258. Surprising Strength

"Careful!"

Seeing Uchiha Haruka recklessly approach the enraged tailed beast, Senju Hashirama's heart sank in shock. He was about to step forward to suppress the situation when a large hand blocked his path.

"Hold on, Brother Hashirama, don't be so hasty."

With a lollipop in his mouth that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, Uchiha Gin rested one hand behind his head while the other stopped Hashirama. His eyes, dull yet calm, showed no sign of panic. Instead, he looked up at Uchiha Haruka, who was locking eyes with the Two-Tails. A proud smile crept onto his lips as he spoke with a hint of smugness.

"Little Haruka is my disciple, after all~"

"Pfft! You? Please, don't ruin her future."

Senju Tobirama, standing with his arms crossed, seized the opportunity to ridicule Gin. However, his sharp crimson eyes stayed fixed on the Two-Tails' movements, and the tension in his clenched fists was palpable.

He knew full well that as a mere clone, his strength was a fraction of his true self. If things spiraled out of control, his priority would be to retreat with his sister.

"So all those tea leaves I gave you were just wasted on a dog, huh!"

Gin's fist clenched at Tobirama's jab, and he turned to glare at the ever-vigilant Senju. His frustration was evident—Tobirama was the type to accept gifts without ever reciprocating.

"Humans, prepare to become ashes!"

The enraged Two-Tails growled, its eyes gleaming with deadly intent. Dark blue flames spewed from its nostrils as the fire in its mouth neared the critical point of eruption.

"So unruly. Is this what a wildcat is like?"

Despite the looming threat, Uchiha Haruka's face remained calm, her cold eyes even showing a glimmer of thought.

Moments earlier, she had attempted to touch the beast's fur. To her surprise, the flames cloaking the tailed beast were not as scalding as expected. Instead, they felt soft, like real fur. This revelation led her to realize that these fearsome flames were merely a manifestation of chakra.

"Who are you calling a wildcat?!"

The Two-Tails, initially ready to incinerate the insolent human, froze in fury at Haruka's insult. It swallowed its flames and extended its razor-sharp claws, opting for a more brutal method to deal with the audacious girl.

"Die, human!"

The Two-Tails lunged, its claws slicing through the air with such force that the resulting sound made everyone's eardrums tremble. Hashirama's wooden clone frowned deeply and ignored Gin's restraint, leaping forward with hands clapping mid-air.

"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jut—huh?"

Before the dragon could fully emerge, an explosive "BOOM!" interrupted him. Hashirama froze in disbelief, his gaze locked on the scene before him.

"See? I told you, Little Haruka is my disciple. How could she fall short?" Gin patted Hashirama's shoulder with a grin.

"But... she's just a child!"

Hashirama muttered, his throat dry as he watched the young Uchiha's actions in awe.

"Never heard the phrase 'young heroines'?" Gin smirked.

Before them, the Two-Tails, which had been brimming with ferocity moments earlier, now whimpered like a scolded kitten.

The beast was entirely subdued, its tail firmly grasped by a colossal, graceful, cherry-blossom-colored Susano'o that loomed tall and elegant.

"Wow! Haruka's Susano'o is so beautiful!" exclaimed Senju Itama in awe.

"Hmph. Flashy nonsense," muttered Uchiha Hikaru, her envy barely concealed as she compared her own Susano'o's less refined appearance.

"Small cat, look into my eyes," Haruka commanded coldly. The scarlet pattern of her Mangekyō Sharingan flared to life, casting a hypnotic power that the Two-Tails could not resist. With a mournful wail, the beast succumbed, sitting obediently on the ground, utterly tamed.

"Gin-san, task complete," Haruka reported with a rare hint of pride.

"That's my Haruka! The best disciple ever!" Gin beamed, lavishing praise without hesitation.

"Well, Hashirama? Impressive, isn't it?" Gin turned to the silent Senju leader.

Hashirama could only nod grimly. The terrifying potential of the Mangekyō Sharingan loomed heavily in his thoughts.

As Haruka prepared to confront the next tailed beast, Hikari stepped forward, eager for her turn. Gin relented, allowing his other protégé to take the stage.

"Let's see what you've got, Hikari," Hashirama muttered, his gaze tinged with apprehension as he watched the spectacle continue.