Deep in the base, cold white light focused on the central laboratory platform. The air seemed frozen, broken only by the faint hum of precision instruments and the sound of dripping liquid. Orochimaru stood before the complex control panel, excitement practically spilling from his golden serpent eyes. His long tongue slowly slid over his lips as he suppressed a sense of achievement bordering on mania.
After countless failures, sacrificing a massive amount of experimental materials, and using up the enormous resources Shuoyue had provided, he had finally broken through that seemingly impossible technological barrier.
Before him stood four specially made transparent tanks, covered in sealing runes. Inside them were not whole Tailed Beasts, but four miniature energy beings that glowed softly, each with a different form:
· A miniature Shukaku made of flowing sand, fast asleep with its short tail tucked close.
· A miniature Matatabi, its whole body a deep blue, with two clusters of flickering flames for tails.
· A miniature Isobu, its little head and three short tails tucked in, looking very quiet.
· A miniature Chomei, flapping six tiny wings and scattering sparkling flecks of scale dust.
They were neither true living beings nor Tailed Beast clones. Using his astonishing biological techniques and profound understanding of the nature of chakra, Orochimaru had extracted and reconstructed the most fundamental chakra core of each corresponding Tailed Beast, creating "Tailed Beast Chakra Essence." They possessed all the traits and power attributes of their respective Tailed Beasts, but their minds were as pure as newborn infants. Their total power was far less than that of the originals, yet it was exceptionally pure and... absolutely controllable.
"Perfect creations..." Orochimaru's voice was hoarse with rapture. "Using these 'essences' as the core, I can construct a reverse resonance channel... Then, just as a key opens its corresponding lock, I can safely and completely 'exchange' the vast amounts of chakra from the same source inside a Jinchūriki..."
His first "clinical" subject was Nadeshiko Haku.
Haku lay on the platform connected to the instruments, her expression calm but tinged with nervousness. Complex tubes and glowing runes linked the Three-Tails seal in her abdomen to the tank holding the miniature Isobu.
Shuoyue stood in the observation area, expressionless, while the light of his "Eighty Gods Mirror" shimmered faintly in his eyes, recording every moment of energy flow.
"Begin." Orochimaru pressed the final button.
Hum—!
Light instantly filled the laboratory! The miniature Isobu seemed to activate, swimming restlessly in its tank! Haku's body jerked, and she let out a stifled groan. A glaring crimson light flared at the seal on her abdomen! The immense, violent Three-Tails chakra was guided by a gentle yet irresistible force, streaming out of her body through the tubes and into the miniature Isobu!
The energy fluctuated violently throughout the process, and the laboratory trembled faintly. But Orochimaru's control was precise to the extreme, while Shuoyue stabilized the surrounding space as steadily as a rock.
When the last trace of chakra belonging to Isobu left Haku's body, the miniature Isobu visibly grew larger and more solid, its movements becoming livelier. The seal that had troubled her for so long vanished completely from her abdomen, leaving behind nothing but smooth skin. She passed out from exhaustion, but her face looked more peaceful and relaxed than ever before.
"Success!" Orochimaru could barely contain his excitement.
Shuoyue stepped forward to check Haku's condition, and a barely perceptible flicker of emotion passed through his eyes. He looked at the four tanks. "Next, the replacements."
A secret outpost outside Sunagakure, in the Land of Wind.
The imprisoned Yubuchi Sunako watched in horror as Shuoyue and Orochimaru approached. Shuoyue offered no explanation, simply overpowering her with overwhelming force. The same apparatus was connected to her and the miniature Shukaku.
The process repeated. The Shukaku chakra inside Sunako was forcibly extracted and injected into the miniature Shukaku. She endured tremendous pain and the hollow feeling of having her power stripped away before finally passing out. The miniature Shukaku, meanwhile, grew more solid and lively.
A secret prison in Kumogakure.
The same thing happened to Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki. Her blue catlike chakra was extracted and injected into the miniature Matatabi. Before losing consciousness, Yugito's eyes were filled with unwillingness and despair.
A secret room in the base.
Fu, the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, looked at the apparatus and the miniature Chomei before her, her expression conflicted. She had seen Haku emerge unharmed after being separated from her Tailed Beast, and had also sensed that Shuoyue treated the orphans somewhat differently. In the end, she gritted her teeth and offered little resistance. As her power was stripped away, she too fell unconscious.
By then, the Tailed Beasts had been safely extracted from all four Jinchūriki. Their vital signs were stable; they were simply weak and unconscious for the time being. The four corresponding miniature Tailed Beasts, meanwhile, now shone brilliantly, brimming with pure, immense power.
Shuoyue brought these four "concentrated Tailed Beasts" once more to the altar where the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path had been summoned.
There was no need to go through the trouble of summoning it again. Through their previous connection, and with the miniature Tailed Beasts serving as the strongest triggers, the upper half of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was easily summoned from the other dimension once more! Its withered body seemed even more eager, and the parts of its face corresponding to the four Tailed Beasts' eyes twitched faintly.
Shuoyue formed Hand Seals, and the light of his "Eighty Gods Mirror" blazed in his eyes!
"Sealing Jutsu: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals—Modified!"
Four incredibly condensed chakra dragons roared out, precisely lifting the four radiant miniature Tailed Beasts in their jaws!
The miniature Tailed Beasts let out soundless cries, but they could not resist the attraction of the Ten-Tails and Shuoyue's powerful sealing technique!
With the miniature Tailed Beasts in their jaws, the dragons plunged into the corresponding mouths of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Four muffled explosions rang out in succession! Terrifying torrents of energy erupted one after another!
The statue's four eyes, corresponding to the One-Tail, Two-Tails, Three-Tails, and Seven-Tails, snapped open one after another!
Dark yellow, deep blue, crimson, and rainbow—each eye shone brilliantly, radiating waves of power so oppressive they took one's breath away! The statue's massive body shook violently, and even its withered skin seemed to fill out a little. The pressure it exuded grew solid and terrifying beyond measure! Like an ancient beast that had slumbered for ages, it was gradually awakening!
Shuoyue stood firm amid the storm of energy, doing everything he could to maintain the seal's stability as he felt that immense power flood into the statue.
When the last trace of energy had been absorbed, the statue's four eyes shone brightly and remained open, declaring that these four powers had completely returned.
Shuoyue slowly lowered his hands and let out a long breath. Even for him, carrying out such a string of high-precision operations had taken a great deal out of him.
He raised his head and gazed at the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, its four eyes open as it exuded an aura of annihilation. Deep in his cold eyes, a spark finally kindled—a burning light that meant his "goal was within reach."
The One-Tail, Two-Tails, Three-Tails, and Seven-Tails.
The fundamental powers of four Tailed Beasts had been acquired perfectly, through a method that surpassed tradition.
The Jinchūriki had survived, and the Tailed Beasts' power had been reclaimed.
The plan was progressing with unimaginable efficiency. He was one great step closer to that ultimate goal.
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