Orochimaru watched Keigo Uchiha's retreating figure, his gaze fixed on the One-Tomoe Sharingan in the cultivation tank.
"Keigo, before you came along, I was considered the greatest genius after Hatake Sakumo. Even Jiraiya and Tsunade were no match for me. But after meeting you, I realized that monsters like you really existed in this world."
"I appreciate your kindness."
His voice was hoarse, carrying a note of determination.
"The human body cannot rival the descendants of the gods, but I have my own convictions!"
At the very least... he would become a Kage Level powerhouse through his own efforts!
Only after reaching the limits of humanity
could he completely cast off this body.
Orochimaru looked at the adorable Two-Tails before him, then returned to his experiments, his eyes filled with single-minded determination.
Holding the sealing jar in his arms, Keigo Uchiha raced across the rooftops and murmured, "Orochimaru was still determined in his youth. He wanted to become a Kage Level powerhouse through his own strength!"
Being a Kage Level powerhouse was the limit for an ordinary person.
Even Minato Namikaze, who was Super Kage-level, had only reached that level thanks to the Nine-Tails and Sage Mode.
"But for a researcher like my teacher, there are plenty of ways to increase his strength. He just can't let go of his identity as a ninja yet."
That wasn't hard to understand.
Although he wanted immortality and to master every ninjutsu,
Orochimaru still had bonds he couldn't abandon. Whether it was Tsunade, Jiraiya, or Sarutobi Hiruzen, he couldn't bear to part with any of them. In the original story, it was probably Sarutobi Hiruzen's reluctant intervention
and the irredeemable label of "Missing-nin"
that truly led him down the path of pure research, making him abandon his identity as a ninja.
When he arrived at the training ground, he heard Inuzuka Mi's earnest, soft voice.
"Even though Keigo-kun isn't back yet, I still have to keep working hard. I absolutely... can't let Keigo-kun leave me behind!"
Inuzuka Mi panted heavily.
But her eyes were filled with determination.
The Ice Blade in her hand radiated a bone-chilling cold!
It was the Ice Blade her Ninja Cat had transformed into, and it unleashed tremendous power in her hands. She now had the strength of an elite Chunin, but... it still wasn't enough!
"That guy Keigo has gotten even stronger. I've fallen behind him, and by even more than before!"
Hyuga Ruri's beautiful eyes were full of helplessness. She gritted her teeth, but there was nothing she could do. Watching Inuzuka Mi work so hard, she couldn't help feeling a little envious.
She was always agonizing over things.
Always thinking about catching up to Keigo Uchiha, her mind constantly in turmoil.
But Inuzuka Mi was so calm, always training with quiet determination. She had a steadiness that Ruri lacked—or maybe... that was just Inuzuka Mi's natural disposition. She was always so composed.
Like a peaceful lilac.
"Ladies, long time no see."
Just then, Keigo Uchiha appeared beside them and stopped Inuzuka Mi as she continued training. "And Mi-chan, training beyond your body's limits won't make you stronger. It'll only damage you."
At this point, Inuzuka Mi had reached her limit, both in chakra and physical stamina!
"Keigo-kun, I'm fine. I've gotten a lot stronger over the past month. Next time we go on a mission... I'll definitely be able to go with you!"
Inuzuka Mi's lashes trembled, her eyes filled with anticipation and determination.
Keigo Uchiha was taken aback, then immediately understood what she meant.
The reason Inuzuka Mi was training so hard
was that she hadn't been much help on this mission, and that had made her feel like she was falling behind. So she had been training with such urgency.
"There's no need to push yourself so hard. I've already found a way to make you stronger quickly."
Keigo Uchiha smiled and gently ruffled Inuzuka Mi's smooth hair. "You're going to become one of Konoha's strongest kunoichi. No one in the entire Shinobi World will be able to hurt you!"
"Hmph!"
Hyuga Ruri stepped closer, looking helpless. "Mi-chan, you don't need to be in such a hurry. I didn't help at all on this mission either."
"And the teacher and a certain someone even treated me like dead weight and sent me back to the village early."
"That guy's strength is already far beyond ours."
Hyuga Ruri sighed.
Her pale eyes were filled with helplessness.
"All right, let's talk about something important."
Keigo Uchiha released Hyuga Ruri, beckoned to Inuzuka Mi, and said with a smile, "First, let's increase Mi-chan's strength. Come lie down. You're about to get a new 'pet.'"
"You two should get along."
He spoke with a broad grin.
Hyuga Ruri froze, then realized what was going on. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the ceramic jar in Keigo Uchiha's hands!
Her body trembled, and her mouth fell open. "Could it be... you and Teacher Orochimaru really did it, Keigo? And... you even brought that thing back!?"
