The Uchiha Girl

"It seemed my tactics were quite successful, Lord Yayoi."

Kakuzu looked with satisfaction at the destruction he had caused. Even the Seven-Tails had had its defenses broken.

Then, he silently shielded Yayoi from the front.

Things like Tailed-Beast Bombs were simply too terrifying.

He would leave this to Lord Yayoi.

"Indeed, it was very effective."

Yayoi was equally satisfied with the result. The Seven-Tails had lost its reason and was not in peak condition, making it much easier to deal with.

"Die, human!"

The Seven-Tails finished condensing the chakra sphere in its mouth—the Tailed-Beast Bomb. Its head tilted slightly back as it prepared to fire.

Yayoi tilted his head slightly and curled his fingers. Irori flashed in front of him, the hem of her blue kimono whirling up to reveal a stretch of jade-white calf. She pressed her hands together, her violet eyes glowing.

Ice Release: Ice Banquet Corridor!

Crack, crack.

The sound of freezing cold spread through the air.

Pale frigid winds swept across the land. The earth, air, trees, rivers, and sky all froze in an instant, becoming ice blocks as enormous as mountains.

The Seven-Tails and its Tailed-Beast Bomb were likewise trapped within the frozen ice.

The Tailed-Beast Bomb's violent aura did not dissipate, instead faintly reaching its critical point.

Then came an earth-shaking boom. The Tailed-Beast Bomb exploded at point-blank range right in front of the Seven-Tails.

Mountain-sized ice blocks burst apart and scattered toward the distant forest, flattening rows of trees and smashing countless massive craters into the ground.

The Seven-Tails' aura was somewhat weak and dispirited, but it bore no obvious wounds.

Yayoi also let out a slight breath. Controlling a puppet while releasing such a powerful Ninjutsu in one go was somewhat taxing even for him.

Though the Seven-Tails ranked third among the Tailed Beasts in strength, surpassed only by the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails, it was ultimately not at full strength.

Recalling Madara Uchiha's battle a few months ago, where he had utterly crushed the Seven-Tails, Yayoi knew he still had a long road ahead of him.

Since it was not at full strength, the Seven-Tails could not continuously unleash a technique like the Tailed-Beast Bomb for the time being.

Yayoi had counted on that. He immediately curled his fingers and controlled Irori as she raced toward the Seven-Tails.

The Seven-Tails was wary. It could tell that this human controlling the puppet was no ordinary ninja.

Though he was far inferior to the Uchiha Red Eye who had nearly beaten it to death a few months ago, he was certainly no weakling.

So, it vibrated the six cicada wings on its body, intending to fly into the sky and seize aerial superiority.

Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!

The Seven-Tails felt the ground beneath it soften. Before it could react, its body sank into a muddy swamp.

After releasing his Ninjutsu, Kakuzu retreated without hesitation. Water marks appeared beneath his feet as he used the Water Body Flicker Technique to escape the Seven-Tails' attack range.

Kakuzu's Earth Release was insufficient to restrain the Seven-Tails, but it could delay it for a moment.

Irori flashed above the Seven-Tails' head.

Like a fairy, Irori spun through the air, the hem of her blue kimono spiraling around her. Astonishing cold gathered around the sole of her foot, radiating a silvery-white glow as she swung it toward the Seven-Tails.

Ice Release: One-Slash Ice Burial!

Boom!

A blade-shaped mass of ice crashed down from the sky, hacking heavily into the Seven-Tails' tough shell.

The Seven-Tails howled in pain, as though it were vomiting bile from its stomach. Its head swam with pain, and it bared its fangs in agony.

Thin ice sheets, light as paper, appeared in the air beneath Irori's black wooden sandals. Using them as footholds, she sprinted nimbly through the sky.

At every point where she landed, thin yet resilient ice sheets appeared in the air, allowing her to step upon them.

Yayoi also began moving alongside Irori, shifting his position.

The Seven-Tails roared furiously, opening its enormous mouth and firing a black sphere filled with destructive energy directly at Yayoi.

This was a Tailed-Beast Bullet.

It was essentially an infinitely weakened version of the Tailed-Beast Bomb. Its drawback was that it was far less powerful, while its advantage was that it could be fired instantly without charging.

Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!

Yayoi formed a seal one-handed with his free right hand and responded calmly.

Thick, towering earthen walls rose from the ground one after another.

With him supplying a vast amount of chakra, the many walls he created this time vastly surpassed ordinary ones in both size and durability.

Boom!

The Tailed-Beast Bullet's blast was blocked directly by the earthen walls. Rubble and dust scattered everywhere, revealing Yayoi behind them completely unharmed.

Yayoi was not surprised in the slightest. Though the strength his true body could exert was inferior to Irori's puppet body, he was no weakling either.

He could not block a Tailed-Beast Bomb, but stopping a Tailed-Beast Bullet with power comparable to high-level Fire Release was no problem.

