Hokage: Immortal, I Open Unlimited Eight Gates

The black bear charged ferociously toward the clones, its powerful claws swiping through the air. The first clone dispersed with a puff of smoke, but the bear didn't pause. With its eyes locked on the remaining targets, it continued its rampage.

Meanwhile, Uzumaki Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto zigzagged through the dense forest, careful to avoid making noise or drawing attention to their actual positions.

"That should hold it off for a bit," Kushina whispered, her voice calm but urgent.

Mikoto glanced back nervously. "I hope so, but that bear looked too smart to be fooled for long."

Suddenly, they heard the loud thud of the bear's claws striking a tree. The black bear had caught on, slamming into the last clone. With the illusion gone, it sniffed the air and roared again, louder this time.

"It's tracking us by scent!" Kushina realized, her eyes narrowing.

Mikoto cursed under her breath. "We can't outrun it forever. What do we do?"

Kushina's expression turned determined. "We fight. I'll distract it, and you use Fire Style to drive it back. If we aim for its injured leg, we might have a chance to drive it off."

Mikoto hesitated. "Are you sure?"

"We don't have time to argue!" Kushina shot back, already forming hand signs.

The black bear emerged from the foliage, its massive frame towering over the two kunoichi. With another ferocious roar, it charged straight at them.

Kushina threw a kunai with an explosive tag attached, aiming directly at the bear's injured leg. "Now, Mikoto!"

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

The explosive tag detonated just as Mikoto's fireball hit its mark. The combination attack engulfed the black bear's leg in flames and smoke. It reared back, letting out an agonized roar, but the momentum of the attack was enough to make it hesitate.

"Keep moving!" Kushina shouted, grabbing Mikoto's arm and pulling her deeper into the forest.

The black bear, still roaring in pain, attempted to follow but stumbled, its wounded leg giving out beneath its weight. Realizing it couldn't continue the chase, it let out one last defiant growl before retreating into the shadows.

Breathing heavily, Kushina and Mikoto finally slowed their pace.

"That was too close," Mikoto said, wiping sweat from her brow.

Kushina grinned, her fiery spirit undeterred. "But we handled it! We're not exactly helpless, you know."

Mikoto chuckled despite herself. "You're impossible, Kushina."

As they made their way back to the others, they shared a relieved laugh. Despite the danger, they knew they had grown stronger together—and that was all that mattered.