Land of Fire — Underground Black Market
Two figures wearing straw hats emerged from a hidden passage, walking slowly toward the bounty board at the center of the black market.
"Kakuzu, this is the Yagyū Souma you mentioned?"
Hidan pointed at the most eye-catching name at the top of the list, clicking his tongue in amazement.
"He's really young. To be ranked first at this age… that's impressive."
"Mm."
Kakuzu stared at the top bounty for several seconds, then stepped closer.
"The reward went up again?"
"We merged several commissions," the black market handler said quietly.
"The bounty comes from multiple clients. It's now eighty million ryō. If you're interested, we also provide complimentary intelligence."
Kakuzu let out a cold laugh.
"What intelligence?"
"Yagyū Souma has already left Konoha. Our people last spotted him in the northern part of the Land of Fire. His current whereabouts are unknown."
"Are you screwing with us? That's your 'intelligence'?"
Hidan snapped, swinging his scythe irritably.
Kakuzu chuckled.
"Hidan, calm down. It's eighty million ryō—and the intel's free. Having a general direction is already better than nothing."
"Tch. What's that even good for?"
Hidan scoffed, though his mind was already working.
Sasori and Deidara handled combat missions. Their duo handled money.
Their usual routine was simple—
Bounty hunting. Robbery.
They were veterans of the black market. Complaining was pointless. Free intel was always half-useless—but at least it narrowed things down.
"Let's head north."
"That's my religion's territory," Hidan said.
"I might find some fellow believers who've heard something."
"Let's hope so."
"Where are we going?"
"To the Land of Lightning. Kumogakure."
Yagyū Souma replied calmly.
"To catch Gyūki. Don't tell me you forgot."
"…You're serious?"
The Nine-Tails stared at him.
"You're not worried they'll find out you're from Konoha?"
"Why should I be?"
Yagyū Souma said flatly.
"Kumogakure's done similar things before. In the end, Konoha just paid compensation. These matters always come down to whose fist is bigger."
"Heh. Let's see if you're still this tough when you get back to the village."
The Nine-Tails sneered.
But soon, it realized its concern was pointless.
Judging from Yagyū Souma's recent behavior and strength, Konoha probably couldn't do much to him anyway. Otherwise, he wouldn't have openly revealed his name in Sound Village.
Tch…
The Nine-Tails shook its head and lay down on his shoulder, closing its eyes.
The journey was dull. The Land of Hot Water added a bit of color, but the Nine-Tails clearly had no interest in human "entertainment."
It just wanted to reach Kumogakure as soon as possible—
To laugh at Gyūki's face.
Yagyū Souma, however, took his time. He even wandered through Yugakure for a bit.
Not until nightfall did he accelerate.
Using perception to locate weak points in the patrols, he slipped past Kumogakure's defenses and entered the Land of Lightning.
One day later—
He arrived at Cloud–Lightning Gorge.
A place perpetually shrouded in thunderclouds.
Cloud–Lightning Gorge was a forbidden zone in the Land of Lightning. Even Kumogakure ninja rarely ventured here. Only a handful of shinobi operated in this region.
For nearly a decade, this place had effectively become the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki's training ground for mastering Tailed Beast Bombs.
Yagyū Souma concealed his presence perfectly. No one noticed him—or the Nine-Tails.
As he went deeper, the Eight-Tails' chakra fluctuations grew stronger.
Even without being told, the Nine-Tails' clone—possessing only twenty percent of its chakra—sensed the presence of a "fellow beast."
It let out a low chuckle.
Gyūki.
This lord is here to "save" you.
It shot a glance at Yagyū Souma, quickly suppressing its excitement, and whispered,
"Kid, we're really just walking in like this? If the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki goes berserk, can you stop him?"
"I only want to talk,"
Yagyū Souma said calmly.
"Why would we fight? Don't lump us humans together with you tailed beasts—we're not that savage."
"..."
The Nine-Tails half-lidded its eyes at his nonsense.
After a pause, it said,
"If a fight breaks out, don't expect me to help."
"Help me?"
Yagyū Souma replied indifferently.
"I never expected that."
He stepped into Cloud–Lightning Gorge.
Bare rock stretched on both sides. No vegetation survived here. Thunderclouds rolled overhead, lightning striking down into the gorge at irregular intervals.
After only a few steps—
A hostile presence locked onto him.
"Outsider! Leave immediately, or you die! Yeah!"
A strange accent. Rhythmic, almost like rap.
Footsteps echoed—light, then heavy.
A dark-skinned swordsman wearing sunglasses appeared, multiple blades strapped to his back. His attire clearly marked him as Kumogakure.
"Gyūki,"
Yagyū Souma said casually,
"I brought you an old friend. Care to come out and take a look?"