Besides, not only was he skilled in Ninjutsu, he was also deeply proficient in Taijutsu.

It was just that if he charged forward to fight a Tailed Beast in Taijutsu, he would definitely be beaten to death.

Otherwise, if he coordinated with Irori in a joint assault, he could end this battle much faster.

Frigid stars soon illuminated the sky once more.

Countless ice spears once again streaked toward the earth like meteors.

The Seven-Tails fought back desperately, howling at the sky as it used its body to withstand the meteor-like impacts of the ice spears.

At the same time, Irori spread her hands. Pale cold air formed a raging torrent that surged across the earth like a tsunami.

Ice Release: Snow Frost Slaughter!

A thick layer of white frost quickly formed over the Seven-Tails' body.

The frigid current ran rampant, staining the forest with the pallor of death.

The earth and trees alike seemed to be stripped of all life in an instant.

The Seven-Tails' aura grew increasingly weak, yet its struggles became ever more violent. The cold air did not hold for long before cracks sounded through the thick frost.

Yayoi's expression remained calm. Naturally, he knew the Seven-Tails would not be so easily beaten down.

Fortunately, Irori's abilities were most suited to capturing and restraining massive creatures like this.

Ice-forged blades and spears, fueled by chakra, shot toward the Seven-Tails like white meteors tearing through the sky.

The frigid current continued reinforcing the frost coating the Seven-Tails' body.

Kakuzu also came forward from time to time, using his Earth Release to bury the Seven-Tails further or using long-range Water Release to wear down its strength.

He also casually threw out Shuriken and Kunai. Their damage was low, but their humiliation value was immense, continually driving the Seven-Tails into a red-hot rage and making it lose its reason.

Only when the Seven-Tails' aura had completely withered did Yayoi stop attacking through Irori.

Looking at the Seven-Tails, which had become a gigantic ice sculpture, Yayoi recalled Irori, let out a heavy breath, and sighed.

As expected of a Tailed Beast. Even weakened from its prime, it was not so easy to subdue.

Although he had not been injured and could be said to have taken down the Seven-Tails without a scratch, he was exhausted.

Moreover, this was only because Irori countered the Seven-Tails' ability to fly, freezing its flight capabilities with Ice Release from the very start. If the Seven-Tails had flown into the air, he could only have stared helplessly.

Although Irori also possessed aerial combat capabilities, she was ultimately less agile than the Seven-Tails.

The Seven-Tails was not particularly strong among the Tailed Beasts, but its exceptional mobility and aerial dominance often allowed it to remain undefeated.

Yayoi took two Soldier Pills from his ninja tool pouch and stuffed them into his mouth.

Kakuzu also walked over with a weary expression. Assisting in the suppression of the Seven-Tails had severely depleted his chakra as well.

"Next..."

Just as Yayoi was about to approach the Seven-Tails, a black shadow flashed past him, and a ninja blade entered his vision.

Kakuzu's expression changed.

Earth Release: Earth Spear!

Kakuzu used the Body Flicker Technique to meet the attack, his blackened arm blocking the attacker's swinging ninja blade.

Clang!

The ninja blade struck Kakuzu's arm with force, sending fierce sparks flying, yet it did not even cut his skin.

The newcomer wore a shocked expression before quickly retreating with a slight change in her face.

Unfortunately, she was too late.

Irori flashed ghostlike to the attacker's side, her slender, jade-white finger giving a light touch.

A layer of white frost immediately formed over the attacker's body. From head to toe, only her head remained able to move.

Yayoi looked over the attacker. She was a young girl, around twelve or thirteen years old, her childishness not yet gone.

She had long, straight black hair, snow-white skin, and delicate features. Most striking of all were her scarlet Two-Tomoe Sharingan eyes.

"The Sharingan... Are you from the Uchiha Clan?"

She wore a tight black ninja outfit beneath the layered armor unique to the Warring States Era, resembling a young female warrior.

Judging by her skilled combat methods, she had likely grown accustomed to cutting people down and become numb to it.

That was also a common affliction among ninjas of the Warring States Era. Even children of four or five had to get used to killing others, or they would be killed themselves.

Yayoi stared directly into the girl's Two-Tomoe Sharingan without fearing her Genjutsu.

His chakra activity far surpassed that of ordinary ninjas, meaning Genjutsu's control over him would be greatly weakened.

Even the Sharingan would find it difficult to hypnotize him with Genjutsu, even at the Three Tomoe level.

The only thing he feared was the Mangekyō Sharingan, which surpassed Three Tomoe.

When the girl realized that he had not been affected by her Genjutsu after she activated her Sharingan, she understood that her Genjutsu could not control him. She could not help gritting her teeth.

"Lord Yayoi, should I kill her?"

Kakuzu walked over, killing intent showing in his dark green eyes.

"You are thieves! The Seven-Tails was subdued by Lord Madara. It belongs to our Uchiha Clan!"

