An hour and a half later, Shūichi finished upgrading Pakura's curse seal.
Pakura, after a hearty, nutritious meal, looked at Shūichi with an odd expression. For someone so young, just where did he learn all these secret techniques?
After freshening up, Shūichi looked at the radiant Pakura and suggested, "Let's go back to Konoha right now!"
Pakura hesitated. "Lord Shūichi, isn't it a bit rushed?"
Shūichi reached out and pinched her cheek, "I've already spoken to the Director and the others about it—they're very welcoming."
Without giving her a chance to protest further, Shūichi left a shadow clone behind and whisked Pakura away from the research base.
Konoha Village.
Once they arrived back at his house, Shūichi immediately created a shadow clone to report their return to Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
It was nearly ten o'clock by then.
Not long after they returned, Yakushi Nonō and Asuka also arrived together. They were momentarily surprised to see Pakura but then smiled and greeted her.
"Pakura, I presume? I'm Yakushi Nonō."
Asuka waved and smiled, "Pakura, it's been a while."
Seeing their warmth, Pakura felt a sense of relief. She quickly bowed in greeting. "Nonō-senpai, I am Pakura!"
Nonō stepped forward with a kind smile, "No need to call me 'senpai.' Like Asuka, you can call me Nonō, or just Director, like Shūichi does."
Pakura replied quickly, "Okay, ...Nonō."
She knew how highly Shūichi regarded Nonō, so she treated her with deep respect.
As Asuka was already acquainted with Pakura, she sensed her shyness and quickly led her to her room, saying, "You'll be sharing a room with me tonight. I hope you don't mind."
Pakura glanced at Shūichi, then let herself be led away. "Not at all, thank you."
As the two entered the room, Nonō came over to Shūichi with a slightly helpless smile. "Will Shizune be alright with this?"
Though Nonō herself was inexperienced, she was perceptive enough to see the dynamics.
Shūichi shamelessly held Nonō's arm, "As long as you're okay with it, Director."
Nonō shook her head, speaking softly, "I don't mind, but…"
Shūichi quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, Director. Shizune is fine with it."
Nonō sighed, "I really can't do anything with you."
Shūichi laughed, "Who could resist my charm?"
"I'm aiming to establish a great clan; having only Shizune and Asuka isn't enough!"
Nonō gave him a reproachful look, "If Lady Tsunade finds out, she'll definitely come after you."
Shūichi winked, "Tsunade can't beat me anymore."
Nonō shook her head with a wry smile and cautioned, "Shūichi, you shouldn't overindulge. Even though you're already very strong, you're still young."
Shūichi nodded sincerely, almost as if swearing an oath.
After everyone had finished washing up, Shūichi also upgraded the curse seals on Nonō and Asuka. He made sure his people always received the best.
The Next Day.
In the morning, Shūichi headed to the Konoha Hospital to upgrade Shizune's curse seal, then made his way to the research base.
Tsunade still looked irritated, but Shūichi quickly distracted her with his recent findings from the day before.
"It seems that the intensity of chakra nature transformations is also linked to chakra reserves."
After testing it out, Tsunade frowned, "I feel like I've hit my limit; there's no way to advance further."
Shūichi hesitated before offering, "There is a way to significantly boost your chakra reserves and even gain strong Yang Release abilities."
Tsunade pondered for a moment, "I'll consider it."
Not pressing further, Shūichi changed the topic, "Let's update your curse seal."
"I made some improvements yesterday—now, when the seal is activated, it can heal without hand signs, and the effect is even stronger than before."
"It also enhances Wind Release abilities."
With that, Shūichi moved behind Tsunade and grasped her ponytail.
"Enhancing Wind Release doesn't benefit me much," Tsunade commented but didn't resist.
Typical stubbornness!
After upgrading her seal, Shūichi went off to continue his own work.
Time passed quickly, and soon, the last day of Konoha Year 46 arrived, with the New Year just around the corner.
That evening, Shūichi's house was bustling like never before.
In attendance were Yakushi Nonō, Asuka, Pakura, Shizune, Tsunade, and Miss Tenka, who had unexpectedly dropped by and refused to leave.
However, with so many people around, there were also some challenges; Shūichi found himself running errands for the ladies, practically playing the role of an attendant.
Especially Tsunade, who seemed to be intentionally giving him a hard time, hoping to exhaust him.
Luckily, he had shadow clones to help, preventing Tsunade from fully succeeding.
Meanwhile…
At the cemetery, a cloaked figure appeared in front of Rin Nohara's false grave.
Possessed by Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, Obito Uchiha looked utterly desolate.
After standing in silence for a long while, Obito spoke hoarsely, "I'll join you."
White Zetsu responded immediately, "Now that's the right choice."
Black Zetsu's deep voice added, "This twisted world, plagued by endless wars—even if Rin hadn't died and you two married, would you want your children sent to the battlefield at seven or eight?"
"Ninjas are a cursed existence!"
"If we don't create a new world, tragedy will persist. You're neither the first nor the only one, Obito."
Obito replied quietly, "I know."
"That's why I'll work with you."
---
At the research base, by Rin Nohara's bedside, Kakashi was holding her hand, linking their minds through chakra.
However, this wasn't a private moment—Isobu, the Yang Three-Tails, was also present.
Watching Kakashi, who had already mastered Water Release nature transformation, and a visibly awkward and apologetic Rin, Isobu could only sigh, turning away. "Let this kid teach you; I'll go take a nap."
Feeling embarrassed, Rin quickly bowed, "Thank you, Isobu."
The Yang Three-Tails waved its tail before vanishing.
Rin turned back to Kakashi, smiling, "Let's continue, Kakashi!"
Kakashi nodded, letting Rin hold his hand.
In the mindscape, after opening their hearts, no thoughts could remain hidden.
"Kakashi, once I'm fully recovered, let's find Obito together!" Rin looked at Kakashi with wide eyes, allowing no avoidance. "He'll bless us!"
Meeting her gaze, Kakashi gripped her hand firmly and nodded, "Alright!"
...
Shūichi had no idea Kakashi was already falling for Rin Nohara's charms. Meanwhile, he was enjoying his time surrounded by two beauties, Shizune on his left and Asuka on his right, the picture of envy.
Around nine o'clock, they finally headed back home. Tsunade, struck by a sudden urge to play, suggested a card game to welcome the New Year, so Shūichi quickly introduced a new game—Konoha's version of Fight the Landlord!
Seven players took turns, with a twist: losers didn't have to pay but instead had to stick notes on their faces. Within an hour, Tsunade was down to just her two visible eyes. Shūichi felt a hint of regret—it would've been more fun if he could have upped the stakes to clothes.
The night passed in joyful chaos, and Konoha's 47th year arrived.
Shūichi's yearly routine began as usual. He spent three days at the orphanage with Nonō Yakushi, Asuka, and Pakura, followed by visits to the homes of Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Might Duy, and other respected figures.
As New Year's festivities gradually faded, Shūichi resumed his training and research. Then, one day, he received an urgent notification from Sarutobi Shinnosuke: it was time to separate the Four-Tails!
The Anbu had prepared a containment vessel, a large wooden tub covered in intricate sealing symbols, at the former Root base. Shūichi glanced at it and shook his head. "We won't be needing this," he announced.
The Sealing Team members looked at him in confusion. Shūichi chuckled, "I've become friends with the Four-Tails. No seal required."
