The combined Chakra of the Three-Tails and Six-Tails erupted around Shigure like a living storm.
In that instant, his chakra output far surpassed Naruto's.
Although Naruto was the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, the current rampaging state had only unleashed roughly two-thirds of the Nine-Tails' full power. Compared to Shigure—who was drawing on the strength of two Tailed Beasts and his own chakra—Naruto's energy was completely overwhelmed.
The nine tails of condensed chakra behind Shigure swayed lazily as he strode forward, each step shaking the ground.
"Nine-Tails, huh?"
He smirked. "Don't tell me this is all you've got. Even if you had full control over the Nine-Tails, I still wouldn't be afraid."
The Nine-Tails let out a furious roar and charged, the earth cracking beneath its weight as it barreled toward him like an unstoppable beast.
But Shigure didn't move to evade.
He simply raised his right arm—and in an instant, it liquefied into a deep, glowing blue, the power of the Six-Tails manifesting through him. His arm elongated, stretching toward the incoming beast.
The Nine-Tails twisted aside at the last moment, narrowly avoiding Shigure's grasp.
But before it could retaliate, Shigure's chakra flared again.
"Ice Release!"
The ground froze instantly. The Nine-Tails' left leg was caught mid-stride, its movement abruptly halted. The sudden imbalance made the massive fox stumble.
That single opening was all Shigure needed.
He lunged forward and seized the Nine-Tails by the throat.
Hissssss—!
The acidic chakra of the Six-Tails burned against the Nine-Tails' cloak, eating away at the crimson energy. The corrosive force made even the mighty beast shudder.
Sensing the opening, Shigure's left arm transformed, hardening into the coral-like armor of the Three-Tails.
White steam burst from his body—Boil Release erupting at full force.
"Let's see how you handle this!"
With a deafening crack, Shigure's fist slammed into the Nine-Tails' abdomen.
BOOM!
The shockwave shattered the air. The Nine-Tails' body was launched backward, tearing a deep trench across the battlefield. But before it could crash into the distant mountains, clouds began to gather behind it.
The Great Sage, controlling the Ichibi's chakra, had already prepared the next move.
Dense clouds materialized out of nowhere, forming a thick wall that caught the Nine-Tails midair.
The beast slammed into it with tremendous force—and found itself entangled.
The vapor twisted and wrapped around its body, binding it in place like an ethereal net.
Good job, Great Sage, Shigure thought, his eyes narrowing.
In the same motion, he condensed an ice blade in his left hand and drew his black blade, Zangetsu, with his right.
Boil Release surged through one arm, Ice Release through the other—two opposing forces in perfect harmony.
The nine chakra tails behind him flared outward, then snapped back like whips, propelling him forward like a cannon shot.
He appeared before Naruto in the blink of an eye.
The ice blade slashed across Naruto's chest, the freezing energy gnawing at the Nine-Tails' chakra cloak. Before the beast could recover, Shigure followed through with a backhand strike—his right blade coated in corrosive Boil Release chakra.
The two opposing natures clashed violently, cutting through the crimson shroud and exposing Naruto's body beneath.
Shigure's movements became a blur—blades flashing, steam and frost intertwining as he struck again and again. He was like a crimson phantom, twin blades drenched in boiling mist and glittering ice. Every strike carved away more of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
The Nine-Tails roared in pain and fury.
But Shigure didn't relent.
He drove both blades deep into its shoulders, pinning the beast down.
The cloud wall behind them shimmered as black Magnet Release seals flared to life. The Ichibi's sealing patterns spread through the cloud network, flowing directly into the Nine-Tails' body.
The effect was immediate—its chakra began to weaken, the crimson cloak fading by the second.
Shigure clasped his hands together.
His voice was calm, but his chakra surged like a rising tide.
"White Vine Sealing!"
The surrounding clouds surged and gathered, forming thick chains that coiled around Naruto's body. Layer after layer of white vapor intertwined, until a massive sphere of clouds completely enveloped him.
