Shukaku of the Sand

Meanwhile…

Deep within the forests of Amegakure, a squad of Chunin, Jonin and Tokubetsu Jonin, who specialised in stealth, escorted the Jinchuriki of the One Tails, the monk, Bunpuku, towards the back lines of the Leaf and their medical camp. They used the cover of the complex forests and raced around the main battlefield so as to not be spotted. The Kazekage had stated how crucial this part of their plan was. "If we take out that Princess Tsunade and the rest of Konoha's medical ninja, Chiyo's poisons can't be stopped. With that we'll take the advantage."

Bunpuku, being a monk, sought peace and harmony. However, in his mind, this peace was only achievable by Sunagakure defeating Konoha. The Kazekage had promised to bring peace to the world, but only with his cooperation. It was his duty to carry out the mission. While many mistook Bunpuku for a feeble old monk, he was truly an immensely powerful and resilient Jinchuriki, enhanced by the chakra of a Tailed Beast. 

He had been shunned as a Jinchuriki, holding Shukaku inside of him, capable of mass destruction. He had been insulted and ignored ever since he had become a Jinchuriki out of fear and disdain of the other villagers. However, Bunpuku never returned this resentment. He only continued to live with amity and kindness, believing that true peace would come as a result of understanding and adherence. 

This respectful nature of the monk was another reason why he had also gained the trust of Shukaku, the Sand Spirit and One Tails. Bunpuku also maintained his honesty and respect for the Tailed Beast, which reminded Shukaku much of the Sage of Six Paths. While the Sand Spirit was known as a restless, relentless being, it had decided that the monk in which it inhabited did not deserve its wrath of sleepless nights, the insomnia that would have followed with any other Jinchuriki of Shukaku due to the imperfect seal. With this, the monk was able to live in harmony and peace with the Tailed Beast, and maintain his own being, morals and personality. His conscience wouldn't allow Shukaku's entire power to be freed, recklessly, in the highly unlikely circumstance in which the Sand Spirit somehow decided to turn against him. Even as Bunpuku slept, the One Tails had not taken advantage of its Jinchuriki's unconscious state when its true form could be released by taking over its host's body and mind.

As the group leaped through the forest, the sound of fighting and the clash of the 2 sides slowly became a faint background noise behind them. Quickly realising they were close to the Leaf medical camp, they concealed their chakra and carefully calculated their pathway, ensuring that the One Tails would be in a position to wreak the maximum amount of havoc it could. 

Soon, a clearing formed ahead, and the Suna squad saw Konoha medical ninja in front of them, rushing around carrying crates of medicines, treatments and stretchers. Coordinating and taking charge of all this, was Tsunade. While the Sand were aware that Tsunade was a Senju, granddaughter to the God of Shinobi and greatest Iryo Ninjutsu user in the world, they had concluded she would not be a threat to the One Tails. However, what they didn't know was that Tsunade was a tough match against even highly accomplished people such as Katsuro, a Kage-level ninja, who had been able to bring down an entire Bijuu by himself. Her resilient physique paired with her elite chakra control creates a devastating prowess that could evenly challenge Kage's itself was something the Sand Shinobi, as well as the Kazekage, were not aware of. To them, she was just another obstacle in their way. 

Silently, the squad dispersed, with 2 of the Jonin accompanying the Jinchuriki. Tsunade, sensing a strange, sudden emission of chakra, at the level of Jonin and Chunin, instantly noticed that there was an imminent attack. 

"EVERYONE! GET AWAY!" she yelled. Almost, instantaneously, the squad of Jonin and Bunpuku materialised in front of her, kunai and blades drawn. One of the Jonin attempted to strike Tsunade with his blade, but was shocked to find that Tsunade launched into the air, before her fist pummelled him into the ground, forming a miniature crater. The Suna ninja's body didn't respond to the rest of his squad calling out his name, and they grew far more wary of her strength. 

The monk stepped forward, noticing Tsunade's good deed of warning her comrades and putting herself in danger for their greater good. 

"You are truly a worthy kunoichi and medical ninja, Senju Tsunade," Bunpuku sighed, "alas, it is my mission - my purpose - to respect the orders of my Kage." Tsunade's eyes widened and defensively raised her arms, bracing herself, realising that the One Tail Jinchuriki was in front of her.

"Now, Bunpuku," the squad leader hissed behind him, "fulfil your mission, now is the time!"

"Everyone, brace yourselves!" Tsunade shouted. 

"Let's go, Shukaku. Namu Amida Butsu," the monk exhaled. 

"Feigning Sleep Jutsu!"

