Morning in Solov Hollow was livelier than hell's kitchen.
Not with voices, but with the bubbling of lava-gurgle, gurgle, like a pot of thick soup that would never boil.
The air reeked of sulfur and charcoal; a single breath was enough to make one's lungs protest.
Lin Shuo stood at the crater's edge, looking down at the dark red ocean below.
Four-Tails Son Goku was right here.
He could feel it-not through the cold numbers of an Ether detector, but through something more direct: the resonance between Tailed Beasts.
Shukaku sneezed at the ramen stall, Isobu rolled over and muttered, "So noisy," and Matatabi elegantly remarked, "That gorilla's chakra is still as crude as ever."
System, Lin Shuo said inwardly.
Activate Water Release Specialization: Temporary Enhancement.
[Consumed 1,000 Ether Crystals. Water Release Specialization: Temporary Enhancement activated. Duration: 24 hours. Effects: Water Release power increased by 50%, chakra consumption reduced by 30%.]
Warmth surged from his chest into his limbs.
Lin Shuo took a deep breath, then leaped down.
It wasn't a free fall-he adjusted his posture in midair, his hands rapidly forming hand seals.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Swirling water spread beneath his feet like a tilted skateboard, carrying him in a spiral down the volcano's inner wall.
Heat from the lava blasted his face, but the surface of the Water Formation Wall continuously evaporated and replenished itself, forming an insulating shield of steam.
Thirty seconds later, he landed on a protruding rock at the volcano's bottom.
Lava surrounded him.
The viscous, dark red liquid flowed slowly, occasionally releasing bubbles that burst into searing sparks.
The temperature was so high that even the air warped; an ordinary person would become dehydrated after three seconds here.
But Lin Shuo merely wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Since I'm here, come out."
He spoke calmly.
"Hiding isn't your style."
Silence.
Only the sound of bubbling lava remained.
Then-
BOOM!!!
The lava pool directly ahead suddenly erupted, and an enormous head covered in lava armor broke the surface. Scarlet eyes fixed on Lin Shuo, the blue glow of the Water Formation Wall reflected in their pupils.
"Human."
Four-Tails' voice exploded directly inside his mind, as volatile as a volcanic eruption.
"You really dared to come alone."
"I promised to meet you."
Lin Shuo spoke.
"I never break my word."
"Hmph."
Four-Tails slowly rose from the lava.
Its body was larger than it had looked from the crater-nearly forty meters tall when fully upright, covered in dark red armor, with searing lava flowing through the gaps.
Four thick tails swayed behind it, each tipped with something like a red-hot iron hammer.
Most striking was its mouth-when it opened, churning magma was visible deep in its throat, the source of its Lava Release.
"Where are Matatabi and Isobu?"
Four-Tails asked.
"You said they were here-where?"
"They became Bangboo."
Lin Shuo took a small projection device from his backpack-custom-made by Lao Mo, it could remotely connect to the ramen stall's security camera.
He pressed the button.
A translucent screen unfolded, showing:
At the ramen stall counter, Bangboo Shukaku was bickering with Bangboo Matatabi.
"How many times have I told you?! Stop sticking your tails up so high! You're blocking the customers' view!"
"But it's more elegant this way~ Shukaku, you're just too rigid~"
"Elegant, my ass! You just want to show off your two tails!"
"Mm-hmm~"
In the corner, Bangboo Isobu lay asleep, occasionally rolling over and muttering, "Keep it down..."
Four-Tails stared at the image for a full ten seconds.
Then-
"Pfft... Hahahahahaha!!!"
Even the volcano shook.
Four-Tails rocked with laughter, its tails wildly slapping the lava and sending sparks flying everywhere.
"Rabbits! A turtle! Hahahaha! Shukaku actually turned into a rabbit! And Isobu! That lazy bum turning into a turtle couldn't be more fitting! Hahahaha!"
It laughed for a full minute before stopping.
"All right... I believe you."
Four-Tails lowered its head toward Lin Shuo, narrowing its scarlet eyes.
"But they're your people-or rather, your Bangboo-what about me? You want me to become like that too?"
"If you're willing," Lin Shuo said.
"But there's one condition."
"Oh?"
"Fight me."
Four-Tails froze.
"What did you say?"
"Fight me."
Lin Shuo repeated it, his tone as calm as if he were discussing what to have for lunch.
"If you win, I'll leave and never bring up the Bangboo thing again.
If I win, you willingly become a Bangboo-and follow my orders for three months. After that, you're free to stay or go."
Four-Tails stared at him for a long time.