That was the Two-Tails!
Kumogakure's most precious asset, and Keigo Uchiha and Orochimaru had actually brought it back.
It was unreal. Something so outrageous had really been accomplished by those two!
"So that's why you went to capture her back then... for Mi-chan? You did it so you could make Mi-chan stronger!"
Hyuga Ruri stared at Keigo Uchiha in disbelief.
She'd thought Keigo Uchiha had just been saying it offhandedly, or that he was going to try and retreat immediately if things went wrong. She never imagined he'd gone after the Two-Tails for Inuzuka Mi.
What kind of fairy-tale plot was this?
He wanted to make his teammate stronger,
so he went and captured a Tailed Beast?
That was absurd!
Beside them, Inuzuka Mi looked utterly confused.
"Keigo-kun, Ruri, what are you talking about? I don't understand. But... it sounds like Keigo-kun did something especially dangerous for me."
She looked at Keigo Uchiha with concern.
She wanted to become stronger, but she didn't want Keigo Uchiha to get hurt!
"Of course he did!"
Hyuga Ruri stared at Inuzuka Mi in shock and said urgently, "He captured Kumogakure's Tailed Beast so he could make you stronger. Can you believe it?"
She felt as if she couldn't even think straight anymore.
She murmured, "If this gets out... it'll definitely cause conflict!"
"This is insane!"
Kumogakure was a hardline military power that loved stirring up trouble. Now that their village had lost its Tailed Beast, if they found out, it would definitely spark a conflict between the two villages.
It might even... start a world war!
"Keigo, do you know what you're doing?"
She couldn't help asking, "If they find out, even the village won't be able to protect you and Mi-chan!"
Hyuga Ruri's eyes were filled with concern.
"The First placed the Nine Tailed Beasts in Konoha, but no one called it wrong, and no one chose to go to war. Do you know why?"
Keigo Uchiha smiled faintly at Hyuga Ruri. "It was because the First was strong enough—strong enough that even the other four great ninja villages together couldn't defeat him."
"When you're powerful enough, every restriction seems fragile."
"Besides, Kumogakure invaded Konoha once before, trying to seize the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. So what we're doing now is just an eye for an eye. Even if Kumogakure finds out, they'll have to swallow their anger."
His lips curled slightly. "Otherwise, Kumogakure can try starting a war!"
Keigo Uchiha's eyes glinted coldly.
Seeing how unafraid Keigo Uchiha was, Hyuga Ruri somehow felt a little more at ease.
"Wait."
Suddenly, Hyuga Ruri thought of something and asked in confusion, "Isn't the Third the strongest Hokage? If what you're saying is true, then the First should be stronger than the Third. That doesn't match what the textbooks say."
Her face was full of confusion.
Could Keigo have remembered wrong?
Keigo Uchiha: "...That's because the Third cares about his reputation. In truth, he can't compare to the First. At best, he could go toe-to-toe with the Second. If they actually fought, he might not even win."
"The First was a monster who could defeat the Five Great Nations single-handedly. If he were still around, no one would dare invade Konoha."
He clapped his hands together.
Susanoo Buddha!
Even Madara could only be pinned beneath it and beaten. What chance did the other Five Great Nations have?
And the Third could compare to a monster like the First?
What a joke!
He wasn't fit to shine the First's shoes!
Hyuga Ruri looked doubtful, as if her whole worldview had crumbled. One corner of her mouth twitched. "I... Is that true or not!?"
Keigo Uchiha thought for a moment. "If you get the chance, you might be able to witness the First's strength for yourself."
If events followed the original story, with the Fourth Shinobi World War and Yakushi Kabuto's arrival, then the First would still be able to come back from the Underworld and take a look around.
"???"
Hyuga Ruri looked doubtful.
What was he even talking about?
Wasn't the First already dead?
"I believe you, Keigo-kun!"
At that moment, Inuzuka Mi walked up to Keigo Uchiha, her beautiful eyes resolute. "And I don't want to stay weak!"
"Now that's a fine spirit."
Keigo Uchiha smiled and led them to the Uchiha Clan compound.
No one else would be able to spy on them here.
Nor would anyone notice.
Even the Third's gaze couldn't reach this place. Inuzuka Mi lay down on the tatami mat in the room, revealing her flawless, pale abdomen. Her butterfly-wing-like lashes trembled, and her pretty face flushed.
"Let's begin, Keigo-kun. I... I'm not scared!"
Keigo Uchiha: "..."
He helplessly pointed at Inuzuka Mi's trembling fingers. "You're already shaking so much you can barely hold still. But don't be afraid. It won't hurt. That fellow's pretty well-behaved."
