Kumogakure's Hachibi

Bang--

The Raikage, who had just set off, was sent flying with a single punch.

The flying Raikage slid a distance along the ground with his feet before coming to a stop.

"It seems that wasn't a coincidence."

The Raikage glanced at the shattered lightning armor on his shoulder and looked at Shirozumi, who had attacked again.

When Shirozumi attacked the first time, the Raikage realized that Shirozumi's speed wasn't faster than his.

The reason he was able to intercept him seemed to be because he had acted preemptively.

This time, he suddenly attacked while speaking, and Shirozumi still acted preemptively.

This time, instead of grabbing his arm, Shirozumi directly punched him in the face.

He dodged in time, and the attack landed on his shoulder.

At the same time, he discovered that Shirozumi was stronger than him in terms of power.

--This was already terrifying.

Many ninjas in the Ninja World had high offense and low defense, or high speed and low defense, or high speed and low offense.

Only the Raikage lineage possessed high offense, high defense, and high speed.

Only ninjas who reached the pinnacle in a certain aspect were qualified to surpass him in that aspect.

"Raikage, you didn't bring the Two-Tails Jinchuriki with you this time, did you? You should understand the role a Jinchuriki can play on the battlefield. Aren't you afraid of total annihilation?

If you use the Tailed Beast's power, you won't be able to implement the reforms in Kumogakure that I mentioned earlier.

The Tailed Beast's movements are too conspicuous; you won't be able to hide it.

Everyone will know that Kumogakure lost because they didn't bring the Tailed Beast, not because of Iwagakure's new system."

As soon as Shirozumi said this, the Raikage was stunned. He scanned the Iwagakure Ninja behind Kurotsuchi, then his gaze fell on Fū: "Where are the Four-Tails and Five-Tails? Don't tell me you're referring to her as the Jinchuriki you mentioned."

Fū was currently around the same age as Naruto and Sasuke. Such a young child, if they had a Ninja Academy, would have only recently graduated.

At this age, could she master the power of a Tailed Beast?

"Little sister, tell Chōmei to show the Raikage."

Shirozumi chuckled upon hearing this, turned around, and tore off the seal on Fū's body.

"Ah? Okay!"

After gaining her freedom, Fū immediately began communicating with the Seven-Tails: "Lord Chōmei, please lend me your power..."

The Seven-Tails within Fū was surprised and confused.

It didn't understand how Shirozumi knew its name.

For Tailed Beasts, only those they recognized could know their names.

"Lord Chōmei, Lord Chōmei, are you there?"

After thinking for a long time and not understanding why, the Seven-Tails replied to Fū's constant calls: "Fū, your body cannot withstand too much of my power. Let that person find their own solution!"

"Lord Chōmei, I'm fine! He saved me, and now it's my turn to stand up! I want to make a hundred friends; I can't die here~"

Fū shook her head stubbornly and earnestly.

Shirozumi placed his hand on Fū's bobbing head. Fū stiffened with a "Mm" and remained motionless.

"It's fine, don't use too much power. Just scare the Raikage for now."

"Mm, Lord Chōmei, just listen to him..."

Fū said softly.

The Raikage, standing not far away, heard the entire conversation between the two and the Tailed Beast.

Of course, the Tailed Beast's voice echoed in Fū's mind, so the Raikage couldn't hear it.

However, just from Fū's words, the Raikage keenly sensed a crucial point—the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki actually knew the Tailed Beast's name and seemed to have a good relationship with it!

As the Ninja Village that had researched Tailed Beasts most thoroughly, the Raikage was well aware that it wasn't difficult to master Tailed Beast Chakra as long as the Jinchuriki persisted.

Rōshi and Han of Iwagakure were both of this type.

They mastered the Tailed Beast's power through training.

However, to fully unleash the Tailed Beast's power, one must reconcile with the Tailed Beast.

This was the most difficult part.

Gifted training geniuses suitable for sealing Jinchuriki were rare, but every Ninja Village could find a few.

Only those who could reconcile with Tailed Beasts were rare encounters.

This little girl in front of him had reconciled with the Seven-Tails at such a young age, meaning that as long as she grew up and trained normally, she would inevitably become a perfect Jinchuriki!

The Raikage looked at Fū with fiery eyes.

