The biggest difference between the Nine-Tails and Shukaku was simple—
The Nine-Tails had been beaten up by far too many big shots.
From Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama at the top, to the Fourth Hokage and Uzumaki Kushina below—
Granted, the latter two were already dead, but strictly speaking, that had little to do with the Nine-Tails. Most of the credit went to that masked man instead.
Compared to the Nine-Tails' experiences, Shukaku's hardships were nothing more than an appetizer.
"Come to think of it,"
the Nine-Tails suddenly spoke again, glancing toward Yagyū Souma's head.
It was perched on his shoulder, after all—there wasn't much else to look at.
"With your current strength, there aren't many people in the shinobi world who can beat you, right?"
"Maybe,"
Yagyū Souma thought for a moment and gave a deliberately vague answer.
In the current shinobi world…
Aside from the Akatsuki, there really weren't many people he feared. Unfortunately, that group happened to be the biggest villains—the most terrifying manipulators behind the scenes.
After thinking for a moment, he said,
"There's a group collecting tailed beasts. You should know something about it from inside Naruto, right?"
"So what?"
The Nine-Tails sneered.
"Brat, I've lived a long time. I'm not an idiot like Shukaku."
"Wherever I am, the treatment's the same. Why should I risk my life for your Konoha?"
"That's not necessarily true,"
Yagyū Souma said with a faint smile.
The Nine-Tails frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"If Akatsuki only wants jinchūriki, then yes—your treatment would be the same anywhere,"
Yagyū Souma replied.
"But if what they want isn't the tailed beasts themselves, but their chakra, then things change."
"And besides," he added calmly,
"that organization has at least one pair of Mangekyō Sharingan."
Hatred flashed instantly in the Nine-Tails' eyes.
Mangekyō Sharingan!
Everything had started with those eyes. If not for Uchiha Madara, it would never have suffered in Konoha like that.
The Nine-Tails fell silent.
Still—
In its heart, it hoped Konoha and Akatsuki would tear each other apart, best if both sides ended up half-dead.
Seeing that it no longer spoke, Yagyū Souma didn't push the issue.
The Nine-Tails was already in his hands.
"Reforming" it was only a matter of time.
He continued along the Land of Rice Fields, and not long after, while passing through a forest—
Shuriken and kunai suddenly shot out from both sides.
Two figures appeared.
"Up ahead is Sound Village territory. Please don't go any further, or we will attack."
The one speaking was an old acquaintance—Tayuya's former teammate, Tōsu.
Yagyū Souma raised his head, nudged the brim of his straw hat upward, and smiled.
Looks like Tōsu was doing pretty well.
"I'm here to see your leader. Once he comes out, he'll know who I am."
"Our leader?"
Tōsu's first reaction was that this must be one of Orochimaru's acquaintances.
But then he remembered—
Orochimaru had been dead for a long time.
Yakushi Kabuto kept saying revival was possible, but no one had ever seen him actually try. Instead, many of Orochimaru's old practices were being quietly overturned.
Which meant—
Kabuto had his own ideas. People simply didn't dare bring it up because of his strength and authority.
Those who did were already dead.
Tōsu hesitated for a few seconds, weighing his options.
His two teammates had already died horribly last time.
This wasn't something a small fry like him should get involved in.
He nodded slightly.
"Please wait here, honored guest. I'll report this to the village."
"Mm."
Yagyū Souma stayed where he was.
The Nine-Tails curled its lip mockingly.
"You need permission just to go back to your own village? How miserable."
"No,"
Yagyū Souma replied casually.
"Actually, their reaction is already pretty good. If this were the old days, someone dressed like a wandering rogue would've been attacked on sight."
During Orochimaru's era, no wandering ninja or samurai would've walked out of Sound Village territory alive.
The current situation showed that Kabuto's reforms were working—
At least on the surface.
Before long, several figures hurried over.
At the front was Yakushi Kabuto.
This was only a shadow clone—he must've just arrived from the Land of Fire not long ago, his fatigue still evident.
Behind him was Tayuya.
At the very back stood Tōsu.
The hierarchy was obvious.
Kabuto bowed respectfully.
"Lord Yagyū Souma."
