Chapter 83: Who's the Real Monster?  

Nibi was on the verge of losing her mind. 

Those punches were unbelievably heavy. 

Each one made her eyes roll back. 

After taking a few hits, she felt like her body couldn't take it anymore, like she was about to collapse. 

Even her core seemed to be damaged. 

Meanwhile, Itsuki continued his relentless assault. 

The demon cat tried to resist, but Itsuki pinned her down with one hand and kept punching with the other. 

Wrong stance? 

Who cares about stance when you're beating someone up? 

"Fine! I agree to cooperate!" 

Nibi's voice was trembling with a sob, "Stop! Just stop already!" 

Is this how you treat a cat? 

I'm a tailed beast! 

Can't you show a little respect? 

Have you ever seen a tailed beast pinned down and beaten senseless? 

We're supposed to be walking natural disasters, feared by everyone. 

But still, it hurt. A lot. 

What Nibi didn't realize was that Itsuki's Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't just keeping Susanoo active, but he was also using a genjutsu. 

This genjutsu had no other purpose than to amplify the fear in Nibi's heart. 

It weakened her will to fight back. 

At the same time, it subtly whispered to Nibi's mind: *Pain. I'm in so much pain. Everything hurts.* 

Under this pressure, Nibi couldn't help but start to beg for mercy. 

Additionally, there was another reason. 

When fully transformed into the tailed beast form, Yugito's emotions also partially transferred to Nibi. 

Nibi too. 

In full beast form, the two of them entered a semi-fused state. 

In this state, they were already somewhat confused. 

They were supposed to be stronger than usual, but when faced with an overwhelmingly powerful opponent, they instead grew weaker. 

"Cooperate?" 

Itsuki sneered and said, "After I've had my fun, we can talk about cooperation." 

*Bam! Bam! Bam!* 

His huge fists continued to rain down. 

The ground trembled constantly. 

It's unclear how much time passed. 

Nibi disappeared. 

Only Yugito remained in place. 

Her clothes were in disarray, and she crossed her arms over her chest, looking at Itsuki in terror. 

The once-proud cat was gone. 

Itsuki also deactivated Susanoo, looking at Yugito with a thuggish grin. 

In reality, he was still amplifying the effects of the genjutsu, intensifying the fear in her heart. 

Itsuki adjusted his clothes and said coldly, "So, little kitty, have you learned your lesson? Or do I need to give you another beating to wake you up?" 

"What... what do you want from me?" 

Yugito's voice trembled. 

Nibi had been beaten, fully transformed, and then disappeared. 

Now, it was Yugito, the ninja, standing before him. 

But even now, the brutality hadn't ended. 

With the tailed beast gone, Susanoo disappeared too. 

In human form, Itsuki switched positions and continued to pummel Yugito. 

He beat her in every possible stance, turning the once-proud cat into complete submission. 

There wasn't a single part of her body that didn't hurt. 

At that moment, Yugito finally understood something: sometimes, death isn't the worst thing. The worst thing is wanting to die from the pain. 

"What? Still not convinced?" 

Itsuki let out a cold chuckle, his expression slightly wicked as he said, "The Hidden Cloud ninja will be here soon. How about I beat you up in front of them too?" 

Yugito wanted to cry. She screamed, "What is it you want from me?" 

If anyone ever dared to call her a monster again, she'd claw them to death! 

The real monster was right in front of her! 

"Obviously... I want *you*!" 

"What?" 

Yugito screamed and fell to the ground, scooting backward with her feet, her face full of terror. 

Could this guy really be worse than a monster? Was he a beast? 

Itsuki sneered, "Run? You think you can escape?" 

"You... you..." 

Yugito stuttered. 

"Stop talking and come with me!" 

Itsuki pointed off to the side and said flatly, "If you dare not follow, hmph, just wait and see how I handle you." 

With that, he stood up and walked away. 

Yugito sat there in silence, staring blankly in the direction he left. 

Until... 

"Hmph!" 

Upon hearing the cold snort, the wooden puppet shivered and hurriedly followed.

She didn't want to get beaten.

Obeying and silently waiting for rescue was the best choice.

Though she wasn't sure if the newcomer could actually save her.

After all, the opponent had punched the Two-Tails so hard that it didn't dare show itself.

The two figures, one in front and one behind, left the scene.

It was only after they left that the Cloud Village forces arrived.

The delay was due to two reasons.

One, the Two-Tails was in a remote location.

Two, they needed to check on Killer B first.

The Two-Tails was important, but nothing compared to Killer B.

"What... what is this..."

The Cloud Village ninjas looked around, dumbfounded.

The scene before them gave them only one thought... two tailed beasts fought here.

And it was hand-to-hand combat!

"What are you standing there for?"

An angry voice shouted. A Cloud ninja said coldly, "The Two-Tails is missing, report to Lord Raikage immediately."

The Two-Tails may not have been as important as the Eight-Tails, but it was still a strategic asset as a tailed beast, and no one could ignore that.

"Yes!"

The Cloud ninja looked at the others and said, "Follow me!"

"Yes!"

They chased in the direction the figures had left.

...

Although there were factions within the Cloud Village, it was still the most united ninja village.

So, when the Raikage gave his order, the entire village mobilized to crush those causing chaos.

And they eliminated anyone who didn't comply.

In no time, it was all over.

But!

The village had suffered heavy losses.

Hearing the reports from Mabui, the Raikage's face turned grim.

The financial burden had worsened.

To make matters worse, another piece of news drove the Raikage to madness.

"What did you say?" The Raikage slammed the table, smashing it to pieces. He gritted his teeth and snarled, "What do you mean the money is gone?"

The man kneeling before the Raikage was Uru.

With fear on his face, he trembled as he said, "There were seventeen Leaf Anbu in total. We had already dealt with them, but then an eighteenth Anbu appeared and escaped with the money."

The Raikage's face twisted in rage as he gritted his teeth and said, "You made me lose fifty million ryo, didn't you?"

"...Yes."

The Raikage coldly said, "Uru, how did you assure me this wouldn't happen?"

Uru remained silent.

The Raikage let out a heavy snort and sat back in his chair.

He thought about the village's reconstruction.

He thought about the missing Two-Tails.

He thought about the lost fifty million ryo.

Oh, and the Leaf Anbu, whom they had wiped out in two groups. Before dying, each one had self-detonated with explosive tags.

This had cost the Cloud Village two hundred ninjas.

And now, there would definitely be a war of words with the Leaf Village.

The outcome was uncertain.

Furthermore...

The thing that drove him the most mad!

Iwa! (Stone Village!)

His father's body was still there. Could the other side really have used it for a deal?

Nothing was going right!

The Raikage let out a heavy sigh.

After the military map incident, he had hoped to make a move.

At the very least, he wanted to rob something from other villages!

He couldn't forget his village's old ways.

That was how the Cloud Village had made its fortune.

But now, it wasn't even possible to consider raiding another village. He'd be lucky if other villages weren't eyeing Cloud for a chance.

"Where did it all go wrong?"

(End of chapter)