When Fū spoke to Shirozumi, she accidentally met the Raikage's gaze and was immediately frightened by the dark-skinned, muscular man's eyes.

"Lord Chōmei, save me! I don't want to be captured by the weird old man!"

"Let's start with four tails."

Shirozumi said to Chōmei within Fū.

Chōmei sensed Fū's fear and stopped speaking, beginning to release its power.

Crimson Tailed Beast Chakra surged from Fū's body.

Tailed Beast Chakra inherently carried attributes of hatred and brutality. Even if the Tailed Beast didn't actively interfere with the Jinchuriki's mind, the Jinchuriki would fall into madness if their will wasn't strong.

Fortunately, Fū's heart was sunny and held no hatred, allowing her to barely control herself in her partial Tailed Beast form.

"Retreat!"

The Raikage quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind and issued orders to the Kumogakure troops behind him.

The opponent had someone who could hold him back. If the partially transformed Seven-Tails Jinchuriki cooperated with the Iwagakure Ninja, his Kumogakure troops behind him wouldn't be able to resist.

Moreover, as Shirozumi had just said, if the Tailed Beast caused too much commotion, they wouldn't be able to keep it a secret.

"Tsuchikage, if you dare to claim the Tailed Beast of Takigakure for yourselves, I will join forces with Konoha and declare war on you again!"

Before retreating, the Raikage left behind a threat.

He was afraid that Iwagakure would take the opportunity to recruit this girl, who had perfect Jinchuriki potential, into their village.

After the Kumogakure retreated, the Iwagakure Ninja also withdrew under Kurotsuchi's command.

The surroundings suddenly became quiet, with only the sound of the waterfall in Takigakure.

As the Tailed Beast cloak on Fū's body faded, her skin, burned and corroded by the Tailed Beast Chakra, was revealed.

Shirozumi squatted down and touched her.

Fū, who had just regained consciousness, blushed: "I, I'm fine... Huh?"

Fū looked down. The burning pain she had felt moments ago was gone, and her injuries had vanished.

Was she really fine?

"You know Medical Ninjutsu?"

Kurotsuchi asked in surprise from the side.

"Something like that."

Shirozumi didn't deny it.

"...Medical Ninjutsu, monstrous strength, you're just like Tsunade."

Kurotsuchi grumbled.

"Senior Kakuzu, thank you for saving me from the Kumogakure just now. I know you, you were a super powerful ninja from our Takigakure in the past!"

Fū ran up to Kakuzu, her face filled with excitement.

"Senior Kakuzu, and this little brother, my name is Fū, let's be friends!"

Fū turned her head, looking expectantly at Kakuzu and Shirozumi.

"..."

Kakuzu was speechless and looked at Shirozumi, as if asking what they should do.

After all, they didn't need to collect Tailed Beasts anymore.

But according to Shirozumi's plan, Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts were also considered "powerful forces" that could be of assistance.

"Fū, do you want to join us?"

Shirozumi smiled and invited Fū.

"Join? But didn't that uncle just say that if I join, he'll start a war again?"

Fū tilted her head, looking conflicted.

"He only said you can't join Iwagakure, he didn't say you can't join us—we are the Dawn of the Ninja World, dedicated to bringing joy to the world and defending it from forces that would harm it."

"Wow, that amazing? I'll join, I'll join!"

Fū jumped up excitedly.

"Aren't you afraid the Raikage will come to declare war on you another day?"

Kurotsuchi pouted as she watched Shirozumi tricking the young girl.

"If he's still thinking about Fū, I'll go steal his family's honey. Those who bully others will be bullied in turn."

"?"

What honey water?

Why would he go steal the Raikage's honey water?

Oh, right, Kurotsuchi suddenly remembered. The Kumogakure's Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B, Shirozumi was planning to steal the Eight-Tails!

So that's what it means.

"You're quite bold, daring to set your sights on a Jinchuriki from Kumogakure.

But even if you could take them, their bonds with the Raikage and Kumogakure are there; they won't be easily tricked and taken away like this young lady."

Kurotsuchi pointed at Fū.

"Maybe they just think I'm handsome and fell in love with me?"

Shirozumi made a joke, patting Fū's back as he prepared to leave.

"Huh?"

Kurotsuchi's jaw dropped, stunned on the spot.

What the heck?!