Killer Bee rolled his shoulders, loosening his body.
His sharp gaze locked onto Shigure.
When it came to Tailed Beast power, the Eight-Tails was undeniably stronger than the Six-Tails.
Of course, the number of tails did not absolutely determine a Tailed Beast's strength—but there was no denying that Gyūki's power surpassed Saiken's.
In the next instant, an overwhelming surge of Tailed Beast Chakra erupted from Killer Bee's body. The Eight-Tails unfurled behind him, its chakra flaring violently.
A suffocating pressure spread outward.
The entire lakeside seemed to be swallowed by Gyūki's chakra.
As Killer Bee appeared in full force, the Kumogakure ninja erupted in excitement.
"It's Lord Killer Bee!"
"Lord Killer Bee is also a Jinchūriki—and the most perfect one at that! His Tailed Beast power is definitely stronger!"
"That's obvious! Just the number of tails alone—Lord Killer Bee completely outclasses him!"
Does the number of tails really decide everything?
Shigure let out a cold smile.
If that were truly the case—
Boom!!
A second wave of Tailed Beast Chakra exploded from Shigure's body.
The Three-Tails' chakra surged forth, and three additional tails burst into existence behind him.
Nine massive chakra tails danced wildly in the air.
In an instant, the Kumogakure ninja fell silent.
Shock and disbelief filled their eyes.
They had just been declaring that Killer Bee's Tailed Beast power overwhelmingly surpassed Shigure's.
Yet now, Shigure stood before them with nine tails.
Didn't that mean his power exceeded Killer Bee's?
"Hmph! Nine tails?" Killer Bee snorted. "Too bad what's inside you isn't the Nine-Tails."
"You've just mastered two Tailed Beasts at the same time—the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails. Even combined, they might not surpass my Eight-Tails!"
Before his words had even finished, Killer Bee moved.
He chose to prove his strength with action.
Whoosh!
His body transformed into a red blur as he charged straight at Shigure.
Before Killer Bee himself arrived, his chakra tails struck first—eight massive limbs smashing down like gigantic fists.
Shigure reacted instantly, his own chakra tails surging forward to entangle them.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A series of heavy impacts echoed through the battlefield.
With one extra tail, Shigure launched a rapid strike straight toward Killer Bee himself.
Killer Bee crossed both arms to block.
The moment their power collided, his expression shifted slightly.
"Impressive strength," Killer Bee said, eyes narrowing. "Two Tailed Beasts really do give you this much power."
But as Gyūki's Jinchūriki, Killer Bee had no intention of losing a contest of brute force.
He seized Shigure's chakra tails with both hands, twisted his waist, and executed a brutal over-the-shoulder throw.
Crack!
Bang!
Shigure was hurled overhead and smashed violently into the ground behind him.
Thrown across the battlefield, Shigure felt a jolt of surprise.
So this was the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki's power.
It was truly formidable.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The ice beneath them cracked as Killer Bee charged again—like a rampaging bull.
Shigure rose to his feet, lifting his ninja sword and slashing downward in a single decisive strike.
The blade came down straight toward Killer Bee's head.
Tailed Beast Chakra erupted on impact, sparks flying in all directions.
Violent ripples spread outward from where the two clashed.
When the dust settled, both figures were forced backward—Killer Bee and Shigure repelled at the same time.
'Such terrifying power…' Killer Bee stared at Shigure. Even if it was the combined force of the Six-Tails and the Three-Tails, it was still only overlapping chakra—yet it could contend with Gyūki.
Bee, this guy— Gyūki began to speak.
But Killer Bee was already moving again.
"You wanna compete with me in strength?" Killer Bee shouted. "Then bring it on!"
His speed exploded once more as he charged forward like a furious bull.
The Eight-Tails' chakra curved in front of him, forming massive horn-like shapes.
Each step detonated with power, his acceleration kicking up a violent whirlwind as he rushed straight toward Shigure.
Shigure's damaged ninja sword gleamed as chakra condensed along its edge.
Slash after slash followed in rapid succession.
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
It took more than ten consecutive strikes before Killer Bee's momentum was finally neutralized.
The two collided again and again, neither giving an inch.
Neither side was willing to yield.
In terms of pure physical strength, Shigure was indeed inferior to Killer Bee—but only in that one aspect.
This kind of direct, head-on clash, a battle of brute force without any tricks, left the Kumogakure ninja completely stunned.
On the other side, Kuji's expression darkened.
"They said it would be a one-on-one battle," Kuji said coldly. "Yet Kumogakure is being shameless enough to send out a Jinchūriki to interfere."
As he spoke, Kuji took a step forward, clearly intending to join the fight.
"What are you doing?" Yuyuri suddenly stopped him. "I'm going to help Lord Shigure!"
Yuyuri frowned at him. "Can't you tell? Lord Shigure is enjoying himself."
Kuji froze, then turned to look at Shigure.
Shigure's expression was calm and focused, completely unreadable.
But based on their understanding of him, this meant only one thing.
Shigure was having a great deal of fun.
With Lord Shigure's true strength, dealing with the Eight-Tails should have been effortless—especially considering the mysterious laser-like attack they had witnessed earlier.
It could have seriously injured the opponent in an instant.
Yet Shigure had not used it.
Which meant that Lord Shigure was merely playing around.
Realizing this, Kuji could only sigh helplessly.
Meanwhile, the Kumogakure ninja around them began to look uneasy.
Only now did they remember that this battle was originally supposed to be between the Fourth Raikage and the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist.
The Eight-Tails Jinchūriki's appearance meant openly interfering in the duel.
Strictly speaking, Kumogakure had already lost face.
At that moment, Killer Bee finally broke through Shigure's defense.
After several rapid slashes, Shigure failed to fully deflect Killer Bee's charge.
With a single powerful rush, Killer Bee slammed into Shigure.
Shigure was sent flying backward like a cannonball.
Killer Bee had no intention of letting such a perfect opening slip away.
He accelerated again, stomping down fiercely toward the fallen Shigure.
But in the next instant, Shigure's body dissolved into countless streams of water.
Water Release: Water Body Flicker.
His form reappeared behind Killer Bee.
"Boil Release: Matchless Monstrous Strength!"
A violent surge of heat exploded from Shigure's body.
In the blink of an eye, his fist slammed heavily into Killer Bee's back.
Crack!
The sound of bones fracturing echoed clearly across the battlefield.
Killer Bee was sent flying instead.
At that very moment, a flash of lightning appeared and caught him in midair.
"Big brother!"
Killer Bee looked up to see the Fourth Raikage standing before him.
The Raikage's eyes swept over him. "Bee, are you alright?"
Killer Bee shook his head. "I'm fine. This level of injury is nothing."
Then he turned his gaze back toward Shigure, his expression serious.
"It's just that this brat…" Killer Bee said slowly, "…is really strong."
...
TN:
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