Chapter 279: Captured
Rasa and Shukaku surged forward, dragging an enormous wave of sand toward Tonari's position.
Watching the massive form of Shukaku bearing down on him, Tonari narrowed his eyes slightly.
After consecutive battles against Ōnoki and Hanzo, followed by the long journey, his chakra reserves had been steadily depleting.
Although traveling at high speed actually helped him recover chakra to some extent, his constant high-level usage of powerful techniques meant his reserves were running lower than he liked.
While the Two-Tails possessed vast chakra reserves compared to an average shinobi, Tonari himself was an enormous chakra consumer. His jutsu—like Deep Forest Emergence—required more chakra than an entire Jonin's reserves.
Using Wood Release was incredibly potent, but its energy demands were outrageous.
Still, if it was just Rasa and Shukaku, Tonari figured he could handle them with a little extra effort.
Rasa raised his hand, conjuring a massive clump of sand mixed with his signature Gold Dust, forming it before Shukaku.
Immediately understanding the plan, Shukaku smacked its own belly and opened its jaws wide.
"Wind Release: Sand Bullet Barrage!"
The combined attack unleashed a massive storm of sand bullets, each carrying terrifying speed and power, surging toward Tonari.
"Wood Release: Wooden Wall!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A massive wooden barrier, shaped like a demonic visage, rose from the ground, intercepting the barrage.
The wind-enhanced sand struck the wooden shield with incredible force, but Tonari had already anticipated this attack. The sand itself wasn't as dangerous as its secondary effect—once infused with Gold Dust, Rasa could manipulate the sand inside a person's body, effectively immobilizing them.
But since Tonari blocked it, that secondary ability never came into play.
This was one of the perks of being the Hokage—access to Konoha's Forbidden Scroll of Seals, where countless advanced techniques were recorded.
Many of Hashirama Senju's original Wood Release techniques had been preserved in the scroll, allowing Tonari to study and refine his own applications of Wood Release.
Although his version wasn't as overwhelmingly powerful as Hashirama's, it was still leagues above any conventional ninjutsu.
Moreover, while most ninjutsu required intricate hand seals, Wood Release could be activated simply by channeling chakra through Hashirama's cells.
"Oi, brat from Konoha! Let that fire-loving cat out! This time, I'll crush it in a real fight!" Shukaku roared, its yellow eyes gleaming with excitement.
Tonari waved his hand, signaling the nearby Konoha ninja to fall back. A battle against Shukaku would involve massive area destruction.
"Sorry, but it's not home right now."
A massive wooden dragon coiled beneath him, lifting Tonari into the air to match Shukaku and Rasa's height.
Both he and Rasa exchanged a glance, sharing a silent understanding.
They had unfinished business—an agreement yet to be fulfilled.
"Not home?"
Shukaku blinked in confusion.
A Tailed Beast not inside its Jinchūriki? How did that even work?
The truth was that Matatabi—his partnered Two-Tails—was currently away, following Yugito and the others to the Cat Village in pursuit of the summoning contract. It wouldn't be available for a while.
"Idiot Tanuki," Tonari said flatly.
The words took a second to register in Shukaku's mind.
Then, its temper erupted.
"YOU DAMNED BRAT! I'LL RIP YOU APART!"
"Shukaku, calm down! He's provoking you!" Rasa tried to intervene, his expression changing.
But expecting Shukaku to listen was wishful thinking.
"Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet!"
A compressed air blast fired from Shukaku's mouth, tearing through the battlefield toward Tonari and his wooden dragon.
Tonari smirked. He had already seen this technique before in his previous desert encounter with Shukaku.
"Wood Release: Prehensile Binding Hands!"
Boom!
From the ground, massive wooden hands erupted, wrapping around Shukaku's limbs, tail, and head, yanking the colossal beast down with overwhelming force.
THUD!
The massive Tanuki crashed into the earth, sending sand flying in all directions.
"ARGH! DAMN IT!" Shukaku bellowed.
Tonari's Wood Release was too fast and unpredictable—it had caught the Tailed Beast completely off guard.
"Magnet Release: Sand Spear Coffin!"
Rasa didn't hesitate, utilizing the sand that had fallen from Shukaku's body. He refined it with his Gold Dust, launching several golden sand lances toward Tonari.
Boom!
The golden sand exploded in midair, forming a thick cloud of airborne dust.
"HAHAHA! SEE THAT?!" Shukaku roared.
But Rasa frowned.
"Something's not right… I can't feel his presence in the sand."
Shukaku froze.
It quickly sensed the truth—Tonari wasn't inside the attack at all.
"Did you just notice?"
A voice mockingly sounded behind them.
Both turned their heads sharply—Tonari was standing on Shukaku's back, completely unharmed.
Rasa's expression darkened, and he instinctively distanced himself.
But Shukaku, bound by Tonari's Wood Release, couldn't move.
"Arrogant? You're the most arrogant Tailed Beast I've ever met," Tonari said calmly.
Then, he raised his hand, revealing a single Kanji glowing on his palm—座 (Sealing).
"Wood Release: Hokage-Style Sixty-Year Enclosure!"
Instantly, the wooden hands gripping Shukaku tightened.
"NO—WAIT! I JUST GOT OUT!"
Shukaku's screams filled the battlefield as its chakra rapidly drained away.
Unlike the normal Fake Sleep Technique, this was a complete suppression, forcing it back into its Jinchūriki.
Shukaku's massive body collapsed into sand, revealing an unconscious Bunpuku, the elderly Jinchūriki.
Meanwhile, Rasa—who had instinctively retreated—looked as if he had swallowed a bitter pill.
Shukaku… had been defeated.
All the shinobi present—both Konoha and Suna—stood frozen in disbelief.
"Impossible…"
An entire Tailed Beast, along with Rasa, had been subdued… by one man.
Tonari stood atop his wooden dragon, holding Bunpuku's unconscious body.
"If Suna still wants to fight… well, then I guess the One-Tail belongs to Konoha now."
His voice was calm, but his words carried thunderous weight.
Konoha's shinobi erupted in cheers, while Suna's forces visibly trembled.
For a village like Sunagakure, which relied heavily on its single Tailed Beast for deterrence, this was a disastrous blow.
Tailed Beasts weren't just weapons—they were symbols of power and dominance.
Without the One-Tail, Sunagakure's entire standing in the ninja world was at risk.
Chiyo's face twisted in rage, but she couldn't deny the reality in front of her.
One by one, the Suna forces stopped fighting, turning toward Chiyo and Rasa for direction.
With that, the chaotic battlefield gradually fell silent.
A line was drawn—Konoha's forces stood behind Tonari, guarding Fire Country's borders, while Suna's shinobi gathered behind their leaders.
And despite Suna's superior numbers, their expressions were grim.
Because they had already lost.
Tonari, still standing atop his wooden dragon, turned to Minato and Shikaku, a casual smile on his lips.
"Well? What do we do now?"
The battle was over. Now, it was time to negotiate terms.
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