Chapter 60: Are You There, Two-Tails?

"Mr. Hanma!"

"Be careful, Hanma!"

Seeing the familiar figure appear before them, Tsunade and the others showed expressions of surprise and delight. At the same time, they worriedly reminded him as they saw the incoming Tailed Beast Ball.

Hanma didn't respond but focused intently on the high-speed incoming Tailed Beast Ball, thinking about how to deal with this trouble.

The Tailed Beast Ball was the ultimate move of the Tailed Beasts, often seen as a form of "Kekkei Genkai." To create a Tailed Beast Ball, one must first achieve the ultimate change in form with Yin-Yang chakra, making it stable and particle-like. Then, an immense amount of Yin and Yang chakra is mixed and compressed at an 8:2 ratio to form an ultra-high-density chakra sphere, powerful enough to easily destroy multiple mountains.

This incoming Tailed Beast Ball was already at the brink of explosion. Any external interference could likely cause a more violent explosion, enhancing its power.

"Well then, it's time to hone my body once again!"

Hanma grinned a somewhat pathological smile, feeling excited as he stepped forward, intending to catch the Tailed Beast Ball with his body. Since acquiring "Barbaric Growth" in his youth, Hanma learned from the legendary teacher Kaido, relentlessly honing his body by jumping off cliffs. However, the gains from this method had their limits. After the age of twenty, he couldn't progress further through such means.

In recent days, Hanma felt some regret for not experiencing the power of the Tailed Beast Ball during the battle with Shukaku. Today, he would finally make up for it! With a roar, Hanma's burly arms swelled up as he moved forward to support the Tailed Beast Ball.

Grabbing the sides of the Tailed Beast Ball, Hanma exerted force to further compress the large sphere. Under Hanma's immense strength, the huge Tailed Beast Ball began to shrink slowly and was eventually enveloped by his robust body.

Finally, the Tailed Beast Ball, compressed to its limit, collapsed and emitted a dazzling white light, exploding in Hanma's arms.

"Boom!!!"

A thunderous explosion echoed throughout the entire valley. Hanma's sturdy body absorbed most of the explosion's impact and flames, leaving only a sky full of smoke obscuring his figure.

"Hanma!"

Tsunade screamed in agony, her heart aching as her lover risked his life to protect her, uncertain whether he was alive or dead.

A powerful, excited male voice broke the gloomy atmosphere, shifting the tone.

"It's been so long since I felt this good!!"

As the dust settled, Hanma's figure emerged. His body exuded steaming white heat, with his skin slightly carbonized and cracked. Rich blood energy surged, enveloping Hanma's flesh. Shukaku's chakra transformed into the best medicine, healing his wounds.

With his eyes closed, Hanma savored the unique sensation of the Tailed Beast Ball.

"No wonder it's the Tailed Beast Ball. It almost made me feel unsafe."

"If there were another ten or so, my body might not withstand it."

"I can't underestimate the heroes of the Shinobi World. My training is still far from over!"

Hanma reflected on himself as his blood energy returned inside, smiling as he looked at Tsunade. His physical wounds had already vanished, and his body seemed even denser than before.

Jiraiya approached Hanma with a face full of terror, shouting:

"I've always said, you bastard, you're not human at all. You finally couldn't hide it anymore, huh!"

He then patted Hanma's shoulder, squinting his eyes and muttering,

"But even if you're a monster, you're still my friend. I won't discriminate against you. Ouch!"

Tsunade rushed to Hanma, kicking Jiraiya aside and throwing herself into Hanma's arms, sobbing softly.

"Indeed, Tsunade-chan's development period is still ongoing."

In the distance, Nata and Matatabi fell silent as they watched Hanma's physical clutch of the Tailed Beast Ball. At lightning speed, Matatabi transformed into a blue-black chakra and curled up inside Nata. The cat finally appreciated the benefits of being sealed in a Jinchuriki's body. Though it lost its freedom, it gained safety! If it didn't come out, who could harm cute little Matatabi? At worst, it could sleep for ten or twenty years, after all, it was immortal.

Nata also recovered from the shock. She had never witnessed such a defense against a Tailed Beast Ball that allowed for casual conversation. "Could the Third Raikage achieve this level?" she wondered as she looked at the distant, imposing figure, silently praying, "The power of the Tailed Beast Ball—he couldn't possibly handle it unscathed. He must be forcing himself."

Though Nata didn't want to believe what was happening before her eyes, her feet were very honest as she sprinted towards the direction of the Hidden Cloud Village.

"Swish!"

A sharp blade light flashed, blocking her retreat.

"Please stay, guest from the Hidden Cloud Village. You can't just leave after attacking the ninjas of Konoha."

Sakumo Hatake held White Fang in a reverse grip, looking at Nata coldly.

Blue-black chakra once again covered Nata, and her eyes turned a bright yellow with vertical pupils.

"Why! Matatabi!"

Nata asked in confusion, having already resigned herself to Matatabi abandoning her.

Lazily, Matatabi responded from within her,

"You're quite a good Jinchuriki. Good luck escaping."

Nata smiled and began fiercely fighting Sakumo Hatake. Unfortunately for her, before she could exchange more than a few moves with him, she smelled a strong scent of blood.

Hanma appeared before her with a smiling face, then punched her, sending Nata flying. He mused,

"Lately, I've been quite lucky. In just a few days, I've encountered Jinchuriki from two different villages."

"First One-Tail, then Two-Tails. Did you plan to come find me?"

As Nata struggled to stand, Hanma's iron grip already held her neck. Recovering slightly from her dizziness, Nata opened her mouth, trying to gather a Tailed Beast Ball.

"Slap!"

A heavy slap disrupted the gathering Yin-Yang chakra. Holding her by her hair, Hanma lifted her into the air, smiling as he delivered a heavy elbow strike to her abdomen. Nata spat out a large amount of blood, curling up like a shrimp yet still stubbornly glaring at Hanma.

"I'll give you a chance to release the Two-Tails. How about it?"

"I'm quite fond of and interested in the Tailed Beasts. I want to make friends with Two-Tails."

Prodding the sealing technique on Nata's abdomen, Hanma politely asked,

"Are you there, Two-Tails?"