Naruto: The Sage Body of Konoha

The few mission files handed to Heiyan by Hiruzen Sarutobi were mostly A-ranked, even S-ranked missions.

Among them, Kosuke Maruboshi and Might Duy had headed toward the Land of Sand and Land of Stone. Their mission was to monitor the movements of the Sand Village and the Stone Village, two major ninja villages.

Jiraiya, on the other hand, had once again been summoned by Gamamaru and gone to Mount Myoboku for further training. It appeared his journey this time involved cooperating with Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima to practice the Sage Art: Amphibian Technique.

This meant Mount Myoboku intended to use Jiraiya as their link to play an even bigger role in the shinobi world.

What troubled Heiyan was Tsunade's S-ranked mission.

According to the records, she took a few Konoha Anbu to the edge of the Land of Fire to meet up with rogue ninja from Lightning Country and swap intel.

Over the past decade, the Land of Lightning had remained unstable until the Third Raikage took power. Through iron-fisted purges, he gradually transformed Kumogakure into an impregnable fortress. Afterwards, the militaristic Land of Lightning began expanding outward again, soon coming into conflict with the Land of Fire.

This time, those meeting Tsunade and her team were survivors of great purges within Kumogakure. They brought vast quantities of top-secret intelligence from the village, requesting in return that Konoha provide them protection.

For Konoha, this seemed like an unexpected windfall—an opportunity not only to obtain crucial information about an enemy nation but also potentially gain defectors from Kumogakure itself.

So after weighing the risks, Hiruzen sent Tsunade and a handpicked Anbu squad on the mission.

But there was one problem—

These rogue Cloud ninjas claimed themselves to be kinsmen of the Gold and Silver Brothers, with their leader boldly declaring himself Lord Takemikazuchi.

What are the odds?

"Heiyan, is something wrong?"

Seeing Heiyan frowning silently, Hiruzen spoke up. Two days ago, Konoha's spies in Kumogakure did indeed report back, indicating that the village was conducting widespread searches for relatives of the Gold and Silver Brothers.

As the Third Hokage, he had cautiously verified the intelligence before dispatching Tsunade and her team.

"Hokage-sama, regarding these so-called kinsmen—Lord Takemikazuchi... Well... that's actually me."

Heiyan let out a sigh.

"This..." Shock immediately spread across Hiruzen's face. Then he quickly realized—the supposed defectors seeking refuge might just be a trap set by Kumogakure.

"I'll bring Tsunade back!"

Without waiting for Hiruzen to respond, Heiyan left those words behind and rushed out of the Hokage office like the wind.

After leaving Konoha, Heiyan quickly made his way behind the village, found a secluded spot, and summoned the Sage Thundercloud.

Whoosh!

He leaped up, stepping onto the Sage Thundercloud, determined his direction before speeding off like lightning.

One day later,

In an ancient forest at the northeastern border of the Land of Fire.

Mounted on the cloud, Heiyan arrived at a hillside halfway through and looked ahead.

Dang! Dang! Dang! The sound of bells echoed through the trees.

From the distant woods came the sound of clashing weapons, followed by a violent explosion and thunderous impact. Large swathes of trees toppled, startling flocks of birds into flight, while rising dust soared into the heavens.

All of this signaled that a fierce battle was about to erupt ahead.

At this moment, Heiyan's eyebrows knitted together. He had sensed an immense chakra—extremely savage, wildly uncontrollable—unlike anything belonging to a human. This chakra was even more powerful than what he'd encountered from the Three-Tails, Six-Tails, and Two-Tails.

Could it possibly be...

Realizing this, Heiyan's expression changed dramatically. Immediately activating the Shifting Body Technique, he transformed into a red streak of light and rapidly approached the battlefield.

In a clearing within the woods,

The ground was filled with craters, and numerous kunai and shuriken scattered in every direction. Several Konoha Anbu ninjas wearing animal masks lay sprawled on the ground—all fatally struck in vital areas like their throats and hearts with single decisive blows.

A beautiful blonde kunoichi knelt upright, gripping a kunai while gasping for breath. Perched on her shoulder, a small blue-and-white slug exuded chakra, slowly mending her wounds.

