Rashomon

Utakata suddenly raised his head, a Tailed Beast Bomb gathering within his mouth.

"Mangetsu, run!"

Harusame knew the terror of Utakata's Tailed Beast transformation; he rushed into the fray, formed hand seals, and began chanting incantations.

Sealing formulas emerged across Utakata's limbs.

As Utakata's master, he possessed the power to seal the Six-Tails.

It was too late!

Before the sealing jutsu could be completed, Utakata had already unleashed the Tailed Beast Bomb.

Oh no!

Harusame exerted his full strength, but he was still a step too slow.

Hōzuki Mangetsu!

He shouted, "Dodge quickly! If you get hit, you'll lose your life!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu could naturally dodge, but if he did, the Six-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb would be enough to destroy half the village.

Summoning Jutsu: Rashomon!

Hōzuki Mangetsu bit his finger and swiftly summoned this defensive technique of the First Hokage.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three layers of Rashomon appeared out of thin air, blocking his front.

The Tailed Beast Bomb slammed into the Rashomon, emitting a violent roar as thick smoke engulfed the surroundings.

This is...

Harusame stared at the scene in shock.

Three demonic gates stood before Hōzuki Mangetsu, now battered and ruined by the Tailed Beast Bomb.

At this moment, Utakata had been subdued by the sealing jutsu and collapsed onto the ground.

Poof! Poof! Poof!

The Triple Rashomon vanished.

Hōzuki Mangetsu fell to the ground, gasping for air.

He had exhausted all his strength just to summon three layers, and the difficulty increased the further one went; the Chakra consumption grew exponentially with each additional gate.

In other words, summoning the fourth or fifth layer would require several times the amount of Chakra.

No wonder that even with Orochimaru's ability, he could only summon three layers. Hōzuki Mangetsu had previously thought he could summon four, but it seemed three was his limit.

Thinking of how Hashirama could summon five layers of Rashomon with ease, Hōzuki Mangetsu couldn't help but offer a bitter smile.

What a damn monster!

"Is this the Rashomon of the Konoha First Hokage? Mangetsu, how did you obtain this jutsu?"

Harusame asked, his voice filled with excitement.

He recognized the technique.

Hōzuki Mangetsu nodded; since it was already exposed, he had no way to hide it.

It really is Rashomon!

Harusame was moved.

He glanced sideways at his disciple and let out a long sigh.

This Hōzuki Mangetsu was truly formidable. To be able to hold out until Utakata grew his fifth tail, and to possess such a powerful defensive jutsu as Rashomon—perhaps he really could become the great hero who saves the village.

"Utakata has lost!"

Harusame said calmly, not asking where the Rashomon came from.

Hōzuki Mangetsu's face was slightly pale, a sign that his Chakra was completely exhausted.

"Is the Six-Tails still beyond control?"

He asked in a low voice.

Harusame nodded helplessly.

Kirigakure possessed both the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails jinchuriki. The Three-Tails was none other than the Mizukage, Yagura, who possessed the strength to control the Tailed Beast and could achieve a full Tailed Beast transformation.

However, the Six-Tails jinchuriki, Utakata, could not do the same.

No matter how hard Harusame tried, Utakata could only sustain up to the fifth tail.

Just a moment ago, he had nearly lost control; if Hōzuki Mangetsu hadn't summoned the Rashomon, the village might have been finished by now.

"Thank you, Mangetsu. Thank you for protecting the village!"

Harusame said sincerely.

He realized he had seemingly found the right person.

When faced with danger, his first thought was to protect the village rather than his own safety.

This Hōzuki Mangetsu was exactly the person the neutral faction had been searching for.

"Master Harusame, Hōzuki Mangetsu, what happened just now?"

Anbu from the village appeared before them.

To test Hōzuki Mangetsu's strength, Harusame had instructed his disciple to leave the village for a spar.

Even so, the Six-Tails had nearly gone berserk and destroyed the village.

Harusame said calmly, "We were testing the limits of the Six-Tails. Everything is under control."

The Anbu nodded, glanced around the battlefield, and then turned back to leave.

Harusame was the guardian of the Six-Tails, and the Six-Tails was the village's secret weapon; it was perfectly normal for a master and disciple to conduct some training.

Harusame suddenly picked up his disciple and said to Hōzuki Mangetsu, "Mangetsu, come with me!"

He said this and began walking forward.

Hōzuki Mangetsu took a deep breath, then followed behind Harusame, limping with every step.

This battle had taught Hōzuki Mangetsu a lesson.

Jinchuriki were all monsters; it was best to run as soon as he saw one in the future. As for monsters among monsters like Hashirama and Madara, he could only pray to the gods for protection.

Harusame brought the two of them to a small cave; this was his secret hideout.

Placing Utakata on the altar above, Harusame wiped the sweat from his face before saying to Hōzuki Mangetsu, "Mangetsu, you saw it yourself. Utakata simply cannot control the Six-Tails well, and because of the Six-Tails, he has always been in great pain. I am researching a way to extract the Six-Tails from his body so he can return to being a normal person."

A flash of excitement crossed his eyes as he continued, "Originally, I was worried that if the Six-Tails lost control, some accident might occur. But with your Rashomon technique, my chances of success have increased. This time, you must help me."

Hōzuki Mangetsu shook his head like a rattle.

"Mr. Harusame, a jinchuriki who loses their Tailed Beast has only one path: death. So, you shouldn't waste your efforts."

What a joke. In the original story, it was precisely because of this that tragedy after tragedy befell this master and disciple.

Harusame's expression darkened, and after a long silence, he said, "Perhaps choosing Utakata in the first place was a mistake."

It was he who had chosen to seal the Six-Tails inside Utakata's body.

Therefore, every time he saw Utakata's painful appearance, Harusame's heart ached deeply.

For all these years, he had been researching ways to extract the Tailed Beast, all to put his own mind at ease.

Hōzuki Mangetsu took a deep breath and said, "Mr. Harusame, you needn't blame yourself. Utakata obtaining the Six-Tails might even be a blessing in disguise. Besides, he is still young; just because he cannot control it now doesn't mean he won't be able to in the future. Once he can fully control the Tailed Beast, he will be a vital force for our Kirigakure."

Indeed, jinchuriki were strategic deterrent weapons for the village, and they were essential.

A missing existence.

But...

Harusame wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Hōzuki Mangetsu.

Actually...

Hōzuki Mangetsu said sincerely, "This was also Utakata's choice!"

Utakata's choice!

Harusame's body trembled, and he looked at Hōzuki Mangetsu in astonishment.

All these years, he had been regretting his initial decision.

It was precisely because of his decision that a child's happiness had been ruined.

Hōzuki Mangetsu smiled slightly; as a transmigrator, he was very clear about the knot between the two of them.

Mr. Harusame!

Hōzuki Mangetsu whispered, "Aside from the village, the more important reason Utakata did this was for you, Mr. Harusame. To gain your approval, and so as not to make you sad. That is why he shouldered all of this alone."

For me!

Harusame's body trembled, and as he nearly understood everything, two lines of tears streamed down.

Utakata!

He could no longer hold it back, and he collapsed onto his disciple's body, weeping bitterly.