Then it spread its mouth into a ferocious grin.
"Interesting... Human, you're more entertaining than I imagined."
It raised a forelimb, lava dripping between its claws.
"But are you sure?"
"I know." Lin Shuo unbuttoned his jacket, revealing the tactical vest beneath.
"That's why I prepared a few... little gifts."
He took three metal cylinders from his belt pouch and tossed them onto the ground.
The cylinders unfolded automatically, spraying pale blue mist-not water, but liquid nitrogen.
The temperature of minus 196 degrees instantly froze small patches of the surrounding lava, creating three circular footholds, each two meters across.
"Altering the environment?" Four-Tails raised an eyebrow.
"Cheap tricks."
"Fighting means using everything available."
Lin Shuo jumped onto one of the icy surfaces and formed hand seals.
This time, it wasn't Water Release.
It was Lightning Release.
Chakra condensed into a giant tiger of blue lightning that roared and lunged at Four-Tails. It was so fast that Four-Tails barely had time to raise a forelimb to block-
BOOM!!!
Lightning exploded, leaving a scorched black patch on the lava armor.
Four-Tails retreated half a step, its gaze changing.
"Lightning Release? Didn't you only know Water Release?"
"I know more than you think."
As Lin Shuo spoke, he had already finished his next seal.
An enormous fire dragon erupted from his mouth-not aimed at Four-Tails, but at the lava pool beneath its feet. Heat compounded heat, instantly bringing the lava to a boil. Bubbles burst furiously, forcing Four-Tails to leap away.
"Attacking me with fire?" Four-Tails laughed in anger.
"Is something wrong with your head?"
"You're the one with a problem."
Lin Shuo suddenly vanished.
Body Flicker Technique.
When he reappeared, he was already behind Four-Tails, God Cutter in his right hand, its blade coated in water compressed to the utmost limit-a variation on the Hard Vortex Water Blade.
He slashed down.
Four-Tails' tail swept toward him, but Lin Shuo anticipated it, ducking beneath it as his blade sliced across the armor on its hind leg.
Hiss-!!!
Water collided with lava in an explosion of steam.
Four-Tails roared in pain and spun around, lava gushing from its mouth-Lava Release: Flower-Fruit Mountain!
It wasn't a wide-area attack.
Precisely aimed lava pillars stabbed out of the ground like a forest of steel.
Lin Shuo darted between the lava pillars, his Sharingan fully activated, its three tomoe spinning furiously.
Every movement was a narrow escape. Lava brushed past his clothes, its heat singeing the tips of his hair.
But he didn't stop.
He formed hand seals as he dodged.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Water Release: Water Severing Wave!
One Water Release Ninjutsu followed another, not to inflict damage, but to change the environment.
Every time Water Release struck lava, it produced vast amounts of steam. The white mist thickened until it quickly enveloped the entire battlefield.
Visibility dropped to three meters.
Four-Tails lost sight of him.
But it didn't panic.
"You think this will let you beat me?"
It closed its eyes and plunged its four tails into the lava-not to attack, but to sense.
Through vibrations in the lava, it could "hear" Lin Shuo's position.
Fifteen meters ahead and to the left, moving.
Four-Tails opened its mouth, lava gathering deep in its throat-
But just then.
Lightning surged up from beneath its feet.
Four-Tails' entire body stiffened-for only 0.1 seconds, but that was enough.
Lin Shuo burst from the steam, the Water Blade Slash in his right hand transformed into a lightning blade-Lightning Release Chakra Mode coated the blade, tripling its speed and penetrating power.
His target wasn't a vital point.
It was the joint of the right forelimb.
Shluk!
The blade cut into a gap in the armor.
Four-Tails howled in pain, its right forelimb buckling as it lost its balance.
But it reacted extremely quickly, sweeping its left claw toward him.
Lin Shuo had no time to dodge and could only hold his sword across himself to block-
CLANG!!!
A deafening metallic impact rang out.
Lin Shuo was sent flying, slammed into the volcano's inner wall, and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
At least two ribs were broken.
But Four-Tails wasn't faring well either-its injured right forelimb joint noticeably slowed its movements. Moreover, Water Release lingering in the wound suppressed the lava armor's regeneration.
"Ruthless..." Four-Tails panted, genuine fighting spirit flashing in its scarlet eyes.
"You're much stronger than those humans who only know how to run."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Lin Shuo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and stood with God Cutter's support.
Forty percent of his chakra remained.
