Death of the Eight-Tails

The commotion on the battlefield left everyone dumbfounded. The shinobi world's nuclear weapon, the Eight-Tails, had disappeared.

"B!"

A shouted as he raced toward Killer B, his figure flickering across the battlefield.

Killer B was lying on the ground, coughing up blood. If the Eight-Tails hadn't taken the hit from Karot's Kamehameha, Killer B would have died too. Even so, his condition was dire. He was barely drawing breath, like a candle flickering in the wind.

"B, are you all right?!"

Seeing his younger brother drenched in blood, A was heartbroken. The two brothers were rough with each other, but that was just how a pair of muscle-bound men showed their affection.

"Uh... uh... Big Bro, the Eight-Tails is dead."

After saying that, Killer B passed out.

Those words struck A like a bolt from the blue. A Tailed Beast was dead. He stared at Karot in disbelief. Karot was still holding the pose from his Kamehameha.

"Retreat! Everyone, retreat!"

A gave the order. Karot's attack had been utterly devastating, and the Cloud Ninja feared being hit by it themselves, so they agreed with A completely. If even a Tailed Beast couldn't withstand it, what chance did ordinary people like them have? They retreated at once.

Orochimaru, the Konoha commander, was wary of an ambush and stopped the Konoha shinobi from pursuing the Cloud Ninja. Though the Cloud Ninja had retreated, this wasn't the time to chase them while they were down. They had the advantage over Konoha in both numbers and strength; the only reason they'd withdrawn was because something had happened to the Eight-Tails. To learn what had happened to it, they would have to ask Karot.

"Karot, how long are you going to hold that pose?"

Orochimaru asked, puzzled, hoping to get information about the Eight-Tails. The shinobi watching were just as confused.

"Lord Orochimaru, my body's frozen. I can't move."

It was Karot's first time using the Kamehameha, and he was completely stunned by its power. No wonder it was strong enough to blow up the moon.

"Oh."

Orochimaru called for some shinobi to carry Karot back to the Konoha camp. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought Karot had been gravely injured.

Next came the cleanup and the treatment of the wounded. The Konoha shinobi were kept busy.

Inside a Konoha tent, Orochimaru and a group of Jonin discussed what to do next.

As the person in charge of the war zone, Orochimaru spoke first.

"Everyone, this battle came out of nowhere, and we suffered heavy losses. According to our tally, we lost nearly a third of our forces. That doesn't include the injured."

"What should we do next? Feel free to speak your minds."

Everyone in the tent was a Jonin or an elite Jonin, each representing a clan. Even Orochimaru had to show them a measure of respect.

The Jonin were all skilled at fighting, but strategy wasn't as simple as just having a brain. Not one of them spoke. They would have to rely on their strategist, Nara Shikamaru.

"Karot, I'd like to ask you something."

"Sure. Go ahead."

Karot glanced at Nara Shikamaru.

"What did that move of yours do to the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki?"

"The Eight-Tails died."

Karot kept his answer brief.

"Hm? What did you say?"

Nara Shikamaru, usually so calm, looked as if he'd seen a ghost. He'd expected the Eight-Tails to be hurt, but he'd never thought Karot could kill it. It was a Tailed Beast, for crying out loud! Everyone knew Tailed Beasts could only be sealed. And now Karot was saying one could be killed. There was no more shocking news than that.

"Are you sure?"

Nara Shikamaru asked again.

"I believe Karot is telling the truth. After the Eight-Tails was sent flying, I couldn't sense its presence at all. There's only one explanation: the Eight-Tails is dead. That's why the Cloud Ninja retreated."

Orochimaru spoke up from the side.

"Hss..."

The shinobi in the tent drew in sharp breaths. Orochimaru's senses wouldn't be wrong, which meant Karot really had killed a Tailed Beast. He was a living legend. Thank goodness he was a Konoha shinobi. That was what every Jonin present was thinking.

"I've already requested reinforcements from the village. They'll arrive soon. Until then, every unit must stay alert. Don't let your guard down."

"Yes, sir."

"Karot, stay behind. The rest of you are dismissed."

Only Orochimaru and Karot remained in the tent.

"Karot, that wasn't a Kekkei Genkai, was it?"

Orochimaru said with certainty. He had investigated every record on the Hatake Clan and found that they had no Kekkei Genkai.

"That's right."

Karot knew he wouldn't be able to keep it secret for long. Now that he had the power to protect himself, he decided there was no point in hiding it anymore.

"Could you show me?"

Orochimaru asked.

Karot held out his right hand. A ball of light made of Ki floated above his palm.

Orochimaru gazed at the Light Orb in delight. This was an entirely new kind of power, one capable of killing a Tailed Beast. Orochimaru hadn't yet become the man who would do anything to achieve immortality. For now, he still wanted to learn every jutsu in the Ninja World.

How could he not be fascinated by Karot's power, an entirely new system of energy?

Karot had his own motives too. He valued Orochimaru's brilliant scientific mind and wanted him to build a Gravity Chamber where he could train. Ordinary training had become far less effective for him.

"Could you tell me how this energy is produced, Karot?"

Orochimaru asked, licking his lips.

Karot shivered. Every time he saw Orochimaru stick out his tongue, he could barely keep his composure.

"Everyone has Ki inside them. It depends on whether you can draw it out of your body."

Karot spent the whole night talking with Orochimaru. Many of his ideas gave Orochimaru a whole new perspective. Nine years of compulsory education hadn't been for nothing. Though Karot didn't understand the practical details, his half-understood theories gave Orochimaru a direction to explore.

Karot had achieved his goal too. Orochimaru would help him build a Gravity Chamber.

After staying up all night, Karot emerged from the tent and stretched. The shinobi passing by greeted him respectfully: "Lord Karot." It made him feel incredibly pleased. He'd finally made it to the rank of "Lord."

Life on the front line was monotonous. Minor clashes broke out now and then, but overall, the two sides were evenly matched. Karot's days revolved around missions and training. Whenever the Cloud Ninja saw him, though, they turned and ran, leaving Karot at a loss.

"You see other shinobi fighting to the death, but when you see me, you turn and run. Isn't that unfair?"

If the Cloud Ninja had heard him, they would have been even more exasperated.

"Boss, you can kill even Tailed Beasts! We're just nobodies trying to make a living, not idiots."

A rule of sorts had taken hold among the Cloud Ninja: if they ran into Karot, they ran away. Their superiors wouldn't blame them for it.