Yujin bit down on the half-grown tail!
In an instant, his eyes widened as if struck by a lightning bolt of unprecedented flavor!
The fatigue from the scorching heat that had weighed down his eyes moments ago instantly vanished, replaced by a dazzling sparkle, as if he had just discovered a treasure buried deep beneath the ocean.
How long had it been since he had eaten something truly satisfying?
No—he had never tasted anything this delicious in his life!
Pirate Yujin's eyebrows shot upward, forming two curved crescents that trembled slightly with the rhythm of his chewing.
His nostrils flared rapidly, greedily inhaling the unique aroma wafting from the tail.
His lips wrapped tightly around it, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, while his teeth cut through the flesh with a soft "crunch."
His throat rolled repeatedly as he swallowed mouthful after mouthful of the tail's essence, each gulp accompanied by a faint "glug."
A flush spread across Yujin's face—not from the searing heat of the inferno around him, but from the deep, intoxicating joy of this novel flavor.
At that moment, he finally understood why the judges in Sougeki no Souma looked the way they did—it wasn't an act.
In that world, such delicious things truly existed.
Yujin licked his fingers, savoring every last trace of the unique taste clinging to his skin.
But just as he was lost in the fleeting bliss, a sudden, intense pain surged through him like a crashing tide, sweeping over his entire body.
His face went deathly pale, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He clenched his teeth and let out a low, agonized groan.
His body shook uncontrollably. One misstep, and he slipped, teetering dangerously toward the scorching furnace below.
In a split second, he summoned every ounce of strength, thrusting out his arms to grasp the blazing-hot railing beside him.
The molten metal burned his palms, but he barely noticed. Veins bulging on his arms, he forced his body back to safety.
Once he had finally stabilized, gasping for breath and still reeling from the near-death experience, he was horrified to discover that his body was undergoing a bizarre transformation.
An inexplicable energy surged through him, muscles tensing, bones seemingly reshaping themselves.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his back, as if something inside was trying to break free.
Then, slowly, a brand-new tail began to grow.
It was slightly shorter than the previous one but radiated an even stranger aura.
At this moment, Yujin's eyes glowed a deep crimson as he entered the Ghoul State enhanced by the Curse Seal of Heaven.
A fierce hunger and bloodlust surged within him, his hands trembling slightly.
After a brief moment to collect himself, Yujin finally stabilized his body.
He first chose to synchronize his abilities, then began to ask questions.
"Hey, how many tails do you have now?"
Uchiha Yujin blinked. "Huh? What do you mean how many tails? I only have, like, half a tiny tail right now."
Pirate Yujin shrugged. "Alright… I thought we could keep farming Kagune endlessly. Looks like that's not possible."
Uchiha Yujin finally caught on. "Wait… you ate my tail, and it grew a new one?"
Yujin exclaimed, "Oh my god! Doesn't that make it two tails? Eat more, and you could get nine tails!"
Pirate Yujin scratched his head. "I'd love to eat, but… where would I even get it?"
Yujin smirked. "Doesn't the Lord God Yujin have RC refills? You just need reward points."
Lord God Yujin sighed. "Well, I don't have Orochimaru either."
Hidden Sound Village, underground laboratory.
Orochimaru's yellow snake-like eyes studied Uchiha Yujin carefully. The boy in front of him felt even more mysterious by the second.
"You know that Mitarashi Anko from Konoha carries the Cursed Seal of Heaven, don't you?"
"Through Anko, Konoha could figure out that you're here with me."
Orochimaru's snake tongue flicked around, almost brushing Uchiha Yujin's face.
"The Inuzuka Clan could also track me here… just by following your scent."
"But kid, all your schemes… they're nothing more than small tricks in my eyes."
It was clear: Orochimaru interpreted Uchiha Yujin's attempt to send tail kagune as him trying to send messages.
Orochimaru smiled. "I told you, you don't need to be my vessel right now. You're free to come and go—I won't restrict you."
Uchiha Yujin felt the confident gaze of Orochimaru. In this moment, he couldn't help but be slightly dazzled by the brilliance of this scientific madman.
Damn it, Sasuke! After all these years, Orochimaru has been raising you carefully… and he's treated you well!
He promised to help you get revenge and hasn't held back in teaching you!
Your father, Fugaku, only taught you the Fireball Jutsu.
Orochimaru… taught you so much more!
Then you still turn against him… truly impossible to tame!
"Orochimaru, forget the other matters. Can you study this?" Uchiha Yujin said, forcefully ripping a half of his tail kagune from the root.
Cold sweat appeared on his forehead. "Who in the ninja world doesn't know that the pinnacle of science lies with the Legendary Sannin Orochimaru? If this tail could be mass-produced, it would benefit ninjas!"
Orochimaru, lying on the bed, took the tail segment Yujin handed him. He pinched it lightly between his fingers, feeling its hardness.
A smile curled at the corner of his eyes as he looked at Uchiha Yujin. "Something like this could indeed increase a Genin's combat ability. But for Chunin-level and above, its effect isn't significant. It's far inferior to the boost given by a cursed seal."
In other words, there's no need for mass production.
"But…"
Orochimaru's tone shifted. "Although I don't know why, you must need this very much, right?"
"Of course. I need it desperately."
Orochimaru glanced at Yujin's bloodstained clothing. "And yet you still pulled it out yourself."
Uchiha Yujin lifted his head. "Because I know for certain, in the entire ninja world, only you can make it reach its full potential. I have to take that gamble."
"Interesting little brat."
Orochimaru smiled, turning his attention to Yujin's feathered wings.
"Just a tail isn't particularly useful for research. But if these wings of yours can fly—"
Uchiha Yujin's expression hardened. "I need them to protect myself. Without wings, the Akatsuki would kill me."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Oh? Why would the Akatsuki target you?"
Uchiha Yujin moved his shoulders, and a black-veined, blue mask appeared on his left chest.
Seeing it, Orochimaru, who had remained unfazed even when facing calamity, widened his eyes in shock.
"Where did you get this?"
Uchiha Yujin remained expressionless, speaking a lie as easily as breathing.
"I was being chased by a black monster in the forest. In a moment of panic, I used the power of the Cursed Seal of Heaven and bit it. At that moment, I don't know why, but I felt hungry. After I finished it… I ended up like this."
"Incredible!" Orochimaru sat up straight, gently caressing the mask of the Earth Grudge Fear.
"So, your tail… I'll need to study it carefully. To be able to absorb the abilities of the Earth Grudge Fear… such a mutation is beyond anything I've ever expected."
"Even Jugo never underwent such a transformation."
"Ha!"
Uchiha Yujin let out a sigh of relief. He had gotten the answer he wanted most.
"Then… I'll leave it in your hands, Lord Orochimaru. I'll come find you again in a while."
"Wait!"
Orochimaru suddenly called out to Uchiha Yujin.
Uchiha Yujin, with his three tomoes on his back, opened his eyes toward Orochimaru!
If Orochimaru tried anything, he was ready to fight to the death!
Yet, Orochimaru's next words made Uchiha Yujin unusually excited.
"I want to study your wings. If you want to protect yourself, I can teach you a technique… as an exchange."
****
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