"I'm really sorry to bother you all the time."
Minato stood atop Gamabunta's head, his tone carrying a note of guilt. Though he was accustomed to working alongside the giant toad, this time was different. Their opponent was a tailed beast—Shukaku, the One-Tail—a force of nature that was far beyond any normal adversary.
Gamabunta let out a low grumble, his large eyes narrowing as he glanced at the hulking form of Shukaku in the distance.
"Yeah, yeah. You always drag me into these messes, Minato. You owe me a drink after this!"
Minato chuckled lightly but remained focused. He knew Gamabunta's strength was impressive, but the tailed beast was a living mass of chakra, and their power dwarfed even the strongest summons.
Still, Minato had a clear objective: delay Shukaku long enough to allow the Konoha forces to retreat safely. Suppressing or sealing the tailed beast permanently was out of the question, as finding a suitable Jinchūriki in this chaotic scenario was impossible.
The intricate process of creating a Jinchūriki required precision, compatibility, and, most importantly, consent. Unlike the Sunagakure, which had risked sacrificing its current Jinchūriki in desperation, Minato refused to take lives recklessly.
Shukaku, meanwhile, eyed Gamabunta with disdain. The massive toad's appearance had momentarily distracted the beast, but its irritation quickly bubbled to the surface. Without warning, Shukaku formed hand seals with its enormous claws.
"Wind Release: Air Bullet Barrage!"
A series of enormous wind bullets erupted from Shukaku's mouth, each one tearing through the air with enough force to level a forest.
Gamabunta reacted instantly, countering with his own jutsu.
"Water Release: Iron Cannonball!"
The two jutsu collided mid-air, resulting in an explosion of wind and water that sent shockwaves rippling across the landscape. The forest surrounding them shook violently, trees snapping like twigs under the force of the impact.
Minato grimaced. Although the area was uninhabited, the sheer destruction wrought by the clash of titans was a grim reminder of the tailed beast's power.
"Don't push too hard," Minato called down to Gamabunta. "We're here to buy time, not to win."
Gamabunta let out a huff of agreement, gripping the short sword strapped to his back.
Shukaku, however, was relentless. Another barrage of wind bullets followed, each one larger and more destructive than the last.
Minato's sharp eyes caught the subtle shift in Gamabunta's stance. He's running low on chakra.
As the wind bullets roared toward them, Minato gave a signal.
"Now!"
Gamabunta leapt high into the air, his massive form disappearing from the ground. The wind bullets smashed into the earth below, gouging massive craters into the landscape.
High above, Minato and Gamabunta reappeared, poised for a counterattack.
"Toad Short Sword Slash!"
Gamabunta swung his blade with all his might, the momentum of the fall adding to its devastating force. Shukaku barely had time to react, raising one massive claw to shield itself.
"Bang!"
The sword cleaved through Shukaku's arm, severing it at the midpoint. The beast let out a roar of pain and fury, its dismembered limb crashing to the ground in a cloud of sand and chakra.
Minato seized the opportunity.
"Super Odama Rasengan!"
With impeccable timing, Minato launched his attack, slamming the spinning orb of chakra into Shukaku's other claw. The resulting explosion sent the tailed beast staggering backward, its massive frame quaking with the impact.
"That should buy us a little time," Minato said, landing atop Gamabunta once more. His sharp gaze remained fixed on Shukaku, analyzing its movements.
Despite the damage it had sustained, Shukaku's body began to repair itself. The sand around its severed arm stirred, forming into quicksand as it attempted to regenerate the lost limb.
"Damn it," Minato muttered. "It's regenerating too fast."
Without hesitation, Minato disappeared in a flash of yellow light, reappearing near Shukaku's injured arm.
Pressing his palm to the severed limb, he unleashed a powerful sealing jutsu.
"Seal of Suppression!"
Black markings spread across the sand, halting the regeneration process.
Shukaku's eyes widened in alarm as it felt the seal take hold.
"What… what is this?!" the tailed beast roared, its voice tinged with fear. It recognized the technique for what it was—a Fuinjutsu, the one force capable of truly controlling a tailed beast.
Minato returned to Gamabunta's side, watching as Shukaku hesitated.
For a moment, the One-Tail's rage subsided, replaced by a primal instinct for self-preservation. It turned abruptly, its massive frame lumbering toward the Land of Wind.
Minato's eyes narrowed. "It's retreating. Gamabunta, let's keep it away from the Konoha forces."
The massive toad grumbled but complied, leaping forward to intercept Shukaku.
The battle resumed with renewed ferocity. Shukaku, wary of Minato's sealing techniques, fought with a newfound caution. Each strike was calculated, aimed at keeping Minato and Gamabunta at bay.
Gamabunta, though skilled, was clearly tiring. His movements grew slower, his attacks less precise. Minato compensated by launching precise counterattacks, using his speed and sealing techniques to keep Shukaku off balance.
After several minutes of relentless combat, a signal flare streaked across the sky, exploding in a burst of red light.
Minato's sharp eyes immediately recognized it.
Konoha's retreat is complete.
Relief washed over him. The troops had successfully bypassed the border and entered the River Country.
"Thank you for everything, Gamabunta," Minato said, his tone sincere.
The massive toad let out a tired laugh. "Don't mention it. Just remember that drink you owe me."
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