Arriving before the shrine's entrance, he reached out and gently pushed open the dilapidated doors. They let out a piercing creak as dust fell from them, making Kawaki Aoba cough several times.
Inside the shrine, it was pitch-black. Only a few shafts of sunlight streamed through holes in the roof, illuminating the dust drifting through the air.
At the center of the shrine stood a battered altar. On it rested an old box, covered in dust, as though it had been stored there for many years.
Kawaki Aoba's gaze sharpened. He could sense that the mysterious Chakra was emanating from that worn-out box.
He cautiously made his way toward the altar, his steps light, afraid of disturbing something.
Just as he was about to reach the altar, a black shadow suddenly shot out from behind it. Fast as lightning, it pounced at Kawaki Aoba, releasing a shrill, eerie howl.
Startled, Kawaki Aoba quickly twisted aside to evade it. At the same time, he gathered Lightning Release Chakra in his right hand and struck at the shadow. "Lightning Release: Chidori!"
Blue lightning struck the shadow with a sizzling crackle. It let out a miserable cry, staggered back several steps, and landed on the ground, revealing its true form.
It was an enormous fox, but its fur was black, its eyes blood-red, and its body was covered in strange markings. It looked utterly ferocious. What was more, it had nine tails—though every one of them was somewhat mangled, clearly the result of severe injuries.
"The Nine-Tails? No, the Nine-Tails has golden fur, and its tails are intact. This isn't the Nine-Tails."
Kawaki Aoba frowned, his eyes filled with confusion. "What exactly are you? Why are you guarding this box?" The black nine-tailed fox stared at Kawaki Aoba, its blood-red eyes brimming with