Want Freedom? Trade Chakra for It!

Orochimaru watched helplessly as the student who had always brought him surprises was surrounded by sealing formulae and vanished into Isobu's gaping maw.

In that instant, his emotions slipped beyond his control.

This student had followed his arrangements and mastered the Spiritualisation Technique and Phantom Lotus Kill precisely for this moment.

So that he could successfully capture the Three-Tails and gain the leverage needed to become the Fifth Hokage!

In truth, as early as when Orochimaru received intelligence that Isobu had appeared in Sea Country, Elder Danzo's invitation had made him realize something was wrong.

That grim Konoha higher-up told Orochimaru that this was a trump card prepared for his path to becoming Hokage.

But Orochimaru knew that was not the case.

He found the Fire Temple monk who had stolen Nine-Tails Chakra and chose to help them create artificial Jinchuriki, in order to understand the effects of sealing techniques and the criteria for selecting Jinchuriki.

Yet as he became involved in the mission, Orochimaru never heard any information regarding the selection of Jinchuriki.

Orochimaru tried to tell Elder Danzo about the Whirlpool Remnants.

But Danzo gave Orochimaru an order.

Cooperate with the Hidden Mist Anbu and help the Third Mizukage purge the Kekkai Genkai Clans of Kirigakure that had always opposed him.

From that moment onward, Orochimaru understood that his chances of becoming the Fifth Hokage had completely vanished.

The road to becoming Hokage required a teacher's backing, seniority, achievements, and the recognition of the jonin.

Elder Danzo lacked none of those things. Not long after the Fourth Hokage's death, the old man needed achievements to raise his prestige if he wanted to become the Fifth Hokage.

By conspiring with the Third Mizukage to purge the Kekkai Genkai Clans, Kirigakure's overall strength would be cut in half.

Before it could recover, even if it regained Isobu, it would no longer have the strength to wage war against Hidden Leaf Village.

This was a conspiracy between Elder Danzo and the Third Mizukage, but it was also an open scheme.

Elder Danzo would gain the achievement of pacifying the rear, while the Third Mizukage would secure his rule over Kirigakure.

But what about Orochimaru himself? He was nothing more than a pitiful tool being used to do the work!

This filthy, disgusting deal.

Orochimaru knew that as long as he controlled the Three-Tails, he too could earn achievements and still have a chance to become the Fifth Hokage!

After all, more than half of the Kekkai Genkai Clan elites had been lost, Kirigakure's strength had been greatly diminished, and taking away the Three-Tails would merely make things worse.

Kirigakure simply would not have the strength to oppose Hidden Leaf Village again!

Thus, Orochimaru placed his final hope on Uchiha Yuan.

Control the Three-Tails, become the Fifth Hokage, and forcefully push through forbidden research despite all objections!

The storm-tossed Hidden Leaf Village needed his research to grow stronger!

But as his disciple was sealed and swallowed, that hope shattered.

Orochimaru had the urge to carve Harusame, Kirigakure's only sealing master, into a thousand pieces.

But the order he had received was only to slaughter Kirigakure's Kekkai Genkai Clans.

A poison-coated blade silently sliced across Harusame's back and severed Hong Yu's head.

The moment Kirigakure's only sealing master lost the ability to move, Orochimaru swiftly formed hand seals and unleashed poisonous mist and Wind Release ninjutsu.

All he could do now was complete the mission immediately, then find a way to rescue his disciple's soul.

The sound of waves crashing against the shore was replaced by the howling of scorching winds. The frozen sea turned into churning, steaming lava, and the air filled with the pungent stench of sulfur.

Kirigakure's Kekkai Genkai ninja realized they had fallen under a genjutsu, but after only a few breaths of distraction, they recovered.

Their bodies had become heavy, and their Chakra could not flow smoothly.

Before they could react, ninja wearing Hidden Mist Anbu masks swiftly cut down the awakened Kirigakure Kekkai Genkai ninja.

Within Kirigakure's position, the out-of-control Six-Tails Jinchuriki swelled into a Tailed Beast Cloak and swept into the battlefield like a gale.

With only a shred of sanity left, it wanted only to see its teacher, Harusame.