His ocular power consumption hadn't been high-the fight so far had mainly relied on combining Taijutsu and Ninjutsu, with the Sharingan used only for anticipation and perception.
But his body was nearing its limit.
The intense heat drained his stamina far too quickly, and even breathing brought a searing pain.
"Still want to fight?" the Four-Tails asked.
"Of course," Lin Shuo said.
"We haven't settled this yet."
"But you're almost done for."
"So are you."
The Four-Tails fell silent.
He looked at Lin Shuo-the man standing amid the steam, covered in wounds yet with determination in his eyes.
After a long while, he suddenly laughed.
"All right... I concede."
Lin Shuo froze. "What?"
"I said, I concede." The Four-Tails crouched down, his lava armor slowly contracting as his body began to shrink.
"It's not that I can't beat you-if I went all out, I could blow up this volcano.
But then you'd die, and Matatabi and Isobu would come after me with everything they had. Not worth it."
He paused, then added, "Besides... that last slash of yours could have gone for my neck."
Lin Shuo said nothing.
It was true.
He had aimed the Water Blade Slash at the joints because he didn't want to kill the Four-Tails-Tailed Beasts would revive after dying, but there was no need to make a mortal enemy.
"So..." the Four-Tails said.
"I'll willingly become a Bangboo-but let's be clear, I'm only staying with you for three months. After that, I want my freedom. Where I go is none of your business."
"...Deal."
Lin Shuo let out a breath of relief and nearly collapsed to the ground.
[System notification: Four-Tails Son Goku has agreed to Bangboo conversion.] [Execute immediately?]
"Yes."
A soft white light shone from the Four-Tails.
The forty-meter beast began shrinking and changing shape-unlike the other Tailed Beasts, the Four-Tails retained more of his "original features" in his Bangboo form.
His deep-red metal shell looked like red-hot steel.
The rabbit ears atop his head bore flame patterns, their tips glowing faintly. Four mechanical tails extended from his back, each ending in a miniature lava jet.
Most distinctive of all were his eyes-the Bangboo's electronic screen displayed not pixel expressions, but two burning flames.
The conversion was complete.
Bangboo Son Goku-who should now be called "Xiao Kong"-stood on the ice, raised his "hands," and looked them over.
"...I feel so light."
His voice still had that same irritable tone, but rendered in a Bangboo's electronic voice, it somehow sounded a little cute.
"You'll get used to it." Lin Shuo walked over and pulled a small power bank from his backpack-a model Lao Mo had specially made for Tailed Beasts, with enough power output to charge an electric car.
"Here, charge up a little first."
Xiao Kong took the power bank and plugged the connector into his back.
"Bzz-"
A faint hum of electricity sounded.
A few seconds later, he let out a contented breath. "Oh... that feels good. Much better than eating lava."
"From now on, just charge up when you're hungry," Lin Shuo said. "In theory, a full charge should last a week."
"Convenient." Xiao Kong nodded.
"So where are we going now?"
"Home."
Lin Shuo put away God Cutter and turned toward the volcano wall.
"The ramen stand. Matatabi and Isobu are waiting for you-and Shukaku, too. He won't admit it, but he actually misses you quite a bit."
Xiao Kong followed him onto the Water Formation Wall board.
The man and the Bangboo headed back the way they had come.
Along the way, Xiao Kong suddenly asked, "Human, what's your name?"
"Lin Shuo."
"Lin Shuo..." Xiao Kong repeated. "I'll remember that-for these three months, I'll listen to you. But after that, I'm finding a volcano to sleep in, and nobody had better stop me."
"Suit yourself."
"And," Xiao Kong paused, "um... thanks."
Lin Shuo turned his head. "For what?"
"For not killing me," Xiao Kong said.
"I know you held back-if that slash had gone for my neck, I'd already be on my way to reviving."
"...You're welcome."
The corners of Lin Shuo's mouth lifted slightly.
"After all, you're going to be my family's Bangboo now-even if it's only for three months."
Xiao Kong huffed, but didn't argue.
The crater was just above them.
Sunlight pierced the steam, casting down shafts of light.
A new day had begun.
Meanwhile, back at the ramen stand, Matatabi was saying elegantly to Shukaku:
"I bet Xiao Kong will like strawberry-flavored energy drinks~"
"I bet he'll like spicy ones! Lava-flavored!"
Isobu rolled over.
"...Stop arguing... I want to sleep..."
Outside the window, the morning light was just right.
[Look, what's this? 231 215 868. Turns out it's a code from a certain penguin.
Also, since I have a lot going on today, there'll only be one chapter update. Please forgive me.]