Both start in hell: but their talents are multiplied a hundredfold.

Mizuki's five heads tilted back at the same time, and his chakra surged out like boiling magma!

"Lightning Release: Armor!"

The raging lightning instantly enveloped his battered body, transforming into a crackling blue lightning armor that tightly protected him in the center.

Shukaku's claws crashed down with devastating force, colliding violently with the Lightning Release armor.

boom!

The earth trembled, and smoke and dust billowed into the sky.

The blue lightning armor was covered with spiderweb-like cracks, and Mizuki's body was forced into the ground by this enormous force.

The armor shattered inch by inch, and two of the five heads exploded into a bloody mist on the spot.

But Gaara isn't having an easy time either.

The palm of Shukaku's Claw was torn open by the violent lightning of the Lightning Release Armor, leaving a deep, charred wound that exposed the bone, and sand was flowing out of the wound in large quantities.

He clutched his right arm, half-kneeling on the ground, his breathing heavy and labored like that of a wild beast.

Evenly matched.

The smile on Shen Jue's face vanished completely at that moment.

"this one?"

His voice was very soft, but everyone present could hear it clearly.

"Seven or eight bloodline limits, ninjutsu from Konoha and Sunagakure, and I even implanted the First Hokage's cells into you to enhance your vitality."

Shen Jue walked step by step toward Shui Mu, who was struggling to climb out of the pit.

His gaze returned to its previous indifference, even colder than before.

"As a result, they couldn't even defeat a brat who hadn't fully transformed into a tailed beast."

Mizuki looked up, and fear was simultaneously reflected in the eyes of the three remaining heads.

He desperately mobilized the remaining chakra within his body, attempting to reassemble the next layer of lightning armor.

"You have proven your worth." Shen Jue extended his hand.

Temari and Kankuro stood ready, waiting with a hint of fear for Shen Jue to make his move.

Shen Jue reached out, but not towards Gaara, Temari, or Kankuro.

It's Shuimu (水木).

He gently clenched his five fingers in mid-air, and a low hum immediately filled the air.

Temari and Kankuro simultaneously felt an invisible force sweep past them.

All the metal objects on their bodies.

The kunai, senbon, and the puppet joint nails behind Kankuro were all trembling violently, as if being gripped by an invisible giant hand.

Their pupils contracted sharply, and they instinctively took a half-step back.

Shuimu's feelings were a hundred times stronger than theirs.

Every drop of blood, every bone, and every muscle fiber in his body began to resonate uncontrollably the moment that power descended.

It was as if the whole world had suddenly become a giant magnetic field, and his own body had become a piece of iron firmly locked in the very center of that magnetic field.

"No...no!"

Mizuki roared, his three remaining heads twisting wildly, and his six arms simultaneously forming hand seals, attempting to unleash some kind of ninjutsu.

However, the remaining chakra in his body was powerless against the Magnetic Chakra, like a stream crashing into an iron wall, and was forced back into the depths of his meridians.

His fingers froze less than three inches from his body; the hand seals failed to form, and his chakra was not mobilized.

Even the Lightning Release Armor, on which he placed his last hope, was torn to shreds the moment it took shape by an invisible force field.

Shen Jue slightly curled his five fingers.

Shui Mu's body seemed to be lifted into the air by an invisible giant hand, his feet leaving the ground and hovering in mid-air.

That body, which had merged several bloodline limits, was implanted with the cells of the First Hokage, and carried dozens of ninjutsu from Konoha and Sunagakure, was now struggling in vain like a flying insect whose wings had been pinched.

"Ordinary ninjas, plus Konoha villagers who embodied the will of the overlord." Shen Jue's voice was as calm as stating a fact.

"That's all we can do."

"Whether it's the computational power to unleash ninjutsu or the timing of battle."

"They are all too weak."

"The reaction produced by piling up these messy bloodline limits can only be described as tragic."

"Even if it had four extra heads."

"It's also impossible to unleash more than three ninjutsu at the same time."

Shen Jue tilted his head slightly, observing his experimental subjects.

"The conclusion has been reached."

"Inferior materials, without amazing skills and thinking, cannot be used to cultivate experimental subjects to a sufficient level."

"It's my fault for letting you grow up without proper guidance."

At the same time, the remaining head of Mizuki let out a scream.

The three sounds mixed together made everyone present feel a chill run down their spines.

But what's even more terrifying is yet to come.

Mizuki's body began to crumble.

His body, starting from his skin, was as if it had been sliced ​​by some extremely fine and dense blade, breaking down into countless particles that were almost indistinguishable to the naked eye.

Those particles were suspended in the air for less than a breath before being completely disintegrated at the molecular level by the power of the primordial magnetic field.

