In the distance, among the thicket of trees that was slightly safer from Shukaku's rampage, Karin leaned against a tree, panting slightly.
Her sturdy golden chakra chains still tightly bound Temari and Kankuro, rendering the two Suna ninjas immobile.
Sakura stood beside Karin, her face still showing a mixed expression of confusion, anxiety, and a little admiration seeing Karin's abilities.
Before them, the few remaining Sand Ninjas stood in a hesitant defensive formation, looking at each other nervously, but clearly with no intention to fight.
"What are you waiting for?!" Temari snapped, trying to break free from the chakra chains.
"Let us go! We have to get out of here, or at least help Gaara!"
One of the senior Sand Ninjas shook his head.
"Temari-sama, with all due respect, you know what happens when Shukaku is fully unleashed. Even with Kazekage-sama's presence, the situation would be very difficult to control. Our mission is the invasion of Konoha, not to become monster bait."
Of course, it wasn't because Karin, a (new) Konoha Genin, had managed to kidnap and hold hostage their Kazekage's daughter and son.
The main reason for their hesitation was the towering figure of Shukaku rampaging not far away, emitting a destructive aura that sent shivers down their spines.
As Sand Village ninjas, they were very familiar with Shukaku's rampage cycle, which occurred almost every few years.
They knew, without the Kazekage's presence and special preparations, there wasn't much they could do to face him.
This time, their mission target was Konoha. After Shukaku was successfully released in enemy territory, technically, they no longer needed to care too much or be responsible for the damage Shukaku would cause.
The monster would move on its own, destroying anything in its path, including Konoha.
That would actually help their mission.
The few Sand Ninjas looked at each other again, then glanced towards Temari and Kankuro who were still being held by Karin.
After thinking for a moment, a cold and pragmatic silent understanding formed among them.
As the daughter and son of the village head, one of them thought, perhaps their sacrifice – if it had to happen – for the success of the greater mission, was acceptable.
So, after exchanging glances once more, the few Sand Ninjas simultaneously turned around and quickly disappeared into the forest, leaving Temari and Kankuro just like that.
They clearly didn't want to deal with or risk facing the rampaging Shukaku.
Seeing the Sand Ninjas truly leave, Karin could finally sigh in relief, although the grip of her chakra chains on Temari and Kankuro didn't loosen in the slightest.
Temari's face, which was already very ugly from anger and frustration, now became even gloomier.
"YOU COWARDS! THEY REALLY LEFT US?!" she screamed, disbelieving.
"You two!" she glared sharply at Karin and Sakura. "Let's get out of here right now! That terrifying thing is completely out! If we don't leave immediately, we'll all die foolishly here!"
"As long as we don't move and cause trouble for Naruto, I think we can retreat a little further to find a safer position,"
Karin said calmly, her eyes still warily observing Naruto's fight in the distance.
"And if it's really necessary, we can provide support from here." That's what Karin thought.
She wouldn't leave Naruto to fight alone.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Temari shouted again, her voice sounding slightly hysterical.
"You two absolutely won't be able to face that creature! Listen, that creature has fully awakened! Do you think that Uzumaki Naruto in your village can just summon a monster that big out of his body like calling a pet dog?! This is not a balanced or sensible fight at all!"
Using a small portion of a tailed beast's chakra to achieve a partial tailed beast transformation, and releasing a full tailed beast transformation were two very, very different concepts.
Temari knew this very well because she had witnessed Gaara rampage several years ago.
Some elite Jonin might still be able to face Gaara who had transformed into a partial tailed beast, but once he transformed into his complete tailed beast form, only the Kazekage had the strength and ability to face him directly.
Although the boy named Uzumaki Naruto also seemed to be able to use tailed beast chakra, Temari highly doubted he could even transform into a partial tailed beast, let alone release a complete tailed beast form like Gaara did.
At least, that's what Temari thought.
Gaara's rampages in recent years had left such a deep impression and trauma on her that she didn't think anyone else could match that terrifying power except a Kage.
Karin just smiled faintly hearing Temari's panic.
"I believe in Naruto," she said in a calm yet confident voice.
Naruto, whose hearing was now enhanced many times over by the chakra flow from Hana, could of course clearly hear their conversation in the distance.
His heart felt warm and he blushed slightly hearing Karin's complete trust in him.
In a critical situation like this, knowing someone else believed in him so much besides Hana-neechan, gave him additional strength.
Meanwhile, on Gamabunta's head, Sasuke stared intently at the continuously rampaging Shukaku.
"Naruto! We can't go on like this! Do you have some kind of idea or plan to deal with that damn giant Tanuki?!" he shouted, trying to overcome Shukaku's roars.
