Naruto’s face, marked by Sage Mode, reappeared. He had ten minutes of fighting time left. After those ten minutes, his chances of defeating Killer Bee would plummet to zero.

"Hey, Bee."

"What’s up? Little Eight. Yo~."

"This kid... gives me a familiar feeling. Let me out to fight."

"Wait a bit longer, yo~."

Killer Bee, who had just taken a hit from Naruto, refused Gyuki’s request. He wanted to strike back before switching out.

Though Killer Bee’s attacks were powerful in his half-tailed beast form, his attack patterns were too predictable. The attack Naruto had just dodged made Killer Bee realize Naruto had a sensory ability that could predict his moves.

"If that’s the case, using the Tailed Beast Cloak is enough. Yo~."

Killer Bee pulled out the seven swords from his back and charged at Naruto, who watched in surprise. Sasori had also been stunned; when he fought Killer Bee, he had seen the swords on his back, but he never knew he used all seven at once.

Even the Sharingan couldn’t fully track the swordsmanship, and breaking the Sage Mode’s prediction was a sure thing. Naruto was in danger.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu."

Facing the incoming attack, Naruto summoned a large number of clones. Naruto didn’t choose to keep attacking in these five minutes; blocking the sword technique he encountered for the first time was the priority.

He could figure out Killer Bee’s fighting style during this time, and then defeat him in the last five minutes. Two Rasenshurikens would be enough. Judging by the damage just inflicted, Killer Bee definitely couldn’t take two more hits.

Naruto’s choice was clearly correct. His clones were torn apart like thin paper under Killer Bee’s attack, quickly reaching Naruto’s main body.

Naruto dodged backward, but his current speed was no different from standing still to Killer Bee.

Killer Bee threw all seven swords, blocking most of Naruto’s evasion routes.

"Marvelous Bull Lightning Hot Blades~!"

Killer Bee’s attack reached Naruto’s face.

Hatake Satoru’s jaw nearly dropped. How could this brat start so strong and end so weak? He was so ferocious just now, scattering Killer Bee’s Tailed Beast Chakra, and now he was about to be killed so quickly.

Hatake Satoru was about to go down and rescue him when a change occurred. Nine-Tails’ Chakra overflowed from Naruto’s body.

Naruto looked up, glaring fiercely at Killer Bee. Vertical pupils appeared in his eyes.

"As I thought, Bee. I thought this kid felt familiar earlier, it turns out it’s that Nine-Tails guy."

Naruto was losing consciousness to some extent. The Nine-Tails had blocked the attack for him when he was almost killed. Seizing this opportunity, it took over Naruto’s body.

"Roar!"

Naruto repelled Killer Bee and entered half-tailed beast mode. Extra Nine-Tails bone structure appeared on his body.

"Bee! It’s a switch."

"I thought so too, even if you didn’t say it, yo~."

Seeing the situation, Killer Bee no longer argued with Gyuki and let Gyuki out to fight.

Killer Bee directly transformed into his Tailed Beast form.

Gyuki appeared.

"Hey, stinky fox. Long time no see."

Due to the seal, Nine-Tails’ consciousness hadn’t fully taken control of Naruto’s body yet. Nine-Tails still roared its reply to Gyuki.

...

Inside Konoha village. Jiraiya noticed the disturbance outside the village.

"That’s the direction Naruto went."

"This is bad."

Jiraiya realized something was wrong and hurried out of the village. He met Kakashi, who was helping in the village.

"Kakashi, come with me. Naruto is in trouble."

"Jiraiya-sama? Naruto is back in the village too?"

"I’ll tell you about that later, hurry up. If we’re any later, it might be too late."

Yamato, who was on a mission outside the village, suddenly felt pain in his palm.

"Looks like Naruto’s gone berserk again."

Yamato didn’t yet grasp the severity of the situation, casually checking the number of tails on his palm. With the First Hokage’s artifact, he generally didn’t worry about losing control.

"Seven tails?!"

Yamato’s tone was completely different from before.

"The village is in trouble. Mission aborted."

Yamato called his companions and they all returned to the village.

"Seven tails? Could it be that the artifact couldn’t suppress Nine-Tails’ power?"

Yamato was extremely anxious, and this happened while he was on a mission.

"Is Guy in the village now?"

"No, Guy’s team is also out on a mission."

Yamato prepared for the worst. If absolutely necessary, he’d have Guy use the Eight Gates to block. But Guy wasn’t in the village now. With seven tails, he might not be able to do much even if he rushed back.

"Why are you back here again?"

Naruto stood before the iron gate sealing the Nine-Tails.

"Brat, without my Chakra just now, you would have died under that scoundrel’s attack."

"Huh? You, you stinky fox? Even if you saved me, it’s just paying your rent."

Naruto’s tone was clearly lacking confidence. Nine-Tails’ words were indeed the truth. He really couldn’t handle Killer Bee in that state earlier.

Outside Konoha village, Nine-Tails was dealing with Gyuki at its own pace.

"Still as annoying as ever, stinky fox."

Nine-Tails was a bit provoked. Several claws extended from its back, reaching for Gyuki.

But Gyuki, even at his weakest, was fully transformed into a Tailed Beast. In a clash of strength, Nine-Tails gradually lost ground.

Gyuki seized the opportunity when Nine-Tails got close, wrapping its tail around it. Then, with all its might, it punched Nine-Tails, sending it flying. Nine-Tails almost tore through the entire forest, leaving a long streak of smoke behind.

However, Nine-Tails wouldn’t be defeated by such an attack.

Nine-Tails emerged from the smoke, its bone count visibly increased, almost fully transformed into a Tailed Beast.

Nine-Tails stabilized itself and adjusted its stance. Red and blue Chakra gathered in its mouth, charging a Tailed Beast Bomb.

Seeing this, Gyuki was certainly not going to stand by idly. It also gathered red and blue Chakra in the air.

"Oh no. Gotta run, gotta run."

Hatake Satoru grabbed Sasori beside him and quickly moved away. They were too close to the battleground, and Sasori would definitely be caught in the crossfire.

Two Tailed Beast Bombs collided in the center of the forest. The resulting shockwave almost destroyed the entire forest.

Jiraiya and Kakashi, who had rushed from the village, were nearly caught by the shockwave from the Tailed Beast Bombs. Fortunately, Jiraiya quickly summoned Gamaken, who caught the falling pair.

"Jiraiya-sama, was that a Tailed Beast just now?"

"Yes, if I’m not mistaken, it should be Gyuki from Kumogakure. I don’t know why it’s here, but it’s definitely not for Konoha village’s benefit."