One team member swallowed hard. "Lord Shūichi… you're not joking, are you?"
"Of course not," he replied and then proceeded to extract the Yin aspect of the Four-Tails from his Eight Trigrams Seal. As the enormous form of the Four-Tails emerged, the Sealing Team members stood frozen in awe.
The Yin Four-Tails lowered its gaze at the anxious shinobi below, then nodded toward Shūichi. "Some of the things you said made sense," it muttered.
Shūichi grinned. "Stay here for a few days, and when Iwa's team arrives, we'll place you in the container for transport. I'll personally escort you back to Iwagakure to prevent any ambushes along the way."
The Four-Tails agreed, and after Shūichi marked it with a Flying Thunder God seal, he dismissed the Sealing Team, who quickly retreated.
On January 16th, Konoha's representatives welcomed the Iwa delegation, led by Ōnoki's son, the burly young Kitsuchi.
As Shūichi observed the towering, decidedly unattractive man, he couldn't help but wonder how Kitsuchi could possibly father the elegant Kurotsuchi one day. Perhaps her mother had remarkable genes.
Once discussions between Kitsuchi and Minato concluded, Shūichi chimed in, "After the Four-Tails handoff, I'll personally escort your group back to Iwagakure."
Iwa Jonin Sumashi replied, "There's no need, my lord. We're fully prepared to handle this ourselves."
Kitsuchi nodded in agreement, albeit politely. "We appreciate the offer, but we've come prepared."
Shūichi shook his head. "It's in your best interest. I'll let you in on something—Madara Uchiha, the so-called Demon of the Ninja World, has reappeared."
The Iwa shinobi stared in shock. After a long pause, Kitsuchi stammered, "You're… you're serious? Madara… he should be long dead by now, shouldn't he? And at his age—"
Shūichi fixed his gaze on Kitsuchi. "It's hard to believe, but as Ōnoki's son, you should be aware of certain secrets, like Susanoo. I've personally encountered him, fought him, and later confirmed my findings."
Kitsuchi's expression turned grave, while a low murmur circulated among the Iwa shinobi. "He can't be trying to scare us, can he?" one whispered.
Sumashi barked, "Silence!"
Realizing the severity of the situation, Kitsuchi nodded decisively. "Then we'll gladly accept your escort."
The next day, Shūichi handed over the sealed Yin Four-Tails in its wooden container for inspection before their departure. He, along with Shisui Uchiha, Asuka, and Pakura, joined the Iwa team as they began their journey westward, swiftly moving through dense forests.
Unbeknownst to them, Obito Uchiha and White Zetsu followed from the shadows. "Such a shame," White Zetsu muttered. "With Shūichi around, the chances of success are slim."
Still fused with Obito, Black Zetsu replied, "No matter. With the Four-Tails back in Iwa, it actually becomes easier for us to retrieve it later. We'll just have to go in order anyway."
Obito mused, "So when the time comes, Shūichi will also likely escort the One-Tail back to Suna."
White Zetsu murmured, "Exactly. For now, we'll continue gathering intel. Once Nagato fully masters the Rinnegan, we can gather a stronger team and capture the Tailed Beasts in quick succession. It's the most efficient approach."
Black Zetsu issued instructions, "Stay on the Four-Tails, Tobi. Keep an eye out for Iwa's next Jinchūriki candidate."
White Zetsu Tobi sank into the earth with a wave. "Leave it to me. This is what I do best."
...
As they were traveling, Shūichi glanced back. Just as he expected—there they were! He had Sage Mode active, enhancing his senses.
"Shūichi, what's wrong?" asked Shisui from his left.
Shūichi turned to him and replied, "Shisui, let Kitsuchi and his team know—we're being followed. Tell them to stay alert."
Shisui nodded immediately and sped ahead to inform the Iwa nin. Hearing this, Kitsuchi and the others tensed up and quickly shifted into a combat formation.
However, they reached the border of the Land of Fire without any attack occurring, which allowed Kitsuchi and Sumashi to relax slightly.
After resting for an hour, the group continued on, crossing into the Land of Grass, then heading towards the Land of Earth. By the time they reached the Land of Earth, Kitsuchi fully relaxed. At the border, a hundred-strong squad was waiting to receive them.
At this point, Kitsuchi politely declined further escort from Shūichi and his team, bowing in gratitude. "Thank you. Since we need to protect the Four-Tails, we'll have to part ways here and won't be able to host you further."
Shūichi nodded slightly. "In that case, we'll take our leave. But a word of caution—don't let your guard down."
Kitsuchi, still respectful, nodded. "We won't."
With that, Shūichi led Asuka and the others back, crossing Kannabi Bridge and entering the Land of Grass.
Meanwhile, Kitsuchi's group rested for only an hour before setting off again under the moonlight toward Iwagakure.
Watching from a barren hilltop, White Zetsu's head emerged, grinning as he observed the Iwa forces. "Who would have thought they'd actually refuse further escort from Shūichi Hoshita?"
"What a tempting opportunity this is!"
With that, White Zetsu used Kamui to transport himself into the Kamui dimension. When he re-emerged, he was at Obito's side, excitedly sharing the news. "I have a very, very good update. Shūichi and the Iwa ninja have separated!"
"Now, it's just over a hundred Iwa shinobi escorting the Four-Tails."
"So, shall we make a move?"
Black Zetsu responded immediately, "Of course we can't pass up an opportunity like this."
"Although the Tailed Beasts need to be sealed in sequence, capturing the Four-Tails now would allow us to control it with the Sharingan, turning it into a Summoning Beast—a great asset."
Without hesitation, Obito decided, "Then let's move!"
He activated Kamui, now with partial control over his body. However, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu still hadn't fully trusted him, so they remained attached to his body.
…
In the Land of Grass, Shūichi suddenly stopped. "Right here," he said.
The other three halted as well, with Shisui asking, "Shūichi, do you think Madara Uchiha will strike?"
Shūichi looked toward the Land of Earth. "The Four-Tails isn't sealed inside a Jinchūriki right now. It's a perfect opportunity."
"With the Sharingan, they could control it instantly, turning it to their side. Over a hundred Iwa shinobi—what do they matter?"
Shūichi didn't know if Madara had "unplugged" yet, but Obito's Mangekyo alone would be enough.
Wearing her mask, Pakura remarked, "Those Iwa shinobi didn't trust us."
Shūichi chuckled, "They don't need to trust us now."
The Iwa shinobi would end up taking the blame, and he couldn't let Nagato and his team capture the Four-Tails too quickly. Especially the fact that he could split the Tailed Beasts—this information couldn't be revealed just yet.
Land of Earth
Kitsuchi was leading his team, protecting the Four-Tails, when suddenly a figure in a black cloak and mask appeared atop a bare rock pillar ahead. "Good evening, everyone!"
"Who are you?" shouted Kitsuchi, signaling for his team to halt and spread out on alert, while using sensory jutsu to scan for other enemies nearby.
Indeed, this Iwa unit was exceptionally elite.
"Who am I, you ask?" White Zetsu Tobi stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Should I really tell you? I mean, it doesn't matter if my identity is exposed, but...wouldn't that make this mask pointless?"
Kitsuchi's face darkened. "Take him down!"
Swish, swish, swish!
Iron bullets shot towards White Zetsu Tobi, but he quickly sank into the rock pillar and disappeared.
"He's completely gone, can't sense him at all," reported one of the Iwa sensory ninjas. "No other enemies detected nearby either."
