Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-4271790-20141008103341/@comment-1926479-20141008190537

TheUltimate3 wrote: To avoid the wild mass speculation thing, I'm guessing it was artistic licencing Questionaredude.

He launched 3 to block Sasuke's attack, then had to resort to Tailed Beast Mode tails to block the next. By making him spend his Truth-Seeking Balls quickly, it got him to transform so we could have the giant bro-fist moment and they don't have to drag that crap out. Makes sense, but that also would mean that Naruto can control how many exist at one moment, which has never been demonstrated. I assumed all 9 would appear on transformation.