Starts In Konoha: Unlocking Shadow Clone

Bang bang bang!

Kurama knew his greatest advantage lay in his speed, so he launched a rapid assault right from the start. Rushing up to Shukaku, he unleashed a flurry of blows to Shukaku's head.

Shukaku's speed couldn't match Kurama's, but he had incredible durability. After taking a pounding, he remained unharmed, looking as lively as ever.

"Is that all you've got? Are you just scratching an itch?"

Shukaku laughed mockingly, his eyes full of disdain, clearly trying to provoke Kurama.

Despite knowing it was a taunt, Kurama couldn't hold back his temper. He took one long stride forward, lifting his massive red paw, and aimed to smack Shukaku into the ground.

But Shukaku had anticipated this, and a look of triumph could be seen in his eyes.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Opening his mouth, Shukaku unleashed a powerful gust of wind that struck Kurama square in the chest like a massive air cannon.

At such close range, Kurama had no chance to dodge.

Though the attack didn't injure him, it caused Kurama to stagger and lean back.

Without pausing to mock Kurama, Shukaku shot another tornado-like blast, instantly drying the muddy terrain. When Kurama collapsed to the ground, all that remained was soft sand.

But Shukaku wasn't being considerate… the reappearance of the sand was no cushion for Kurama.

He slapped his massive yellow claws onto the ground, which turned to sand.

Then, the sand on the arena's ground began to ripple like water.

Before Kurama could get up, the sand beneath him swirled into a vortex with a powerful pull, as if it was trying to devour him.

Faced with such a trap, Kurama couldn't help but snort coldly.

This trick may be effective against others, but to him, it was trivial.

Standing over dozens of meters tall, Kurama was far too massive for a simple quicksand whirlpool to contain him.

Just as he was about to break free from the trap, Shukaku leaped into the air, landing heavily on Kurama's back.

With Shukaku's heavy frame pressing down, Kurama, who had just started to get up, was forced back into the quicksand whirlpool.

"You're done for this time!"

Shukaku laughed strangely, and his two big yellow claws turned into sand again, wrapping Kurama's whole body. With the help of the quicksand whirlpool, Kurama was completely trapped in the sand.

Like Gaara's Sand Coffin, the quicksand tightened around Kurama, the pressure increasing until it threatened to crush Kurama's Chakra Form entirely.

This move seemed simple, but it was highly effective. Even Kurama found himself unable to resist.

But how could Kurama give up so easily?

Within the quicksand, he opened his gaping jaws, quickly forming a sphere of chaotic energy, a mixture of black and white Chakra, right before his mouth.

"Are you crazy? How can you use Bijudama here? If you hurt Naruto's companions, you'll never see the light of day again!"

Shukaku couldn't help but shouted in alarm.

At Shukaku's words, Kurama's eyes widened. Shukaku is not wrong. If he really unleashed the Bijudama, its terrifying power could level the entire arena, if not an entire village.

If Naruto became furious over the destruction, Kurama might never be allowed out again.

But now that the Bijudama was ready, he couldn't just dissipate it.

Kurama couldn't help but look at Shukaku pleadingly, hoping that Shukaku could block it with his sand.

"Are you crazy? You think too highly of me!"

Shukaku cursed angrily. Even if he could withstand one Bijudama, it would likely cost him his fighting strength.

After all, Shukaku wasn't in his true form. He was merely a Chakra manifestation created through Gaara and didn't have his full power.

"Upward… aim for the sky!"

In desperation, Shukaku released the binding sands.

Whoosh!

With a swift dash, Kurama sprang upward, stepping on Shukaku's head to gain momentum and launched himself higher into the sky. Then, aiming for the sky, he released the dangerous bomb.

Boom!

The Bijudama fly for some time before exploding, filling the sky with a thunderous roar. Winds howled, and the sky looked like shredded cloth as the blast shattered the clouds. The once sparse rain clouds now released a downpour.

By the time Kurama landed, a light drizzle had begun falling over the venue.

Inside the venue, silence reigned… everyone was stunned into silence.

While previous battles, no matter how intense, remained within control, the power wielded by these two Biju was on a whole other level, which is utterly destructive. Had the Bijudama not been directed skyward, no one in the vicinity would have survived.

"They say foxes are smart, but how could you be so dumb? "

Shukaku grumbled, still shaken.

He naturally didn't care much about the people present, but Naruto and Gaara both had people they cared for. If things had gone wrong, even he might have faced consequences.

"Forget it, I'm done fighting. I'm heading back!"

Kurama said, scratching his nose, realizing he'd gotten carried away. Continuing the battle would leave him with no other options but more Bijudama.

Within the limited conditions, he really cannot display his true abilities.

Then, Kurama's massive form shrank rapidly, disappearing back into Naruto's body.

"What are you staring at? Do you want to fight me?" Naruto snapped impatiently.

"No, no! I'll be on my way."

Shukaku replied sheepishly. He didn't want to be implicated in the trouble caused by Kurama. Knowing when to quit, he hurried back to Gaara's body.

'Whoever wants to clean up this mess can do so, it wasn't my fault anyway.'

"Huh? Why is it raining? Who won?"

Gaara muttered, yawning as he opened his bleary eyes.

The last thing he remembered was muddy ground, but now, it was all sand, and the sky looked bleak. From what he can see, an epic battle must have unfolded just now.

"That stinky fox nearly caused a disaster. We didn't finish our fight, but by rights, this round goes to me." Shukaku's voice sounded in Gaara's mind.

Hearing this, Gaara couldn't help but smile. After all, Shukaku's victory was his victory too.

'But… what disaster?'

Before he could ask, he saw Naruto's face darkened.

"Are you alright, Naruto?" Gaara asked.

Naruto took a deep breath, waved his hand and said, "I'm fine, I guess."

Though Kurama's reckless use of Bijudama could have led to disaster, no casualties had occurred, leaving room for things to smooth over.

Just now, his shadow clone in the audience has gone to find Sandaime. Now, it depends on how Sandaime will appease the audience.

Moments later, a figure appeared in the arena. It was none other than Sandaime.

Puffing on his pipe, he gathered his words and began to address the crowd, "As many of you know, Naruto and Gaara are Jinchuriki, hosts to Biju sealed within them. The massive figures you saw moments ago were not released Biju, but these two's manifestations of the Biju's Chakra. This was a controlled battle, not a rampage. Please, everyone, rest assured..."