"Could he have just fled?" muttered Jonin Sumashi. "Stay on guard; don't get careless."
But no sooner had he spoken than White Zetsu Tobi appeared on their left. "Hey, I'm over here!"
A squad of Iwa ninja lunged at him, but White Zetsu Tobi once again sank underground, only to reappear on their right moments later.
Sumashi shouted, "Watch the ground! This guy has some remarkable Earth Release jutsu."
White Zetsu Tobi exclaimed, "Oh no, you figured it out! Guess I can't keep playing around."
Dodging another round of attacks, White Zetsu Tobi launched his jutsu.
Spore Technique!
Instantly, white spores sprouted on the Iwa ninja surrounding the Four-Tails' sealed barrel, enveloping them—Kitsuchi and Sumashi included—and began draining their chakra.
"He's been preparing this jutsu all along!" Kitsuchi's pupils contracted. He immediately used Earth Release: Hardening Technique, spitting out sticky clay that formed a rock figure, which grabbed the spores off his body and devoured them.
Sumashi also countered with a similar Earth Release jutsu. But just then, next to the barrel holding the Four-Tails, space twisted, and Obito Uchiha, in his black cloak and mask, appeared.
Obito reached for the barrel, activating Kamui.
However, at that moment, the barrel suddenly shot upwards, lifted by a rock pillar that disrupted Obito's Kamui.
Sumashi appeared behind Obito, his arm covered in rock, swinging it down with force.
Boom!
The ground caved in, but Sumashi was shocked—his attack had passed right through Obito's body.
Kitsuchi, who had quickly reclaimed the barrel, saw this and shouted, "Protect the Four-Tails and retreat!"
He handed the barrel to another Iwa Jonin.
At that moment, Obito kicked Sumashi aside, and a faint blue chakra appeared around him. The skeletal frame of Susanoo began forming around Obito, followed by muscles and tendons.
"This guy…"
"Susanoo!" Kitsuchi's eyes widened. "Uchiha… Madara!"
Susanoo swung its arm, sending the Iwa ninja who had just escaped the Spore Technique flying with agonized cries.
Kitsuchi dodged and landed next to Sumashi. The two shared a glance and pressed their hands to the ground.
Earth Release - Mountain Stone Technique!
They worked together to summon two semi-spherical masses of rock as tall as Susanoo's shoulders, closing in to crush Susanoo between them.
Boom!
Susanoo stretched out its arms to hold back the rocks.
Gritting his teeth, Kitsuchi held steady, while Sumashi leapt high into the air. From above, he performed the Fist Rock Technique, smashing down on Susanoo's head.
Crack!
Susanoo's head fractured, and its arms shattered first, followed by the entire structure collapsing under the pressure of the Mountain Stone Technique.
Sumashi landed next to Kitsuchi. "Did we finish him?"
Kitsuchi was about to reply when he suddenly froze. The cloaked figure emerged from the rubble, unharmed.
Just then, the roar of the Four-Tails echoed across the field.
The two turned and saw the Four-Tails, freed from its seal, emerging from the barrel. White Zetsu Tobi had remotely used Kamui to create a small opening in the seal.
The Four-Tails, now unbound, fixed its gaze on Obito. Obito met its stare, raising his hand.
As the Four-Tails prepared to strike, its eyes suddenly transformed into the pattern of the Sharingan, its consciousness suppressed by the genjutsu. "Cursed Sharingan…" it muttered, reluctantly succumbing.
"This is bad!" Kitsuchi and Sumashi broke out in cold sweat.
...
Land of Grass
As soon as Obito's Susanoo appeared in the Land of Earth, Shūichi, who had been waiting, suddenly opened his eyes wide.
"It's here!"
Standing up, Shūichi looked in the direction of the Land of Earth.
Asuka closed her eyes to sense it. "This chakra… it feels a bit familiar."
"It's Obito," Shūichi replied.
Shisui's three-tomoe Sharingan spun into view. "Obito… So, is it true, as you suspected, Shūichi? Madara Uchiha hasn't appeared, which might mean he's already dead, and Obito is carrying out his plans?"
Shūichi activated the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. "We'll know soon enough."
Just then, Asuka announced, "Shūichi, the Four-Tails has appeared!"
Shūichi nodded, his expression firm. "Prepare for battle!"
Shisui and the others all nodded in unison.
In the next moment, the four of them disappeared from where they stood.
They reappeared on top of the Four-Tails.
With a whoosh, thick chains shot out from Asuka's back, binding the Four-Tails as it roared and swung its tail.
"Things just got troublesome—Shūichi and his team have arrived!" White Zetsu Tobi, seeing them, exclaimed in surprise.
The White Zetsu attached to Obito said, "It looks like we won't be able to capture it this time. This guy has acquired the Nine-Tails' power. Let's retreat!"
Obito replied, "If I go all out, it's not impossible."
Black Zetsu responded, "Then try it!"
With that, both Zetsu entities allowed Obito to take full control of his body, treating this as a test. They could still take control if he tried anything risky.
Obito's chakra flared up, and Susanoo appeared around him once more.
This time, it wasn't just a skeleton or muscular form; it had armor as well, though it only covered the upper body. Despite being incomplete, the Susanoo manifested twin blades in its hands.
"So, this is the Susanoo of the Mangekyou Sharingan…" Shisui, witnessing a full Susanoo for the first time, flashed in front of the Four-Tails and spun his Sharingan, dispelling the genjutsu controlling the beast.
As consciousness returned, the Four-Tails spoke, "Thank you."
"Shūichi, it seems you were right about everything," Shisui said.
The Four-Tails added, "The ninja world has become incredibly dangerous. Beware of another figure out there."
Leaving a shadow clone behind, Shūichi rose into the sky. As he activated the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, intricate purple lotus patterns appeared.
With each step, he created lotus flowers in the air, finally stopping mid-air, meeting Obito's masked gaze. Shūichi formed hand seals.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
"Watch your footing!" Black Zetsu warned Obito.
But Obito was already analyzing Shūichi's use of hand seals with suspicion. Given Shūichi's proficiency, he rarely needed more than two seals for any jutsu. Even for a Shadow Clone Technique, he usually skipped hand seals entirely. That he used them now suggested something unusual.
Memorizing Shūichi's hand seal sequence, Obito glanced down at the mud beginning to pull Susanoo down and scoffed. "A jutsu like this is useless against Susanoo!"
In response, Susanoo evolved further, sprouting legs, and Obito appeared on its forehead.
Despite the vast reach of Shūichi's Swamp of the Underworld, enhanced by Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and Sage Mode, Susanoo merely pressed its hands on the ground and lifted itself out of the swamp. It leaped into the air, drawing its chakra blades and swinging them at Shūichi.
Purple lotus patterns bloomed as Shūichi deftly evaded the chakra blades. Forming seals once more, he unleashed lava fireballs that exploded upon Susanoo, cracking its surface.
White Zetsu gasped, "The Nine-Tails' chakra is amplifying his jutsu!"
With a deafening crash, Susanoo landed, and Obito saw two chakra arms extending from Shūichi's body above him. With a buzzing sound, multiple Rasenshuriken manifested, infused with various chakra natures.
"Sage Art: Scorch Release Rasenshuriken, Sage Art: Lava Release Rasenshuriken, Sage Art: Magnet Release Rasenshuriken!"
"What a monstrous amount of chakra…" Kitsuchi, watching from a distance, said, "We have to retreat from here!"
