Unable to break through Kaito's lightning barrier, Shukaku's wind blades dispersed into the sand, unleashing a storm. Within seconds, the ground turned into a chaotic vortex, sand swirling and cascading as if caught in a sandstorm. The radius of destruction stretched over a hundred meters—golden sand filled the air, blotting out the sun.

This was the true strength of the One-Tailed Beast in its natural habitat.

"Hahaha! Not bad, kid! You blocked my Wind Style! Let's see how long you can keep that up!" Shukaku bellowed, mouth widening with a crazed grin.

[Wind Style: Drilling Air Bullet!]

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Three consecutive wind bullets blasted toward Kaito.

"What a waste of chakra," Kaito muttered, his tone calm.

Behind him, thunder surged. A colossal lightning palm stretched forth, engulfing the three air bullets with ease.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions echoed from within the lightning hand, sending plumes of black smoke curling into the air.

The relentless battle between Kaito and Shukaku twisted the expressions on Rasa and Ebizo's faces. They exchanged glances and dove back into the fray.

Though they hated to admit it, Shukaku was clearly being overwhelmed.

"Enough. This is a waste of my time," Kaito murmured.

In response, the lightning field behind him shimmered with intensity.

A moment later, a massive lightning avatar took form. Towering above the battlefield stood the Thunder Warrior, just like the one Kaito summoned during his clash with the Third Tsuchikage. But this time, a second figure accompanied it—a white Thunder Dragon, more than ten meters long, coiling around the giant like a loyal beast.

[2 Billion Volts: Thunder God Descends!]

Kaito launched into the air, landing at the center of the Thunder Giant's forehead like a divine figure.

Rasa and Ebizo's faces darkened with dread.

"Don't hesitate," Ebizo snapped. "We've already crossed blades. We can't let him leave alive."

"Agreed!" Rasa growled.

Chakra surged as Rasa clapped his hands, sending waves of golden sand crashing forward like a tsunami.

Ebizo conjured a dozen razor-sharp wind blades that shimmered in the air.

[Wind Style: Wind Blade!]

The enhanced wind shuriken blazed through the sky, transforming into demonic-sealing projectiles that spiraled toward the Thunder Giant.

Rasa followed up swiftly.

[Magnet Style: Gold Dust Spear!]

The golden sand waves shifted, transforming into countless high-speed golden spears that launched at Kaito with terrifying precision.

"Tch. I didn't ask for your help," Shukaku sneered, beginning to charge another Tailed Beast Ball.

Kaito was unbothered. Inside the Thunder Giant, he swung its massive spear to bat away Ebizo's wind blades, hurling them far into the distance.

The golden spears approached rapidly—but Kaito didn't even glance at them.

With a command, the Thunder Giant charged forward, each step shaking the battlefield.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The golden spears descended—but the Thunder Dragon sprang into action, its body gleaming with electricity.

Lightning surged as the dragon transformed into a blinding scroll of thunder, swallowing the golden spears midair before soaring toward the golden wave field.

Meanwhile, Shukaku's Tailed Beast Ball had nearly formed.

A sphere twice the size of the last one condensed within his jaws.

Bang!

The air trembled as the enormous sphere launched toward Kaito.

The Thunder Giant's spear began to glow with white-hot lightning—

Kaito hurled it like a bolt of divine retribution.

The spear clashed with the incoming Tailed Beast Ball midair, piercing it like a divine arrow shooting down the sun.

BOOM!

The explosion shook the sky.

Black energy expanded across the heavens, swallowing the sun's light and turning day into dusk. A dome of pure destruction rippled out, tearing clouds apart and bending the air itself.

The shockwave was overwhelming—even ground-bound shinobi below could feel its wrath.

The sky dimmed under the expanding energy. Yet Kaito calmly advanced through it all, stepping forward as if he were walking through a gentle breeze.

Meanwhile, the Thunder Dragon's lightning scroll unfurled in front of Rasa's golden wave.

The scroll morphed into a towering cylindrical barrier, enclosing the golden tide completely.

Inside the cylinder, lightning danced violently. White electric pythons slithered like hungry beasts, devouring the sand wave from all sides.

Rasa watched in disbelief as his entire golden tsunami was reduced to nothing in seconds.

ROAR!

Having consumed the wave, the cylinder erupted in a blinding flash and transformed once again into the white Thunder Dragon.

With a defiant cry, the dragon raced back to the Thunder Giant's side—completely ignoring Rasa and Ebizo.

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