Her body underwent a drastic change, covered in crimson-colored Tailed Beast Chakra. Sato Miwako had completely lost her mind, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
This was also the peak state that those who had absorbed the blood of the Nine-Tails could reach.
“Hoh... hoh...”
Her blood-red vertical pupils stared at Ochi, Sato Miwako's body had become more akin to a fox demon. She slowly ambled forward, radiating an oppressive aura.
And behind her, six flame-like tails swayed.
The next moment.
She suddenly launched an attack on Ochi.
Boom!!
The crimson-colored energy tail suddenly stretched, like silk dancing in the air, yet possessing extreme lethality.
One large crater after another appeared on the ground, debris flew, and the air crackled with sharp detonations.
Ochi, wielding his demonic blade, dodged these attacks, keeping his focus on Sato Miwako.
Upon realizing that her attacks seemed to follow only the instincts of a beast, Ochi narrowed his eyes. He suddenly drew his sword and performed a forward Iaijutsu strike.
Clang!
The crimson-colored sword energy, several meters long, was condensed to the extreme, smashing into Sato Miwako with devastating force.
As Sato Miwako roared in retaliation, Ochi didn’t linger. He turned and left, intending to draw her away to a deserted area.
One chasing, one fleeing, they soon passed through the Meishō Line and returned to the vast forest.
Here, Ochi finally unleashed his full power.
Intertwining crimson-colored sword energy, like a network of blades, enveloped Sato Miwako's body.
The surrounding trees were affected, their cuts smooth and even as they fell, kicking up a cloud of dust.
But...
This completely enraged the semi-Tailed Beast form Sato Miwako.
She dropped to all fours, her six flame-like tails swaying behind her. In her mouth, she began to gather another black Tailed Beast Bomb.
“No good.”
Ochi drew back, but the Tailed Beast Bomb in Sato Miwako's mouth had already been unleashed.
Boom!!
The compressed energy ball exploded with a deafening roar.
Seen from above, the once green forest suddenly glowed with a crimson light.
And moments later, the crimson light ball expanded and spread, sweeping across the surrounding area.
When everything settled, where the forest once stood, there was now only a sunken meteorite-sized crater.
And amidst the scattered dust.
A row of wooden pillars bent from the ground, forming an archway that protected Ochi.
Ran jumped from the helicopter, letting out a sigh of relief. “Close one, we made it just in time.”
......
“I don’t agree!”
At the same time, in the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters, Kogoro Mouri was stubbornly arguing with his former police superiors.
“Ran is only sixteen years old, she’s not even an adult yet! How could you possibly send her on such a dangerous mission?!”
“Mouri, my old friend.”
Megure, the Police Inspector, tried to smooth things over. “We’ve already deployed an armed helicopter to provide immediate support, Ran will be fine.”
“No, that’s not enough!”
Kogoro Mouri, like an enraged lion, wasn’t taking anyone’s word for it.
It wasn’t until he saw Eri Kisaki, with her queen-like aura, walk in that his entire demeanor softened.
“Eri... Eri, what are you doing here?”
“Can’t I come? Ran is my daughter too!”
Eri Kisaki's gaze was cold, her aura completely suppressing Kogoro Mouri.
“She’s truly the undefeated Queen of the legal world.”
The old men in the meeting room exchanged glances, automatically taking a step back, giving the couple their space.
“Eri.”
With no outsiders present, Kogoro Mouri straightened his back slightly. He said in a low voice, “That battle was so dangerous, how could you agree to let Ran participate?”
“It’s Ran’s wish.”
Seeing Kogoro Mouri’s concern for Ran, Eri Kisaki’s expression softened slightly. For once, she provided an explanation, “Ran has been practicing the abilities granted to her by the Sacred Tree at Miyamoto Shrine for days now, all for the sake of protecting everyone.”
“But...”
“No buts.”
Eri Kisaki interrupted, “I know my own daughter, if she sets her mind on something, she won’t give up.”
“Rather than suppress her, let her do what she wants. I believe she can become a powerful Miko to protect everyone.”
“...... Alright.”
Kogoro Mouri remained silent for a long time before nodding helplessly.
......
“Mr. Ochi, why don’t you rest for a while.”
In the forest ravaged by the Tailed Beast Bomb, Ran’s black hair fluttered, her face brimming with confidence.
“Be careful yourself.”
Ochi glanced at the wooden archway protecting him, slowly nodded, and retreated to a safer position.
“I can do this, the Sacred Tree said that this crystal necklace I’m wearing can help suppress Sato’s demon consciousness.”
Ran cheered herself up, looking at Sato Miwako who looked like a fox demon, she formed hand seals and pressed them to the ground.
“Wood Release: Thorny Killing Technique.”
Boom!
As soon as Ran spoke, countless vine-like wooden branches suddenly erupted around Sato Miwako, binding her body.
“Hooo hoo...”
In her semi-Tailed Beast form, Sato Miwako’s strength and speed had been greatly enhanced.
The wooden vines quickly snapped one by one under her struggle.
“This isn’t enough.”
A hint of doubt crossed Ran’s face, but she quickly made up her mind, forming hand seals and pressing them to the ground, consuming most of her internal spiritual energy.
“Wood Release: Tree Sea Descent.”
Rumbling!!
One tree after another sprouted from the bare ground, forming a small forest in an instant.
And within the forest, the branches of the trees extended and lengthened, firmly binding Sato Miwako and suppressing her Tailed Beast Chakra.
“Roar!!”
In her berserk state, Sato Miwako once again tried to gather a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Seeing this, Ran rushed forward, taking the crystal necklace from her neck and putting it on Sato Miwako.
Clang!
A soft light emanated from the crystal necklace.
This necklace that Koku drew, originally the Chakra crystallization of the First Hokage, had the power to suppress Tailed Beasts.
Sato Miwako’s consciousness quickly regained clarity, and her semi-Tailed Beast transformation quickly receded.
“What happened to me?”
Moments later, Sato Miwako opened her eyes groggily, her memories still stuck in her fight against Gin.
“You’re alright, Sato, you just lost consciousness.”
Ran flashed a radiant smile.
......