As the Iwa Shinobi fell back, Shūichi unleashed three Rasenshuriken in succession.
In response, Obito's Susanoo materialized four large, black shuriken. He threw them to counter Shūichi's Rasenshuriken, using Kamui to absorb the explosions just as they were about to detonate.
One remaining shuriken flew toward the Four-Tails.
Above the Four-Tails, Shūichi's clone raised his hand, projecting a black sigil to intercept it.
"Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder!"
The two spatial techniques collided, and the black shuriken passed through only to meet Shisui's Great Fireball Technique head-on, canceling each other out.
For now, they were evenly matched.
But within Susanoo, Obito paused as he deciphered Shūichi's coded message in the hand seals.
"Rin...fake death...escape...spy?"
Could Rin really still be alive? Or was this another trick? What about the Three-Tails?
For a moment, Obito was overwhelmed with conflicting thoughts, his heart wrenched.
"Such troublesome space-time ninjutsu…" White Zetsu sighed.
Obito refocused, saying, "This is only the beginning. Besides, I only have one eye…"
Black Zetsu replied, "Don't worry; once you're fully with us, that eye will be yours again. The stronger you become, the better for us."
Obito gave a curt nod. "Understood."
Just then, Shūichi landed, clapping his hands together. Outside of his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, a purple chakra rapidly expanded around him, forming a massive figure no less powerful than Obito's Susanoo.
It was Shūichi's new creation: Celestial God of Stars — a massive three-headed, six-armed giant.
Enhanced by Scorch Release and Sage Mode, and further amplified by Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, this towering figure had a head sculpted in Shūichi's likeness, with two fierce dragon heads on either side.
In stunned silence, even Obito, the Iwa Shinobi, and Shūichi's own team watched as he revealed this new form.
Asuka, eyes wide with pride and amazement, whispered, "Incredible!"
Shisui, both astonished and delighted, muttered, "When did Shūichi develop this? It's almost like a Susanoo!"
The Iwa Shinobi, watching from a safe distance, could only gape, swallowing hard.
"This… this kind of power… it's not even from this world!"
"What a terrifying enemy. Only the Third Tsuchikage could ever handle someone like that…"
..
With a heavy expression, Kitsuchi remarked, "To have such power at this age... he's practically a monster."
Sumashi nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Obito, though momentarily shocked, sneered with feigned arrogance, "It's just for show. How could it possibly compare to the true power of Susanoo?"
As he spoke, Susanoo took a step forward, causing the earth to tremble, and swung its arms, wielding two massive chakra blades aimed at Shuichi's celestial construct, the God of Stars.
In response, Shuichi's God of Stars raised an arm on each side, summoning two blazing purple chakra blades, formed from his Scorch Style, with the base technique of Blue Flame Vacuum Slash.
Clang!
The four blades clashed, releasing a violent shockwave.
Next, Susanoo's two additional arms clenched into fists and struck forward. The God of Stars countered with two fists of its own, resulting in another thunderous collision.
Boom!
Blinding light and fierce gales erupted, forcing Shisui, Asuka, and others to raise their hands to shield themselves from the impact.
Then, the God of Stars' third pair of hands moved, manifesting two Scorch Release Rasenshuriken, which it smashed down toward Susanoo's face.
Crack!
Crack!
Under Obito's stunned gaze, his Susanoo began to fracture and shatter rapidly. The Rasenshuriken exploded in full force, engulfing him in searing light and overwhelming energy.
...
From atop the Four-Tails, Uchiha Shisui squinted his eyes. "Is it over? Did that take out Obito? ...No, Shuichi knows better. That wouldn't be enough. Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan technique involves space-time manipulation."
Sure enough, as the light faded and the storm settled, Shisui could see Uchiha Obito standing unscathed atop a rock pillar.
"It seems we failed," said White Zetsu's clone, Tobi, emerging slowly from a stone pillar. "It's impressive that this brat developed a power comparable to Susanoo on his own!"
Black Zetsu, however, understood the situation better. "Obito's Susanoo hasn't reached its full potential."
"And don't underestimate the power of the Nine-Tails that Shūichi possesses. The Nine-Tails' power is nothing to scoff at," Black Zetsu added.
"Given the situation, capturing the Four-Tails won't be possible. Let's retreat."
Uchiha Obito nodded and then activated Kamui, absorbing himself into his own dimension. White Zetsu's clone, Tobi, sank back into the stone pillar, vanishing into the earth.
Shūichi didn't attempt to stop them, dispelling his Star God technique as he watched Obito and his allies retreat.
"Possessed by both Black and White Zetsu… it seems Obito was fully under their control."
"Now, with Rin's staged death, he might have regained some control over his body?"
Shūichi had refrained from directly interacting with Uchiha Obito, sensing that something was off about his condition. He wasn't entirely sure if his secret signal had been understood.
After all, Obito was known to struggle with theoretical lessons. Still, the darkness within him seemed to amplify his strength tenfold; Obito wasn't a fool.
"With the current situation, Obito likely won't gain Black Zetsu's full trust, so arranging a private meeting would be difficult."
"But if he's only under White Zetsu's influence, I might have a chance to launch a surprise attack."
As Shūichi pondered, Shisui and the others dismounted from the Four-Tails, with Kitsuchi and Sumashi of Iwagakure bringing their team forward.
"Lord Shūichi, thank you all for your assistance," Kitsuchi said, bowing respectfully.
If not for Shūichi's team arriving when they did, they would have not only lost the Four-Tails but suffered heavy casualties.
Shūichi nodded slightly. "Let's prioritize saving the wounded."
"Asuka."
Asuka nodded. "Understood."
She and a shadow clone of Shūichi, created earlier, went to assist in healing Iwagakure's injured. Kitsuchi expressed his gratitude again, then glanced at the Four-Tails nearby and asked, "Lord Shūichi, it seems you have a good relationship with the Four-Tails?"
Shūichi nodded. "Indeed, we get along well. He even has a name—Son Goku."
"We share a common enemy."
Suma's face grew serious. "Uchiha Madara?"
"He's after the Tailed Beasts—all of them?"
Shūichi did not clarify that it was Obito rather than Madara. He simply nodded. "It appears so, for now."
"More concrete intel is still beyond our reach."
There was only so much information they could reveal. Each of the other four great villages had their own interests, and any talks of alliances now would be wasted effort.
Shūichi had no intention of helping the other villages only for Black Zetsu to take advantage of the situation. Unless he gained the power to sweep them all aside, he would prefer using Black Zetsu and Nagato to divert the other villages' attention. This strategy would buy him time and reduce pressure on Konoha.
With the wounded tended to, they set up camp, and Kitsuchi quickly sent a messenger to Iwagakure to report. His earlier confidence with a hundred elites was gone; even with ten thousand now, he didn't feel secure.
Having fought alongside the Third Raikage before, Kitsuchi found this recent battle brief but far more terrifying than anything with the Raikage.
Kitsuchi felt that only his father's presence would provide the necessary sense of security.
And with the threat of Uchiha Madara, even the Tsuchikage's involvement was warranted.
Besides the threat of Madara, the relationship between Konoha and the Four-Tails also made Kitsuchi uneasy.
Upon receiving the urgent report in the middle of the night, Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, climbed out of bed, almost doubting his hearing.
"Uchiha Madara?"
Ōnoki's brow furrowed deeply. "Are you sure it was him?"
