noveldepot Chapter 274 Memories
Chapter 274 Memories
The golden nine-tailed fox displayed astonishing agility completely disproportionate to its massive body. With a sudden burst of power from its hind legs, its enormous body leaped up as if weightless, landing steadily on an open ground not far in front of Shukaku outside Konoha Village.
As Kurama gazed at Shukaku, who was baring its fangs and roaring in a fit of impotent rage, a nameless fire rose within him.
I never expected that this stupid tanuki would be controlled by someone! Moreover, that familiar eye power wrapped around it... it comes from the same source as the power that controlled me to attack Konoha more than ten years ago!
If it weren't for that cowardly bastard... Kurama thought bitterly, how could I have done such a thing to Naruto's parents?!
It selectively ignores the fact that, without that attack, it might never have been sealed inside Naruto.
One day, I will make that bastard who used his eye power to toy with me pay the price!
"roar--!!!"
The golden Nine-Tails roared, and the shockwave caused by the chakra leakage from the roar was like a real tsunami, forcing the massive body of Shukaku, which was charging forward, back several steps, causing its sand-covered surface to shake violently.
Although both are tailed beasts, the difference in strength between the Nine-Tails and the One-Tails is now clearly evident.
"Naruto," Kurama's voice echoed in the shared consciousness, "because this is the first time attempting full Tailed Beast Transformation, the coordination isn't perfect yet, and the chakra is being consumed faster than expected. The situation isn't good; I'm afraid we can only maintain this state for a maximum of two minutes."
"Yes, I understand." Naruto's mind responded quickly, without the slightest panic. He knew the absolute advantage of the Nine-Tails' power. "Don't worry, I'll finish this battle in half a minute."
His gaze, penetrating Kurama's vision, locked onto the still-raging Shukaku, and into the depths of Gaara's consciousness.
"Sorry, Gaara, Shukaku," Naruto muttered to himself, "Fighting in this state could easily affect the village and others. So... I have no choice but to use the fastest and most brutal method!"
The golden nine-tailed fox charged toward Shukaku with unstoppable momentum, each step causing the earth to tremble!
Upon seeing this, Shukaku's enormous claws formed hand seals at a speed disproportionate to its size!
"Quicksand torrent!"
Rumble—!
The entire land beneath it instantly turned to sand, and countless grains of sand shot into the sky, transforming into a huge, ever-swirling ocean of sand that rushed toward the Nine-Tailed Fox, attempting to entangle and bind its massive golden body!
However, facing this sea of sand that could devour everything, the golden nine-tailed fox did not even slow down! It merely let out a disdainful growl, and its hind legs, which were entangled by the sand currents, suddenly unleashed terrifying power, causing its massive body to spin rapidly in mid-air!
"Snap—Boom!!!"
The sand tentacles wrapped around it were all snapped and shredded by this violent twisting! Sand, like golden raindrops, fell from the Nine-Tailed Fox's shimmering body.
"Bang--!!!"
A deafening roar, like a mountain colliding, exploded! The golden Nine-Tails' claws transformed into a gigantic golden fist, slamming solidly and without any frills into Shukaku's massive face!
"Whoa—!"
Shukaku let out a painful howl. The enormous impact caused its entire head to cave in, and its massive body was once again thrown uncontrollably off the ground, crashing heavily into the distant forest.
However, Naruto said that this time, he would end the battle in an instant!
Giving Shukaku no chance to catch its breath, the Nine-Tails' enormous form followed closely, charging forward once again at an astonishing speed! Just as it was about to fall, the nine enormous tails behind it, like pillars of heaven, rose high simultaneously, covering the sky!
next moment--
"boom!!!!!!!"
The nine giant tails, carrying the power to destroy all things in the world, slammed down on Shukaku's massive body, which had not yet risen!
The earth groaned in agony, as if struck by a violent earthquake! A terrifying shockwave spread outwards in a ring, uprooting trees and sending rubble flying like bullets! The affected area was already a scene of utter devastation.
Kurama sensed Naruto's fluid and decisive fighting style, and his initial worry vanished instantly. This kid, using his full Tailed Beast Transformation for the first time, performed so brilliantly!
The difference in strength was so despairing. Under this attack, Shukaku's sand-based body disintegrated and cracked extensively, like a shattered terracotta figurine, lying motionless in the center of a huge pit, even its raging chakra weakened.
"Good! Naruto!" Kurama's voice was full of approval. "This stupid tanuki is now completely powerless to resist! Now, combine your chakra with my power and inject it into its body to find and dispel the genjutsu that's been cast on its mind! Once the genjutsu is broken, this battle will be over!"
"Okay, I understand!"
Naruto had the same idea. He controlled the Nine-Tails, slowly raising one of its giant claws. He also had another thought in mind: to take this opportunity to add an even stronger "insurance" for Shukaku.
He strongly suspected that the reason Shukaku could whisper in Gaara's ear every day was largely because the Sand Village's sealing techniques were... utterly terrible!
Naruto's chakra, together with the power of the Nine-Tails, flowed into Shukaku's body, which was using Gaara's body as a vessel. It penetrated the surface of the raging tailed beast chakra and explored the suppressed and sealed deep consciousness.
------
"Where am I...?"
The boundless darkness receded slowly like the tide, and fragments of consciousness were painstakingly pieced back together. The last memories were blurred, leaving only the raging chakra and the piercing roar.
Gaara murmured, looking around blankly, completely bewildered as to why he had ended up in such a place.
Clearly, this was not the Sand Village where he grew up. The surrounding architecture was ancient and unfamiliar, and the air was filled with a moist and refreshing scent that was completely different from the Land of Wind.
However, in Gaara's traumatic memories, his so-called "hometown" was nothing more than a cage where everyone wanted to kill him.
The streets were bustling with people, noisy and full of life, but no one paid any attention to his out-of-place presence.
What struck him as even more bizarre was that when someone walked towards him, they passed right through his body without any obstruction, as if he were nothing but a wisp of air.
Is it... a dream?
The moment this thought surfaced, it was overwhelmed by a profound sorrow. For Gaara, who even a peaceful sleep was a luxury and who was tormented by Shukaku's whispers and bloodlust all day long, the word "dream" was such a strange and distant concept.
Unable to comprehend the current situation, he felt an unprecedented, deathly stillness within him. The murderous impulse that had relentlessly gnawed at his reason day and night had completely vanished. This feeling of ease left him somewhat disoriented, and he could only wander aimlessly through these unfamiliar streets like a lost child.
However, this brief period of calm did not last long.
A sharp, piercing roar, filled with disgust and fear, like a poisoned thorn, suddenly came from the doorway of a nearby shop and stabbed Gaara in the ear.
"I won't sell to you! Why did you even come into my shop?! Get out! You monster!"