The Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata

As blue-black flames burned in Sasuke's hand, the Six-Tails inside Utakata said, "That's the Two-Tails."

As if he had found family, Utakata grabbed Sasuke's hand and asked in surprise, "You're a jinchuriki too!?"

Utakata's eyes were full of delight.

When jinchuriki met other jinchuriki, they shared a sense of mutual sympathy.

Sasuke nodded. His status as a jinchuriki gave Utakata a strong sense of affinity toward him.

Sasuke said to Utakata, "Take me out of the Hidden Mist Village."

Utakata's eyes filled with confusion. He had never left the village since childhood, so he asked Sasuke, "But after leaving the Hidden Mist, where would we go?"

Sasuke said, "The world is vast. The Hidden Mist Village isn't the only place there is."

Utakata nodded.

He blew a huge bubble that enveloped both himself and Sasuke. It floated into the air and slowly drifted toward the mainland.

Sasuke looked at Utakata. His eyes were filled with helplessness, sorrow, and confusion.

That was probably the common look shared by every jinchuriki except Killer B.

After all, jinchuriki had been abused by their fellow villagers since childhood and endured their scornful stares.

Sasuke wanted to recruit Utakata. As the Six-Tails' jinchuriki, Utakata had a high level of compatibility with the Six-Tails. After partially transforming into a tailed beast, he could instantly kill two of Pain's Six Paths—the Human Path and the Preta Path. That was more than enough to prove Utakata's strength.

After all, such a record was rare throughout the entire ninja world.

Recruiting Utakata was simple. Or rather, recruiting any jinchuriki was simple. All he had to do was win their hearts and give them the "love" they needed.

After leaving the Hidden Mist Village, Utakata landed in a forest.

According to Sasuke's memories, this was the Land of Fire.

Sasuke said to Utakata, "I still don't know your name."

"Utakata. And you?"

"Sasuke."

Sasuke invited Utakata to join his clan.

But Utakata's suspicions had not faded. He said to Sasuke, "Sorry, but I prefer being free like a bird."

With that, Utakata left without looking back.

There was no mist in the Land of Fire. Utakata lay inside his bubble, breathing in the forest air, listening to the stream nearby, and watching the birds soar through the sky.

"Gurgle, gurgle~"

Utakata suddenly regretted not going home with Sasuke earlier.

Because he was hungry now.

As a jinchuriki who had been kept in captivity since childhood, Utakata had no wilderness survival skills. Though he had to worry about going hungry, it was still better than suffering the villagers' scorn in the Hidden Mist Village and bearing the charge of "murdering his master."

Just then, Utakata heard several sharp whistling sounds.

Shuriken carrying explosive tags flew toward Utakata!

Utakata cursed inwardly. "Even after I left the village, they still won't let me go?"

"There are so many rogue ninjas in the Hidden Mist Village. Why are they only chasing me?"

The leader of the Hidden Mist tracking squad said, "Because you're the Six-Tails' jinchuriki. You can die, but leave the Six-Tails behind!"

Left with no choice, Utakata took out his bubble pipe and blew dazzling bubbles across the sky. He hid among them and swiftly fled.

But the tracking squad pursued him relentlessly.

The Six-Tails inside Utakata said, "Utakata, you won't shake them off like this. Kill them all!"

Utakata shook his head and said, "I don't want to kill anyone anymore!"

The Six-Tails said, "But if you don't kill them, they'll kill you! Kindness is poison to you!"

The tracking squad behind him began gathering ninjutsu. A shuriken cut Utakata's shoulder, and it was poisoned.

Cold sweat broke out across Utakata's forehead.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!"

"Water Release: Swimming Dragon Sword Jutsu!"

"..."

Countless Water Release techniques surged toward Utakata. With no other choice, he took out his bubble pipe.

Countless bubbles danced through the sky.

Beautiful and deadly.

The bubbles touched the ninjutsu and dissolved it. Then, one bubble after another enveloped the tracking squad.

These were different from the bubbles before.

This time, Utakata had used the Six-Tails' power. Powerful sulfuric acid dyed the bubbles pitch-black.

Then, the bodies of the Hidden Mist tracking squad were dissolved by the powerful acid inside the bubbles.

Utakata killed every member of the tracking squad, which also meant that he and the Hidden Mist Village would be enemies until death!

After all, the Six-Tails was still inside him.

But the poison in his body also drained him of all strength. Utakata's vision blurred, and he collapsed to the ground.

In the last moments before his vision faded, Utakata caught sight of a yellow-haired girl...

Three days later.

When Utakata awoke again, he found himself lying in a bed.

There was a faint fragrance on the bed.

Utakata did not know what scent it was, but it smelled wonderful.

The Six-Tails was inside Utakata, so ordinary poisons could not kill him. Jinchuriki all possessed tremendous vitality.

Just then, the door opened, and a beam of sunlight fell across Utakata's face. Looking against the light, he saw a girl standing in the doorway.

The girl's lovely face and radiant smile made Utakata's heart beat a little faster.

Seeing that Utakata was awake, Xiaoying said happily, "You're finally awake!"

Utakata did not know what to say. "I..."

Gurgle, gurgle~

Utakata's stomach growled twice, betraying him. Xiaoying said, "You're hungry, right? I'll make you something to eat!"

A short while later, Xiaoying served Utakata a bowl of noodles.

They were simple noodles in clear broth, yet they were the most delicious food Utakata had ever eaten. Seeing him wolf them down, Xiaoying smiled and said, "Don't rush, there's more~"

Xiaoying crouched beside him and watched him eat, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. I didn't expect him to be rather handsome...

After Utakata finished eating, Xiaoying went to take away the bowl. But her foot slipped, and she suddenly fell onto Utakata.

Looking at Xiaoying's smooth face, beautiful features, and deep cleavage, Utakata's face instantly turned red.

When had he ever experienced anything like this?

As the former jinchuriki of the Hidden Mist Village, Utakata had never received this kind of training there.

Xiaoying rubbed her ankle and looked up at Utakata, only to see his bright red face.

As though she had discovered a new world, Xiaoying stared at Utakata. Her face drew closer and closer, and Utakata fearfully leaned back.

Finally, Utakata could not help asking, "Wh-what are you looking at?"

Xiaoying said with a giggle, "I'm wondering why you're blushing. Don't tell me you're still an innocent virgin?"

Utakata did not want to answer. He turned his head away, not daring to look at Xiaoying.

Xiaoying asked helplessly, "You still haven't told me your name."

Before Utakata could speak—

Holding the bowls and chopsticks, Xiaoying prepared to leave. When she reached the doorway, Utakata's gentle voice sounded behind her. "Utakata."

Xiaoying's smile bloomed like a flower. "My name is Xiaoying."