This female ninja was naturally Tsunade.

However, her current condition wasn't optimistic at all. Katsuyu's healing offered little more than temporary relief—almost like trying to fill a bucket with a leak.

Who could have killed several elite Konoha Anbu members and driven the legendary Sannin Tsunade to such desperation?

It was a young man around twenty years old. A lightning-shaped birthmark marked his right eye; his hair was half white, half green. In his hand, he tightly gripped an elaborately designed ninja blade, its tip steadily dripping fresh blood.

Behind him, three brown octopus-like tails radiated red chakra, lifting him high above so he could look down upon Tsunade.

This person was none other than the first Jinchuriki of Gyuki—the Eight-Tails—known as Burubi.

He was the cousin of The Fourth Raikage and also the mentor of B. Due to his exceptional ninjutsu abilities, noble lineage, and great talents, he was chosen as the host for the Eight-Tails. Moreover, Gyuki held Burubi in high regard, believing him capable of becoming the perfect Jinchuriki.

From this, one could easily tell that this individual's power ranked among the top elites of Kumogakure.

"So this is all the strength possessed by the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage? I was eager to witness the legendary Wood Release technique, yet you don't even know how to use it. Truly disappointing."

Burubi stared at Tsunade without expression, then shook his head slightly and said mockingly, "It seems Hashirama himself was nothing more than a name on paper. Otherwise, how could his descendants become so weak?"

Creak.

Upon hearing these words, Tsunade tightened her fists silently, glaring furiously at Burubi. His casual mockery felt exactly like a precision surgeon's scalpel, cutting precisely into the weakest spot in her heart.

Earlier during the battle, Tsunade had originally matched Burubi evenly—even holding a slight advantage. She once forced him back repeatedly through her extraordinary Monster Strength alone.

But everything reversed instantly once Burubi activated Gyuki's power.

To deal with the tailed beast-form Burubi, Tsunade summoned a Katsuyu Clone. However, with her chakra reserves, the summoned slug was still not big or strong enough and was quickly defeated.

At this moment, Tsunade felt deeply powerless once again.

She hated herself for not inheriting the Wood Release bloodline limit. If she had that power, she could easily handle tailed beasts just like her grandfather Hashirama Senju.

"Konoha has flourished for thirty years — now its time wanes. I've heard the Senju Clan is down to just you. Then allow me, in the name of the Yotsuki Clan, to write the final chapter of your clan's history."

As Burubi spoke, he walked toward Tsunade, pronouncing her death sentence in a cold tone.

In his heart, the Yotsuki Clan of Kumogakure was the unmatched family in the world of shinobi. They would eventually march south into the Land of Fire and take over Konoha.

At this life-or-death moment,

Tsunade gritted her teeth and prepared to risk everything by using the Reverse Summoning technique, hoping to transport herself tens of thousands of miles away to Shikkotsu Forest.

She knew this was a crazy act — nearly a one-in-ten chance of survival. But deep in her heart, even being caught in spatial turbulence (violent space distortions) was better than dying by the enemy's blade.

However, just as Tsunade began forming hand seals — an explosion erupted!

"Hmm?"

Surprised, Burubi leaped backward over ten meters high, dodging the attack. The next second, that blue fireball exploded in the woods beneath him, starting a raging inferno.

Who is it?

Landing on a tree branch, Burubi narrowed his eyes and stared into the direction the fireball had come from.

Deep within the dark woods, a tall figure emerged with graceful feline steps. Her posture was noble and elegant, her legs long, and she moved silently — like a cat in perfect control.

"Have reinforcements arrived from Konoha?"

Burubi frowned, watching this strange woman who had appeared unexpectedly, instinctively tightening his grip on his ninja sword. His gut told him this beautiful catgirl was extremely dangerous.

Meanwhile, Tsunade stopped making seals, staring uncertainly at the catgirl who had saved her.

She was sure the woman wasn't from Konoha — she'd never seen her before.

Just then, the catgirl halted her steps, glanced at Tsunade, confirmed her injuries weren't life-threatening, and then locked eyes with Burubi once more.

Good thing I made it in time.

Inside the catgirl armor, Heiyan sighed in relief.