"It was someone wearing a mask, so we can't confirm, but Lord Kitsuchi said the Susanoo was unmistakable."
"Moreover, Konoha originally provided the intel on Uchiha Madara."
"His target was the Four-Tails, and it seems they've clashed with Konoha before."
Ōnoki's expression grew somber. "I see. So Konoha is deducing Madara's identity from the presence of Susanoo?"
"However…"
After some thought, he concluded that Madara's reappearance was indeed the most plausible explanation.
Unless this was all orchestrated by Konoha, but there seemed little point in that.
The reporting Iwagakure ninja continued, "Lord Tsuchikage, Shūichi and the Four-Tails seem to share an unusual bond."
"They seem to be…companions."
Ōnoki's frown deepened. "Companions?"
The ninja nodded. "Yes, according to Shūichi, it's because they have a common enemy. The masked Uchiha seems to be after more than just the Four-Tails."
Ōnoki pondered, "Returning the Four-Tails was not only about ending the war, but also to share the burden?"
"So, it seems Madara is truly still alive?"
He knew all too well the weight of Uchiha Madara's presence. Back then, Madara had effortlessly...
Unpleasant memories surfaced, and Ōnoki let out a cold snort. "But I'm not the same as I was back then..."
Calming himself, Ōnoki said, "You may go rest. I'll personally handle the response."
"Yes!"
The Iwagakure ninja who had reported the situation withdrew, while Ōnoki proceeded to issue a series of orders.
First, he ordered a secret increase in protection for Han, the Jinchūriki of the Five-Tails, and temporarily restricted any travel outside the village.
Secondly, he arranged for reinforcements to depart immediately to rendezvous with Kitsuchi and his team.
Although he appreciated Konoha's efforts, the Four-Tails was Iwagakure's responsibility, and they would be the ones to protect it!
After a quick breakfast at dawn, Ōnoki finally set out with two of his personal guards, flying toward the rendezvous point.
…
In the barren landscape, Shūichi was in conversation with the Four-Tails when he suddenly looked up toward the sky.
Ōnoki! The Third Tsuchikage had come in person!
It seemed this mission was coming to an end.
"It's the Third Tsuchikage!" Shisui appeared beside Shūichi, and moments later, Asuka and Pakura joined him.
Pakura looked at the figure descending from the sky and remarked, "I've heard the Third Tsuchikage possesses the only known Kekkei Tōta in the shinobi world."
Asuka commented, "A Kekkei Tōta, combining three chakra natures—far more complex than a Kekkei Genkai. I wonder how powerful it is?"
Shisui chuckled. "Strength lies in the person, not in the ability itself."
"The Third Hokage had neither a Kekkei Genkai nor a Kekkei Tōta, yet he was the strongest Hokage."
Shūichi nodded in agreement. The Third was indeed the strongest Hokage.
The previous Hokages wielded Wood Style and Water Style in their respective eras.
Ōnoki soon landed in front of Shūichi's team, and Kitsuchi stepped forward, preparing to introduce them. But before he could, Ōnoki addressed Shūichi directly: "No need for introductions. The Blue Flash of Konoha—I've known of you for quite some time."
Shūichi smiled. "Lord Tsuchikage, your name has long echoed in my ears as well."
However, the warmer Shūichi's smile, the more Ōnoki sensed his cunning. Still, this was no time for hostility, so he masked his thoughts and asked, "Are you certain that was Uchiha Madara?"
"Men from that era should already be buried in the ground."
Shūichi replied, "Mangekyō Sharingan, Susanoo... no one else comes to mind other than the Madara of legend."
"Of course, I've never met Madara myself, so I can't be certain."
"But I've heard you've witnessed Madara firsthand. If you encounter him again, you might be able to confirm his identity."
"Regardless of who he is, this individual is extremely dangerous and clearly has his eyes on the Tailed Beasts."
After saying this, Shūichi made his move to depart. "Since you're here personally, Lord Tsuchikage, I trust the Four-Tails will be safe. We'll take our leave and report back."
Ōnoki frowned. He had hoped to extract more information, but he had no grounds to keep Shūichi and his team. He nodded and replied, "As you wish. Extend my regards to the Third Hokage."
"I will!"
Shūichi then turned to the Four-Tails. "I hope the next time we meet, you're well."
The Four-Tails replied, "And I hope you don't die too soon."
Shūichi chuckled, "Thank you for the blessing."
After nodding toward Ōnoki and the others, Shūichi and his team took off.
Ōnoki watched them leave, feeling unsettled.
The Four-Tails had only been gone a short time, yet it seemed to have been "trained" to this extent?
Ōnoki shifted his gaze back to the Four-Tails.
The Four-Tails looked down at Ōnoki, and for a moment, they stared each other down.
Kitsuchi whispered, "Should we seal it?"
They had brought the sealing vessel, after all.
Ōnoki felt a bit out of his depth—this was the first time he'd encountered such a cooperative Tailed Beast.
Then the Four-Tails spoke, "You'd better choose a decent, smaller Jinchūriki, or I won't be so accommodating."
Kitsuchi: (⊙o⊙)…
It was the first time a Tailed Beast had made a demand like this.
Ōnoki replied sternly, "Of course, we'll choose the most qualified candidate."
The Four-Tails nodded. "Then bring out the sealing vessel!"
At Ōnoki's signal, the sealing squad from Iwagakure watched in disbelief as the Four-Tails entered the vessel willingly.
This… was the easiest Tailed Beast sealing in history!
Kitsuchi whispered to his father, "Has this guy been caught in a Sharingan genjutsu?"
Ōnoki, well-versed in the Sharingan, replied, "If it were Sharingan genjutsu, you'd see its distinctive patterns in his eyes."
"There's more going on here than we understand. It's clear we need to be careful when selecting the next Jinchūriki."
"Let's hope the next Jinchūriki can fully control the Tailed Beast's power. Then perhaps we can gain some valuable intel from the Four-Tails."
…
On the way back to Konoha, Shūichi was contemplating the sight of Ōnoki descending with his guards. "It seems I should develop the technique to alter the density of matter to master the Lightweight Boulder Jutsu. It would make travel far easier."
Ōnoki could not only fly himself but also carry others along with him. It was far more convenient and didn't even require constant chakra expenditure.
"Shūichi, was that flight ability of the Third Tsuchikage just now from a Kekkei Tōta?"
On the road, Asuka asked curiously.
Shūichi snapped back to attention and smiled, "Not at all."
"It's actually an Earth Release nature transformation."
Asuka looked surprised. "Earth Release?"
"Earth Release can make you fly?"
Shūichi nodded. "By altering the density of matter, changing the mass without changing the volume, it allows him to fly."
"The Scorch Release Chakra Mode can also enable flight, primarily due to Fire and Wind Release. Although different from the Third Tsuchikage's technique, it achieves a similar effect."
"It works by heating the air, creating a difference in air density, which generates lift."
Shisui and Pakura understood immediately, but Asuka looked at Shūichi with admiration—this was beyond her knowledge base.
Shisui and Pakura, having received traditional shinobi training, had a better foundation, while Asuka was mostly self-taught.
Even for Shisui and Pakura, though, they couldn't know everything outside their expertise.
Moreover, Ōnoki's Lightweight Boulder Jutsu was a unique Earth Release skill, with no other Iwagakure shinobi mastering it so far. This shows how challenging this form of Earth Release transformation was to learn.
