As Zou Hyuga raced through the desert, the scenery changed very slowly before his eyes.
It was not because he had slowed down, but because his thoughts had accelerated, making his surroundings seem slower.
Crossing a desert canyon at nearly the speed of sound, Zou Hyuga fixed his gaze on a figure ahead, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
The figure ahead was Shukaku, fleeing by flying low over the ground.
Seemingly because he had exhausted too much chakra, Shukaku had shrunk to the size of an ordinary tanuki, looking rather endearingly goofy.
Without his Byakugan, Zou might not have recognized him as a tailed beast.
Still, his escape in this fashion also proved that Obito had not won that battle.
Quietly approaching Shukaku, Zou Hyuga rubbed his chin. Having never mastered Sealing Jutsu, he did not know how to take Shukaku away.
Harmless as Shukaku looked now, he was still a tailed beast at his core.
After looking around, Shukaku gradually came to a stop and stayed where he was to rest.
Recalling everything he had just experienced, Shukaku could not help rubbing his forehead before slumping onto the ground.
The day's encounters had greatly shaken his confidence in his own strength. First came the Fourth Kazekage, who had fought him to a standstill, then an Uchiha who had controlled him with a single glance.
One setback after another had made him swallow his pride as a tailed beast and ultimately choose to flee.
"Those ninja might be powerful, but the great Shukaku is finally free!"
A smile appeared on Shukaku the One-Tail's face for the first time in ages. Then he sighed softly. "I wonder if that stinking fox has escaped yet. He's probably still locked in his jinchūriki's little dark cell."
Listening to Shukaku mutter to