Yagura and the Three-Tails

The shinobi village system began in Konoha, and the specific structural divisions within these villages originated with the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.

Therefore, for many years before the Third Hokage took office, Konoha remained the "beacon of the Shinobi World," with villages of all sizes imitating its systems and structures.

The ninja academy, the Anbu.

However, more than thirty years after the death of Senju Tobirama, the various villages no longer blindly imitate Konoha; instead, they have adapted to local conditions and developed "village systems with their own unique characteristics."

Take Kirigakure, for example. Due to the Third Mizukage's Bloody Mist policy, the number of rogue ninja is the highest in the Shinobi World, leading to the creation of the renowned Kirigakure Hunter-nin Force, which possesses even greater autonomy than the Anbu.

"Although I am the captain of the Hunter-nin Force, the ninja within it are primarily from secret bloodline clans like the Hozuki Clan and the Yuki Clan, so their appearance and combat styles are quite distinct.

So, for a moment, you two should try not to speak or act; just leave everything to me."

In the dense forest, three figures leaped back and forth. Leading them was the Seven Ninja Swordsmen member Suikazan Fuguki, followed by a man and a woman wearing Hunter-nin Force uniforms and black and white masks, respectively.

"Swish!"

A whip made of flowing water brushed past the trees in front of the trio as if it were gentle, yet the brush fell in response as if cut by a scythe. Uchiha Chen and the others had no choice but to stop and land on the ground.

On the only remaining tall tree nearby, a green-haired, purple-eyed boy with a baby face stood with his arms crossed, looking down at the three people on the ground from a position of superiority.

Karatachi Yagura.

Though he looked like a young teenager, he was actually nearing thirty and had long since earned a fearsome reputation throughout the Shinobi World.

"Fuguki," Karatachi Yagura hummed softly, appearing quite dissatisfied with Suikazan Fuguki:

"Why aren't you completing your mission? What are you doing here?"

Suikazan Fuguki showed no respect for this candidate for the Fourth Mizukage, drawing Samehada from his back.

The hilt of Samehada suddenly extended more than ten meters, curving like a chain to smash into the tree at Yagura's feet.

"You aren't the Fourth yet!" Suikazan Fuguki licked his lips and provoked him:

"And I hate it when shorties stand in places higher than me!"

Yagura landed lightly on the ground, seemingly accustomed to these "treasonous words" from Fuguki. He looked up at him and said indifferently:

"The capture of the Three-Tails is a major event for the village; don't you dare interfere!"

"Heh!"

Suikazan Fuguki sneered, his expression indifferent as he said:

"I'm here to clean up your mess.

I'm stationed on the small hill ten miles east of the lake. If you get beaten black and blue by the Three-Tails, remember to run toward me; I might even give you a quick end!

Let's go!"

With that, Suikazan Fuguki swaggered past Yagura, taking Uchiha Chen and Pakura with him.

"Lord Yagura!"

In the shadows, several Anbu revealed themselves. One of them knelt on one knee before Yagura, looking somewhat confused:

"Didn't the ninja clan alliance say they wouldn't participate in this operation? Why let Fuguki come?"

"He only brought two people; they won't stir up any trouble. Perhaps the clans want to gather some intelligence on me? It doesn't matter."

Karatachi Yagura gazed into the distance at the lake where the Three-Tails resided, a sneer appearing on his face.

This recovery of the Three-Tails was top secret, known to only a handful of people; he intended to become the Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails himself!

Once he possessed the power of the Tailed Beast, he would surely be able to suppress the various factions of Kirigakure with thunderous momentum, uniting the village and restoring its former glory.

"We really just walked right past him?"

Standing by the large lake where the Three-Tails was hiding, Uchiha Chen and Pakura still found it hard to believe.

"I am one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, the captain of the Hunter-nin Force, and someone who will join the Council of Elders in the future."

Suikazan Fuguki, who was fiercely loyal to Uchiha Chen, grinned foolishly:

"The Hozuki Clan originally wanted to push me to challenge Yagura for the position of the Fourth! Who would suspect me of betraying the village?"

