"What trick are you pulling, brat? My uncle isn't scared of you!"
Eight Tails roared, forcing down the instinctive chill crawling up his spine. All eight massive tails whipped outward, each forming a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Eight spheres of annihilation.
All aimed at Ryuuto.
"Heh. Try not to die instantly," Eight Tails sneered. "It'd be boring if you went splat too fast."
"You're overthinking it," Ryuuto said, flicking dust off his shoulder. "No one here's capable of killing me."
Then he closed his eyes.
One breath.
Two breaths.
His chakra surged like a storm ripping open the sky.
Eight Inner Gates.
First Gate. Open.
Second Gate. Open.
Third Gate. Open.
Fourth Gate. Open.
Fifth Gate. Open.
Sixth Gate. Open.
Seventh Gate. Open.
Each gate burst open like detonations inside his body, and his aura spiked until even the air felt ready to shatter.
"Impossible… what is this pressure!?"
Eight Tails flinched.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The Tailed Beast Bombs slammed into Ryuuto in a chain reaction of explosions that tore the ground apart.
The smoke cleared.
Ryuuto stood there, perfectly fine.
Eight Tails' jaw hung open.
"You done?" Ryuuto asked. "Good. My turn."
Eight Inner Gates: Peacock Whirlwind!
Black chakra flared into searing red flame, scattering into dozens of blazing arcs that hammered Eight Tails all at once.
The giant beast staggered, his breath hitched, and his muscles trembled.
"How… how are you doing this!?"
For the first time, real fear filled his eyes.
Ryuuto didn't slow down.
Shadow surged. Steel gleamed.
Eight-Sword Style!
Blades spread across his arms, shoulders, elbows, between his fingers, even clamped between his teeth. With Killer Bee's signature whirlwind of slashes, he carved across Eight Tails' massive body in a storm of sparks and steel.
Knife marks covered the tailed beast like a net.
Ryuuto pressed the final blade to Eight Tails' throat.
"Well? Still think I'm not your master?" he asked, voice dangerously calm.
Eight Tails instantly surrendered, pupils shaking.
"F-Fine! Uncle admits defeat! Stop hitting me—my hide's not that thick!"
"That's better."
Ryuuto patted the giant bull-octopus like a misbehaving dog.
"Stick with me and you'll live the good life. Fight for me whenever I call. You get me?"
Eight Tails glared.
"You really aren't Killer Bee's apprentice… your skin's way too pale. You don't even rap."
"I don't need to be his apprentice. I've got all his moves anyway. What matters is that I'm your master now."
Ryuuto lifted his fist.
Eight Tails immediately nodded.
"Understood!"
"Great. Problem solved."
Satisfied, Ryuuto exited the inner world and headed home, humming. A hot bath was waiting—finally, peace.
Except the universe hated him.
Before he even unlocked the door, a figure slipped straight through the wall and jumped into his arms.
"Big brother! You're back! I missed you!"
"Katie, didn't I come straight home after the mission? I missed you and Susan too."
He stroked her hair, smiling gently as he stepped inside.
"Speaking of Susan, where is she?"
Katie froze.
Her eyes dropped. Her voice softened into uncertainty.
"Um… Sister Susan left early this morning. She said she'd be home before evening. She told us not to worry…"
Ryuuto's expression sharpened instantly.
"Something happened. Tell me everything."
Katie bit her lip, then sighed and handed him a crumpled sheet of paper.
"This morning… someone slipped this through the door crack. Susan told me to destroy it, but… I knew you'd want to see it."
Ryuuto unfolded the note.
His brows lowered.
A challenge letter.
Someone calling him out by name.
Demanding he show up.
Promising to defeat him publicly.
And if he didn't come…
They'd kill everyone around him.
One by one.
Ryuuto's eyes turned cold.
Someone had thrown the gauntlet.