"For example, when chakra is compressed to its absolute limit, it naturally generates an incredibly powerful rebound force. So why not make use of that rebound?"
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"So you mean... intentionally compress the chakra to its limit, then release it all at once to create an explosive burst of power?"
Shizune nodded.
"Exactly. Extreme compression is already powerful, but if you can harness the recoil from that compression, the resulting explosion would be even more terrifying."
She continued,
"Your Extreme Piercing Needle already possesses incredible penetration, armor-piercing, and defense-breaking capabilities. But if you combine it with that explosive rebound, the chakra could detonate the instant it pierces the target."
"Even a tiny puncture wound would instantly expand from the inside, tearing apart the enemy's flesh."
"Against ordinary opponents, that would be a fatal attack."
Tsunade thoughtfully rubbed her chin.
"Shizune's idea certainly has potential."
"But reaching that level won't be easy."
"It's not something you can master simply by understanding the theory."
Naruto clenched his fists tightly.
"If it's possible..."
"Then I know I can do it!"
"Thank you, Granny Tsunade!"
"Thank you, Shizune!"
"I'm going to train right now!"
Without waiting for another response, Naruto rushed out of the room.
Tsunade and Shizune watched him leave before smiling at one another.
Just then, an urgent report arrived from the Hidden Cloud Village.
"What?!"
The Fourth Raikage slammed his fist onto the table.
Bang!
The sturdy wooden table shattered instantly.
"Did you just say that the Akatsuki Organization has mobilized all of its members to attack Unyō Gorge?"
"What about Bee?!"
The messenger lowered his head.
"I... I don't know."
"The moment I saw the Akatsuki appear, I rushed here to report the situation."
"I didn't stay to see the outcome."
The Raikage understood immediately.
Nevertheless, his fury exploded.
"Damn it!"
"Akatsuki!"
"I'll tear every one of you apart!"
Darui quickly stepped forward.
"Lord Raikage, now isn't the time for anger."
"We have to return immediately."
He remained calm.
"Brother Bee is incredibly strong."
"He may still be holding them off."
"If we hurry back now, we might still be able to save him."
The Raikage immediately made his decision.
"We're leaving at once!"
Someone asked,
"Should we inform the other Kage first?"
"There isn't enough time."
"Move!"
"Yes, Lord Raikage!"
Moments later, the Hidden Cloud delegation departed at full speed.
Seeing the urgency of the situation, Mei Terumī immediately questioned the departing messenger before gathering everyone together.
Before leaving, the Raikage had entrusted her with informing Tsunade.
If Killer Bee truly fell into Akatsuki's hands, the Dawn Alliance would have to launch a joint operation against them.
After hearing the report, Tsunade's expression changed.
"The entire Akatsuki Organization has mobilized?"
"It sounds like they're preparing for a decisive battle."
She frowned deeply.
"No matter how powerful the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki may be..."
"He can't face the entire Akatsuki alone."
"And if the Eight-Tails is captured..."
"The consequences will be disastrous."
She immediately issued new orders.
"Each village will send one Kage Guard back to deliver the decisions made during the Five Kage Summit."
"The remaining Kage, along with our guards, will accompany me to Kumogakure immediately."
As the leader of the Dawn Alliance, her orders were accepted without objection.
Naruto stepped forward before anyone could ask.
"I'm going too!"
"As a fellow Jinchūriki..."
"I can't just stand by while Killer Bee risks his life."
Tsunade nodded.
"Very well."
"Shizune, return to Konoha and relay our orders."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Soon afterward, Tsunade, the Raikage, Kazekage, Mizukage, Tsuchikage, Naruto, Gaara, Kitsuchi, and Ao hurried toward Unyō Gorge.
---
Meanwhile...
The battle at Unyō Gorge had already ended.
The once-beautiful valley had become a wasteland.
Mountains had collapsed.
The river had dried up.
The battlefield resembled the aftermath of an earthquake, tsunami, and volcanic eruption all at once.
Gigantic craters scarred the land.
There was no doubt they had been created by Tailed Beast Bombs.
The Hidden Cloud's defensive forces had been almost completely annihilated.
Troy, the commander who possessed the Magnet Release Bloodline Limit, had fallen.
