The power of the Nine Masked Beasts was something the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers had stolen from the Nine-Tails. Later, Kakuzu extracted it using his Dark Release and had kept it sealed away until now. Only when he felt his own strength was sufficient did he begin the process of fully assimilating it.
As Kokuō watched Kakuzu summon the power of the Nine-Tails, his already large, lantern-like eyes widened even further. Emerging from nine different spatial rifts, nine monstrous figures took shape. Kokuō could feel it immediately—the unmistakable aura of malice and hatred, identical to that of the Nine-Tails.
"This… How is this guy connected to the Nine-Tails?!"
A chill ran down Kokuō's spine, and a bead of sweat—large enough to rival a small pond—rolled down his forehead. His instinctive reaction was to retreat, stepping back two paces to put some distance between himself and Kakuzu.
"Who the hell are you?!" Kokuō's voice was hoarse, his gaze sharp and wary.
Kakuzu crossed his arms, his expression as indifferent as ever.
"Among the nine Tailed Beasts, the Nine-Tails is the strongest. After all, the more tails a beast has, the greater its power."
"Bastard!!" Kokuō's hooves slammed into the ground, his five tails rising aggressively. He let out a furious roar. "Don't judge our strength by the number of tails alone!"
Kakuzu chuckled. "Hah. Looks like all Tailed Beasts share the same personality. None of you like hearing that kind of talk."
"Fine, I won't use tails as a measure, but that doesn't change the fact that the Nine-Tails is the strongest. I originally thought that with your presence and overwhelming aura, you'd at least be second-in-command. But now? I've only unleashed a fraction of the Nine-Tails' power, and you're already trembling. I must say, this is quite the eye-opener."
Kakuzu's words pushed Kokuō over the edge. His back legs dug into the earth, his front hooves bracing forward—like an arrow drawn taut, ready to be released.
"You bastard! Shut up!!"
With a deafening roar, Kokuō charged at Kakuzu. But before he could close the distance, Kakuzu simply lifted his right hand and gave a subtle wave.
In an instant, the nine monstrous figures—Nine Masked Beasts—rushed toward Kokuō from all directions. Kakuzu, unfazed, leapt back and landed atop a nearby hill, watching the battle unfold with a detached amusement.
Having summoned these creatures to fight for him, Kakuzu could afford to stand aside as a spectator, much like someone who had paid for a front-row seat to witness a clash of titans.
Make no mistake—Nine Masked Beasts was far from weak. Back when Kakuzu had subdued them, it had been a near-death struggle. Each of the nine creatures had its own distinct form—some bore tiger-like stripes, some were humanoid, and one even wielded a scythe reminiscent of the Shinigami itself.
Unlike normal summoned creatures, the Nine Masked Beasts were manifestations of the Nine-Tails' hatred. They did not possess true life, only an unyielding drive for combat. They resided in a separate dimension, emerging only when called upon. Their individual strength could be compared to that of the Akatsuki members. In fact, each of the nine entities corresponded to the rings worn by the Akatsuki:
Azure, White, Vermilion, Black, Sky, South, North, Three, Jewel.
While they wouldn't stand a chance in a one-on-one duel against Akatsuki members, their collective power was nothing to scoff at. Each creature was at least as strong as a high-ranking Jonin. Some could even walk on air, and, crucially, they lacked physical bodies, making them nearly impossible to kill. The only way to defeat them was to completely exhaust their chakra, at which point they would return to their dimension.
In essence, the Nine Masked Beasts was a younger, less refined version of the Akatsuki—less terrifying, but still formidable. Even a Kage-level opponent would struggle if caught in their relentless assault.
From his vantage point, Kakuzu observed the battle with a calm detachment.
Ten minutes passed.
Finally, with a furious bellow, Kokuō's sharp horn impaled the last of the Masked Beasts. The creature's form wavered, becoming translucent before dissipating into a gust of wind, retreating back into the final gate—Jewel.
The battlefield fell silent. The Nine Masked Beasts had been vanquished.
Standing atop the hill, Kakuzu stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders, his joints cracking from the motion. Though the battle had lasted only ten minutes, the fact that the Masked Beasts had managed to hold their ground against an actual Tailed Beast for that long was proof of their formidable power.
Even though the summons had disappeared, Kokuō was left battered. His tails, legs, and torso were covered in wounds. The pristine white fur of the Five-Tails was marred by numerous cuts and bruises.
Kakuzu pushed off the hill with a light step, landing gracefully on the ground.
Kokuō turned to face him, his breath coming out in visible puffs of hot air. His eyes burned with fury as he glared at Kakuzu. A fresh scar ran across his otherwise unblemished white face—a lasting mark from the Masked Beasts's combined assault.
A battle that had ended with him scarred—an affront that Kokuō could hardly tolerate.
Yet Kakuzu paid no mind to Kokuō's seething anger. He took a slow, deliberate step forward and spoke, his voice calm and analytical.
"Five-Tails, your chakra reserves do exceed that of the Three-Tails. I'll give you that."
"During our fight, you even utilized Wind Release. But that's not your true affinity, is it?"
"That must be your strongest attack, right?"
Kakuzu halted his steps and extended a hand, pointing directly at Kokuō's head. Four sharp horns gleamed under the sunlight, reflecting a bright luster. Those four things—Kokuō's greatest weapons and his trump card. Kakuzu had witnessed it firsthand: even towering mountains crumbled to dust when struck by those horns. Their sharpness was terrifying. He suspected that even a Tailed Beast's hide wouldn't stand a chance against them.
This must be Kokuō's deadliest weapon. Just like the Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tails rarely used jutsu in battle. No one would believe a centuries-old fox didn't know ninjutsu—he simply had no need for it. With his massive chakra reserves, a single Tailed Beast Bomb could reshape the landscape. No jutsu could compare. That was why he didn't bother using them. And against weaker enemies, a casual swipe of his tails was enough to flatten an entire forest.
Gazing at Kokuō's most prized weapons, Kakuzu's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint.
"Those four horns of yours… they cut through iron like butter. Mind sharing one with me?"
The moment Kakuzu spoke, a thunderous roar shook the skies.
"ROOOOAAARRR!"
Kokuō bellowed furiously, feeling as if he were being mocked.
"You bastard, stand still! I'm killing you today!"
With an explosive temper, Kokuō dove at him once more.
Kakuzu wasn't about to humor him. Pressing his hands together, he activated his technique.
"Sage Mode—open!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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