Naruto: The Tale of an Otsutsuki

Just as TenTen readied her glowing fishing rod to join the battle, the confrontation between Darui and Kinkaku and Ginkaku took a sudden turn.

When Ginkaku threatened Darui by holding Samui hostage, Samui, unwilling to become a burden, made a shocking decision—she chose to sacrifice herself without hesitation.

Understanding her resolve, Darui also acted decisively, unleashing Storm Release: Laser Circus at Ginkaku, who held Samui captive.

"You really deserve to be ninjas of the Cloud Village," Kinkaku muttered, impressed by their fearless actions.

However, when Darui's attack was about to strike Samui, it abruptly shifted direction and hit Ginkaku's back instead. Caught off guard, Ginkaku staggered from the impact, loosening his grip on Samui.

"Cough!" Samui, now temporarily freed, stumbled forward, trying to distance herself from Kinkaku and Ginkaku's control.

But just as she was escaping, a powerful suction force enveloped her body.

"Why?! I didn't say anything!" Samui shouted in confusion as she felt herself being pulled uncontrollably toward the Benihisago.

Whoosh! Just as Samui thought she was doomed to be sealed forever, a glowing, thread-like line shot through the air. The line wrapped tightly around her ankle and pulled her back, resisting the gourd's suction.

"What's going on?! Why can't I pull her in?!" Ginkaku, holding the Benihisago, exclaimed in disbelief.

"It's that woman!" Kinkaku growled, his eyes following the thread to its source—TenTen, gripping the fishing rod with all her strength. "She's interfering! I'll kill her!"

Clang! As Kinkaku charged toward TenTen with the Bashosen, Darui swiftly blocked his path, his blade clashing against the fan.

"Great work!" Darui shouted over his shoulder. "I remember your name—TenTen. Don't let go of that line! Reinforcements are on their way; just hold out until then!"

Darui wasn't one to remember names easily, but TenTen's unique ability had left an impression. With her vast arsenal of scrolls and tools, she had once served as a "mobile armory" during a supply mission, earning his respect.

"Leave it to me!" TenTen called back, determination blazing in her eyes.

The fishing rod in her hands continued to siphon chakra at an alarming rate. If not for the chakra-boosting pill she had taken earlier, she would've collapsed from exhaustion by now.

Sweat dripping, TenTen tightened her grip on the rod, channeling even more chakra into it. She pulled back with all her might, trying to win the tug-of-war against the Benihisago, keeping Samui suspended in mid-air.

"This is impossible!" Ginkaku grumbled. Ever since he obtained the Benihisago, no one had ever resisted its power. The fact that TenTen was interfering frustrated him to no end.

The Benihisago, once it initiated its sealing process, rarely required continuous chakra input. But because Samui wasn't sealed immediately, the gourd now consumed enormous amounts of Ginkaku's chakra to maintain the suction.

As the seconds dragged on, Ginkaku, despite his near-infinite chakra from the Impure World Reincarnation, began to feel the strain.

"Kinkaku! I can't hold out much longer!" he shouted in desperation.

"What?!" Kinkaku was momentarily shocked. He and Ginkaku had consumed the Nine Tails' flesh, giving them chakra reserves rivaling a Jinchuriki. Yet even with such power, Ginkaku was nearing his limit.

Understanding the situation, Kinkaku shoved Darui back with a powerful swing of the Bashosen. With no more restraint, he unleashed his chakra with reckless abandon.

Boom! Blood-red chakra erupted from Kinkaku, wrapping around him like a burning cloak. Several tails, condensed from the Nine Tails' chakra, flicked violently behind him. His teeth and nails sharpened into claws, his form becoming more feral as his transformation progressed.

"Rooaar!!" Kinkaku's guttural roar sent shockwaves across the sea, making the water surge violently.

"This is..." Darui muttered, stunned. Though he'd heard of it, seeing Kinkaku manifest the Tailed Beast Cloak firsthand was still shocking.

Under normal circumstances, Kinkaku was already a formidable opponent. With the addition of the Tailed Beast Cloak, his strength became overwhelming. Darui's mind raced as he weighed his options.

"The best move is to stall him," Darui thought, gripping his blade tightly. "But if I step back, TenTen will be exposed, and Samui will be sealed for good... This is bad."

Just then, a calm voice echoed in Darui's mind. "Darui, this is Shikaku. I'm contacting you through the Intelligence Division's jutsu."

"Shikaku..." Darui whispered, relieved to hear the familiar voice of the Allied Shinobi Forces' strategist.

"We understand the situation on your end," Shikaku continued. "Reinforcements are en route and will arrive within the hour. For now, focus on stalling Kinkaku and Ginkaku. TenTen knows her role—trust her and follow my plan."

"Understood," Darui replied without hesitation, placing his faith in Shikaku's strategy. Just as he had trusted Samui earlier, he now trusted TenTen and their commander's plan.

"From now on, no one will stop me!" Kinkaku roared, his crimson eyes locked onto TenTen and Darui. His bloodlust surged, and the air around him grew heavy with chakra.

(End of Chapter)