The heavy impact drew a trail of blood from Gaara's mouth, his body shaking violently under Tejima Shinichi's grip.
Yet the pain only drove him madder—eyes bloodshot, locking onto Tejima Shinichi with deathly intent.
"I'll kill you…"
"I will… kill you…"
"You're strong… but killing you… will prove…"
His words turned incoherent, broken by ragged gasps.
At last, a roar tore from the depths of his throat!
Roar—!!!
The sand around him stopped drifting aimlessly; it gathered, twisted, and swelled in frenzied haste!
A fearsome Chakra far greater than before erupted, its malice so thick it choked the air.
Boom!
The ground quaked. Centered on Gaara, a tidal wave of sand shot skyward, its hue darkening to a sinister reddish-yellow.
Sensing immense force pushing against his palm, Tejima Shinichi released his hold and leapt back several meters, landing steadily.
Where Gaara had stood, a swelling mass of sand now replaced him—a monstrosity taking shape.
Grains of sand clumped and molded the outline of a beast crouched low: colossal claws, a bloated torso, and a tail of sand laced with eerie patterns whipping wildly overhead.
The half-form of Shukaku, the One-Tail, bared its fangs for the first time.
Roar—!!!
From the creature's head, Gaara's eyes were now wholly overtaken by bestial frenzy; his deafening howl shook the air.
The thick tail smashed the ground, ripping layer after layer of earth free; stones and grit flew everywhere as dust and sandstorm swallowed the woods, trees swaying in the gritty gale.
"S-Shukaku?!"
Nearby, an injured Kankuro sat slumped on the ground, face bloodless, voice trembling.
"He… he's actually doing this now…"
Temari was equally pale, her hand clutching the Giant Folding Fan shaking uncontrollably.
"We're done for… He didn't even use that Jutsu, yet he's lost control…"
…Meanwhile—
Even Uchiha Sasuke and Orochimaru, disguised as a Kusagakure ninja, locked in their own fight, froze at the sudden surge of Chakra in the distance, turning in shock toward its source.
"This Chakra…" Golden vertical slits flashed with excitement in Orochimaru's eyes. "Oh? The scent of the One-Tail…"
With that, he tore his gaze away and looked back at Uchiha Sasuke.
"Things are getting ever more amusing over there," he murmured, long tongue sliding across his lips. "I'd best pick up the pace."
Orochimaru's eyes fixed on Sasuke.
"Show me your strength…!"
Sasuke tightened his grip on the Kunai, breathing quickening.
"Let's see," Orochimaru stepped forward, "just how far the genius of the Uchiha clan can go!"
…On the field, Kankuro and Temari exchanged glances, terror mirrored in their eyes.
"The scroll!" Kankuro suddenly croaked, voice hoarse. "We'll hand it over!"
Frantically he pulled a scroll from his ninja tool pouch and, without looking, hurled it toward Kobayashi Takeshi.
"Take it! It's the Earth Scroll!"
Kobayashi caught it, frowned.
"Earth Scroll." He glanced at Satō Yū, regretful. "Same as ours."
Satō Yū nodded, eyes still warily on the Sand siblings.
After surrendering the scroll, Kankuro and Temari immediately turned toward the horrific scene unfolding nearby.
"Gaara!" Kankuro shouted. "Stop this now!"
"Enough! We've given them the scroll!" Temari stepped forward anxiously. "No more fighting!"
But their cries were swallowed by the howling sandstorm.
Half-transformed and bereft of reason, Gaara swung a titanic claw of sand at Tejima Shinichi, grit filling the sky in its wake.
"Die!"
Far from retreating, Tejima Shinichi advanced; in his right palm Chakra spun at furious speed.
"Rasengan!"
In a flash he dodged the claw and slammed the azure sphere into the head of the Shukaku-form.
Bang!
Sand exploded outward as the Rasengan bored a gaping crater into Gaara's sandy face.
Gaara—sand-body and all—was hurled backward, crashing heavily to the ground.
Agony and repeated defeat burned away the last vestige of his sanity.
"Aaaargh—!!!"
A savage roar burst from his warped throat.
More sand surged from the earth, frenziedly patching the gap—denser and wilder than before.
Amid fresh waves of sand, the Tailed Beast form not only regenerated but grew taller and bulkier.
"Not enough… still not enough…"
"More… give me… MORE power!!!"
…In a thicket not far from the battle, three figures crouched, holding their breath as they watched.
In Inuzuka Kiba's arms, Akamaru whined softly, every hair bristling.
"W-what is that monster…" Kiba's voice cracked, eyes fixed on the half-tailed Gaara. "What the hell is Shinichi even fighting?! Akamaru's terrified!!"
"Personally," Shino Aburame adjusted his shades, his gaze sliding toward Tejima Shinichi, his expression complicated.
"I think the scarier one… is Shinichi!!!"
At that, both Kiba and Hinata nodded dumbly.
Sure, the transformed Sand Ninja was horrifying—but the guy batting that monster around like a child… wasn't he far more terrifying?!!
It was a one-sided obliteration!
The realization left all three sweating bullets.
Their squad had crept closer upon hearing the fierce battle, hoping to swoop in once both sides were worn out and snatch a scroll!!
Instead they witnessed this—Tejima Shinichi overwhelming his foe, who then morphed into something even more nightmarish.
Just then, Hyuga Hinata, her Byakugan active as she tracked the monstrous Chakra flow inside Gaara, suddenly paled and cried out in alarm!
"Watch out!"
Danger!