Under the control of the dojutsu, Shukaku descended into a frenzied state, and Gaara's attempts to regain consciousness failed.
Shuu.Shuu.Shuu.
In an instant, Tailed Beast Balls carrying piercing whistles were unleashed chaotically into the surrounding forest.
The Tailed Beast Balls of One-Tail Shukaku were nearly as powerful as a full Tailed Beast Bomb, so in the blink of an eye, a large swath of the lush primeval forest was leveled.
Screams, curses, and cries of anguish intertwined.
Undoubtedly, Shukaku's indiscriminate onslaught caused heavy casualties among the Hidden Leaf shinobi scattered around.
Many struck directly by the Tailed Beast Balls were obliterated, leaving no trace. The battlefield was a scene of utter devastation!
"That's it! That's how it should be!"
Hiruko cackled maniacally.
His mind, warped by deep inferiority and insane jealousy, found exhilaration in anything that harmed Hidden Leaf.
"Damn it!"
Surveying the wreckage, Yakumo was overwhelmed with guilt. Shukaku's sudden rampage had caught her off guard.
In the ruins, Shion pushed aside the protective trees, staring blankly at the surroundings.
The once-verdant forest was now a pitted, uneven battlefield, the air thick with the stench of blood.
Yakumo rushed over. "Shion, are you okay?"
Shion shook her head. "What… what happened?"
Yakumo looked skyward. "It's Hiruko's dojutsu. One-Tail… it's gone berserk! But don't worry, I'll stop it!"
Saa.
As Yakumo prepared to suppress the rampaging One-Tail at all costs, a frantic figure suddenly darted into the scene.
She looked over and saw a boy in an Akatsuki red-cloud cloak. He seemed familiar, as if she'd seen him somewhere, but she couldn't place him.
His condition was clearly dire—visible wounds marred his cheeks and neck, and his frantic movements made him appear utterly disheveled.
It was none other than Ranmaru, pursued by Neji and Kimimaro.
As Yakumo pondered Ranmaru's identity, Hiruko, also noticing him, furrowed his brow. "You're injured? What happened?"
Landing before Hiruko, Ranmaru panted, "It's… it's the Akatsuki! They attacked me!"
Hiruko's brow tightened further. "What are you babbling about?"
Unsure how to explain, Ranmaru pointed behind him.
Following Ranmaru's gesture, Hiruko's gaze sharpened. In that direction, two masked figures in hooded red-cloud cloaks were rapidly approaching.
"It's them!"
Hiruko's expression grew serious.
The Akatsuki had discussed this group with letter-based codenames internally, but even the Leader couldn't confirm their identities or motives. While collecting tailed beasts, the Akatsuki was also secretly investigating them.
But this group appeared and vanished without a trace, each member not only immensely powerful but leaving no clues, stalling the investigation.
Neji and Kimimaro, who had trailed Ranmaru, paused at the battlefield's edge, stunned by the devastation.
Neji whispered, "How did this happen?"
Kimimaro, eyeing the still-raging One-Tail Shukaku, said calmly, "To cause such widespread destruction, it must be One-Tail going berserk!"
Neji instinctively said, "We can't let it reach the village!"
"Hm."
Kimimaro gave a soft nod.
In the past, he wouldn't have cared about Hidden Leaf's safety, but for a fleeting moment, seeing the battlefield ravaged by One-Tail, he felt an urge to protect the village he'd lived in for years.
"It's F and G," Yakumo thought, startled at first, then musing, "It seems the Leader knows about the Dark Akatsuki's moves and sent help! I don't know if other comrades are here, but with F and G, plus me, we should be able to handle Dark Akatsuki's Hiruko!"
Though Yakumo felt slightly reassured, the other Hidden Leaf shinobi, seeing more Akatsuki members appear, grew restless and began to falter.
After all, Hiruko alone had already caused devastating losses. Now, with three more Akatsuki members, the gap in strength seemed even wider.
Only Kakashi, Yamato, and a few jounin aware of the Akatsuki's internal conflict knew Ranmaru wasn't aligned with F and G.
Based on Ranmaru's injuries and frantic demeanor, Kakashi deduced that in the Akatsuki's infighting, Ranmaru was the defeated party.
Clutching his wounds, Ranmaru said, "The Nine-Tails jinchuriki has escaped. We should retreat!"
"Retreat!?"
Hiruko's face darkened.
Fearing Hiruko underestimated the enemy, Ranmaru explained, "They're strong. I wasn't their match at all!"
Hiruko hesitated, his expression wavering.
Ranmaru was his "greatest creation," so he knew his strength well. Despite Ranmaru's inexperience and lack of ruthlessness, his five Bloodline Limits should have compensated. An enemy capable of wounding him wasn't to be underestimated.
But abandoning the Nine-Tails jinchuriki left him unwilling.
Before the mission, he had vowed to the Leader, in front of Pain, to redeem himself by capturing the One-Tail, Seven-Tails, and Nine-Tails jinchuriki in one fell swoop.
After a moment's hesitation, Hiruko made up his mind. "You hold them off. We'll retreat after I seal One-Tail!"
"Understood!"
Ranmaru reluctantly agreed.
If they could secure One-Tail and Seven-Tails, it would be a partial success. But returning with only one tailed beast would surely incur the Leader's wrath.
With his decision made, Hiruko sprang into action.
Swish.
He darted to the top of the roaring Shukaku's head, forming hand signs while saying, "Pity I won't see you tear Hidden Leaf apart!"
"Damn speck, get off my head!"
Enraged, Shukaku swung to swat Hiruko off.
Hiruko's lips curled mockingly as he shouted, "Dark Release: Ghost Bud Extinction!"
With that, he completed his hand signs and pressed a hand onto Shukaku's head.
In an instant, countless ghost buds shot from his palm, piercing Shukaku's body. Like siphoning tubes, they frantically absorbed Shukaku's tailed beast chakra.