"Let's go,"
Yagyū Souma said, nodding as he followed them into the village.
Sound Village wasn't large.
After all, the Land of Rice Fields was a small country, unable to provide much population or resources. Many of Sound Village's facilities had been funded by Orochimaru himself.
Yagyū Souma spread his perception, surveying the village.
Then he asked,
"Kabuto, how strong is the village right now?"
"Jōnin are scarce, but we have quite a few chūnin who can handle teaching duties,"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses.
"In fact, this is the situation for most small villages. Training a jōnin requires massive resources—something small villages simply can't afford."
Tayuya observed coldly from the side.
Once Kabuto finished, she spoke bluntly,
"Lord Yagyū Souma? I've heard of you from Kabuto. After Lord Orochimaru died, you're the one who kept saying he could be revived?"
"That's correct. And you've already verified it, haven't you?"
"Yes. But what makes you think you can replace Lord Orochimaru?"
Her tone was calm.
Yagyū Souma smiled.
Then he nodded slightly, gesturing for Tayuya to make her move.
"Then use your way to test whether I can take Orochimaru's place. And you're right about one thing—"
"Even if Orochimaru revives, he won't be roaming freely anymore."
A faint smile curved Yagyū Souma's lips.
Tayuya frowned, then pulled out the flute at her waist.
"You said it yourself. Then I'll test you my way."
She began to play.
The eerie melody carried Yin Release chakra, eroding the mind and spirit—
Yet Yagyū Souma kept smiling.
After playing for a long time, Tayuya finally stopped.
Yagyū Souma lifted the brim of his hat slightly.
"Done? It sounded nice. But your genjutsu isn't very effective—worse than some I tested before."
"You weren't affected?"
Tayuya froze.
She had gone all out. Even a jōnin shouldn't have been unaffected.
"Did you block your ears?"
"It's just basic genjutsu resistance,"
Yagyū Souma replied.
"This level doesn't even warrant blocking my ears."
"..."
Tayuya opened her mouth, anger flaring.
Honestly—
She would've felt better if he'd said he blocked his ears.
Genjutsu resistance?
That meant her genjutsu couldn't even break his defense.
She was unwilling to accept it.
"But actually,"
Yagyū Souma continued calmly,
"the simplest way to deal with this kind of genjutsu is to prevent you from using it. For example—"
In an instant, he appeared beside Tayuya.
A blade rested against her neck.
So fast!
The same thought flashed through both Tayuya and Tōsu's minds.
They hadn't seen him move at all. The wind from his motion only reached them after the blade was already there.
Shing!
The blade returned to its sheath.
"Only this once. Let's go."
"Yes!"
Kabuto followed respectfully.
Tayuya's lips trembled.
In that instant, she had truly felt death.
The oppressive pressure pierced straight into her soul, so overwhelming it almost created hallucinations.
But she knew—
She hadn't fallen into genjutsu.
It was pure killing intent, forcing fear from the deepest part of her being.
So strong.
She took a deep breath and followed them into the building.
Inside, Yagyū Souma saw people processing documents and handling daily affairs. The workflow wasn't much different from Konoha's.
After making a round, he gained a general understanding of Sound Village.
Kabuto dismissed Tayuya and Tōsu.
Soon, only Yagyū Souma, Kabuto, and Karin remained—
This was where Karin studied ninjutsu.
She stood up when she saw them enter. Upon spotting Yagyū Souma and the small Nine-Tails on his shoulder, her pupils shrank instinctively.
Such powerful chakra!
Who was this man?
"Karin, this is—"
"Yagyū Souma,"
Yagyū Souma said calmly.
Karin's eyes widened as she stared at Kabuto.
Yagyū Souma?
The genius ninja from Konoha?!
He was actually the one controlling Sound Village now?!
That was insane.
Her understanding of the world felt completely overturned. She was shocked, but didn't dare show it.
The Nine-Tails kept glancing at Karin.
That red hair…
It stirred nothing but malice.
"Brat, you're from the Uzumaki clan?"
the Nine-Tails asked.
"That's what Lord Yagyū Souma said,"
Karin replied, looking toward him.
Yagyū Souma nodded lightly.