After all, Kitsuchi himself was an expert in Earth Release and Ōnoki's own son, so it was clearly not a matter of simply being taught but of being able to learn it.
…
Once they entered the Land of Grass, Shūichi used Flying Thunder God to teleport himself and his three companions across the entire country, reaching the Fire Country border. After a brief rest, he teleported repeatedly, returning directly to Konoha in one go.
After dismissing Shisui and the others, Shūichi went first to the Hokage Building to report to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and then went to his teacher Minato Namikaze's home.
"So rescuing Obito is extremely difficult right now?"
Hearing the situation, Kushina frowned.
Shūichi nodded. "The clone of the First Hokage is unique and has merged with Obito."
"Especially since First Hokage cells were implanted in Obito as well. He's probably under a curse mark like Rin was, which controls him."
"Additionally, there's another individual associated with Obito, but we have no intel on him whatsoever."
"Plus, Obito's eyes were separated—one eye implanted in another clone of the First Hokage. This was likely done to weaken Obito's ocular power, making him easier to control."
Minato nodded thoughtfully. "That being the case, we really can't act rashly."
"We only have one chance, and if it fails, Obito might be discarded."
Shūichi shared the same sentiment.
Kushina sighed, worried. "But Obito hardly took his studies seriously; I doubt he'll understand your hints, right?"
Minato laughed. "Obito is smarter than he seems. Don't worry, he'll figure it out."
Kushina still looked worried. "I just hope Obito doesn't get too caught up with those people and do something irreversible."
Minato was silent; this was indeed a concern.
After all, Obito had been through so much in such a short time, and his entire outlook had changed, making it impossible to predict his actions.
Shūichi reassured them with a smile. "Don't worry. Once we expose Uchiha Madara's scheme, we can turn him back."
If Obito still wouldn't turn back after learning that Rin's death was a setup, then he'd have to be dealt with.
But Shūichi believed that possibility was extremely slim.
Minato also smiled, comforting Kushina. "Shūichi is right, and we should trust in Obito's abilities as well!"
Kushina sighed, then smiled. "You're right!"
"Though Obito can be unreliable, he does pull through when it counts!"
…
After leaving Minato's home, Shūichi stretched and teleported to an open area near the Forest of Death.
He activated the Scorch Release Chakra Mode, covering his body in a blue aura that ignited with fierce flames, and lotus patterns dotted the chakra cloak.
Since he wasn't using Sage Mode or curse marks, there were no purple flame patterns, making it look similar to his initial Fire Release Chakra Mode, though more refined.
Then, Shūichi ramped up his chakra output, causing the Scorch Release mode to expand and form a three-headed, six-armed giant.
This was his God of Stars formed purely from Scorch Release Chakra Mode, without Yin Release, Sage Mode, or Nine-Tails Chakra.
"Based on yesterday's battle, this form's offensive power aside, its defense is likely inferior to even the skeletal form of Susanoo, with its only advantage being its high-temperature shield."
"But to match Susanoo... maybe Scorch Release nature transformation isn't ideal for that."
Shūichi pondered.
Without Yin Release, Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, or Sage Mode, his God of Stars could hardly stand up to Obito's Susanoo.
Not to mention the perfected Susanoo.
Scorch Release's inherent nature felt light and insubstantial.
"Maybe I should base it on Yin Release... with Scorch Release as the outer layer?"
Shūichi adjusted his thinking, setting aside his previous shadow clone techniques.
He dispelled the God of Stars and exited Scorch Release Chakra Mode.
Clap!
Shūichi pressed his hands together, and in the next moment, a rich blue chakra aura surged around him.
This was pure chakra with no nature transformation applied.
Next, bones started forming as he used Yin Release to shape them.
First, the spine appeared, followed by the sternum, ribs, and skull, then clusters of muscles.
At this point, Shūichi already felt an immense mental strain.
"Pure Yin Release nature and shape transformations are indeed extremely challenging…"
Frowning, Shūichi realized there was no way he could mold this into the level of Susanoo.
No wonder every Uchiha who unlocked the Mangekyō Sharingan had some degree of mental instability.
He relaxed his hands, and the chakra around him quickly dissipated. "I'll have to stick to the previous approach of combining multiple nature transformations."
Refocusing, Shūichi clasped his hands together again, causing the ground to quake beneath him as a giant rock figure emerged.
Standing over ten meters tall, this three-headed, six-armed stone giant had lotus patterns on its surface and looked like it was carved from black marble.
As it fully formed, cracks appeared along the lotus patterns, and hot lava started flowing from within.
This was the Lava Giant he had developed using the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai!
He hadn't used this against Susanoo before because, compared to Scorch Release, its attack methods were somewhat limited and lacked the sharpness of Scorch Release.
However, in terms of raw strength, even without Nine-Tails Chakra or Sage Mode, it surpassed the Scorch Release mode.
Moreover, this form was relatively easier to maintain.
Atop the Lava Giant, Shūichi activated Scorch Release Chakra Mode, enveloping himself in a blue flame aura. He spread it downward, covering the entire Lava Giant in a layer of blazing blue flame armor.
With a thought, he commanded the Lava Giant to raise all six of its arms, instantly forming blue Scorch Release blades in each hand.
"With both Scorch Release and Lava Release Kekkei Genkai, I have the power I need and solid attack potential, but… I can't fly, at least for now."
Shūichi considered, "And I can't fully protect myself either."
This felt similar to the Wood Golem Jutsu, albeit stronger than the Third Tsuchikage's rock golem.
Boom!
Boom!
The new God of Stars took a step, making the ground tremble, and Shūichi frowned slightly. "Mobility has dropped significantly too."
Without flexibility, this form would likely get sliced in half by a single strike from Susanoo.
It seemed like he couldn't have both power and agility.
Dispersing his Scorch Release Chakra Mode, Shūichi leaped down from the Lava Giant.
Without his chakra to sustain it, the lava inside the giant cooled rapidly, and it soon collapsed into a pile of rubble.
Emerging from the dust, Shūichi sighed inwardly, "Susanoo still has its undeniable advantages."
"Balanced offense and defense, flight capability, flexibility, and it doesn't interfere with other jutsu."
"So, the best approach still needs pure chakra as a base, shaped with Yin Release…"
As he was mulling over this, a surge of memories entered his mind.
Shūichi checked—it was feedback from his shadow clone at the research base.
"Kakashi…"
Raising an eyebrow, Shūichi set aside his work on the giant and teleported to Kakashi's room in the base.
"Shūichi!"
Sensing Shūichi's arrival, Kakashi opened his eyes and got up.
"Kakashi, are you sure you're ready?" Shūichi asked again to confirm.
Kakashi nodded seriously. "Yes, I believe I am."
Shūichi nodded back. "I'll make the preparations."
A moment later, Shūichi returned, carrying a tray.
Kakashi looked at it, a bit puzzled. "What's this?"
With a mischievous grin, Shūichi replied, "Slices of the Eight-Tails' horn, and, well, slices of the Eight-Tails' tentacles."
"You just eat them like sashimi."
The tentacle piece was from a battle with Killer B, collected after one was severed.
Under his mask, Kakashi's face twitched. "Raw?"
Shūichi retorted, "Would cooking it help?"
"Relax, it tastes fine. I've tried it before."
"Plus, this is lab-grown, perfectly clean."
Kakashi looked at Shūichi, wondering if he was being played with. "Shouldn't it be an injection of tailed beast chakra?"
