"Rip!"
With a swift motion, Yoake tore apart his white robe, revealing the fitted armor underneath. Although Siren's katana was sharp, it only managed to slice through the soft armor, causing superficial wounds to his flesh but not proving fatal.
Yoake quickly tore off a piece of fabric, wrapping it tightly around his injured left hand. Using his teeth, he bit down on the end of the cloth and tied it into a knot.
"Such cunning... such treachery!"
He growled through gritted teeth, his face distorted into a terrifying expression. His bloodshot eyes glowed red, resembling those of a wounded beast trapped in a deadly snare.
Surrounding him were six formidable figures: Yagura Karatachi, Sakumo Hatake, Maki, Ao, Siren, and Fuguki Suikazan. Meanwhile, Jūzō Biwa, Raiga Kurosuki, and Fugaku Uchiha guarded the entrance, clearly prepared to intercept any reinforcements.
Yoake's left hand was rendered useless, and although he could still form hand seals with one hand, his speed was no match for the six adversaries. Attempting to use ninjutsu would be suicidal—as the seals would not even be completed before their attacks arrived. Furthermore, his dual iron hooks had been confiscated by Ao. With only his uninjured right hand, he was clearly outmatched against the six.
Carefully analyzing the situation, Yoake formulated a plan in his mind.
"Heh, do you really think this is enough to kill me?"
As he spoke, his eyes turned crimson, and patches of his skin began to tear and burn. A dense, bubbling red chakra enveloped his body, and several tails began to emerge from behind him. The mangled left hand slowly regenerated, forming a glowing red energy hand.
"Not good! He's initiating tailed beast transformation! Stop him now! Wind Release: Blade of Wind!"
Having witnessed the power of Son Gokū, the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki, Maki immediately reacted, forming hand seals at lightning speed. A sharp wind blade shot forth, striking Yoake. However, the attack had little effect—it merely shredded the soft armor draped over him.
Yoake let out an earth-shattering roar, his voice no longer human but beast-like.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Lightning Release: Thunder Fireball!"
"Water Release: Water Blade Technique!"
"Blade Hair Technique!"
Simultaneously, Ao, Sakumo Hatake, Siren, and Fuguki Suikazan launched their ninjutsu from different directions. Nearly half-transformed into his tailed beast state, Yoake leapt into the air. The four opposing chakra techniques collided beneath him, exploding into a dazzling array of colors.
When Yoake landed, he was no longer recognizable as human. His body was entirely crimson, moving on all fours, with six tails swaying behind him.
It was clear that Yoake's mastery over the Six-Tails was far inferior to that of Rōshi or Master Bunpuku. He could only achieve partial tailed beast transformation.
"Coral Palm!"
Yagura Karatachi seized the opportunity, leaping forward and striking Yoake squarely on his right shoulder.
Yet, Yoake remained unmoved. With a swift counterattack, he clawed at Yagura. Reacting quickly, Yagura raised his Flower Iron Rod to defend, but the immense force still sent him flying several meters away.
However, where Yoake had been struck by Yagura, white coral began to grow rapidly. Within moments, the coral spread and enveloped Yoake's partially transformed body, immobilizing him completely.
"Perfect timing!"
Seeing the opening, Sakumo Hatake used Body Flicker Technique to appear on Yoake's back. Straddling him, he raised his custom Damascus short blade—gifted by Hiruzen Sarutobi—and aimed for Yoake's neck, intending to decapitate him.
To his shock, the blade barely penetrated Yoake's skin. The tailed beast's hide was tougher than anything imaginable, rendering even the sharpest weapon ineffective.
"Roar!"
With a deafening roar, Yoake shattered the coral encasing him. The sheer force of the explosion sent Sakumo Hatake tumbling to the ground.
"Ha!"
Nearby, Fuguki Suikazan shouted as he swung his massive sword, Samehada, at Yoake. The blade extended its spikes mid-swing, attacking Yoake. Yet, it left no marks on him.
However, Samehada absorbed large amounts of Yoake's chakra during the exchange, causing the red energy surrounding him to visibly weaken. Encouraged, Fuguki Suikazan fought with renewed vigor.
Suddenly, Yoake spat a large amount of liquid at Samehada. The sword emitted smoke and let out a piercing cry, as though in pain. To everyone's surprise, Samehada broke free from Fuguki Suikazan's grasp, retreating to the side like a frightened animal, trembling as if burned.
"Not good! It's strong acid!"
With his weapon gone, Fuguki Suikazan hesitated. Seizing the moment, Yoake lunged forward, clawing and biting at Fuguki Suikazan's chest in a frenzied assault. Blood and flesh flew everywhere.
"Water Release: Twin Water Tornado Whip!"
Ao leaped high into the air, wielding two massive whirling water streams connected to his bone clubs. The enormous "water tornado whips" struck Yoake with immense force, sending him tumbling backward.
Meanwhile, Fuguki Suikazan lay unconscious, his chest torn open, barely clinging to life.
"Roar!"
Enraged, Yoake let out another fearsome roar. Opening his jaws wide, he raised his six tails, gathering chakra into a small black sphere.
"Not good! It's a Tailed Beast Ball! Move away!" (Though it's a miniature version, even Naruto in Four-Tails form could use it.)
Upon hearing Maki's shout, everyone scrambled to retreat, distancing themselves from the sphere's trajectory.
The sphere formed, and to everyone's shock, Yoake swallowed it whole. Moments later, he unleashed a terrifying chakra shockwave from his mouth. The devastating force swept across the battlefield like a raging storm, destroying everything in its path—including nearby buildings, which collapsed into rubble amidst billowing dust.
When the dust settled, Ao, Siren, and Maki lay motionless on the ground, their conditions unknown. Only Sakumo Hatake and Yagura Karatachi remained standing, breathing heavily and covered in wounds.
"Sigh, it seems we can't finish this after all. No choice—I suppose it's up to me now."
From the shadows, Hidan observed the battle, shaking his head in resignation.
Holding his slender spear, Hidan dipped it in Yoake's blood and licked the tip.
"I think this is how the curse works... Wait, why isn't anything happening? Did my master sell me a fake technique? Now's not the time for jokes—Maki is almost done for!"
As Hidan muttered to himself, his body began to transform. His skin turned pitch black, adorned with white skeletal patterns.
"Oh! It worked! So this is how the jutsu operates."
With that, Hidan pierced his own palm with the spear, letting blood drip onto the ground. He used his foot to smear the blood, drawing a circle around himself, then adding a triangle within the circle.
"Alright, Lord Yoake, forgive me for this!"
With a swift motion, Hidan plunged the spear into his own heart.
Outside, Yoake froze mid-attack. The tailed beast chakra cloak dissipated instantly, revealing his true form. He collapsed backward, his chest bearing a coin-sized hole—a fatal wound.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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