Minato's sharp blue eyes remained fixed on Shukaku, whose massive form loomed like a mountain in the desert. The tailed beast's chakra radiated waves of malice and power, stirring an unease even in the air around it.
Deep within, Minato's mind trembled. Can it really sense the Nine-Tails? He pushed the thought aside as Shukaku's expression shifted.
"Bang!"
Without warning, Shukaku's massive claw swiped the air, sending waves of sand rippling outward. The desert beneath its control churned like a living sea, the radius of its influence expanding rapidly.
The sand, infused with Shukaku's chakra, transformed into massive waves that crashed in all directions, threatening to consume everything in their path. The tailed beast's sheer presence had turned the once-flat desert into a chaotic battlefield.
Fortunately, the Konoha and Sunagakure shinobi had already retreated beyond the storm's range. But the sheer devastation Shukaku wrought served as a grim reminder of the tailed beast's terrifying power to reshape terrain itself.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The relentless assault was deafening, each wave of sand smashing against the ground with earth-shaking force.
For most, this display of raw power would have been overwhelming, but Minato remained calm. A flicker of yellow light signaled his disappearance, as he avoided the attack with his signature Flying Thunder God Technique, reappearing a hundred meters away near the area where he had battled Rasa earlier.
Shukaku paused, momentarily confused as its target vanished.
But the One-Tail's keen senses quickly picked up Minato's chakra, locking onto his new position with uncanny precision.
"Boom!"
Shukaku surged forward, its massive frame defying its bulk as it closed the distance with startling speed. Each step covered over ten meters, its colossal claws gouging deep furrows in the desert floor.
In moments, it was nearly upon Minato again.
"Blah!"
As it advanced, Shukaku summoned another wave of sand, the desert beneath its feet rippling and rising like an ocean. The sand swirled and pressed toward Minato, threatening to crush him under its weight.
But Minato's agility was unmatched. He evaded with ease, vanishing again as Shukaku's attack obliterated the ground where he had stood.
Reappearing beside a scattered Konoha ninja, Minato's demeanor was steady yet urgent.
"Gather the troops," he said, placing a reassuring hand on the ninja's shoulder. "Bypass the border of the River Country and retreat immediately."
The shinobi nodded, his expression resolute despite the chaos.
Minato's gaze shifted briefly to Rasa in the distance. The Kazekage, though alive, was clearly incapacitated, his injuries leaving him unable to contribute further. With Rasa neutralized, Minato calculated that his remaining troops could retreat safely without fear of a counterattack.
Meanwhile, Shukaku let out a guttural roar of frustration.
"Damn humans! Running around like rats!"
The tailed beast's irritation boiled over as it realized Minato was toying with it. Its immense chakra flared, the air around it growing heavy with its wrath.
But Minato was always one step ahead. The yellow flash of his teleportation mark reappeared, this time behind the beast.
Shukaku's keen senses reacted instantly, spinning its massive frame around to face him.
However, before the beast could act, Minato leapt with precision, landing gracefully atop Shukaku's head.
"How dare you stand above me! You're courting death!"
Shukaku's roar shook the ground as it flailed in anger. But before it could strike, the world around it shifted.
In a flash of light, Minato activated his Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting both himself and Shukaku miles away to the outskirts of the River Country.
The sudden shift disoriented Shukaku. As the tailed beast appeared in the new location, its massive form crashed into the ground, toppling trees and flattening everything within a ten-meter radius.
For a moment, Shukaku stared in disbelief at the new landscape. It quickly pieced together what had happened, its irritation bubbling into rage.
"You dare use that trick on me again, human?!"
Minato stood calmly a few meters away, his sharp eyes assessing the situation. The beast's overwhelming presence remained a threat, but he couldn't allow Shukaku to rampage unchecked in the River Country.
Shukaku's massive claw swung toward him with earth-shattering force.
"Boom!"
The impact left a crater several meters wide, obliterating the trees in its path. But Minato had already vanished, avoiding the attack with minimal effort.
The One-Tail's claws moved again, this time forming crude hand seals.
"Wind Release: Air Bullet Barrage!"
A powerful gust of wind surged forward, condensing into a massive bullet-like projectile. The air trembled as the attack shot toward Minato, the sheer force distorting the surrounding terrain.
Minato's pupils contracted. He had seen similar techniques before, notably the devastating Tailed Beast Ball used by the Nine-Tails. Though Shukaku's attack lacked the same destructive scale, it was still a formidable threat.
As Shukaku continued its barrage, Minato retreated, the wind pressure from the projectiles making his movements increasingly difficult.
Shukaku, sensing its advantage, charged forward with its massive body, aiming to crush Minato under its weight.
Minato smirked. So you do think.
The tailed beast's sudden strategic shift surprised him. Unlike other tailed beasts, Shukaku was clearly using its intelligence to press its advantage.
But Minato had no intention of being cornered.
As Shukaku's enormous claw descended, Minato countered with a glowing orb of chakra in his palm.
"Odama Rasengan!"
The Rasengan collided with Shukaku's claw in a blinding explosion of energy. The beast roared as the impact forced it to stumble backward, its massive frame shaking the earth.
Seizing the opportunity, Minato formed a series of hand seals, biting his thumb to draw blood.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
The ground trembled again as thick smoke billowed outward. From the haze emerged a massive creature, its size rivaling Shukaku's own.
The summoned creature's eyes immediately locked onto Shukaku, a deep sigh escaping its lips.
"Really, Minato? Every time you summon me, it's always against someone troublesome."
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