Shūichi nodded. "That's also possible. But eating it is a form of assimilation—a way to wrestle for control of the tailed beast's power."
"Alternatively, there's the more civilized approach of implanting tailed beast cells into your body."
Kabuto had used this method on a former Jinchūriki with Edo Tensei.
"Let's get started then!"
Clenching his teeth, Kakashi sat in the center of the sealing array, took up a scalpel, and began eating piece after piece of the "sashimi."
Hmm?
The taste was… surprisingly good.
Crunch.
Uh… but the slimy texture of the tentacle was harder to stomach. Kakashi nearly gagged, but he forced himself to keep eating.
Soon, he felt a burning sensation in his stomach, and then the familiar, agonizing feeling of tailed beast chakra invading his system. The Eight-Tails chakra surged from within, intensifying with each wave.
Besides the intense pain from the tailed beast chakra corroding him, Kakashi felt a new agony as if his body were being torn apart.
Once he finished eating everything, he couldn't even hold onto the scalpel, dropping it as he let out muffled groans of pain.
Shūichi took a few steps back, putting away the scalpel, and called out, "Kakashi, right now it's like you're fighting the Eight-Tails—a mindless version of it."
"From here, either you consume the Eight-Tails, or it consumes you!"
Kakashi didn't have any special advantages or physical compatibility, so it was highly likely he'd experience something similar to a Hashirama cell transplant.
This could mean Kakashi's body might gradually mutate into a mindless version of the Eight-Tails. Fortunately, unlike Hashirama cells, this wouldn't lead to explosive cellular growth and wouldn't make him sprout into a tree.
Of course, with Shūichi monitoring the experiment closely, if Kakashi couldn't handle it, he would immediately intervene, suppressing and extracting the Eight-Tails' power.
Thus, the risk of death or losing control was minimized.
As time passed, Kakashi, who had been sitting cross-legged, collapsed to the ground. A scarlet chakra tail emerged from his lower back, gradually turning into blood and flesh, morphing into an octopus tail.
In addition, bulges began forming on Kakashi's body as his bones and muscles seemed to be transforming, slowly shifting him toward the Eight-Tails' form.
Shūichi had never witnessed anything like this before.
Having cheats sure makes a difference!
Clink!
Fire Nether Chains appeared, ready for Shūichi to intervene and halt the experiment if needed.
He wasn't like Orochimaru, who could ignore the life of his test subjects for the sake of science.
"Shū…Shūichi, I can still go on!" Kakashi suddenly raised his head, rasping hoarsely.
Shūichi nodded slightly. "I understand. I won't step in unless absolutely necessary."
Lowering his head, Kakashi focused all his strength on wrestling with the Eight-Tails' power.
Time dragged on.
As night began to fall, Tsunade appeared in the doorway, frowning at Kakashi, who was writhing in pain. "Did you go through the same thing back then?"
Shūichi shook his head. "My body has a natural tolerance, and my chakra is much stronger. Even the Eight-Tails is manageable for me."
"Kakashi's strength is far below mine, so he has to rely solely on his mental willpower to defeat the mindless Eight-Tails' force."
"That's why I first had him face the malevolent tailed beast chakra."
"Confronting the malice is the first step. Only by overcoming it can he even try to control the beast's power."
Tsunade nodded. "This is different from a Jinchūriki—they have the benefit of a sealing technique."
Indeed, it was.
Also, Kakashi was only dealing with a small portion of the Eight-Tails' tissue.
Suddenly, Shūichi's gaze sharpened, and he smiled slightly. "Looks like it's going to work."
Kakashi, who was almost fully transforming into the Eight-Tails, quickly began returning to normal, his body now cloaked only in tailed beast chakra.
Huff!
Huff!
Kakashi lay on the ground, breathing heavily.
At this moment, he could feel the immense power within him, though he was utterly exhausted mentally.
But… this power was incredible.
Steadying himself, Kakashi stood up, looking over at Shūichi. "Thank you, Shūichi!"
Shūichi smiled. "Congratulations, Kakashi!"
"Now, let's test the limits of how many tails' worth of power you can handle."
After greeting Tsunade, Kakashi nodded and began channeling the tailed beast's power. Chakra tails started forming around him.
Three tails!
"That's the limit…" Kakashi said, looking a bit weary.
Tsunade added, "For you, this is already very impressive."
"In terms of chakra alone, this might be comparable to the One-Tail."
Shūichi nodded. "More or less."
"Chakra is the foundation, but combat strength needs to be judged separately."
"And remember, Kakashi, you won't be fighting solely with tailed beast powers."
"You'll need time to make this power your own, adapting it to the ninjutsu you excel at."
"Though the tailed beast's power does amplify your abilities across the board."
Kakashi nodded. "Understood."
"The purpose of gaining tailed beast power is to compensate for my lack of chakra and physical endurance, not just to wield it for raw power."
Kakashi hadn't forgotten his original goal, nor was he seduced by the power of the tailed beast.
He clearly understood that what he needed was to build a solid foundation and elevate his potential, not to chase immediate power.
Seeing the tailed beast chakra covering Kakashi, Shūichi suddenly smiled and said, "I have a sword that would suit you well."
With that, he summoned the large blade, Samehada.
Tsunade glanced over and commented, "One of the Seven Swords of the Hidden Mist?"
"Yep," Shūichi nodded. "Samehada has its own spirit, so you could even consider it alive."
"I originally intended to give it to Rin."
Tsunade and Kakashi looked surprised. "Rin?"
They glanced at Samehada, then imagined the petite Rin wielding it—a comically mismatched sight.
Shūichi explained with a smile, "Samehada has a special bond with the Three-Tails, as it once followed Isobu. It has a liking for tailed beast chakra."
"Basically, it's a bit of a parasite."
Samehada seemed to understand this remark and bent its handle to give Shūichi a thump.
Unfazed, Shūichi kicked it away without hesitation.
Kakashi instinctively caught it, but as soon as he did, the Eight-Tails chakra around him disappeared.
"It can absorb chakra!" Kakashi exclaimed, surprised. Before long, all of his Eight-Tails chakra had been devoured by Samehada.
Shūichi explained, "That's Samehada's ability—it can absorb chakra."
"This means it can counter certain ninjutsu as well."
"Of course, among the Seven Ninja Swords, there's another one that might suit you."
He then summoned the twin blades, Kiba. "These are excellent for lightning-based jutsu."
"However, they might not be ideal for your White Fang swordsmanship."
Kiba, originally wielded by Raiga Kurosuki of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, was more of a ninjutsu-based weapon than a close-combat one.
Kakashi glanced between Samehada and the Kiba blades, then shook his head. "Samehada should be left for Rin, and these twin blades don't suit me either. My White Fang short sword is all I need."
Hearing that Kakashi didn't want it, Samehada, unwilling to let go, quickly spat the chakra it had absorbed back at Kakashi.
Kakashi was taken aback.
Shūichi laughed, "You can feel it, right?"
"The chakra processed by Samehada is even easier to use than regular tailed beast chakra."
Unlike the Nine-Tails chakra, which can harmonize for any user, other tailed beast chakra isn't as adaptive.
For instance, Kakashi's Eight-Tails chakra, covering his body, was merely a temporary state of borrowed power.
In contrast, Shūichi's Nine-Tails chakra mode was indistinguishable from his own chakra, only with extraordinary quality.
