Chapter 163: The Tailed Beast’s Grudge

Chapter 163: The Tailed Beast's Grudge

When Shukaku's enormous sand form appeared, the overwhelming pressure forced everyone to retreat and scatter. Even though some could fight a Tailed Beast, only Mizuki—while in Sage Mode—might attempt to grapple one head-on. Not even Kakuzu's monstrous strength could compare.

Before everyone's eyes, Gaara, controlling the massive body of the Tailed Beast, finally broke the Four Violet Flames Formation after several attempts. The ripple of its collapse, accompanied by the cracking and dispersal of purple-black flames, shattered the trap that had confined them.

"The trap is gone?"

The once-dire situation began to shift. With Gaara's intervention, the looming disaster of total annihilation began to recede.

With the barrier and mirror traps gone, the main benefit became apparent: no matter how strong Kakuzu and Hidan were, they were just two people. Among the alliance, there were several jonin who could challenge them. Numbers now made a difference. Neither Kakuzu nor Hidan were yet strong enough to ignore the threat of being overwhelmed.

"Gaara, hold them back for now—keep them from closing in."

Maki, who deeply regretted waiting too long to use the Tailed Beast's power, had no other choice. With Suna's elite forces already strained, the loss of even one upper-rank ninja like Jun—a rare sealing technique user—was a major blow.

Gaara, silent, simply nodded. Manifesting the full form of Shukaku was already mentally exhausting; suppressing the beast's will was growing harder. Still, he gritted his teeth and pressed forward, manipulating sand with sheer effort to keep Kakuzu and Hidan at bay. Especially Hidan—while immune to most physical attacks, he was knocked around like a rag doll by the massive sand fists. Were he any ordinary man, he'd have long since been crushed.

Yet this observation proved useful. Hidan's immortality didn't mean he was unassailable—he could still be incapacitated by enough force. Physical limits still applied, even if death didn't.

"If Gaara could fully control the Tailed Beast, this fight would be over. Shukaku's innate sealing nature… such a pity he's still too young for this kind of war."

This wasn't like the invasion of Konoha, where Shukaku's rampage was a bonus. This time, with allies everywhere, Gaara losing control would be catastrophic.

Seeing the enemy pushed back, Maki rushed to Jun's side. Her wound—especially the abdominal one—had bled heavily, soaking the ground beneath her. Even without a vital organ pierced, so much blood loss was often fatal. Ninja or not, she was fading fast.

"Damn it, we've paid too heavy a price for this mission…" Maki muttered, kneeling and checking her condition.

"Is it that bad?" he asked aloud.

"Are you talking about me?" a voice interrupted.

Mizuki arrived, calmly kneeling beside Jun.

"Mizuki-senpai…" Maki stood and nodded respectfully. "Please… take a look."

After a brief inspection, Mizuki sighed. "I'm sorry."

"She didn't take a direct hit—shouldn't there still be time?"

"No," Mizuki replied with a shake of his head. "Vital points aren't just hearts and brains, Maki. She's lost too much blood. Even Tsunade might not make it in time, and I'm no miracle worker."

Unless he'd acted the moment Jun was wounded, even his panaceas would be futile now. The energy needed to revive her was long gone.

"…I see. Sorry for my outburst."

"No need. I understand." Mizuki stood. "But the enemy hasn't been defeated yet. Please keep fighting. Let's not add to this tragedy."

"I will."

Although Jun wasn't from Konoha, her loss weighed on Mizuki all the same. But now wasn't the time to mourn. He had come to confirm why Suna had risked releasing Shukaku, and now he had his answer. With that, it was time to distance himself—being too close to a rival village's Tailed Beast user was always a liability.

As he passed Maki, he said softly, "Watch out for Yura."

"…Yura?" Maki's heart skipped a beat. The message was clear. By the time she turned to question him, Mizuki had already gone.

"Be careful," huh? Could it be… is Yura truly not who we thought he was?"

For now, Maki tucked the warning away. More pressing matters demanded her focus—like ending this before Gaara lost control. With Shukaku's will leaking through, time was limited. And the original mission—capturing Sasori—now seemed laughably optimistic.

"We thought we could catch Sasori? How naive we were."

Even a one-on-one ambush might not have worked. Capturing him alive? A fantasy. Now they were lucky to survive the battle at all.

Meanwhile, Mizuki had finished assessing the battlefield. Suna had lost one jonin, but most others were safe. The trap had failed before Kakuzu and Hidan could do serious damage. Shukaku's emergence disrupted everything.

"Kakuzu and Hidan are stalled. Shukaku's range is too wide for precise formation tactics. So that leaves… Sasori. I need to end this quickly."

As the battle's scale widened, only elite fighters could continue. Ordinary ninja wouldn't last another round.

"You're back, Mizuki?" Yamashiro Aoba asked as Mizuki returned. "What's Suna thinking? They just let out Shukaku. Who's supposed to clean that up—Jun?"

Mizuki shook his head. "Jun's dead."

"…What?"

"She didn't make it. Let's leave it at that." Mizuki turned to Hyuga Neji. "Where's Yura?"

"He went to help Shukaku's team. He's currently engaged in battle."

"…Strange," Mizuki muttered. "Why avoid me on purpose, then?"

It wasn't clear yet. Maybe there was another reason. But a thought crossed Mizuki's mind:

"Is the target the Tailed Beast itself?"

Perhaps Sasori intended to take advantage of the chaos and eliminate the biggest threat: Shukaku.

"Time to end this. We can't keep dancing around Sasori forever." Aoba said. "Iwa-nin have stamina, but even they can't stall forever."

"It's not their fault," Mizuki replied. "Sasori is just that troublesome."

And unless someone like Mizuki could shut him down, this fight would never end.

"I'm going in." Mizuki ordered. "Neji, Shino—watch for hidden enemies. Track Yura. If Shukaku loses control, run."

"Understood."

"You might want to coordinate with Temari and Kankuro too. They know Gaara best."

…

With preparations made, Mizuki and Aoba launched into the fray.

This time, Mizuki wouldn't hold back. It was four-on-one, and though Kurotsuchi was the weakest among them, her special Kekkei Genkai made up for it. Her Lime Acid Jutsu was especially dangerous to puppet users like Sasori. Once immobilized, even the toughest puppet would rot quickly.

With Akado's clones disrupting Sasori's footing, Kurotsuchi spreading corrosive jutsu, and Aoba unleashing Fire Style attacks, Mizuki found his moment.

"Now! Scatter!"

As his allies withdrew, Mizuki formed a string of hand seals. The enhanced Dragon Fire Technique exploded around Sasori, forcing him to shield himself with the Third Kazekage puppet and a shell of Iron Sand.

"You're not escaping this time…"

A giant hand of nature energy burst from the earth, seizing the puppet in a crushing grip and pulverizing it.

Just as Mizuki moved to grab Sasori's true body, Neji's voice suddenly rang out:

"Mizuki-sensei! Dodge!"

Years of instinct kicked in. Mizuki summoned a Chakra Shield at his back.

A massive sphere of Wind Release chakra struck him head-on.

"That chakra… it's the Tailed Beast?"

Gaara had lost control.

Mizuki wasn't surprised. Of all those present, no one had provoked Shukaku more than he had—stealing its chakra, manipulating its will… as far as the beast was concerned, Mizuki had cut into its very soul.

And now, the grudge had come due.

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