"ROAR!!!"
A deafening roar tore through the sky as the colossal beast standing on the sea unleashed its fury. Endless waves surged forward, crashing toward Kyūsei like a tidal wall.
Kyūsei steadied himself on the ocean's surface, his expression solemn as he stared at his opponent.
Reddish-brown fur.
A ferocious face.
Powerful limbs.
And nine tails that could stir up tsunamis with a single swing.
The Nine-Tails.
"Kurama, get ready."
Kyūsei clasped his hands together and called out to the beast within him.
This opponent was stronger than any he had faced before—without question, a peak existence in the current ninja world.
"Heh. Let this otherworldly bastard kneel before me!"
Kurama stared at his counterpart, battle intent blazing in his eyes.
Golden chakra flames suddenly expanded around Kyūsei like a massive bonfire.
In the next instant, a flash of light appeared beside him.
The golden-haired girl had arrived.
Without hesitation, Kyūsei grabbed her hand.
They completed the transformation.
"ROAR!!!"
A gigantic beast, shining with brilliant golden light, emerged atop the raging sea!
"Kurama, Kaoru —let's go!"
Kyūsei didn't hesitate.
A massive golden-red spear formed in Kurama's hand as he charged forward!
"Tch!"
Menma, controlling the opposing Nine-Tails, narrowed his eyes darkly.
Though unwilling, he condensed a spear of his own—equally brilliant and powerful.
Boom!
A thunderous clash rang out as metal-like chakra weapons collided!
In that instant, waves dozens of meters high exploded outward from the center of their impact!
Torrents of seawater surged toward the distant shore.
Kyūsei glanced back.
Within the range of his Mind's Eye of the Kagura, he could sense the waves nearing a fishing village nearly twenty kilometers away.
We can't fight here…
Just as he was about to drag Menma toward deeper waters—
Menma seized the opening.
The Nine-Tails' tail wrapped around Kurama's leg!
With a violent heave—
He slammed Kurama over his shoulder and smashed him into the sea!
Boom!!!
Another massive tsunami erupted.
Kurama was driven straight into the ocean depths.
"Die!"
Menma gathered chakra in the Nine-Tails' mouth and fired a barrage of Tailed Beast Bombs downward!
Unlike a full Tailed Beast Ball, these were weaker—but could be fired rapidly.
It was the same technique Naruto had used during Pain's invasion, and one Menma had used in "Road to Ninja."
Watching the barrage strike the seabed, Kyūsei smiled faintly.
At the very least…
This guy clearly didn't understand physics.
Light refraction, my ass.
The seabed was churned into chaos, clouds of sediment spreading everywhere.
Above the waves, the monstrous fox roared beneath the moonlight.
A terrifying chakra fluctuation surged.
A massive Tailed Beast Ball formed in its mouth.
But just as Menma was about to fire—
A golden-red streak shot up from the depths!
The spear pierced straight through the Tailed Beast Ball!
Boom!
The massive sphere collapsed instantly!
"What?!"
Menma was caught completely off guard.
Before he could react—
Five or six more golden-red streaks burst upward!
More spears!
He vaguely saw shimmering runes engraved on them.
His pupils shrank.
As Minato's son, he recognized those markings immediately.
"Don't tell me—!"
Before the thought could finish—
A gigantic golden fox appeared right in front of him!
Flying Thunder God!
On a tailed beast?!
Menma stared in disbelief.
He had never imagined Flying Thunder God could be used like this.
And then—
A massive battle axe formed in Kurama's hand.
It came crashing down.
"Why… why… why…?!"
"Why won't you just die already?!"
"DIE!!!"
Menma summoned a golden-red warhammer and blocked the strike!
Boom!!!
The sea erupted once more.
"Damn it…"
"Kaoru !"
Kyūsei strained against Menma in a battle of raw power.
"Got it."
Kaoru immediately understood.
She pulled out a Flying Thunder God kunai, aimed toward the distant sea, gathered strength—
And hurled it.
The kunai vanished into the darkness.
At the same time, Kurama's nine tails wrapped tightly around his opponent.
Flying Thunder God!
In the blink of an eye—
The turbulent coastal waters fell silent.
And far out in the deep sea—
As if a scene had been skipped—
Two monstrous beasts suddenly appeared.
"ROAR!"
Menma's Nine-Tails bit down on Kurama's shoulder!
Kurama, equally enraged, clamped his jaws onto his opponent in return.
Fangs sank deep into flesh.
Pain did not make either retreat.
It only fueled their savagery.
Two identical titans began their most primitive battle.
No techniques.
No strategies.
No jutsu.
Only blood, claws, and fangs.
They roared and snarled, vertical pupils blazing with feral madness.
They fought from the surface to the depths.
From the depths to the sky.
Golden chakra was torn apart and rained down.
Fur and flesh were ripped away.
The entire ocean was thrown into chaos.
"ROAR!"
Kurama lunged again, firing a rapid barrage of Tailed Beast Bombs!
Menma answered in kind.
Explosions filled the space between them.
Many blasts plunged straight into the sea like artillery shells.
Countless marine creatures perished instantly.
It was—
Like two feral cats fighting to the death.
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