Samui was gravely wounded and hovered on the brink of death.
Even the survivors barely clung to life.
Killer Bee, the perfect Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, had finally been captured.
Kisame carried his unconscious body across his shoulder with Samehada resting nearby.
Bee hung limply, completely unconscious.
Kisame laughed.
"A perfect Jinchūriki really is troublesome."
"But in the end..."
"We still caught him."
Blood stained the corner of his mouth, proving that even he hadn't escaped the battle uninjured.
Nearby, Deidara sat atop a newly created giant clay bird.
His body was covered in wounds, yet his smile remained carefree.
"I've truly shown them my art this time."
"Hmm!"
Sasori snorted coldly.
"You don't seem to have worked very hard, Deidara."
Deidara immediately protested.
"What nonsense!"
"If it weren't for my art, would we have captured him so easily?"
"Hmm!"
"You were only busy dealing with ordinary soldiers!"
Sasori answered calmly.
"If it weren't for my poison, defeating a perfect Eight-Tails Jinchūriki wouldn't have been nearly so easy."
Kakuzu examined the newly acquired heart in his possession.
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
"At least this battle wasn't without rewards."
Konan interrupted the argument.
"That's enough."
"Return to the base immediately."
"We'll begin the Demonic Statue's sealing ritual at once."
"These are Pain's orders."
Everyone silently nodded.
During the battle, even Konan had been forced to fight personally.
Only Pain himself had remained behind.
Just then...
Itachi Uchiha suddenly stopped walking.
He silently looked back toward the devastated valley.
Kisame noticed immediately.
"What's wrong, Itachi?"
Itachi shook his head.
"Nothing."
Kisame frowned.
His relationship with Itachi had always been complicated.
On one hand, he had secretly been ordered by "Madara" to monitor both Itachi and the Akatsuki.
On the other hand, he genuinely respected Itachi.
After all, Itachi was even colder and more ruthless than he was.
Kisame sensed that Itachi had discovered something.
Yet he chose not to mention it.
Curious, Kisame also glanced behind them.
But he saw nothing unusual.
"Let's go."
The members of the Akatsuki disappeared into the distance, carrying the unconscious Killer Bee with them.
Silence returned to Unyō Gorge.
Only corpses and ruins remained.
Deep beneath the dried riverbed...
One of an octopus's severed tentacles slowly emerged.
Moments later, a tall figure separated itself from the tentacle and gradually returned to human form.
Killer Bee.
"Whew..."
"That was way too close!"
"You fool! You idiot!"
Inside his mind, the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, growled angrily.
"What are you celebrating?"
"This wasn't a game!"
"If we hadn't severed our own tail in time, both of us would already be dead!"
Bee grinned weakly.
"As long as I'm alive..."
"I'm satisfied."
Gyūki became even angrier.
"This escape is completely different from before!"
"They've taken almost all of our body and chakra!"
"We're left with only a single tentacle!"
"Do you understand what that means?"
Bee blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"It means Akatsuki achieved exactly what they wanted."
"We barely escaped with our lives."
Cold sweat rolled down Killer Bee's forehead.
Only now did he understand.
During previous escapes, they had sacrificed only a tail while the main body remained intact.
This time...
The opposite had happened.
Almost the entire Eight-Tails had been captured.
Only a single tentacle remained.
Both Bee and Gyūki now possessed less than ten percent of their original power.
Bee staggered toward the riverbank.
His entire body trembled from weakness.
The moment he reached land, he collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily.
Gyūki sighed.
"It's already a miracle that we're still alive."
"I never expected the Akatsuki to launch a full-scale assault on Unyō Gorge."
"Even the Raikage failed to predict it."
"He knew you were their target."
"He should have brought you back to Kumogakure much earlier."
Looking at the countless bodies scattered across the battlefield, Bee fell silent.
"So..."
"What do we do now?"
Gyūki answered calmly.
"I'm exhausted too."
"We need to find a safe place and recover."
"We can't stay here."
"They may return."
"And besides..."
"That Sharingan user seemed to notice something."
"For some reason, he chose not to expose us."
"Either way..."
"We need to leave this place immediately."
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