From Naruto onwards, I've become a dreamer.

Chapter 99 Tailed Beast Sniping Battle (Part 1)

Rumble!!!

A tremendous roar and explosion seemed to lift the entire lake's water into the sky.

From a distance, it looks like a water dragon swimming upstream, soaring into the sky, bursting forth with a magnificent and boundless momentum, crushing the blizzard, and then carrying the impact of millions of tons, like a waterfall cascading down from the sky with a deafening roar.

The raging torrent swept in like a wild beast out of control, rampaging and destroying everything in its path.

The floodwaters swept through a forest spanning several thousand meters, uprooting trees and carrying broken stumps and rocks, forcefully breaking through the forest's defenses and rushing away in a mighty torrent.

As the raging torrents gradually subsided, the lake's water level dropped by several centimeters.

Vast areas of forest were destroyed and land was submerged by floods; such a scene was nothing short of a disaster!

If it weren't for Juzo Biwa's ninjutsu preparations to protect his companions, everyone would probably have been swept away by the flood to who knows how far.

*Clap clap clap*

A deafening clapping sound rang out.

Uchiha Muneki clapped his hands and nodded as if in approval, praising, "Not bad, as expected of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Your reaction speed is indeed very fast. You used the nearby terrain to disperse the impact with water-style techniques. Your ability to make on-the-spot judgment is also impressive."

"You're a madman!"

Pipa Juzo stared at the dark figure in the middle of the lake, a figure as black as a steel mountain, its pale face devoid of any color.

He never expected that the Three-Tails Isobu, which was supposed to be their last resort, would be used by Uchiha Muneki instead, and was released from its seal prematurely without any warning or protection.

"Uchiha Munezuki!!!"

Raiga Kurosuki's forehead veins bulged as he roared furiously, yelling, "You bastard... how dare you release a tailed beast! Are you fucking crazy?!"

"Isn't this just what you wanted?"

Uchiha Munetsu pushed up his glasses and said coldly, "Instead of criticizing me, you should hurry up and think of a way to deal with this big guy."

call!call!call!

It seemed to be in response to his words.

The next moment, the enormous shadow of the Three-Tailed Isobu appeared and disappeared in the misty water.

Waves surged violently around the mountain-like figure, like blooming fireworks.

An unparalleled, immense pressure, carrying an almost suffocating amount of chakra, was like an even more violent tsunami, instantly engulfing all the Mist Ninja present.

hum!

Two enormous yellow pupils, like copper bells, shone like searchlights in the misty air.

Sealed at the bottom of the lake for an unknown period of time, it fell into a deep sleep only to be violently awakened. The furious roar, powerful enough to burn everything, finally rang out.

Isobu truly lived up to its name as a tailed beast; with just one roar, it unleashed a hurricane visible to the naked eye.

Splash!

A sudden gust of wind swept away the misty spray, and Isobu's body, as imposing as a steel mountain, finally came into everyone's view.

A gigantic creature resembling a mud turtle was covered in a hard, thick shell, covered with sharp spikes. Behind it were three flat, enormous tails that swung in the air. Each twitch contained a terrifying force that made the air roar.

"This is the legendary Three-Tailed Beast: Isobu!"

Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, including Juzo Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki, were seeing a living tailed beast for the first time.

Within that enormous, steel-like body lies unparalleled power. Every roar, every movement, even every breath it takes can unleash destructive force akin to a tsunami or a natural disaster. No matter how many times it is emphasized in books, it can never compare to the awe-inspiring power of seeing it with one's own eyes.

"What...what should we do, Juzo?"

Kurozuki Raiga swallowed hard, gripped his Raito tightly with both hands, and took a deep breath, trying to muster his courage.

But whenever he looked up at that enormous monster and met those cold, yellow eyes, the last bit of courage he had mustered would instantly turn to ashes and vanish without a trace.

Looking at the other members of the secret service, their reactions were even worse than his. One of them, who was rather timid, was so frightened that his legs were trembling and he had lost his will to fight.

Raiga Kurosuki didn't blame the person who was frightened, because even he himself was terrified.

You can't blame them. Even among ninjas, very few have ever seen a tailed beast. Those are monsters that only appear in legends!

Furthermore, each appearance of a tailed beast is accompanied by a natural disaster powerful enough to destroy a country.

Do you think these few people can stop the Tailed Beasts?

Don't be ridiculous, even if there were ten times more people, we still might not be able to fill their stomachs!

"Quickly, go and fetch Lord Mizukage!"

Although Juzo Biwa was also terrified, he forced himself to remain calm and said, "Hakuma, go and report the situation here truthfully to the Mizukage. Tell him to bring the sealing team and reinforcements. Until then, we will do our best to hold off the Tailed Beast and Uchiha Muneki!"

The wildebeest, upon being called by name, froze, its eyes widening: "Lord Juzo...you...you intend to stop the Tailed Beasts here?"

"Are you crazy, Juzo?!" Even Raiga Kurosuki was taken aback by his decision: "That's a Tailed Beast! Even if we all sacrifice ourselves, we can't stop it!"

"I know, I'm not crazy, Raiga."

Juzo Biwa took a deep breath, his eyes filled with fear mixed with a hint of determination: "Don't forget, this place is less than fifty kilometers away from Kirigakure."

Upon hearing this, Kurosuki Raiga was immediately stunned.

"Fifty kilometers. If we don't stay behind to intercept it, given the tailed beast's speed, it won't take long," Juzo Biwa said gravely, his eyes filled with a look of grim determination. "It will just charge straight into the village. I don't need to remind you what will happen then, do I?"

It goes without saying what kind of catastrophic consequences would result if a tailed beast charged directly into a village.

Even if Kirigakure is not good, it is still their "home". Their families and many ordinary people still live in the village!

They are ninjas, and when necessary, they must give everything to protect the village.

If even the ninjas back down, then who will protect their village?

Pipa Juzo's words, like the resounding toll of a great bell, awakened everyone.

"Therefore, for Kirigakure."

Juzo Biwa let out a deep breath, drew his Executioner's Blade from his back, gripped the hilt, and said resolutely, "No matter what, we must stay here and hold back the Tailed Beast and Uchiha Muneki. We absolutely cannot let him get near the village!"

"Tch, I never thought I'd be reduced to being lectured by you!"

Raiga Kurosuki brushed aside his bangs, a maniacal grin spreading across his face. Gripping his Raiga twin swords tightly, he growled, "You're right, Juzo! We are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! Behind us is our village! We absolutely cannot let this guy destroy our village!"

"That's right, we are ninjas from Kirigakure!"

The terrified Anbu members, now summoning their courage, faced the enormous tailed beast and trembled as they shouted, "Come on! We won't back down!"

"The village is right behind us; we have nowhere to retreat!"

With a shout, Juzo Biwa raised his guillotine and charged towards Isobu like a warrior facing death: "Gentlemen, charge with me!!!"

"Now, it's time to uphold the Way of the Ninja!"

Raiga Kurozuki roared, his body crackling with lightning, as he charged forward: "Uchiha Munetsuki, we will not let you destroy our village!"

Uchiha Munetsuki frowned, wondering to himself, "Why do I feel like I've become the villain?"

(End of this chapter)