The girl shouted loudly. Though she was a prisoner, her red Sharingan held not the slightest fear of death.

"..."

The girl's answer reminded Yayoi of some unpleasant memories, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Every time he heard that name, he instinctively recalled his own incompetence that night, when he had been like some insignificant lackey.

"The Lord Madara you speak of would not care for a mere Seven-Tails."

Yayoi let out a quiet breath and had Irori release the girl from her restraints.

Judging from her answer, the Uchiha Clan should know about the Seven-Tails. This girl had most likely come with a mission from the Uchiha Clan.

That meant the Uchiha Clan was keeping track of her movements at all times. If she died here, it would become troublesome.

Especially now, when the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan had formed an alliance, it was best not to provoke them.

The girl frowned, apparently failing to understand what Yayoi meant.

Yayoi had no need to explain. After Madara Uchiha returned a few months ago, he had probably only casually mentioned the Seven-Tails' whereabouts, and the other Uchiha ninjas had become interested.

But the truth was that Madara Uchiha had no interest in the Seven-Tails. He had beaten it up and simply left.

The claim that the Seven-Tails belonged to the Uchiha Clan was merely the wishful thinking of the other Uchiha ninjas.

If Madara Uchiha had left any mark on the Seven-Tails before, Yayoi would not have dared target it. He would have gone looking for another Tailed Beast instead.

Ignoring the Uchiha girl, Yayoi approached the Seven-Tails and controlled Irori to remove the frost from its body.

Frigid air spread in every direction, making Kakuzu and the Uchiha girl, who had followed along, shiver uncontrollably. Their teeth even clacked together a few times.

The Seven-Tails was barely alive, lying motionless on the ground without the strength to move.

"You may leave now, little Uchiha girl."

Yayoi swept his gaze over the Uchiha girl, signaling for her to leave.

What came next could not be witnessed by outsiders.

"This belongs to the Uchiha Clan. Why can't I stay?"

The Uchiha girl's Sharingan reverted to black-and-white eyes, and her tone remained utterly impolite.

Kakuzu raised a brow, seemingly wanting to teach her a lesson about how to respect her elders.

Yayoi raised a hand to stop him and looked at the girl.

"This is a crucial time for the alliance between the Senju Clan and your Uchiha Clan. As an Uchiha ninja, is it really alright for you not to return?"

"What did you say? An alliance with the Senju Clan!?"

The girl's eyes widened as though she had heard something utterly unbelievable.

"Then it seems you have been cut off from outside news for some time. Half a month ago, the Senju Clan and Uchiha Clan ceased hostilities and formally formed an alliance."

Yayoi gave the girl a strange look. She truly seemed completely unaware of this.

The girl's face turned livid, and fury appeared in her eyes.

"Hey, even if you're making things up, at least make it believable! How could our Uchiha Clan possibly sign an alliance with the Senju Clan?"

Her parents, younger brother, older sister, older brother, and countless clan members had all died at the hands of Senju Clan ninjas.

If they had formed an alliance with the Senju Clan, then what was to become of the blood-soaked vengeance she carried?

The hatred between the two clans could only end when one of them had been completely annihilated!

"This is already common knowledge."

Yayoi did not care about the girl's doubts and replied calmly.

Seeing how certain Yayoi sounded, the girl could not help suppressing her inner agitation and calming down.

Then she immediately turned around, preparing to return to her clan and verify whether Yayoi's information was true.

"Hey, little girl, what is your name?"

Yayoi's voice came from behind her.

The girl paused briefly, then ran away without looking back. Yet her voice still drifted back from afar.

"Izayoi. Uchiha Izayoi."

Watching the girl's departing figure, Yayoi turned his gaze back to the Seven-Tails.

"Lord Yayoi, are you interested in that Uchiha brat?"

Kakuzu was rather curious.

"She awakened the Sharingan at that age. As long as nothing unexpected happens, she will at least become one of the Uchiha Clan's higher-ups in the future. There's no harm in getting acquainted early."

Yayoi answered his question.

He did not know whether this connection would be useful in the future, but one more friend meant one more way forward.

Especially in the coming years, Konoha, founded by the Senju and Uchiha, would become the center of the entire Ninja World. If the Land of Night wanted to develop further in the future, contact with Konoha would be inevitable.

This great tide set in motion by the march of the times would not shift for anyone's personal will.

Kakuzu nodded. This was indeed Yayoi's style.

So long as it was not an irreconcilable blood feud, he would make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible.

He had followed Yayoi for more than a decade. He had watched with his own eyes as Yayoi rose step by step from a lowly mercenary, eventually seizing sovereignty over two nations and becoming the final victor.

Aside from necessary force, uniting every external power that could be united was also indispensable support.

Otherwise, he would always remain nothing more than an insignificant mercenary.

"Now we can begin."

Yayoi curled a finger, and Irori, dressed in a blue kimono, stepped closer to his side like a loyal servant.