"If nothing unexpected happened, she should indeed be an Uzumaki. That chakra volume and physique—she's a perfect jinchūriki candidate."
"Hmph."
The Nine-Tails snorted, offering no reply.
The Uzumaki clan was terrifying.
Their Adamantine Chains and sealing techniques were lethal to tailed beasts. Even as the Nine-Tails, it had no way to resist them.
After so many years, all it had with the Uzumaki clan was hatred.
Not killing Karin on sight was already restraint.
Yagyū Souma smiled faintly.
He looked at Karin.
"Try a sealing technique. Use it on this one."
???
The Nine-Tails' clone stared at Yagyū Souma, then glared at Karin.
"Brat, you—"
Before it could finish, Karin was already forming hand seals.
Her speed wasn't extraordinary, but her chakra volume and control were shocking.
Such talent…
What a waste in Grass Village.
Yagyū Souma narrowed his eyes, observing her technique.
It was a basic Sealing Method: Evil Sealing.
Karin performed it easily—but it couldn't restrain the Nine-Tails.
Even as a clone.
With a roar, the Nine-Tails broke free. Emotion-laden chakra formed a massive claw that lunged at Karin.
Karin's eyes widened.
Kabuto looked to Yagyū Souma, but seeing that he didn't move, he stopped himself.
Cold sweat beaded on the girl's forehead.
She hastily formed seals, trying to compensate.
But—
With her current level, techniques like the Four Symbols Seal were far beyond her.
At that moment—
The chakra Karin had forced together suddenly erupted. Chains burst from her body, instantly binding the Nine-Tails' claw.
Adamantine Chains!
The Nine-Tails roared. Its clone practically triggered PTSD, struggling violently as it charged toward Karin.
Despair filled her eyes.
Such a powerful tailed beast…
How could she possibly control it?
Just as the thought crossed her mind—
She sensed a terrifying, sacred chakra erupt from Yagyū Souma.
The next instant, his fist slammed into the Nine-Tails.
In a blink, the swelling clone shrank back to its original size.
The Nine-Tails glared at Yagyū Souma.
"You promised me freedom. Are you going back on your word?"
"What's the rush?"
Yagyū Souma glanced at it.
"This impatience of yours is exactly why the First Hokage always considered you dangerous."
"I spit on that!"
The Nine-Tails snapped.
"Who wouldn't panic seeing his wooden fist coming at their face?! And I was under Sharingan control back then—how was that my fault?!"
"..."
Kabuto and Karin both wiped sweat from their foreheads.
What the hell.
That thing was the Nine-Tails?
Kabuto's heart was in turmoil.
He hadn't noticed before and thought it was just some fox-type summon. Only after its chakra leaked out did he realize—
This was a real heavyweight.
A tailed beast following Yagyū Souma?
How did he pull that off without Konoha noticing?
Questions flooded Kabuto's mind.
"Don't change the subject,"
the Nine-Tails snarled.
"You said you'd let me go. What do you mean by using me like this?"
Yagyū Souma swept it with a cold glance.
"I was just testing. I can keep an eye on one of you. But if I catch other tailed beasts, should I be watching all of you at once?"
"…What did you say?"
The Nine-Tails froze.
"You're planning to catch other tailed beasts too?"
So it wasn't just Shukaku and the Nine-Tails' clone.
This guy wanted one clone of every tailed beast.
What an appetite.
Wasn't he afraid of choking on it?
And even it knew—the tailed beasts were now divided among the nations. They weren't wild and ownerless like before.
Other countries wouldn't agree to this so easily.
Uh…
"No wonder you ran,"
the Nine-Tails muttered, glancing at Yagyū Souma.
Its chakra fully retracted.
Realizing it wasn't the one being targeted, it suddenly stopped resisting.
"So?"
Yagyū Souma asked calmly.
"Interested?"
"Heh. I don't really want to help you,"
the Nine-Tails said with a grin,
"but I do want to beat them up. Especially the Eight-Tails. Being sealed all those years must've been miserable—I want to laugh at him!"
That was what it said.
But its true thoughts…
Only the Nine-Tails itself knew.
Yagyū Souma smiled, choosing not to expose it.
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