Kisame was famously called the Tailed Beast without a Tail, and much of that reputation was due to Samehada.
Yet Kakashi shook his head again, saying, "Borrowing the Eight-Tails chakra is more than enough for me."
Shūichi sighed. It seemed that, despite having the Seven Ninja Swords on hand, no one wanted them.
Seeing his frustration, Tsunade chuckled, "Kakashi already has his own fighting style. You should look for someone new to train."
Accepting the reluctant Samehada, Shūichi shrugged. "Alright, I'll see if Rin wants it when she wakes up."
Rin with Samehada? Now that would be quite a sight.
...
Time flew by, and it was now February of Konoha's 47th year.
A delegation from the Sand Village arrived in Konoha, led personally by Chiyo.
Back at the old Root base, Shūichi divided the One-Tail, storing the Yin portion here and even cutting off a portion of its tail as a keepsake.
Shukaku, enduring the pain, growled, "Hey, remember your promise. If you go back on it, I'll bring the Jinchūriki and attack Konoha."
Shūichi smiled. "I'm a man of my word, no need to worry."
"Just rest here for a day, and tomorrow you'll be sent back to the Land of Wind."
Shukaku yawned and lay down lazily. "The Land of Wind is a lot better than this creepy place. No sunlight here at all."
"True, it's a bit gloomy," Shūichi replied absentmindedly. After marking Shukaku's tail with a Flying Thunder God seal, he waved and left.
Outside, Shūichi found Sarutobi Shinnosuke waiting, which piqued his curiosity. "Captain, does the Third Hokage have a message for me?"
Masked, Shinnosuke smiled, "Well, since Scorch has returned to the Daimyō's side, we've assigned you a new teammate."
"Yamato!"
A slightly shorter Anbu member stepped forward, removed his mask, and bowed. "Shūichi-senpai, I'm Yamato!"
Looks like there would always be a house available on future missions.
"Nice to meet you. Just call me Shūichi or Captain," he said, nodding warmly before looking at Shinnosuke as if unfamiliar with Yamato.
Shinnosuke explained, "Yamato is a former Root operative and possesses the First Hokage's Wood Release."
"Wood Release, I see."
Shūichi feigned surprise.
He had almost forgotten about Yamato, having avoided Root matters since Danzo's death.
"Alright then, Yamato, meet here at 8 a.m. tomorrow."
"Yes, Captain!" Yamato nodded quickly.
After setting the time, Shūichi turned to Shinnosuke. "I'll head over to the lab then."
Shinnosuke nodded.
Patting Yamato on the shoulder, Shūichi's figure vanished.
...
At the lab, Shuichi unseals a scroll, setting aside a small portion of Shukaku's tail as a sample for cell cultivation. He then proceeds to slice and consume the rest.
"Why does this still feel like eating sand?" he mutters, chewing through what feels like soft, sandy meat. Frowning, Shuichi swiftly swallows and waits for his body to digest.
The reaction is much weaker than when he consumed parts of the Nine-Tails or Eight-Tails, but as his body finally processes it, Shuichi's eyes light up.
He draws his blade and, with one swift motion, cuts off his left hand.
A soft pop sounds as his hand detaches at the wrist. Instead of bleeding, the severed hand turns into a pile of sand. Almost instantly, he channels chakra, and his hand regenerates as if untouched.
A Sand Body!
Eating Shukaku's flesh has unexpectedly granted him the ability to turn his body into sand—a power he didn't gain from the Nine-Tails, Eight-Tails, or even Four-Tails.
"Seems there's some randomness to this…" Shuichi muses, feeling more eager than ever to unlock the [Medical Master] tag. With this, his body's compatibility would further increase, possibly sparking new changes.
"Hopefully, Orochimaru isn't taking too long to finish preparations."
After tidying up, Shuichi turns his focus to comparing Hashirama and Asuka's cells in his ongoing research.
---
The next day, Shuichi meets with Asuka, Shisui, and Yamato outside the Root base.
"Yamato, wielder of Wood Release," Shuichi introduces him to the group.
"Hello, I'm Shisui Uchiha. I specialize in Fire Release, genjutsu, kenjutsu, and Body Flicker," Shisui greets with a slight nod.
Yamato bows quickly. "It's an honor to meet you, Shisui-senpai. I've heard of your prowess even during my time in the ANBU."
Next, Asuka steps forward, smiling. "Hello, I'm Asuka Uzumaki, skilled in medical ninjutsu, sealing techniques, and sensory abilities."
Yamato bows again. "It's nice to meet you, Asuka-senpai!"
Introductions done, Shuichi says, "I'll go retrieve Shukaku. Wait here."
In a blink, he vanishes, only to return moments later with a small tanuki perched on his shoulder.
"Shukaku's so tiny now?" Asuka says in surprise, wide-eyed at the adorable creature.
Shukaku glares. "Woman, never underestimate a Tailed Beast's power!"
Unfazed by his grumpy tone, Shuichi pats Shukaku's head with a grin. "Alright, let's go meet the Sand delegation."
The group heads out and soon joins Chiyo and her team of Sand shinobi. Seeing the miniaturized Shukaku, Chiyo is taken aback.
"No sealing needed, then?" Shuichi comments with a glance at the large sealing vessel—a golden cauldron—the Sand team had brought.
Chiyo turns to Shukaku. "Shukaku, are you…?"
Shukaku jumps to her shoulder, looking pleased. "Let's go. It's been ages since I've felt the sun on my sand!"
"Alright, let's move out," Chiyo replies, deciding against the seal for now.
With the Sand shinobi leading the way, Shuichi's group follows. Shuichi, ever-cautious, notices there's no sign of anyone trailing them, but Asuka still scans with her sensory skills every so often.
"When I wrap up my Yang Release research, I'll definitely pick up some of White Zetsu's abilities," Shuichi thinks to himself. White Zetsu may lack strength, but his utility skills—transformation, underground movement, hiding, chakra absorption, even healing—are invaluable.
Setting off before nine in the morning, the group reaches the Fire Country's border by afternoon and stops to rest. Yamato selects an empty area and quickly forms hand seals.
"Wood Release: Four-Pillar House Technique!"
Under the surprised eyes of the Sand shinobi, Asuka, and Shisui, a large wooden house materializes, complete with two stories.
"Wood Release…can also be used to build houses?" Asuka murmurs, still in awe.
Yamato chuckles sheepishly. "Just a small trick of mine."
Shuichi pats Yamato on the shoulder approvingly. "This is a great skill. From now on, you're in charge of our accommodations."
On the other side, Chiyo's gaze sharpens. "Is that… Wood Release?"
"Leaf Village has managed to revive the First Hokage's secret technique!" Chiyo's heart grows heavier. Having a strong ally in times of war was beneficial, but with Konoha's current strength, Suna felt dwarfed.
First, White Fang, then Yellow Flash, now a Blue Flash, and now a Wood Release user?
"We must hurry and find a suitable Jinchūriki," she sighs inwardly. Even if a perfect Jinchūriki wouldn't be enough to challenge Shuichi, it would give them more confidence.
Soon, everyone settles into Yamato's wilderness villa. It's undeniably more comfortable than a tent.
The Sand shinobi take turns on watch, while Shuichi and Asuka share a room.
Whispering late into the night, Asuka eventually falls asleep in Shuichi's arms. With a gentle kiss, Shuichi also closes his eyes.
A single strand of his hair falls, morphing into a small moth that flutters out the window.