From where the monk's body previously stood, a huge plume of sand erupted, and the enormous body of Shukaku emerged, cackling. Tsunade, greatly alarmed, backed away, trying to devise the best possible action ahead. The rest of the Suna squad also backed away, ready to carry Bunpuku's body back to safety after he returned to its former state, after Shukaku had wreaked its chaos. 

Tsunade, ready to protect everyone at the camp, yelled defiantly, before leaping high into the air with her fist raised as she concentrated the majority of her chakra around it. Shukaku, who had only just emerged, was unaware of the attack right in front of its face, as the immensely enhanced punch landed straight between the Sand Spirit's eyes. The One Tails was sent stumbling backwards and fell forward, as to not be laid exposed on its back. The Sand Shinobi behind him quickly avoided the Bijuu and shot into the trees around them. The generally formidable sand defense of the One Tails had luckily been penetrated by Tsunade, forming a small crack where her strike had landed. 

The attack had barely missed Bunpuku's torso which remained, asleep, sticking above the sand on Shukaku's head. Shukaku, noticing that its host's body was still exposed, made a note to itself to protect it as a vulnerable spot. 

Now fully recollected and conscious, the One Tails inhaled: "Wind Style: Air Bullet!" The beast pounded on its stomach, and from its mouth, huge, chakra infused 'air bullets' shot out, straight at Tsunade, who narrowly dodged it, reminding that this was still a Bijuu, regardless of the number of tails. Upon contact with the ground, a gigantic hole exploded, where Tsunade would have been if she had not avoided the Bijuu's attack. 

Breathing slightly heavier now, Tsunade jumped up from the floor, and raised her arms once more, only just getting started. She also knew about the 'Tailed Beast Bombs' from her sensei, which is why she only resorted to close combat, giving the beast no room to prepare a Bijuu Bomb. She refused to let the One Tails past her. However, the Tailed Beast disregarded her act of honour, and proceeded. Roaring, the Sand Spirit raised its arms, and with it, the land around it was ripped apart and dirt and sand flew around its hands, which it raised before releasing: Sand Style: Great Arm of Sand. Right below Tsunade, a giant arm of sand, a replica in dimensions and colour of Shukaku's, burst from the ground. Tsunade swiftly darted away, just before the giant clawed-hand managed to grab her. The scale and intensity of the attacks quickly made the kunoichi realise how adaptable the One Tails' arsenal was. A series of repeated attacks followed.

The arm chased Tsunade, relentlessly, without allowing her a second of rest, while the Princess of the Senju managed to often get past the sand arm, catching the beast off guard, and striking it where possible. Unfortunately, her attacks, more often than not, were intercepted by Shukaku's various sand defenses, such as Sand Shield. In all fairness, the One Tails was known to have one of the most impenetrable defenses, among all the Tailed Beasts. It wouldn't go down easily. Although, she did manage to get past the beast a few times, and with her extremely monstrous strength, was able to deal some serious damage to the Tailed Beast, knocking it further and further away from the camp. Furthermore, to enhance her attacks, Tsunade used the various Water Style Jutsu Katsuro had taught her before such as Water Formation Wave which she often used briefly with little chakra, to act as a temporary defense whenever the sand arm shot towards her too quickly. The water was able to disintegrate the arm temporarily, which not only saved her a few times but also gave her some more time to catch her breath. Other Water Style Jutsu could be used to cause even more significant damage to Shukaku directly.

Each punch, each strike, each movement, was fuelled by the pain from the death of her brother. While she had tried to conceal it, many at the camp had witnessed her frequent episodes of frustration, fatigue and hidden torment. 

Meanwhile, the other Suna Jonin and Chunin remained hidden in the forest. Not only did they not want to get caught up in the One Tails' power but also realised how greatly they had underestimated Princess Tsunade. While they had been informed that Tsunade could pose as a hindrance, they didn't know she would be able to stop a Bijuu alone. 

I've finally gotten it far enough away from the camp but my stamina and chakra aren't infinite and I don't think I can keep this up for too long, especially against a Bijuu, made entirely from chakra itself. Most of the Water style Jutsu Katsuro taught me have helped a lot, but it's just not my style. I'm not proficient enough at them and regardless, they're consuming my chakra. Every single one of our Shinobi, other than our medical ninja, are all scattered across the battlefield. I have to come up wi-

Suddenly, the Princess of the Senju clan was caught off guard, as the Tailed Beast launched an attack - the One Tails still clearly had a lot of fight left in it.

No matter what, I'm holding it back, as long as I can! 

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