Utakata froze. "Impossible... there's no such..."
He had meant to say, "There's no technique that can extract a Tailed Beast without killing the host," but after looking at his own perfectly lively self, then at Gekkō Raito, who was covered in red light, the words stuck in his throat.
Could it be... that my master really was trying to save me back then?
And he only failed because the technique wasn't good enough?
"No... no... he wanted power... he was a bad person..."
Utakata clutched his head, looking dazed, clearly unwilling to accept this possible truth.
Mei Terumi shook her head. The man had become completely obsessed.
"Ao, take him away and lock him in prison to await trial."
Gekkō Raito suddenly spoke. "Ao, you can leave with him too."
Ao paused and pointed at himself. "Huh?"
Since when did this kid get to order me around? I'm a Jonin! And one of the Kage's trusted aides!
But on second thought, this kid was now a perfect Jinchuriki, and the successor Mei Terumi was focusing on cultivating. His strength was unfathomable...
Fine. I'll put up with it.
"As you command."
Ao took two ANBU with him and dragged out Utakata, who still had not come to his senses.
Only after everyone else had left did Mei Terumi turn back to Gekkō Raito. "You sent everyone away. What other bombshell do you have to drop?"
"The Six-Tails is taken care of. Next, it's the Three-Tails' turn."
Gekkō Raito's words were startling.
Mei Terumi nodded. "We do need to capture the Three-Tails, but we currently don't have a suitable candidate for its Jinchūriki. Even if we bring him back, we can only seal him in a vessel for now."
"I have a suitable candidate."
"Who?"
"Me."
Mei Terumi froze for a full