"This is… armor?"

Gengetsu's brain couldn't process what the gleaming suit that suddenly wrapped around Ginkaku was.

The other two weren't so naïve. They could feel the violent, murderous chakra radiating from him. Could it be that Kumo had found the correct way to use a Bijuu?

"Hahahahaha!"

Transformed fully, Ginkaku tilted his head back, letting out a mad howl, then lowered it again, pressing his palm against the device at his waist.

"Careful!"

Mu, with his sharpest senses, was the first to realize the danger. He shouted as he shot into the sky, while Shamon and Gengetsu tensed.

"Freeze Vent!"

Instantly, all three froze as if their chakra networks had been locked in ice. Mu plummeted from the air like a sack.

"Fūinjutsu (Sealing technique)?!"

With their chakra sealed, the three had nothing to rely on.

Ginkaku sneered, then blurred forward.

"Bam!"

Mu was uppercut skyward.

"Thud!"

Gengetsu, trying to liquefy, took a crushing elbow in the back and smashed into stone, coughing blood.

"Smack!"

Shamon's bald head got slapped, sending his brain spinning.

In under ten seconds, all three were down. Ginkaku clapped his hands, disappointed.

"That's all?"

"W-what are you…?"

Shaking, they looked into his merciless eyes.

"I'm… a Bijuu Knight."

…

From his vantage point, Kakuzu's eyes narrowed. The moment Ginkaku had drawn that device, he knew—they were alike. He too was a knight.

And inside his head, Chōmei stirred.

"Matatabi… she's crying."

"Crying? Isn't it the same as you?" Kakuzu frowned.

"No. Leave now, human. She's going to go berserk."

Kakuzu's heart clenched, and he suppressed his presence, preparing to slip away.

But then Kinkaku emerged from the mire, glaring at him. "Where do you think you're going?"

…

On the sidelines, Gin crunched snacks calmly.

"Huh, you're not surprised?" Mitsuko asked.

"I'm super shocked. Look, I dropped my sunflower seeds," Gin deadpanned, pointing at the spilled shells.

Osamu squinted. "Gin-sensei… is this a sealing technique?"

"…Sort of. With some extra tricks," Gin said vaguely.

"Do you know that device?"

"Of course. I made it."

The girls burst out laughing. Gin puffed up. "I'm serious! I'm the Father of Riders!"

But before he could prove it, Ginkaku howled like a beast. His chakra turned black, his body trembling.

Kinkaku's face twisted. "Damn! He's going berserk!"

…

The frozen trio's chakra slowly returned. They staggered up, only to see Ginkaku's claws slash their chests open in a flash.

Kinkaku barked, "If you want to live, help me subdue him!"

They hesitated, but when Ginkaku nearly skewered Gengetsu even in liquefied form, they realized escape was suicide. They fell in with Kinkaku.

Kinkaku explained, grim-faced: "My brother hasn't mastered Matatabi's power. When he loses control, the only way to stop him is to strip the device off his waist."

The three exchanged nervous looks, but agreed.

…

The battle was brutal. Mu was smashed out of the sky, Shamon ripped open, Gengetsu beaten into the ground. One by one they fell.

Kinkaku fought with all his might, wrapping himself in his lightning armor, but even he was hurled bleeding to the dirt.

Desperate, he spat out the Red Gourd, hoping to seal his brother.

But from behind Ginkaku's mask, a woman's voice spoke, dripping with contempt.

"Futile, human."

Kinkaku froze. "Matatabi?!"

"Yes. This fool tried to wield me. His life is nearly spent."

Kinkaku staggered, realization crashing down.

And then the blue flames swelled in Ginkaku's claws, a mini Bijuu Dama forming.

The explosion sent Kinkaku sprawling, bloodied and broken.

…

Gin's companions leaned forward eagerly.

"Now can we jump in?" Mitsuko asked, eyes shining.

"Not yet. There's still someone standing," Gin murmured.

Their eyes followed his gaze—onto Kakuzu.

…

Kakuzu walked slowly to the fallen Kinkaku.

"One hundred million ryō," he said calmly. "I'll bring him down for you."

Kinkaku coughed blood, staring. "…Are you insane?"

"I take both. Money and survival."

"…Fine! Do it! Ten billion if you succeed!"

Kakuzu smiled faintly, pulled a worn shuriken—and flung it. It barely grazed Ginkaku.

Everyone stared.

"Pathetic," Matatabi sneered through Ginkaku. "You want to die, human?"

Kakuzu didn't flinch. He reached into his cloak—pulled out a device identical to Ginkaku's.

"What?!"

Gasps erupted.

And then, a golden card.

"Chōmei…" Matatabi's eyes widened.

"Yes. Nanabi Chōmei, the undefeated beetle," Kakuzu intoned, bowing slightly. "Lend me your strength, Great Beast."

The card glowed. Kakuzu slotted it into the device.

"Henshin."

"Turn Up!"

A wall of light carved with the image of a beetle surged toward him. Kakuzu crashed through, emerging clad in silver beetle armor—the Nanabi Rider.

"He's… another Bijuu Knight?!" Gengetsu gasped from the ground.

Kinkaku's battered face showed a faint smile. "So that's where the Nanabi went…"

Kakuzu drew his blade, facing the berserk Ginkaku. His voice was cold, heavy with fate.

"A knight must bear the destiny of endless battle."

(End of Chapter)

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