"..."
Killer B narrowed his eyes, his body tensing instantly.
Because—
"Bee, be careful. That thing beside him… it's the Nine-Tails."
"What?"
Killer B's heart skipped.
"So he's a Konoha ninja?"
"No idea,"
Gyūki replied.
"But if he can carry the Nine-Tails without sealing it, then either he's cooperating with it… or he's strong enough to not fear it at all."
"Idiot! Moron!"
"Either way—stay sharp."
Gyūki didn't want to distract Bee further. The enemy could attack at any moment.
But what neither of them expected was—
"What are you two chatting about? Mind if I join?"
"!!!"
Gyūki's heart jolted.
Looking up, it saw Yagyū Souma walking step by step through the dark mental space shared by Gyūki and Killer B.
Killer B's pupils contracted.
He directly entered their inner world?!
Even his brother couldn't do that.
"Who are you?"
"Swordshadow. A wandering swordsman."
Yagyū Souma smiled faintly.
"I'm interested in tailed beasts. So—Gyūki, Killer B—would you mind letting me cut off a portion of you and split off a fragment of consciousness?"
"To be honest, I'd rather not fight. It's troublesome. If we can resolve this peacefully, that'd be best."
"Idiot! Moron!
Battle's already started—forward with power!"
Killer B moved instantly.
Seven swords flew out—then were caught mid-motion in a bizarre stance.
"Come on, idiot!"
In a blur, he vanished.
Lightning Release enhanced his speed to terrifying levels. Seven blades spun together like a steel cyclone, tearing toward Yagyū Souma.
But—
In an instant, a blade of light flashed.
A chakra-infused sword struck like thunder itself, golden light clinging to its edge—
Clang!
Three of Killer B's blades snapped cleanly in half.
So fast.
And unbelievably powerful.
"Bee,"
Gyūki said gravely,
"His swordsmanship and taijutsu surpass yours. Don't trade blows. Use tailed beast chakra—otherwise we can't win."
"Tailed Beast Mode?"
"Yes. He's strong. He entered our mental space directly. His Nine-Tails might've been forcibly taken from Konoha."
The pressure reminded Gyūki of facing the Third Raikage—
No.
This speed surpassed even that.
And he still hadn't used tailed beast chakra.
Killer B didn't hesitate.
Red chakra erupted from his body, forming skeletal structures and horns. Eight tails swayed behind him.
"Opening the Eight-Tails without losing control… Gyūki, that's embarrassing,"
the Nine-Tails mocked.
"Not only sealed, but you even reached an understanding with your jinchūriki. And you call yourself the Eight-Tails?"
"..."
Gyūki didn't respond.
It focused entirely on supporting Killer B.
In partial tailed beast form, Killer B's speed and power multiplied.
Then—
Boom!
A violent impact.
Yagyū Souma didn't see Killer B—but dust exploded beneath his feet.
Fast!
Fortunately—
His perception reacted before his eyes did.
There!
Clang!
Wangjun left its sheath.
The short blade intercepted Lariat.
Cracks spread across the tailed beast bone armor.
Killer B struck with his other hand—
But Yagyū Souma blocked it, then lifted his leg—
Boom!
A crescent-shaped shockwave tore through the air.
Killer B was kicked away, the chakra cloak on his chest split open, blood pouring out.
His expression changed sharply.
In tailed beast form—injured?
This was the first time.
"Bee, that power isn't normal chakra."
"Tailed beast power?"
"No. Something else. I don't know what it is."
Gyūki had a vague suspicion—but no certainty.
Before it could think further—
A terrifying force slammed into Killer B's abdomen.
An invisible slash.
Killer B roared, eight tails erupting—
But—
Whoosh.
Yagyū Souma appeared in front of him.
Five clusters of chakra formed in his palm.
Not five elemental natures—but five distinct frequencies and states.
They struck a chakra point.
Pain exploded inside Killer B. His chakra stalled completely.
Then—
Sealing formulas spread outward.
Sealing jutsu?!
Gyūki's scalp tingled.
Without hesitation, it surfaced and replaced Killer B's consciousness.
The next instant, Yagyū Souma stopped moving—
And his mental force smashed downward.
Gyūki let out a howl.
But Killer B seized the chance and escaped using Water Release.
The one left behind—
Was merely a tentacle clone.
"Not chasing?"
the Nine-Tails asked.
"No need,"
Yagyū Souma replied calmly.
"I only wanted a fragment of consciousness. I already intercepted it. As for chakra—this tentacle and the horn are enough."
He changed the sealing pattern mid-cast.
At the same time, his mental power invaded the Eight-Tails clone, injecting the captured consciousness fragment.
Then—
Seal.
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