"Alright, you two wait on the shore."

Uchiha Chen dove straight into the lake.

The lake was not small, but the Three-Tails' body, dozens of meters in size, was exceptionally conspicuous no matter where it was.

Not long after entering the water, Uchiha Chen saw the massive behemoth lying on the lakebed like an underwater stone mountain.

The Three-Tails, Isobu.

A giant turtle covered in spikes with three tails.

Resembling a turtle in appearance, it was also somewhat similar in personality: it preferred stillness over movement and possessed a gentle temperament.

Uchiha Chen looked at the motionless Isobu before him and suddenly opened his mouth to spit out a wind blade, which struck Isobu's forehead.

Bang!

Isobu unconsciously flapped against the lakebed and slowly opened its eyes.

Two yellow beastly pupils, larger than a human, shone like scorching stars, scanning the lake with a unique light as it searched for the existence that had just tickled it.

[Demonic Illusion: Sharingan]

Uchiha Chen stared into the eyes of the Three-Tails without a hint of fear. With only a slight expenditure of Eye Power, his own spirit became like an incomparably sharp sword, crushing Isobu's mental defenses with overwhelming force and appearing within the mental world of the Three-Tailed Beast.

This is truly... ten times easier than I imagined!

Uchiha Chen finally realized just how powerful the suppression of the Mangekyō was against Tailed Beasts.

In the face of the Mangekyō, a Tailed Beast was as compliant as if it had been drugged, allowing itself to be manipulated however he pleased.

The mental world of the Three-Tails was a beautiful, azure lake, within which a chibi version of the Three-Tails was happily rolling around.

Normally speaking, a Jinchuriki possessed strong resistance to genjutsu, and a perfect Jinchuriki was even said to be immune to it; if a Mangekyō genjutsu wasn't a specialized ocular technique, it shouldn't have been able to affect a perfect Jinchuriki.

Uchiha Chen did not know how Obito had controlled Yagura and the Three-Tails—perhaps Madara had taught him some secret method—but Uchiha Chen had Kotoamatsukami: Light!

If Obito could sit in the position of the "Mizukage Emeritus" of Kirigakure, then I, Uchiha Chen, can too!

"Transcription Seal: Kotoamatsukami: Light!"

A vast surge of Eye Power poured into the lake of the Three-Tails' consciousness like water from a breached dam, dyeing the surface the scarlet red of a Sharingan before gradually fading away.

The chibi Isobu continued to play in the lake, completely oblivious to everything that had just occurred.

This way, once the Three-Tails is sealed into Yagura's body, I can activate Kotoamatsukami to control him at any time!

Uchiha Chen nodded in satisfaction, withdrew from the mental world of the Three-Tails, and swam back to the shore to reunite with Pakura.

Night fell, dark and windy.

A vortex appeared out of thin air, and Uchiha Obito, draped in a black robe, leaped out from it.

"Nothing went wrong, did it?"

"Not at all!" Several pale faces emerged from the trees by the lake, speaking all at once:

"A few groups from Kirigakure came down to scout during the day, but they didn't disturb the Three-Tails."

"Good! Now I will go down to manipulate the Three-Tails; you all keep watch."

Obito activated his ocular technique once more, appearing on the head of Isobu in the lake, and directly invaded its mental world with his Eye Power.

The same azure lake, the same chibi Three-Tails, only the person standing by the lake had changed.

"Beast, you are mine now!"

Red light flared in Obito's eyes, and a chain shot out from his palm, wrapping around Isobu's consciousness. Isobu's consciousness let out a mournful cry and hung its head.

Madara's technique is truly useful!

In the lake, Obito glanced at the still-slumbering Three-Tails and vanished in an instant.

The next day, the wind was gentle and the sun was bright, and the water was calm.

Fully prepared, Yagura finally decided that today would be the day he began the first step toward forging the glory of Kirigakure.