A group of fearless Kirigakure ninja charged into the battlefield.

They shouted loudly, their voices carried far by the raging wind.

"The Kekkai Genkai Clans have betrayed Kirigakure! They have betrayed Lord Mizukage!"

"Cleanse the traitors!"

"Cleanse the traitors!"

On the chaotic battlefield, forehead protectors and clan crests could no longer distinguish one ninja faction from another.

When one Kirigakure ninja hurled a kunai at another Kirigakure Kekkai Genkai ninja, the melee among Kirigakure ninja began.

Blood dyed the entire lake red, rising and falling around Isobu.

Cold crimson sunlight fell soundlessly, red gleams rippling across the water. Strange Island looked like hell.

"It actually escalated to this extent?"

"Danzo and the Third Mizukage really are ruthless!"

"Hey, Isobu! Those Kirigakure dogs are about to beat each other's brains out. Aren't you planning to take this chance to find somewhere else to stay?"

Uchiha Yuan tilted his head up and looked at Isobu's soul, sprawled beside him like a small mountain.

"You brat, don't act so familiar, and don't try to tempt me! Ninja are all bad people. I won't believe you!"

Isobu could not be bothered with him.

Uchiha Yuan scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Given the current situation, he really was an illegal intruder.

Only after being swallowed by Isobu had Uchiha Yuan realized how bad the situation was.

Although Isobu had blocked most of the sealing Black Rain, his soul had still been hit.

Unable to use the Contract Seal to instantly return to his body, Uchiha Yuan could only use the secret Spiritual Possession technique to invade Isobu's spiritual world.

In truth, tailed beasts merely had weak mental resistance. In terms of soul strength alone, Isobu still far surpassed Uchiha Yuan.

With Isobu's soul sharing the burden of resisting the sealing formulae, Uchiha Yuan was not worried about his safety for the time being.

However, he had to find a way to return to Hidden Leaf Village's Main Camp. A soul could remain separated from its body for no more than three hours.

He could not stay in Isobu's spiritual world forever.

"Uh, you're right about that. Most ninja are evil to you tailed beasts."

"Especially Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara. Who did they think they were? Did they treat tailed beasts like toys?"

At the mention of those two names, the oppressive aura of Isobu's enormous soul suddenly intensified.

Back then, it had been subdued by Hashirama and assigned to Kirigakure, beginning its difficult life in prison.

Then, during the Third Shinobi World War, that madman Uchiha Madara forcibly sealed it inside the body of an adorable girl and forced Isobu to serve as a weapon of war.

It hated those two names, and it hated all ninja even more.

But there was nothing it could do. Kirigakure had learned from Hashirama how to deal with tailed beasts, and it could not defeat Uchiha Madara either.

Isobu could only resign itself to its fate. At worst, whenever it got the chance to come out and move around, it would cause a huge rampage.

It would be best if it could kill the Mizukage. Even if it could not, it would at least kill some of Kirigakure's powerful ninja.

By weakening Kirigakure bit by bit, perhaps one day it would gain its freedom.

Isobu's thoughts were simple, and then Kirigakure kept it sealed away.

To be honest, Uchiha Yuan did not know what Isobu truly thought.

But tailed beasts were all more or less the same.

They only wanted to live quietly on their own little patch of land. They had no desire to deal with greedy humans.

As a transmigrator, Uchiha Yuan understood this very well.

What the tailed beasts had always sought was freedom. And their promise with the Sage of the Six Paths.

"But Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara are already dead, and there are not many ninja in the hidden villages who can stand against tailed beasts."

"I think you can absolutely obtain freedom."

"You? Are you some famous ninja? Are you powerful? If you think we can be free, then we can be free?!"

"Are you mocking this old man?"

After being imprisoned for so long, Isobu's sharp edge had long since been worn away.

"Heh, think about why you swallowed me."

"If I help you tailed beasts, freedom will be yours for the taking!"

Uchiha Yuan looked up. Isobu's only remaining left eye fixed on him with a gaze as cold and tangible as ice.

"Of course, I should tell you in advance that this is a deal."

"Trade your Chakra to me for freedom!"