Gamabunta was also starting to look overwhelmed.
Every one of his water cannon attacks seemed to be just a toy for Shukaku, and he had to continuously jump to avoid the indiscriminate counterattacks of Air Bullets.
"THAT'S RIGHT, BRAT! QUICKLY THINK OF SOMETHING! MY CHAKRA WON'T LAST LONG IF THIS KEEPS UP! YOU SUMMONED ME HERE, SO YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE!" urged the Toad Boss, his voice sounding exasperated.
Naruto, of course, immediately turned to his personal combat advisor.
"Hana-neechan! Help! What should we do now?!"
Inside her seal, Hana could only shake her head and sigh softly, although there was an amused glint in her eyes seeing her prince's panic.
"Haaah... this prince of mine, always relying on me at the last moment, huh? Alright, alright, listen carefully. Tell that Big Toad to bring Karin up onto his head. After that, I will share some of my Kyuubi chakra with her. With my added strength, Karin's adamantine chains should be strong enough to bind and restrain Shukaku's movements for a while."
Hearing Naruto's instructions relayed from Hana, Karin unhesitatingly handed the still-bound Kankuro and Temari to Sakura.
"Sakura-san, please watch them for a moment!"
Then, she immediately dashed towards Gamabunta, ready to carry out what Naruto (or rather, Hana) ordered.
Shukaku, sensing something different in the surrounding chakra flow, roared even angrier.
Dense golden-yellow chakra began to surge wildly from its entire sandy body.
The initial restraint Karin had just tried to apply with the remnants of her own strength was almost instantly shattered.
"NARUTO! WAKE THAT KID UP NOW! I CAN'T HOLD HIM ANY LONGER!"
Karin shouted, her face deathly pale from Shukaku's immense chakra pressure.
Gamabunta didn't hesitate any longer.
With one powerful leap, he managed to get right in front of Shukaku's furiously gaping face.
He extended his large, rough hand, grabbed Naruto's body from atop his head, and then with all his might, threw him straight towards Gaara, who was still sleeping soundly on Shukaku's head.
"WAKE UP, YOU DAMN PANDA-EYES!"
After being thrown hard onto Shukaku's head by Gamabunta, Naruto didn't have much time to think about anything else.
He immediately charged towards the sleeping Gaara and unhesitatingly delivered a devastating punch right to his face.
"YOU DAMN LITTLE BRAT... HOW DARE YOU...!"
Shukaku actually wanted to stop Naruto and protect his Jinchuriki, however, he was temporarily restrained by the power of Karin's chakra chains, which had now been reinforced by Kyuubi's chakra, and he had no way to stop Naruto's sudden attack.
After Naruto successfully punched Gaara hard in the face, Shukaku let out a furious roar.
Then, its entire towering sandy body began to crack and crumble, turning back into pure sand chakra particles that were quickly absorbed back into Gaara's body.
Gaara, forcibly awakened by Naruto's hard punch, still looked a little confused and dazed.
His eyes blinked several times.
Although he didn't know exactly what had just happened when Shukaku managed to get out and rampage, Shukaku, who was now screaming angrily and cursing in his mind again, made Gaara finally understand his current situation.
'DID I REALLY... LOSE?! AGAINST SOMEONE LIKE HIM?! IMPOSSIBLE!'
Seeing Naruto, who had now jumped down from his head and run off without looking back even once to rejoin his comrades, Gaara couldn't help but get lost in his own thoughts.
'Why... why is this person so insistent on stopping me? According to the information I've gathered so far, isn't this person, this Uzumaki Naruto, the same as me? Isn't he also always called a monster in his own village? Then why... why does he have to fight so hard and take risks to stop me for the sake of a village that has also hurt him?! I... I don't understand...'
"Karin-chan! Are you okay?!" Naruto deftly helped Karin, who was now sitting helplessly on the ground, leaning against Gamabunta's leg.
Seeing Karin sweating profusely and her face so pale, Naruto's heart suddenly tightened with worry.
"Don't worry about me, Naruto... I'm fine,"
Karin shook her head slowly to show she was alright, although her voice sounded weak.
"I... I just used up too much energy and chakra. I just need a good sleep after all this chaos is over!"
Gamabunta waved his large hand indifferently and said in a bored tone,
"Well, since that damn Tanuki has finally been dealt with and is back in its cage, I guess it's time for me to go back and rest!"
After that, without waiting for Naruto or anyone else to say anything more, he dispelled the summoning technique and returned to Mount Myoboku in a large puff of white smoke, leaving Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and the exhausted Karin behind.