As he spoke, he casually waved his hand. The jar opened at once, revealing the head of the Two-Tails, wreathed in blue flames!
Terrifying flames blazed!
This was Netherfire from the depths of hell, its touch chilling beyond belief!
It seemed... capable of burning a person's soul to ashes!
The blue flames bathed all three of their faces in a ghostly glow.
"This... is the Tailed Beast you and the teacher sealed, Keigo? Is it really okay to undo the seal so easily?"
Hyuga Ruri couldn't help swallowing.
She watched the Two-Tails warily, on high alert!
She had a feeling that if the Two-Tails attacked her, she... would definitely die!
"What an adorable kitty!"
Inuzuka Mi's eyes lit up, her face full of delight, as if she'd just seen a beloved treasure.
Hyuga Ruri: "..."
She looked up at the Two-Tails, whose head nearly filled the entire room, utterly baffled. Was there... anything about this thing that could possibly be called cute?!
What kind of thought process was that?
"My lady, is this the person I'll be staying with from now on?"
The Two-Tails Matatabi looked fearfully at Keigo Uchiha and pointed at Inuzuka Mi.
She looked like she was saying, I may be powerful, but when it comes to Keigo Uchiha, I can only cower.
Where was all the confidence she'd shown before?
The blue flames instantly drew back and vanished.
Hyuga Ruri: "..."
What in the world was going on?
This was a Tailed Beast!
The strongest creature in the entire Shinobi World, and now she was acting so meek in front of Keigo Uchiha, she might as well be serving him tea!
The Two-Tails Matatabi looked aggrieved too. She didn't want this either. She used to be a Tailed Beast with dignity, but she didn't want to die!
"That's right. Once you go inside, give all your chakra to Inuzuka Mi in her mental space."
Keigo Uchiha glanced at the Two-Tails Matatabi. "When Jinchuriki use your chakra, there are side effects too, right? Can you drain the user's lifespan?"
"That won't happen!"
The Two-Tails Matatabi immediately shook her head!
Cold sweat, however, ran down her forehead.
How... how did he know everything?
Only the Tailed Beasts and the old man knew about this. Just how much did this guy know?
"Go."
At Keigo Uchiha's word, the Two-Tails Matatabi instantly turned into flowing blue chakra. It all poured into Inuzuka Mi's abdomen and disappeared, finally forming a blue seal.
That's right.
The Two-Tails Matatabi had placed the seal herself.
Keigo Uchiha's mouth twitched. "You damn well put that seal there yourself. Can't you just undo it whenever you want?"
"Were you trying to keep yourself from getting out, or keep me from getting in?!"
Two-Tails Matatabi was clearly keeping him at bay!
"Is it done already? I don't feel any pain."
Inuzuka Mi blinked.
She couldn't feel a thing. Such a huge Tailed Beast had entered her belly, and she hadn't noticed at all. Looking at the lovely blue-green markings on her lower abdomen, she gently ran her little hand over them.
She felt a cool touch.
It was soothing.
"Not yet. There's still one step before you can fully control Two-Tails. I have to keep an eye on it myself; otherwise, that thing might pull some stunt."
Uchiha Keigo hadn't finished speaking when
Inuzuka Mi's eyes turned vacant and unfocused!
She had entered the mental space!
Inside the mental space, Two-Tails Matatabi was astonished!
She marveled at the chakra surrounding her. It was so soothing and gentle, it made her feel... blissful. Her whole body went limp, as if she'd arrived in heaven!
"What is this feeling? Why does your chakra feel so good?"
Two-Tails Matatabi grinned foolishly at Inuzuka Mi, whose delicate face wore an innocent, dazed expression.
It felt so comfortable inside this body.
It was like basking in the sun, surrounded by an especially soothing presence. Her whole body went limp; she didn't want to think about anything. She just wanted to sleep here!
"I don't know either. Keigo often says my chakra is special, and Little White likes me too!"
As she spoke, Inuzuka Mi beamed.
Thinking of Little White made her feel safe by instinct.
"Uchiha... Keigo?!"
Two-Tails Matatabi shuddered. She didn't care what Mi meant by Little White; all she knew was that Uchiha Keigo was a complete demon!
"That demon... I absolutely can't provoke him. That guy... is terrifying. He even treats Tailed Beasts like test subjects!"
As she spoke,
she shuddered all over.
If she could help it, she never wanted to see Uchiha Keigo again.
The feeling of her hair standing on end made her miserable. It was so uncomfortable!
"Oh?"
Just then, Uchiha Keigo's figure took shape in the mental space. He gave Two-Tails Matatabi an amused look. "Since you know how terrifying I am, why don't you hurry up and hand over all your chakra?"
"I thought you might try something, but you've been surprisingly obedient."
