"Matatabi?!"
The Nine-Tails was genuinely surprised—it hadn't expected the Two-Tails to appear here.
But as a thousand-year-old entity, after surveying the battlefield, it immediately grasped the situation. This was a trap designed specifically for it.
Not that it cared in the slightest.
A trap? What trap could possibly contain me? Everyone in this world capable of restraining it was already dead—oh wait, except for that little Uzumaki girl. Besides her, what trap could possibly hold it?
The Nine-Tails struck an arrogant combat stance, voice dripping with contempt:
"What's this, Matatabi? Did you grow some balls? You dare oppose me?!"
Facing the Nine-Tails' threatening attitude, the Two-Tails remained completely unfazed, casually lifting one paw.
"Not really—just helping out a good friend!"
"Good friend?"
The Nine-Tails froze momentarily, eyes scanning Matatabi up and down before focusing on those two constantly swaying tails. Then it erupted in thunderous laughter that echoed for quite some time.
"Friend? How pathetic! When did Tailed Beasts sink so low as to befriend humans as worthless as dirt? Oh right! I nearly forgot—you're just a lowly creature with only two tails!"
The insult hit deep.
"Kurama!!!"
Matatabi's feline features twisted with rage. The Nine-Tails' arrogant philosophy of ranking strength by tail count had earned the hatred of every other Tailed Beast, especially those with fewer tails like Shukaku and Matatabi. If they could actually defeat this insufferable fox, they would have tried ages ago.
But this time Matatabi wasn't fighting alone. It had studied Jinghang's arrangements and strategy—with its understanding of the Nine-Tails' combat capabilities, this plan genuinely had potential to bring down that arrogant bastard.
Before Matatabi could act, the mechanical puppet Hiruko beside it lost all patience. In one explosive motion, it charged the Nine-Tails with jaws wide, fangs gleaming as it aimed for the fox's throat.
The Nine-Tails wasn't some stationary target—it definitely wouldn't stand there waiting to be bitten. Dodging Hiruko's lunge, it whipped around and clamped down on the puppet's shoulder blade. Sharp teeth scraped against hardened metal plating, throwing off sparks. Hiruko retaliated with a claw strike toward the Nine-Tails' eye. Not daring to underestimate the attack, the Nine-Tails released its grip and pounced again.
Dog and fox immediately became locked in vicious combat, the scene turning absolutely brutal.
Matatabi tilted its head, observing the battling Hiruko for a long moment before addressing Yugito in a distinctly teasing tone:
"Your boyfriend's got guts—he really steps up when it counts!"
"What boyfriend? You're talking nonsense! I'm not listening anymore."
Yugito turned away with embarrassed indignation.
"Stop daydreaming and get ready to move. Your boyfriend's about to get overwhelmed."
Back at the battle scene, Hiruko had lost all its earlier imposing presence. Scratches covered its frame, one optical sensor was completely destroyed, and one rear leg was clearly fractured. Currently it could only defend desperately, completely stripped of offensive capability.
Inside Hiruko's control chamber, Sasori was drenched in sweat, face pale as he frantically worked the controls.
"Damn! No wonder godfather called the Nine-Tails the strongest Tailed Beast. This power and destructive force is on a completely different level from Shukaku and Matatabi. Shit! Structural damage exceeded thirty-one percent! This can't continue—it'll be torn apart!"
This was Sasori's first-generation anti-Tailed Beast puppet, after all. During initial design, the primary parameters were calibrated against the One-Tail Shukaku, so Hiruko could match the Two-Tails Matatabi evenly. But against the Nine-Tails, the gap was substantial.
Initially, raw determination allowed it to hold out briefly, but sustained combat quickly revealed its limitations. Simple logic—a Mazda is still a Mazda. Even flooring the accelerator won't achieve F1 speeds.
The Nine-Tails suddenly gaped its massive maw wide, enormous chakra energy gathering within.
"Oh no!"
Recognizing the danger, Matatabi launched itself at the Nine-Tails, skull connecting hard with the fox's neck.
A fully-formed Tailed Beast Ball was violently redirected skyward.
Like a ground-launched missile, the pitch-black sphere rocketed toward the heavens. After reaching impossible heights, it detonated mid-air. Within seconds, massive chakra energy exploded overhead. The tremendous sound made eardrums throb painfully. The previously cloudy night sky was instantly cleared—only a bright moon remained, every cloud swept away.
Sasori couldn't suppress his cold sweat.
"That Tailed Beast Ball packed at least triple the power of Matatabi's attacks. A direct hit would've meant total annihilation!"
Sasori popped a chakra enhancement pill while his eyes drifted toward the skull-marked button on his control panel.
Honestly, the Two-Tails ranked among the weaker Tailed Beasts combat-wise. In terms of stamina and chakra reserves, it couldn't remotely compare to the Nine-Tails.
Before long, Matatabi gradually fell behind, clearly disadvantaged. The Nine-Tails fought with increasing ferocity, landing several successful strikes and raking Matatabi with brutal claw attacks.
Just then, Hiruko courageously re-engaged, tangling with the Nine-Tails while Matatabi tactfully withdrew to recover.
This was actually pre-planned strategy between Yugito and Sasori. Since they couldn't win through combined assault, they'd focus on draining the Nine-Tails' chakra reserves. Rotating fighters, alternating combat—this approach could effectively exhaust the Nine-Tails while providing recovery intervals.
For a time, cat advanced as dog retreated, dog advanced as cat retreated. The timing coordination was flawless.
"Shouldn't we recall them? Even Matatabi's movements are getting sluggish. Maybe we should engage?"
Rasa watched the battlefield with growing concern.
Jinghang's expression remained stone-cold. He didn't rush to respond, instead checking his watch by moonlight.
"Can't move yet."
Jinghang shook his head decisively.
"The Nine-Tails' strength runs unfathomably deep. Without sustained attrition, we'd just dump the pressure on whoever comes next. This can't be rushed. At minimum..."
Jinghang clenched his teeth.
"We need the Nine-Tails to fire one more Tailed Beast Ball!"
At that moment, both combatants froze. The Nine-Tails and Two-Tails simultaneously opened their massive jaws, twin pools of devastating chakra energy rapidly condensing.
"No choice left!"
Sasori bit down hard, flipped open the transparent cover, and slammed his thumb onto the skull-marked red button.
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