A Hunger for Power

The earth split open, revealing a bottomless chasm. Blue B, still enveloped in Tailed Beast Chakra, was cut in half.

When the Tailed Beast is extracted, the Jinchuriki will die.

Similarly, if the Tailed Beast is not freed from the seal, the death of the Jinchuriki also means the death of the Tailed Beast.

The slowly flowing Crimson Chakra was like blood.

Kagami Uchiha, standing beside Blue B's corpse, was like a demon devouring blood.

Blue B, who had just died, still had a large amount of Tailed Beast Chakra within him.

As early as their battle with the Four-Tails, Minato and the others knew they could Absorb Tailed Beast Chakra, so there was nothing to hide.

If asked, they would say it was because of the Sharingan; after all, they didn't have one.

"You... you just killed the Jinchuriki like that..."

Jiraiya and the others arrived via Body Flicker Technique, their expressions filled with disbelief.

The battle hadn't actually lasted long, and they hadn't even seen Kagami Uchiha use any ninjutsu.

They could only vaguely hear him saying something, and besides that, it was just evasive maneuvers.

Then.

Unexpectedly.

With a single slash, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was cut in two!

Even their teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, couldn't have done something like this!

Kagami Uchiha had no intention of explaining. This battle wasn't a crushing display of power.

From beginning to end, he had employed Tricks, precisely exploiting Blue B's inner emptiness.

When he could shake the enemy with words, Kagami Uchiha didn't mind becoming a Chatterbox.

Looking at the corpse on the ground, Jiraiya didn't dwell on Kagami Uchiha's action of absorbing Chakra, merely frowning and sighing.

"Kagami, you were too impulsive. If we had worked together, it might have been possible to capture the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki alive."

"Now that he's dead... the Cloud Village won't let this go."

"Teacher, you are mistaken."

The one who refuted Jiraiya was Minato.

His gaze was firm, his voice steady: "Cloud Village killed our comrades first. We should be the ones who refuse to let this go!"

He had already noticed the tattered bodies of Leaf Ninja at the edge of the battlefield.

The intel they received also indicated that it was Cloud Village who first invaded the Land of Fire.

"I know..."

Jiraiya's face was bitter: "I know... I just... I hate this kind of endless war..."

"If there is peace at the end of the war, I will fight to the end," Minato said, flashing a brilliant smile.

Seeing the massive amount of chakra being absorbed by Kagami Uchiha, Minato cautiously asked, "How are you doing?"

Kagami Uchiha also had a similar sealing space within him. One door contained Sukuna, and the other could be used to store this Tailed Beast Chakra.

The Nine-Tails Chakra, with only "three cards" remaining, was placed in a corner, along with dozens of cards of Four-Tails Chakra set aside.

The Eight-Tails Chakra currently absorbed was about two hundred cards.

The Eight-Tails Attributes were mainly Water Release and some special abilities, possessing considerable research value.

Tailed Beasts, in the final analysis, were products of Yin-Yang Release Technique.

Each type of Tailed Beast Chakra could slightly increase Kagami Uchiha's understanding of Yin-Yang Release Technique.

If his understanding became profound enough...

He even had the idea of directly obtaining Eternal Mangekyo Eye Power!

Kagami Uchiha couldn't cultivate the Eight-Tails Horn from a bit of skin scrapings like Orochimaru, nor did he need such complicated steps.

The Sharingan was the pinnacle of Yin Release, and he had touched the essence of chakra through Black Flash.

To put it metaphorically, Orochimaru's research could reach the cellular level, while he could perform molecular-level analysis!

Tsk, Orochimaru, lament the tragic fate of not having the Sharingan.

Calming his thoughts, Kagami Uchiha turned to look at everyone.

"I've said it before, it's just a mere Tailed Beast."

"Only a Lecherous Old Man like Jiraiya-sensei couldn't handle it."

WHAM!

Caught off guard, Kagami Uchiha's forehead was hit by a heavy punch.

Such fast speed!

Such strong power!

So painful!

Who is it!

Ah... It's Kushina.

"What are you doing!"

Kagami Uchiha yelled angrily, covering his head. This woman's punch was much heavier than the current Raikage Candidate A.

As expected of an Uzumaki Descendant, a woman who could suppress the Nine-Tails even when on the brink of death.

Kushina clenched her fists, her red hair dancing like a tail.

"It took me a lot of effort to suppress the Nine-Tails, you saying that makes me sound like that Lecherous Old Man!"

The Lecherous Old Man dared not speak now.

Kagami Uchiha first assessed the difference in strength between himself and Kushina.

He felt he wasn't without a chance to fight.