He had originally been wearing the white Shanwenjia armor with a cape, but since his alias, Lord Takemikazuchi, was currently harassing Akagakure, he couldn't use that identity. Also, facing an Eight-Tails jinchuriki meant he couldn't afford carelessness. After weighing his options carefully, Heiyan chose [the Two-Tails Catgirl Armor] again.

Swoosh!

Without wasting a word, he extended sharp, long claws from both hands and charged at Burubi like a streak of lightning.

Unwilling to back down, Burubi swung his sword and leaped from the branch, slicing toward Heiyan.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Both sides exchanged dozens of blows in a short time, their claws and ninja blades colliding and sparking. The battle had become fiercely intense from the very beginning.

Burubi hailed from Kumogakure, where ninjas generally mastered swordsmanship—and he was undoubtedly the best among them, his blade skills reaching a level beyond mere technique.

Yet in comparison, his opponent proved even superior.

Heiyan felt instinctively that ever since donning the Two-Tails' armor, he'd gained raw feline combat instincts. His body moved with newfound agility, his reflexes sharpened, and his speed and motion perception had multiplied several-fold. All these enhancements gave him the edge in close combat, making him deadly and fluid in every strike.

Tsunade took cover behind some nearby bushes, staring intently at the fight unfolding between the two.

Suddenly, she felt like this mysterious woman truly resembled a cat toying with its prey—and Burubi was that mouse.

Swish!

On the open lot, Heiyan and Burubi charged toward each other again, their figures crossing paths in an instant.

Lowering his head, Heiyan found one of his cat paws severed cleanly by Burubi's blade. But this didn't mean he had lost the duel—because—

Boom!

A massive octopus tail soared high into the air behind Burubi, then crashed heavily to the ground.

Heiyan had sliced one of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's tails clean off with his cat claw.

"What?!"

Furious beyond measure, Burubi poured a tremendous amount of chakra into his blade. Immediately, the sword vibrated rapidly, unleashing a Lightning Release Vibration Wave.

Die!

Burubi shot forward like lightning once more, slicing downward through the air toward Heiyan. This move, "Supersonic Vibration Lightning Blade," would cleave this woman's body clean in half, leaving her corpse unrecognizable.

Facing Burubi's furious killing strike, Heiyan's eyes narrowed, hesitation gone. His left hand flicked out sharply—

Snap!

With a pleasant snapping sound, the Demon-Subduing Chain flew from Heiyan's palm, speeding toward Burubi faster than lightning, striking straight at his face.

Crack!

This red chakra chain smashed into Burubi's sword upon contact, breaking it cleanly in two, then kept going, delivering a fierce lash onto the man himself.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Burubi immediately flew backward, crashing through seven or eight trees along the way. Ultimately, only thanks to the Eight-Tails' chakra did he survive.

This was the power of Kekkei Tota (a rare combination of multiple nature transformations).

Snap!

While whipping the Demon-Subduing Chain, Heiyan approached Burubi with elegant feline steps, exuding a graceful yet cruel aura, just like a queen wielding a whip.

"Roar!"

Burubi had snapped—pure rage now fueling his every move. Letting out a furious roar, he donned the red Tailed Beast Cloak, even forming white skeletal plating over his body.

As a nearly perfect Jinchuriki of the Eight-Tails, his control over the beast's power surpassed others by far.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Opening his mouth, Burubi fired a series of small [Tailed Beast Ball]s in succession. Though these required no charging, their destructive force remained formidable—certainly no ordinary ninja could withstand such attacks.

Swish!

Heiyan swung the [Demon-Subduing Chain] in his hand like a colossal dragon dancing wildly. It struck down one Tailed Beast after another—smashing some into oblivion. Explosions erupted all over the woods.

"What kind of ninjutsu is this?!" Burubi thought to himself in shock. The red chain in that woman's hands had shattered his Tailed Beast Ball like it was nothing—an utterly absurd sight.

Refusing to accept this, he launched even more miniature Tailed Beast Balls, some of which were aimed at Tsunade, who was hiding away from the battlefield.

Injured badly and barely able to move, Tsunade could only watch helplessly as the Tailed Beast Balls hurtled toward her.