The calcium in the bones, the iron in the blood, the carbon and nitrogen in the muscles, and the remaining chakra energy in the meridians were all stripped away, separated, and returned to their most primitive form.

Shuimu's struggle reached its peak at that moment.

His six arms flailed wildly, his three heads shook violently, and his mouth was wide open, but he could no longer utter a sound.

Because his vocal cords had decomposed into free carbon atoms, and his lungs had turned into nitrogen and oxygen floating in the air.

Then comes the torso.

Then come the legs.

Finally, there were those three heads, their faces etched with fear.

From beginning to end, it took less than three breaths.

When the last visible speck of dust dissipated in the air, all that remained on Shen Jue's palm was a fist-sized, extremely dense grayish-white powder.

That is the collection of all the non-vaporizable mineral elements in the body of Shuimu.

Iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium—the most solid parts of the human body—are compressed into this tiny, meaningless clump of residue.

Shen Jue flipped his palm over, and the powder fell through his fingers, scattered by the night wind, and mixed into the yellow sand on the ground.

Temari's face was deathly pale.

She had seen many ways to die. Sliced ​​to pieces by wind blades, crushed into bloody mud by sand-bound coffins, riddled with bullets by puppet mechanisms.

But there has never been a way to die so cleanly, so quietly, so completely.

Kankuro's hand holding the puppet scroll was trembling slightly.

He suddenly realized something: if Shen Jue had attacked them just now, their fate would not have been any better than Shui Mu's.

The crow, the black ant, and the salamander, three puppets considered masterpieces in his puppet collection, probably wouldn't have lasted even a second against that power.

Gaara knelt on the ground, clutching the wound on his right arm where sand was still flowing out.

A pair of emerald green eyes stared intently at Shen Jue. His breathing was still heavy, but his eyes now held a hint of fear.

Shen Jue didn't turn around; his gaze remained fixed on the spot where Shui Mu had disappeared, as if he were savoring something.

After a moment, he clicked his tongue softly, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.

"It was my fault."

I've been too harsh on you.

"Mizuki."

"But let's forget about reviving you or anything like that."

"We can have as many experimental materials as we need after leaving Konoha."

Shen Jue seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps saying his final goodbye to Shui Mu.

After all, although Shuimu did not quite meet Shen Jue's expectations, it was one of his initial experimental subjects.

After saying this, he slowly turned around and looked at Temari and Kankuro.

"It's your turn," Shen Jue said calmly.

"Sunagakure ninja, I'm giving you two choices."

"First: Give up Gaara and leave."

"Second: I'll knock you all out and then steal Gaara."

Upon hearing Shen Jue's words, Gaara gritted his teeth and roared, "Bastard!"

In his rage, the wounded Gaara conjured a barrier of sand!

The iron wall of sand was torn to dust like paper by the invisible electromagnetic field in front of Shen Jue!

Just as Temari raised her Kamaitachi, all the metal rings on the fan were crushed by the Magnetic Chakra in the same instant!

Before her wind-escape technique could even take shape, the fan, which was larger than her body, flew out of her hand, swirling in the magnetic field and crashing into a distant sand dune!

Kankuro's chakra threads snapped one by one under the magnetic interference, and the three puppets collapsed to the ground like puppets with broken strings!

He tried to rush over and reconnect to the puppet, but as soon as he took a step, an invisible magnetic lock pinned him to the spot!

He tried his best to raise his arm, his bones creaking and groaning in the magnetic field, but he couldn't move even a single finger!

Gaara let out a beastly roar, and the gourd behind him exploded, spewing out endless sand from his body!

That was Shukaku's power responding to his anger; the sand waterfall, like a tsunami, swept over Shen Jue!

The Shield of the Crane solidified into a sand wall harder than steel, and the Sand Binding Coffin burst out from under Shen Jue's feet, with sand from all directions squeezing inward at the same time!

This was Gaara's strongest attack in his entire life, several times stronger than when he fought Mizuki!

The Death Forest trembled under the ravages of the sandstorm, and the gale whipped Temari and Kankuro's hair wildly through the air!

However, Shen Jue only extended one hand!

A violent magnetic chakra spread from his palm, forming a visible ripple in the air!

Wherever the ripples passed, every grain of sand was magnetized!

They no longer obey Gaara's will, nor respond to Shukaku's commands!

The overwhelming sandstorm seemed to freeze in mid-air for a full breath before it began to flow backwards!

Gaara's eyes widened to their maximum, and his emerald green pupils reflected the most terrifying scene he had ever seen in his life!

His own sand, the sand that carries the power of Shukaku, is turning against him!

The sand-bound coffin wrapped itself around his own legs!

The shield of Shukaku slammed down on his own shoulder with immense force!