Uchiha Keigo was taken aback.
Two-Tails Matatabi hadn't tried anything at all.
If it had been the Nine-Tails, it would've been up to something by now. That one wouldn't give up until the bitter end.
"Wait... what's with that look?"
Uchiha Keigo eyed the utterly relaxed, limp, and almost dazed Two-Tails Matatabi with a strange expression. He could feel Inuzuka Mi's gentle, delicate, and accepting chakra.
"Don't tell me you like Mi-chan's chakra?"
That was exactly how Two-Tails Matatabi looked when a cat got high on catnip!
He'd never imagined Inuzuka Mi's chakra could have that effect.
If Two-Tails Matatabi had been paired with Inuzuka Mi, then even without his help, Mi could probably have become a good Jinchuriki. Their chakra was an incredibly good match!
Two-Tails Matatabi: "..."
She had a feeling he'd uncovered her little secret.
"Fine, I admit it. This girl's chakra really does feel good, so I don't mind her becoming my Jinchuriki. She's a kind person, so I don't mind handing over my chakra."
Two-Tails Matatabi looked into Inuzuka Mi's clear eyes and smiled faintly.
Then she turned to Uchiha Keigo, a trace of resentment in her gaze.
The next moment,
a huge mass of chakra appeared inside her: a Two-Tails made entirely of chakra!
It looked exactly like her,
but it was pure chakra, without a trace of consciousness.
"Once you have this chakra, you'll have complete control of my power. From now on, you can use all my abilities freely. Becoming a Kage Level powerhouse will only be a matter of time!"
Two-Tails Matatabi declared proudly.
The enormous chakra Two-Tails sank into Inuzuka Mi's body, and ghostly blue flames blazed around her!
"So this is Two-Tails' Tailed Beast Mode?"
Uchiha Keigo's eyes lit up. "It's different from the Nine-Tails' Kurama Mode. This is just an ordinary Tailed Beast Cloak, but it's still powerful enough."
This was proof that she had fully mastered a Tailed Beast's power.
The Tailed Beast Cloak was simply a form that boosted strength and defense. Of course, it was completely different from the Nine-Tails' Golden Body Mode in the original story. Kurama had once explained that
because it was the strongest and closest in power to the Ten-Tails,
it was able to give Naruto Kurama Mode. The other Tailed Beasts couldn't do that.
"This power is amazing. I feel... so much stronger than before!"
The two returned to the real world.
Inuzuka Mi's beautiful eyes trembled as she looked at the ghostly blue flames burning around her. Joy filled her gaze. "Now... I won't be a burden to you anymore, Keigo!"
"This is the power of a Tailed Beast? It can make Mi-chan this powerful in an instant!"
Hyuga Ruri's pupils contracted.
She sensed a threat!
In this state, Inuzuka Mi already had the strength of an Elite Jonin. She was now stronger than Ruri!
"Damn it, I want to get stronger too! Keigo, you can't play favorites!"
Hyuga Ruri glared at Uchiha Keigo, her pretty face full of indignation. "Even if I got no credit for this mission, I still put in the effort. You can't give me nothing, can you?"
It was bad enough that Uchiha Keigo had left her behind.
But now even Mi-chan had become so powerful.
That meant... she was the weakest one on the team!
She was Hyuga Tenjin's granddaughter, after all!
"Of course. I've already got some ideas about how you can get stronger."
Uchiha Keigo chuckled as he looked at the proud Hyuga Ruri. As the future hope of the Hyuga Clan, her proud nature wouldn't let her fall behind.
She was a tsundere girl.
That was both a good thing and a flaw. There was a strong chance that Hyuga Ruri had died on the battlefield in the original story, which was why she never appeared!
His eyes twinkled with amusement. "To awaken the Tenseigan, you need a pure Byakugan combined with Otsutsuki Hamura's Sage Body. And the Sage Body, no matter how you look at it, must be tied to Yang Release."
"You have the genes of both the Hyuga Clan and the Senju Clan, so a Tailed Beast's Yang Release Chakra would be ideal for you."
Uchiha Keigo's eyes gleamed.
He was curious too.
Could a Tailed Beast's Yang Release Chakra activate the Senju Clan bloodline inside Ruri and help her awaken the Tenseigan?
If she really awakened the Tenseigan, Hyuga Ruri would go from being a Jonin to a Super Kage-level powerhouse in an instant. She might even... touch the threshold of Six Paths-level power!
She would also gain a ticket to becoming a Six Paths-level powerhouse!
"Though I don't understand what you're talking about, Keigo, go ahead! I can handle anything!"
Hyuga Ruri's face was alight with excitement. Without hesitation, she lifted the front of her shirt.
Her slender waist was revealed.
Before you continue