It was a dual-layer seal—Magnet Release: Sealing Formation, combined with Cloud Release: Binding Seal.
Under the combined effect of both seals, the Nine-Tails' chakra began to recede rapidly from Naruto's body—its once turbulent waves fading away like a retreating tide.
Only when the last trace of the Nine-Tails' chakra vanished did Shigure slowly withdraw his own.
Jiraiya, clutching the wound on his chest, forced himself upright.
"Is it... done? The sealing's complete?"
That strange white mist—those markings woven into it—it wasn't any sealing jutsu he recognized. He had never seen or even heard of such a technique.
"It seems he's finally calmed down," Shigure murmured.
He stepped forward into the haze. Passing through the layers of dense cloud, he reached Naruto—now bound tightly by shimmering chains of mist.
From outside, the three Sannin couldn't see what was happening within the fog.
Then, Shigure extended his right hand toward Naruto.
"Gluttony—begin devouring."
A black, viscous substance spread from his palm, creeping toward Naruto's chest, ready to consume the remnants of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
But before it could fully take hold, the Great Sage's calm voice echoed in his mind.
[Great Sage: Detecting another chakra within the target. It is obstructing Gluttony. Do you wish to devour it?]
Another chakra?
Could it be—the Fourth Hokage's?
'Would it be difficult to devour?'
[Great Sage: With Gluttony's current capability, full devouring can be achieved within five seconds.]
Five seconds... If he devoured this chakra, it wouldn't just erase the Fourth Hokage's essence—it would also rob Naruto of the chance to ever meet his father's lingering will.
That lingering chakra was more than just energy—it was a message, a connection, a father's last gift.
'Can we bypass it?'
[Great Sage: Impossible.]
'Then forget it.'
[Great Sage: Gluttony has already devoured one-tenth of the target's chakra.]
"What?!"
'Withdraw Gluttony—now!'
Shigure hastily pulled back the devouring force. His expression tightened—had one-tenth of the Fourth Hokage's chakra already been erased? Would that affect Naruto's future?
He sighed. This wasn't what he'd wanted. He only needed a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra—nothing more. During the battle, there had been no safe opportunity to act without drawing Tsunade's attention.
In hindsight, maybe he shouldn't have risked using Gluttony at all.
Now, he'd gained nothing—and taken away something irreplaceable.
Looking down at the unconscious Naruto, Shigure could only offer a silent apology.
[Great Sage: Analysis complete.]
[Congratulations. You have obtained the incomplete Ninjutsu: Flying Thunder God.]
Shigure blinked.
"Flying Thunder God?"
Could it be—because he devoured a fragment of the Fourth Hokage's chakra?
It made sense. The chakra left inside Naruto wasn't just power; it carried traces of the Fourth's consciousness and memories. By consuming even a part of it, Shigure had naturally absorbed fragments of the technique's understanding.
"Flying Thunder God, huh..." He couldn't help but feel excited.
Should he... take just a bit more? Enough to complete it?
The temptation burned for a moment—but then he shook his head.
No. That would cross a line. Whatever his goals were, this was Naruto's inheritance. Shigure wasn't heartless enough to take it from him.
'Great Sage, can you deduce the complete Flying Thunder God from this incomplete version?'
[Great Sage: Data insufficient for full reconstruction. However, it is possible to create a spatiotemporal Ninjutsu unique to the host, based on the host's own power. Fundamental principles are understood.]
A personal space-time jutsu?
Now that was worth more than imitation.
"Fine," Shigure said with a faint grin. "Let's do that."
Though he hadn't gained the Nine-Tails' chakra, this outcome was still far from disappointing.
With that thought, he turned around. The clouds began to thin and disperse, the misty chains around Naruto dissolving into air.
Naruto lay motionless on the ground, unconscious but stable.
As soon as their figures became visible again, Jiraiya rushed forward in panic.
"Naruto! Naruto!"
...
TN:
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