its massive body, and unhinged its jaws.
Blue and black particles converged in its mouth, rapidly condensing into a ball of sapphire flames. Its chest swelled, its claws dug into the earth, and it let out a massive blast!
This wasn't a Tailed Beast Bomb, but a specialized ability derived from the Two-Tails itself.
Fire Style: Fire Rat Ball!
PONG!!
A long, straight beam of blue fire shot forth! The brilliance lit up the night sky, slamming into the deathly still octopus tentacle on the ground.
As a crowd of Konoha ninja pursued the "Killer B" fleeing toward the southern exit, the flesh on the surface of the severed tentacle lying in the valley suddenly began to writhe.
A head with dark skin and sunglasses peeked out slightly, cautiously observing the surroundings. Seeing that no one was paying attention, B let out a sigh of relief.
"B, the southern exit has been demolished."
Inside the mental world, the Eight-Tails spoke gravely. "Using the Octopus Leg Clone cost me a great deal. Most of my chakra is in that full-form clone; it will take time to gather enough for another major move."
"But now... sigh." A shadow of worry crossed Gyūki's face as it looked at its partner. "What's the plan?"
If the Two-Tails hadn't been released and turned traitor, B wouldn't be in such a pathetic state. Against a brat who had drained his chakra and a group of Konoha ninja who could be wiped out with a Tailed Beast Bomb, B could have rampaged through the valley—with only that Uchiha old man posing a potential threat.
But everything had been rewritten by that Uchiha kid's suicidal gamble!
Now, having discarded most of his chakra within the decoy, B couldn't even fire a Tailed Beast Bomb effectively. He could only use the weaker Ink Orbs, which wouldn't be enough to crush the gathered Konoha forces.
"We can only wait," B sighed heavily.
By now, even he had to admit it: in this duel, he had lost.
After only a month and a half, that brat had given him a massive shock. The speed of the boy's growth was terrifying. Sealing jutsu, swordsmanship, composite ninjutsu, secret arts from the Great Sage Regions, Sage Mode... the sheer variety of means had overwhelmed him, causing the original plan to crumble.
"Hachi," B said, his brow furrowed. "Let's gather chakra. We'll use the opportunity created by the clone to find a window, bypass the Two-Tails, blast open the southern exit, and escape."
"Otherwise... we'll have to take that route."
B glanced toward the high cliffs of the valley. But just then, he felt a sharp sensation of being watched. His brow jumped. He looked up.
Through the translucent, illusory layer of the octopus leg, he saw a pair of crimson eyes staring directly at him, radiating a sinister aura in the darkness. The Uchiha kid atop the Two-Tails patted the cat's head as if whispering something.
In the next heartbeat, the Two-Tails abandoned the pursuit of the clone. It turned its massive feline head directly toward the tentacle where B was hiding and opened its bloody maw!
"!!"
B's scalp went numb. His eyes widened in shock. Under the gaze of those Sharingan, he felt naked—completely seen through!
"Damn it, how is that possible?!"
Before he could process his shock, a pillar of blue fire erupted from Matatabi's mouth, roaring toward him! In that desperate moment, B shouted:
"Hachi, now!"
"Hiss!" The Eight-Tails was equally stunned. This technique, which required perfect synchronization, was only used in the direst circumstances. Neither of them had used it many times; there shouldn't have been any intel leaks. So what was this?
There was no time to think. Gyūki instantly handed over its emergency-refined chakra.
BOOM!
A crimson Tailed Beast Cloak instantly enveloped B. He tore through the tentacle, entering a Version 2 state as white bone plates began to manifest on his skin.
Just before the blue flames landed, B lunged out, transforming into a red blur. He sprinted on all fours toward the southern exit!
"He really was there!"
Matatabi looked up in surprise, glancing at Ren Uchiha with wonder, still unable to fathom how he had guessed correctly.
"Don't just stand there, block him!" Ren said solemnly, patting the cat's head. "I can see it—his chakra has dropped by more than half! This is our chance to take him down once and for all!"
The sudden appearance of a second "Killer B" on the battlefield left the pursuing ninja stunned. Uchiha Setsuna, leading the Konoha forces, saw the shift. His pupils shrank as he shouted without hesitation:
"Follow me! This Eight-Tails is the real one!"
He abandoned the clone and charged head-on toward the B that Ren was tracking.
With the Konoha ninja blocking the south and Ren pursuing from behind on the Two-Tails, all paths were sealed. The exit was gone, and there was no time to charge a Tailed Beast Bomb.
B gritted his teeth, his fists clenching tight. He took a deep breath, turned, and used the speed of his Version 2 state to change direction—charging straight back into the depths of the valley toward the high, encircling cliffs.
Under these conditions, his only remaining escape route was to go back into the valley, jump from the cliffs, and use the Eight-Tails' massive body to cushion the thousand-meter fall.
After that... it would be up to fate.
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