The Simplest One Yet

At the border of the Land of Fire, deep within a vast and boundless primeval forest, several figures raced swiftly across the branches.

Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, darted through the woods like a startled bird.

Yet the pursuers clung to his trail like maggots on a bone, refusing to let go.

They were a group of ninjas, but none wore forehead protectors identifying their origins. Their eyes held nothing but naked greed, like jackals that had caught the scent of blood.

"Ha..." Utakata let out a heavy sigh inwardly.

When would these wandering, displaced days finally come to an end?

The source of it all could be traced back to the news that had shaken the entire Shinobi World: the Collector had single-handedly crushed Iwagakure!

That news had completely overturned his life.

Once upon a time, only Kirigakure's Anbu had pursued him.

With experience and caution, he could still travel the world during the gaps between hunts, taking in the customs and landscapes of the Shinobi World.

But the Collector's "feat" had been like an invisible key that opened Pandora's Box.

The Collector wanted Tailed Beast Chakra. No one believed the Collector's power had nothing to do with Tailed Beast Chakra, and so...

Countless ambitious schemers, opportunists, and desperadoes lurking in the shadows turned their burning gazes toward the Tailed Beasts, toward the Jinchuriki who carried that power.

And Utakata had unfortunately become one of their targets.

Who had leaked his identity as the Six-Tails Jinchuriki? Who had even distributed his portrait? There was no longer any way to find out.

He only knew that his former leisure of watching clouds drift by had long vanished, replaced by endless flight for his life.

If I can escape this time... Utakata gritted his teeth and accelerated once more, silently making up