"Stay away from me!!!"
Chōmei, who thought having air superiority meant guaranteed safety, screamed pitifully when he saw the spinning, airborne Isobu charging toward him. It was the kind of cry that made onlookers tear up from sympathy.
With no space to dodge inside the barrier, the massive Seven-Tails knew it had no choice but to clash head-on. Otherwise, with Isobu's sheer mass, his smaller frame would be flattened.
At the tip of his sharp mouthparts, a dark Tailed Beast Bomb rapidly condensed. Chōmei's chakra surged as the sphere reached critical mass, unleashing searing energy toward the airborne Isobu.
Sensing the incoming pressure, Isobu—too heavy to maneuver out of the way—jutted his head from his shell, his single crimson eye hardening. The spinning stopped just long enough for a pitch-black sphere to form at his mouth, swelling quickly with destructive energy.
Another classic Tailed Beast Bomb collision. The blast painted the battlefield in blinding light, giving the spectators their money's worth.
"Alright, alright—who's taking this round?"
Gin, megaphone in hand, narrowed his eyes toward the smoke-filled arena. Even he couldn't call the winner this time, so the betting stalls went silent—no gamble was worth it if the house couldn't rig it.
Senju Itama clenched her fists, lips pursed as she prayed for Isobu's victory.
A heavy crash shook the ground, blowing away the lingering smoke. The result was revealed for all to see.
"Whoa—it's the Three-Tails! Thanks to his sturdy defense, he's the last one standing! Congratulations to Uchiha Madara for this round's win!"
Gin raised his flag, confirming Isobu's victory.
Isobu's triumphant bellow echoed through the barrier. At long last, he could prove that aside from Shukaku, he was not the most useless Tailed Beast.
Itama jumped in excitement, waving her cheer sticks. Her exuberant figure drew glances from the women nearby, who instinctively touched their own chests with a faint sense of defeat.
"I want an explanation," Hashirama growled, glaring at his last remaining fighter.
"Cough… I noticed earlier that Chōmei was looking drained—probably still recovering from past injuries," Kurama admitted, legs tensed under Hashirama's suffocating aura.
"I see… Then it's up to you. Don't disappoint me."
"Guaranteed win," Kurama smirked, giving a cheeky "OK" before leaping into the ring.
The oppressive aura of the Nine-Tails immediately silenced the crowd. Whispers rippled about his overwhelming presence, many realizing the legends about him might have actually been toned down.
"Isobu, I suggest surrendering now," Kurama said with mock concern, knowing full well Madara's control removed any chance of that.
Under Madara's command, Isobu showed no fear and charged forward in his signature rolling attack.
Gin's commentary boomed from the sidelines, "Here it is—Isobu's Shadow Roll! Could spell trouble for the Nine-Tails!"
Kurama only scoffed, a Tailed Beast Bomb forming in record time. The colossal blast engulfed Isobu, pinning him against the golden barrier and leaving him charred—and smelling distinctly like grilled seafood.
"Three-Tails is unable to battle. This round goes to the Nine-Tails!" Gin declared without even bothering to check further.
"Too easy," Kurama sneered.
"Madara! Hurry up, Momoha's waiting for me at home!" Hashirama shouted provocatively.
Madara's eyes chilled as he turned to Gyūki. "Can you win?"
"I… sure, no problem!" Gyūki said with false bravado, quickly adjusting his posture under Madara's freezing glare.
"If you lose, I'll make you into steak and takoyaki."
With nothing to lose, Gyūki launched himself into the arena.
"Final round—Nine-Tails vs. Eight-Tails, the deciding match begins!" Gin announced.
Kurama licked his lips. "You sure about this, octopus boy?"
"Can't be helped. Gotta make a living," Gyūki replied, opening with a Tailed Beast Bomb barrage that filled the arena with shockwaves.
When the dust cleared, Kurama walked out without a scratch, fur immaculate.
"You can surrender now," Kurama offered.
"Sorry, not an option," Gyūki said, showing Madara's Sharingan in his eyes.
They abandoned long-range combat, trading devastating physical blows. Kurama's claws tore deep into Gyūki's chest, while Gyūki's fists rattled Kurama's skull.
"Octopus Wrap!" Gyūki roared, wrapping himself in his eight tentacles and spinning into a massive cyclone, pulling Kurama into the vortex and flinging him high into the air.
Gasps filled the crowd as they realized Kurama was over a hundred meters up.
Madara smirked. "Looks like I win—"
"Not so fast. Look again," Tobirama interrupted, pointing upward.
Eyes strained, Uchiha with the sharpest vision saw it first.
"Holy crap, that's huge!" Izuna shouted, spotting the gargantuan black sphere above—a Tailed Beast Bomb the size of a small sun.
It blotted out the sky as it fell.
"Sorry, Gyūki—when you've got chakra to spare, you can do whatever you want," Kurama said coldly before unleashing it.
Hashirama quickly raised a colossal Wooden Golem's faceplate in defense. "Madara! Gin! Get over here!"
"I'll pass. My cousin's got this," Gin said, leaping behind Madara.
"Don't be discouraged—there's always next time… Second Hokage-sama," Gin added slyly.
Madara's glare could have burned through stone.
Without another word, his Susanoo rose, enveloping them both in blue armor as the Tailed Beast Bomb descended.
"Big bro, why did I lose?" Madara asked quietly.
Gin scratched his messy hair. "Hmm… You didn't check the intel carefully enough. I bet it listed each Tailed Beast's rarity. Catch them by rarity next time—you'd win for sure."
The battle for Hokage was over. Next up—the Five Kage Summit.
And this time? It was a friends-and-family game.
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