But if they fought, Minato would definitely help Kushina.

Hmm... He couldn't win against them as a team.

It should be known that although Kagami Uchiha usually appeared unapproachable to outsiders.

Within the Uchiha clan, the elders and matrons considered him a well-behaved, smiling, and sensible child.

When Obito's Grandmother was still alive, Obito's Grandmother didn't believe him every time Obito said Kagami bullied him.

Kagami Uchiha's smile didn't seem fake at all, it was as sunny and warm as Minato's.

"The Nine-Tails is of course different. It's a Tailed Beast that even the First Hokage had difficulty sealing. In my opinion, its power is greater than the sum of all other Tailed Beasts."

"So when evaluating Tailed Beasts, I don't include the Nine-Tails. Kushina, you misunderstood."

The difference between Kagami Uchiha and the future Sasuke, as representatives of Uchiha's good looks, was that he knew when to pretend and when it was unnecessary.

Making concessions appropriately was not a disgrace.

To be able to bend and stretch was the mark of a true man.

Seeing Kagami Uchiha's warm smile, Kushina loosened her fists.

I knew it... Even though he's a bit arrogant sometimes, he's still a sensible kid.

And he said Uchiha Madara... that Nine-Tails guy just lies!

She gently ruffled Kagami Uchiha's hair.

"You have to call me Kushina-nee!"

"If you're going to talk, talk. Don't touch my head!"

Kagami Uchiha, who had barely suppressed his anger, almost broke down and turned red. He pushed Kushina's hand away.

"You're so childish, what's wrong with ruffling your head!"

Minato watched the two almost start arguing with a wry smile. He felt Kushina was less mature than Kakashi. At least Kakashi knew how to appease the Uchiha.

He carefully pulled Kushina aside a bit. "If Mirror doesn't like it, don't do it. You don't like it when people give you nicknames, right?"

Hearing Minato's words, Kushina seemed to realize she was in the wrong.

She cozily moved closer to Kagami Uchiha and leaned on his shoulder.

"Alright, kid! Don't be angry. I'll treat you to barbecue when we get back to the village!"

"Nee-chan is very rich, you know!"

Kagami Uchiha sneered dismissively. "I have a whole street in the Uchiha Clan Compound!"

Those were the accumulations of Elder Shenhuo, and they were already considered his.

"Is that so? I have a whole street in the Leaf Commercial District!"

Tch, so what? It was destroyed by the Nine-Tails' rampage later anyway.

Jiraiya quietly pulled Minato over.

He leaned in and whispered into his ear.

"Um... Minato... what stage are you and Kushina at?"

"Teacher, you know... whether it's traveling or gathering material, it's all very expensive..."

Maruboshi Kosuke was a quiet observer, smiling as he watched the Leaf's New Generation before his eyes.

In his opinion, even Kagami Uchiha was only ruthless towards enemies, still caring for his comrades.

The four of them had been a team for over half a month, completing their initial synergy.

Looking at the three, Maruboshi Kosuke felt as if he were seeing the Sannin of the past.

Minato's personality was better than Jiraiya's, Kagami and Orochimaru were equally stern, and Kushina was even more so. She and Tsunade were distant relatives and usually as close as sisters.

As expected... where the leaves dance, the fire also lives on!

Seeing the atmosphere relax, Maruboshi Kosuke tapped the Iron Pot on his back.

"Are you hungry? How about I cook, and we can eat and chat?"

"Okay, okay! I haven't tasted Uncle Kosuke's cooking in a long time!" Jiraiya's spirits immediately lifted.

During their time stationed here, they could only eat meals every few days, often subsisting on Ration Pills, their mouths growing tired of the blandness.

They were all ninjas, and even Kushina, who hadn't been on many missions, had seen many dead people.

There was nothing unnatural about eating next to a corpse.

"I brought my own lunch."

Taking out a bento from his small backpack, Kagami Uchiha walked to the side and began eating alone.

The others didn't say anything, pretending not to see.

At first, Kushina truly didn't understand Kagami Uchiha's unsociable behavior, and Maruboshi Kosuke thought Kagami Uchiha was disgusted by his cooking.

Until they saw what Kagami Uchiha was eating...

The Uchiha Medicinal Bath wasn't just for soaking; a portion was also for internal consumption.

Kagami Uchiha's bento lacked color, aroma, or flavor; it was purely a packet of medicine.

Kushina, not believing it, snatched a bit to eat. That stuff was even harder to swallow than Ration Pills!

Minato and Jiraiya already knew about this, so they weren't surprised by Kagami Uchiha's current strength.

They just didn't understand... why Kagami Uchiha craved power so much.