SWNOVELXO Chapter 68: Chapter 078
"Alright," said Kitahara Kaede, as his eyes shifted from golden pupils to purple, swirling circles.
This was the highest level of ocular jutsu — the Rinnegan.
At the same time, Shukaku sensed a sudden change in the surrounding temperature.
It felt like everything had been frozen.
No—he had arrived in a world of ice and snow.
Everywhere he looked, massive blocks of ice towered around him.
"Oh!"
"This is so convenient!"
"It was so hot just now, but now it's freezing."
"Are there any other options?" asked Shukaku. "I'm not really a fan of the cold."
"You're asking me to join Konoha, right? At least give me a deal," Shukaku said.
"Then let's go with something more ordinary," replied Kitahara Kaede.
And then Shukaku noticed the surroundings change again — this time into a desert world.
Sand. Endless sand. And its color was identical to his own.
"Mmm..."
"I like this one!" Shukaku jumped up excitedly.
He leaped like a 30-ton child.
Only...
Thump, thump—
His short little legs landed heavily. "If there was such a convenient world, you should've brought me here earlier!"
"You got a problem with that?" Kitahara Kaede looked at him.
"Uh... no, no problem..."
Shukaku instantly backed down.
And quietly stayed off to the side. His hands were long, but his legs were short and tiny.
Having long arms was actually quite convenient.
Like that Five-Tails Kokuō... wait, no — Kokuō didn't even have hands.
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Then let's welcome Shukaku back to Konoha!
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Mmmhmm!
Back then, Shukaku might have still tried to act tough. But now… he knew there was no way he could beat Kitahara Kaede.
So…
Might as well behave.
Now he was going to fight Kitahara Kaede's ninja bunny — the little white rabbit — to prove his strength, hoping to get some attention.
This was his pledge of loyalty.
Whether he won or lost, the result would be the same — after this fight, he would belong to Konoha.
Or rather… return to Konoha.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: I don't even know what to say to you.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: You really don't think things through.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Hmph~ You jealous, stupid fox? Just admit it.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Hehe…
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: I'm telling you, I'm about to strike it big!
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Strike it big? Hah…
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Hahaha… You are striking it big.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Just remember, no matter what happens, keep your mouth shut.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …??
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Something major's about to happen and you're telling me not to say anything?
Shukaku slapped his belly in irritation.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Isn't it just a fight with Kokuō? I have all the advantages!
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Just watch closely.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: The desert is the most suitable environment for me.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: And I...
He proudly raised his long arms.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: My arms are long — which means I can actually perform hand seals.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So Shukaku, you're saying you can use ninjutsu?
When Hashirama fought the Nine Tails,
He didn't really pay attention to the other tailed beasts — that was mostly Madara's job. He just used his Mangekyō genjutsu to bring them back.
So the tailed beasts were always easy to subdue.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Of course. My specialty is Wind Release.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Ordinary tailed beasts have Tailed Beast Balls.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Or what you guys call Tailed Beast Cannons.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: But I not only specialize in sealing techniques, I also excel in Wind Release ninjutsu.
Since he was about to belong to Konoha, Shukaku's tone with the First Hokage had become a bit more polite than before.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: I see…
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: But hey, @Tobirama — don't ordinary shinobi need hand seals?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: I thought you just yell and ninjutsu happens?
[Tobirama]: You think everyone's like you?
[Tobirama]: But we did discuss hand seals when we were watching Zabuza and Kakashi, didn't we? I rarely use them myself.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Uh…
Kakashi realized ever since he joined this little group chat, he kept getting dragged into things.
[Kakashi Hatake]: So basically, Shukaku is saying…
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: That's right.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: I can confirm that Kitahara Kaede's ninja bunny is—
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Then how do you explain his awakening?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Simple. All us tailed beasts... we originally existed inside the Sage of Six Paths.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: So if Kitahara Kaede is special, maybe he has some of the Sage's aura, causing him to return to his origin.
[Minato Namikaze]: There's an analysis like that?
[Minato Namikaze]: Wait a minute—if the tailed beasts were left by the Sage of Six Paths...
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Exactly. You ninja are twisted. We were originally wild and free, and you captured us.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Like that stupid fox. He was just sunbathing at a lake when Uchiha Madara saw him and rode him away.
[Minato Namikaze]: Sounds like you don't really hate being sealed.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: I hate it. I love freedom. But... the first jinchūriki Bunpuku treated me pretty well, so I liked him.
[Kakashi Hatake]: So you don't like the current Gaara then.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Like him? Definitely not.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: But the kid's a pitiful one.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Pitiful?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Yeah. That guy's childhood was tragic. His own father made him into a tailed beast weapon.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Then kept sending people to attack him — just to test how well he could suppress me.
[Minato Namikaze]: You're sure the Fourth Kazekage ordered assassins against Gaara?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Yep. Speaking of which, Fourth Hokage, weren't you the same?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: You sealed the Nine Tails into your own son — and let the villagers shun him.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Rasa used cruel reality to torment Gaara.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: You made Naruto Uzumaki face darkness.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: In the end, you two are a lot alike.
[Minato Namikaze]: …
Minato originally wanted to deny it, but upon serious reflection… he realized he really was an unqualified father.
The most obvious proof was when Kitahara Kaede visited Naruto's consciousness to see the Nine Tails — and the mental safeguard he left never activated.
That meant even the seal he made didn't recognize him anymore.
He really had... made Naruto go through all that… He was not a proper father.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Huh? Fourth Hokage suddenly got depressed. Is that okay?
[Tobirama]: Let him be for now.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: I gotta say, Shukaku, your sense of morality is surprisingly decent.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Hehe!
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Well, when you're under someone else's roof, you've got to keep your head down.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Now I just need to use my ninjutsu and sealing skills to beat Kokuō.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: After all, Kokuō doesn't have hands. He walks on four limbs — so he can't perform hand seals.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: I've got the advantage!
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Knowing a little ninjutsu doesn't make you invincible.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: For the sake of our past as tailed beasts, here's a warning.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Be careful.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Hey, stupid fox, just 'cause I'm the One-Tail doesn't mean I can't beat the Five-Tails!
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Suit yourself.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Also, you really don't understand enough.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Ninjutsu doesn't have to use hand seals.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Hand seals are just one method — guiding chakra through specific flows to create the technique.
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