Just then—

Whoosh!

Heiyan extended his right hand, sending out the [Celestial Binding Chain] from his palm. At lightning speed, it raced ahead of the incoming Tailed Beast Balls and reached Tsunade first.

Then, under his control, the chain coiled around her slim waist and pulled her through the air for tens of meters.

"Ahh!"

Tsunade gasped in surprise as she soared toward Heiyan and was caught midair by his right arm wrapped around her waist.

The moment they landed looked quite intimate. However, Heiyan's mind wasn't on Tsunade at all but instead on the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki opposite him.

If Burubi fully transformed into the Full Tailed Beast Form, unleashing Gyuki's power, his strength should be roughly equal to that of the Third Raikage. Yet unlike the Third Raikage, Gyuki, as a Tailed Beast, was in fact perfectly countered by Heiyan's [Demon-Subduing Chain].

Therefore, if Heiyan gave it his all, he was confident he could capture Gyuki, depriving Akagakure of a major combat force.

Still...

Only now did Heiyan turn his head slightly to glance at the Tsunade he held in his arms.

Her physical condition had deteriorated badly and urgently needed treatment. Plus, fighting with such a living person clinging onto him would only limit his movements and prevent him from performing at full strength.

Hence, Heiyan ultimately decided to retreat first and ensure Tsunade's safety.

This battle could always wait for another day.

With that thought, Heiyan wasted no more time. He shifted Tsunade from his right arm to his left. Then, from his right palm, he shot out the [Celestial Binding Chain] again.

Rattle!

As the [Celestial Binding Chain] flew toward Burubi, it stretched longer and split apart mid-air. Dozens of chains wove together, finally forming a massive red net that completely engulfed the semi-transformed Burubi.

Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!

The net tightened continuously, its sealing runes glowing intensely and gradually suppressing Burubi.

"Burubi, release me now!" echoed the frantic roar of Gyuki inside Burubi's mind. The mighty Tailed Beast felt an unprecedented crisis at that moment.

"Arrrgh!"

Burubi didn't care anymore. To fight against the power of the [Celestial Binding Chain], he could only fully unleash Gyuki.

Roar!

The transformation came with a roar that rocked the earth. Burubi's body rapidly grew—two meters, five meters, ten meters... From his back sprouted eight massive octopus-like tails lashing wildly in all directions, flattening trees surrounding him.

Crack!

Under such terrifying force, the [Celestial Binding Chain] net finally shattered. Countless chains snapped and turned into dissipating red chakra.

The original form of the Eight-Tails had finally appeared.

It was a Giant Ox with eight octopus-like tails and two massive horns atop its head, standing at an astonishing height of sixty meters.

As soon as the Eight-Tails emerged, it scanned the surroundings with its lantern-sized eyes, searching for traces of the catgirl and Tsunade.

However, Heiyan had already used the brief moment when Burubi transformed into the Eight-Tails to scoop up Tsunade in a princess carry and flee the scene.

"Roooar!"

Unable to locate its enemies, the Eight-Tails could do nothing but unleash its futile fury by firing Tailed Beast Balls in every direction, obliterating forests and blasting entire mountaintops apart.

It kept at it for more than half an hour, tearing through the land until nothing looked familiar anymore, before retreating back into Burubi's body, handing control back to him.

"The chakra from that woman feels strangely familiar... I think I've encountered it somewhere before."

Before falling asleep, it sent this thought to Burubi.

Gyuki truly lived up to its name — one of the Nine Tailed Beasts known for both might and smarts. It had nearly discovered that the catgirl's chakra originated from the Two-Tails Matatabi.

When Burubi heard this, his face darkened, emotions flashing across it. After silently pondering for a moment, he quickly left the area, heading straight toward Akagakure.

In the forest,

Heiyan carried Tsunade to a safe spot, only realizing after that she had passed out at some point during their escape.

So he carefully laid her down and started channeling his Yang Release chakra into her.

Before long, Tsunade's wounds visibly began scabbing over and flaking off, healing right before one's eyes. Once healed completely, her skin looked smooth and new, like it had never been hurt before.

"Ugh..."

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