He tried his best to regain control of the sand, but the magnetic force was like an invisible giant lock, completely severing the connection between him and the sand!

Shukaku let out a terrified scream from inside his body!

That once arrogant tailed beast was now actually afraid!

Gaara's legs were firmly bound by his own sand!

More sand surged up like a tide, enveloping him layer upon layer!

Temari screamed her younger brother's name, her voice becoming shrill and piercing with despair!

She tried to rush over, but the magnetic lock held her firmly in place, and she could only watch helplessly as Gaara was buried in her own sand!

Kankuro gritted his teeth, his mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood, yet his body remained completely still!

That feeling of helplessness was more suffocating than death itself. They were standing there, less than ten steps away from Gaara, but they couldn't do anything!

The sand finally stopped!

Gaara had only his head sticking out, and for the first time, pure, undisguised fear appeared in his emerald eyes!

Shen Jue walked up to him.

His steps were slow, each step landing on the sand, yet the sound was like drumsticks striking Temari and Kankuro's hearts.

He looked down at Gaara, his eyes calm.

"The vessel of the Tailed Beast." Shen Jue's voice was flat.

"The ultimate weapon that Sunagakure is proud of."

He reached out and his five fingers gripped Gaara's skull!

Gaara's body began to convulse violently, his torso, buried under the sand, struggled frantically, but couldn't even break free of a single grain of sand.

Temari let out a heart-wrenching cry!

Blood and tears welled up in Kankuro's eyes!

They saw a surge of crimson chakra in Gaara's abdomen; it was Shukaku's true form, being pulled inch by inch out of his body by some irresistible force.

Shukaku's howl burst from my love's throat, a sound mixed with the rage and struggle of a wild beast!

"Stop! Stop!" Temari's voice was already hoarse beyond recognition!

She knelt down, her knees slamming into the sand, the magnetic lock bending her spine, but her eyes never left Gaara!

Kankuro's veins were bulging all over his body. He used all his strength to try to break free of the restraints, but the magnetic locks did not budge!

He couldn't even feel the pain anymore, because the mass of despair in his chest had completely devoured all other senses!

Shukaku's form was torn a third of its size out of Gaara's body, and crimson chakra condensed in the air into the outline of a giant tanuki!

The tailed beast's single eye stared intently at Shen Jue, its eyes filled with horror and rage!

"Mere human! Mere mortal! How dare you!"

Before Shukaku could finish its roar, Shen Jue's five fingers suddenly tightened!

The magnetic chakra transformed into countless invisible chains, piercing into Shukaku's chakra form from all directions!

Those chains pierced through the tailed beast's body, locking its limbs, its neck, and every surging power within it!

Shukaku let out the most piercing scream of his life!

The monster that had instilled fear in Sunagakure for generations was now struggling frantically in Shen Jue's palm like a wild dog chained up!

Struggling is futile!

Shen Jue pulled his hand outward, and Shukaku's entire body was uprooted from Gaara's body!

Gaara's body arched violently in that instant, his mouth wide open, but he couldn't make a sound!

His eyes began to glaze over, and his life force drained away from his body like a flood breaking through a dam!

Temari's scream tore through the entire canyon, startling flocks of birds in the distance!

"No! No! Please don't!"

Shen Jue didn't look at her; he didn't even spare Temari a glance.

His entire attention was focused on Shukaku, the tailed beast which he was compressing and sealing layer by layer with his magnetic power!

Shukaku's chakra surged wildly within the magnetic cage, each impact causing the earth to tremble and the air to explode with a sharp bang!

But Shen Jue's hands were as steady as if they were made of iron!

The magnetic cage began to collapse inward, and Shukaku's form was crushed, folded, and compressed inch by inch!

The tailed beast, the size of a small mountain, let out its final scream before being crushed into a fist-sized crimson ball of light!

The ball of light throbbed violently in Shen Jue's palm, like a heart making its final struggle!

Shen Jue flipped his hand and took out a scroll, then pressed the ball of light into it.

The surface of the scroll was covered with densely packed sealing spells, and the crimson light flashed three times before going out completely.

Shouhe was sealed away by Shen Jue!

Gaara's body went completely limp in that instant, like a corpse that had been drained of all its energy.

"What a lament of the weak." Shen Jue sighed and unlocked Temari's magnetic lock.

Temari rushed towards Gaara like a madwoman and hugged him tightly.

"Little brother!" Temari cried uncontrollably.

The fate of a Jinchūriki whose Tailed Beast is sealed is usually only one: death, after the Tailed Beast is forcibly extracted from their body.

This is also why Temari broke down so badly.

"I... I seem to be alright?" Gaara weakly opened his eyes and said in disbelief.

"Huh?" Temari, who was in a state of shock, made the appropriate sound.