To be fair, no one could blame them for their disbelief —
after all, the size difference between the Four-Tails and Gekko Hoshiyomi was absurd.
Standing side by side, Hoshiyomi wasn't even as big as the Four-Tails' finger.
And that slender blade in his hand, the Mikazuki Munechika,
looked so small that it could barely serve as a toothpick for the hulking beast.
For someone wielding such a "tiny knife" to clash head-on
with a mountain-sized fist seemed utterly ridiculous — laughable, even.
But the very next instant, no one could laugh anymore.
Because before their stunned eyes,
Hoshiyomi had actually stopped the Four-Tails' massive fist with his sword.
"Lord Hoshiyomi… he actually did it!"
A Konoha chūnin stared at the scene, eyes wide with awe.
Standing beside him, Shinku, gave a quiet, knowing chuckle.
"No… he didn't just block it. Keep watching."
As he spoke, the truth of his words unfolded before their eyes.
Green chakra burst violently from Hoshiyomi's body—the unmistakable sign that he had opened the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates.
"Ryūshōsen! (Dragon-Soaring Flash!)"
With a low shout, Hoshiyomi surged upward,
his body exploding with power that surpassed even Kage-level strength.
Boosted by the power of the Sixth Gate,
he forced the Four-Tails' fist upward—
overpowering it head-on.
But that wasn't all.
As he rose, the razor edge of the Mikazuki Munechika dug deep into the beast's finger,
and with a swift, twisting motion in midair, Hoshiyomi slashed downward in an arc.
A streak of blood sprayed through the sky.
The Four-Tails' fist recoiled violently,
blood streaming from a gash so deep that even bone could be seen.
He had done it —
after a direct clash, Hoshiyomi had left the Four-Tails with a wound to the bone.
The massive bedast howled in agony, clutching its injured hand.
Beside it, the Five-Tails, Kokuō, froze, dumbfounded.
For a moment, even its rage faltered, replaced by something like disbelief.
The difference in their sizes had been so overwhelming that Kokuō hadn't attacked alongside the Four-Tails.
It had thought that one punch from the monkey would be enough to crush the human —
if not kill him outright, then at least leave him broken and bleeding.
But the reality before its eyes…
was the complete opposite.
That same "tiny human" not only blocked the Four-Tails' blow,
he had actually injured the beast.
Then, as Hoshiyomi turned his head toward the Five-Tails and smiled,
the Five-Tails involuntarily swallowed hard.
A strange unease crept through its massive frame.
Realizing how humiliating that reaction was,
the Five-Tails snorted angrily and shook its massive head,
trying to dispel the feeling.
"Tch… that damned monkey's fists didn't work?"
"Fine then. Let him try my hooves instead."
—Boil Release: Unrivalled Strength!
Hissssss!
Superheated steam erupted from the Five-Tails' entire body, surrounding him in a scorching mist.
With each stomp, the ground cracked beneath his hooves.
Then, with a thunderous bellow, he charged forward like a living locomotive of chakra and heat.
Feel the trampling of Lord Kokuō!
Kokuō thought with an undeniable sense of triumph. As for the Konoha and Iwa shinobi killed during its charge... well, if they dared to stand in the way of Lord Kokuō, they deserved to be trampled into paste. Kokuō consoled itself unreservedly.
After charging a considerable distance, Kokuō's speed gradually slowed down. My speed is the fastest among the Tailed Beasts. That human must have been killed or knocked flying by my charge.
Just as Kokuō was thinking this, a voice suddenly reached its ears:
"Hey, hey. You're actually faster than Garurū? That's impressive."
"You know what— I'm starting to like you."
"How about joining me? I promise I'll treat you better than your old Jinchūriki ever did."
"You'll even get freedom— as long as you behave."
Hearing this voice, the smile on Kokuō's face gradually disappeared.
That human… climbed onto my back while I was charging?
Is that even something a human can do?
Shock gave way to indignation. Kokuō suddenly felt deeply insulted.
That damned human — does he think I'm his mount?
A beast to be ridden?
Rage surged through the Five-Tails' chest.
Unforgivable.
This human… must die.
Kokuō began shaking its head violently, while steam continuously erupted from its body, trying to throw Hoshiyomi off this way.
It had to be said that the Five-Tails' steam was indeed somewhat terrifying. Hoshiomi hadn't reached the Six Paths level; prolonged exposure to such high-temperature steam would still cause burns.
Even Hoshiyomi, powerful as he was, couldn't ignore that searing temperature.
He wasn't yet on the level of the Sage of Six Paths—prolonged exposure to that kind of steam would definitely burn him.
Left with no choice, he leapt away from Kokuō's large horn.
And that was exactly the opportunity Kokuō had been waiting for.
The moment it saw Hoshiyomi leaping into the air, Kokuō's eyes narrowed. Damn human, you dare insult me? Go die.
Horn Break!
Kokuō lowered its head and slammed its large horn heavily towards Hoshiyomi, who was airborne and had nowhere to dodge.
It originally thought Hoshiyomi would surely not survive this hit. But when Kokuō raised its head again, it felt no sensation of its horn hitting anything.
What?
He dodged… that?
As confusion flashed across Kokuō's face, Hoshiyomi's calm voice came from behind it:
"You're getting a little too rowdy, you know. If I don't show you something real, you might actually start thinking I'm just some ordinary human."
As he spoke, Hoshiyomi stepped onto the Grass Long Sword, Kusanagi Blade and soared into the sky, flying up to eye level with Kokuō, and said:
"Try this one on for size—Sky-Shattering Sword Draw Slash!"
He swung Mikazuki Munechika with blinding speed.
Kokuō didn't even try to evade—its pride as a tailed beast wouldn't allow it.
Instead, it met the attack head-on, lowering its head again for another devastating Horn Break.
Swish!
Under the tense gaze of the shinobi from both sides, Hoshiyomi soundlessly appeared behind Kokuō. Kokuō, still in its charge, suddenly let out a agonized scream after running a few steps.
Under the horrified stares of the shinobi, two of the Five-Tails' four large horns abruptly flew into the air. The two horns on the left side of the Five-Tails had been cleanly severed by Hoshiyomi's single Sky-Shattering Sword Draw Slash.
The Five-Tails, having stopped its charge, screamed incessantly on the spot. Although its severed horns didn't bleed, it could feel immense pain.
It desperately wanted to touch its broken horns, but being quadrupedal, it simply couldn't reach them.
After continuous, unending screams, the Five-Tails stared at Hoshiyomi with hatred. It suddenly opened its large mouth. Clearly, Hoshiyomi had completely enraged it. It was going to use its strongest attack—the Tailed Beast Bomb!
Hoshiyomi was already quite experienced with Tailed Beast Bombs. His encounter with the Six-Tails last time had confirmed his theory: as long as the Tailed Beast Bomb was shattered in advance, it posed no threat.
Watching as the Tailed Beast Bomb grew rapidly,
Hoshiyomi entered Perfect Sage Mode.
Blue-silver chakra flickered around him like floating embers
as he began swinging his blade in a blur.
There was no need for his "Phantom Dance" technique this time —
after more than ten slashes,
the still-forming Tailed Beast Bomb began to tremble violently…
And before Kokuō could even fire it,
it exploded inside its own mouth.
The resulting shockwave blasted nearby shinobi off their feet.
As for the Five-Tails, struck head-on by the explosion,
its mind went blank — the world spinning
The massive beast shuddered once…
then crashed to the ground with a thunderous boom.