"How can you be so strong? Even stronger than a tailed beast?" the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki cried out in disbelief as he crashed into the shattered rocks along the mountainside.

It was no small shock. As a tailed beast, this was the first time he had witnessed a human defeat one of them purely with physical strength.

Even the legendary Hashirama Senju—revered as the God of the Shinobi World—had only subdued the Tailed Beasts through powerful Wood Release and sealing techniques, not brute force alone.

For a brief moment, the Eight-Tails hesitated. Was this man truly human? Or was he a monstrous beast disguised in human skin?

"Too strong?" Kaito said casually, a slight smirk on his face. "I'd say your strength is just too weak."

"You dare insult me, human?!" the Eight-Tails bellowed, his massive voice booming across the canyon.

His pride wounded and rage ignited, the giant beast moved. With a thunderous step that made the entire mountain tremble, he vanished in a blur of motion and reappeared directly before Kaito.

His fists, brimming with chakra, descended with crushing power.

Kaito didn't panic.

Lightning flickered in his palms, forming a spear of pale black chakra crackling with electricity. In an instant, he leapt upward—straight between the descending fists—and hurled the spear at the beast's neck.

As it flew, the weapon rapidly expanded into a massive thunder spear. The dark lightning pulsing at its tip warped the air around it.

If it struck true, not even Killer Bee would walk away alive.

Whip!

Just before the blow landed, thick octopus tentacles lashed out, wrapping tightly around the weapon.

Szzzt! Crackle!

As soon as the chakra-charged spear made contact, the electric current surged through the tentacles. Smoke sizzled. The smell of scorched octopus filled the air.

"Damn it!" the Eight-Tails roared, pushing through the pain and slamming his colossal fist toward Kaito once more.

But it was too late.

The spear, still charged, met the beast's punch. It pierced clean through his massive hand.

Kaito narrowed his eyes. Why is he throwing himself at me like this? Has he gone mad?

Electricity exploded from the weapon, flooding into the Eight-Tails' body.

"AAAAARGHH!!"

The beast shrieked. The sheer voltage was monstrous—far surpassing any Lightning Release technique.

His body trembled violently. He couldn't move. Couldn't even think. The current stole control of his limbs, numbing everything.

Even the Fourth Raikage, renowned for enhancing his body with lightning since childhood, wouldn't have survived a single second of this.

Not even a tailed beast could endure for long.

Smoke began to rise. The beast's howls grew weaker, fainter. The overwhelming aroma of roasted flesh filled the air.

Seizing the moment, Kaito yanked the spear free and swept it toward the beast's tentacles in one clean arc.

Whoosh!

Eight pieces of grilled octopus—giant, seared, and steaming—hit the ground with a dull thud.

"You bastard," the Eight-Tails wheezed, his form rapidly shrinking. "I'll get you next time... I wasn't ready for your Lightning Release."

His body collapsed into a charred human shape—Killer Bee, unconscious and unmoving.

Kaito's gaze drifted to the sizzling tentacles at his feet. His mouth twitched slightly.

"It's been a while since I had takoyaki..." he murmured, licking his lips.

He bent down and reached for one, but before he could take a bite, the chunks of octopus transformed—dispersing into eight dark red chakra wisps and vanishing into the air.

"Tch. What a waste," Kaito grumbled, lifting Killer Bee onto his shoulder and walking calmly toward the Thundercloud Canyon's entrance.

---

Meanwhile, outside the Thundercloud Canyon...

A group of Kumo Anbu waited tensely, nerves stretched thin. Their eyes held more than unease—it was dread.

Just moments ago, the long-anticipated battle had begun. But barely two minutes later, the body of the Fourth Raikage had come flying through the sky, landing before them like discarded trash.

Though shocked, they had recognized him instantly.

Excitement had first surged through them—relief, even—but it vanished just as quickly. Cold realization hit. If the Raikage had been thrown back so effortlessly...

How long had it taken? Two minutes?

And it had been two-on-one!

That meant the enemy wasn't just strong—he was in a different league entirely.

An Anbu quickly picked up the unconscious Raikage and rushed him to the nearest medical station, while the rest remained rooted at the canyon's edge.

They tried to stay alert, but their hands trembled. Their thoughts spiraled. Killer Bee was still in there.

And if Killer Bee's strength rivaled the Raikage's...

That man in the canyon was beyond dangerous.

Then came the beast's final roar—gut-wrenching and desperate.

The Anbu's expressions darkened. It was clear from that last cry that the Eight-Tails had been defeated.

And it hadn't even been three minutes.

A crushing silence fell.

"What do we do now?" one Anbu finally whispered.

No one responded.

What could they do? The two strongest shinobi in the village hadn't lasted five minutes combined.

"We can't let him take Bee Sama," said another voice firmly. "I'll go in, assess the situation, and beg him to release Bee-sama."

"You have our support," someone replied solemnly.

Da-dam. Da-dam.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the canyon's depths.

All heads turned sharply.

A lone figure emerged, walking calmly through the fading mist. Over his shoulder, he carried a limp body—Killer Bee.

As he stepped into the open, the Anbu finally saw his face.

And though they had all feared the outcome, seeing the man in person still made them gasp aloud.

It was him.

The masked man who had defeated both the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails.

And he wasn't even out of breath.

---

I try my best to replace/remove any instances that scream 'Cultivation'.

There are a lot actually,stuff like Qi, Tempering, Cleansing.

So if I missed some, tell me I'd edit it.

_

Vote w Power stones 💙