The power of the Nine Masked Beasts was incredibly tempting. But only if you could truly control such a formidable summoning beast. Within it were nine entities, each representing a direction of the world—remarkably aligned with the positions of the rings worn by the future Akatsuki members. Their combined strength was immense. By rough estimation, without Rinnegan-level mastery like Nagato's, anyone attempting to wield the nine entities was likely to be consumed by them.
If Kakuzu were to fall, the chakra absorbed by the entities would automatically return to the Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tails, always scheming. If anyone else dared to calculate Kakuzu like this, they'd soon find their name posted on the bounty board. But the Nine-Tails? Beating him in a fight wasn't feasible, and Kakuzu wasn't confident he could outwit him either.
"You damn fox," Kakuzu growled. "Madara always said you were no good. If he ever got his hands on you, he'd have you plowing all of Konoha's fields like an ox."
"And when he was done, he'd probably wipe your memory so you'd start again the next day."
This remark didn't sit well.
ROAR!
The sealed space quaked as the Nine-Tails erupted in fury. As an ancient fox spirit that had lived for millennia, his will was unshakable. But there was one exception—one individual who had dared to stand on his neck and call him a beast.
For the Nine-Tails, it was the ultimate humiliation. His chakra surged wildly, manifesting like a beast baring its fangs.
Kakuzu quickly realized he'd gone too far.
"Alright, alright," he said, trying to backtrack. "Forget that guy. Let's talk about someone else."
"Senju Hashirama once said your combat skills are on par with their chickens."
"What nonsense are you spouting now?"
The Nine-Tails, seated within his cage, glowered. He couldn't shake the growing feeling of unease.
"He said when he slaughtered chickens, he could lift them with one hand. He could do the same with you, no problem."
"He called you a gentle pet. Said you looked fierce but would never hurt anyone—because how could a chicken kill anyone?"
"YOU BASTARD!"
The Nine-Tails bristled with rage, his fur standing on end. Malevolence, hatred, fury—all of it boiled over. His chakra gushed out like a torrential flood, filling the sealed space and saturating it with malice. His eyes burned with hatred.
If he could, he'd tear Kakuzu apart right then and there.
'This wretch isn't human!'
'If word of this gets out to the other Tailed Beasts, they'll never stop laughing at me. I'll never live this down!'
For the first time, the Nine-Tails felt an overwhelming urge to kill. He gripped the iron bars of his cage with colossal hands, ready to break free.
The cage rattled ominously but held firm.
SMACK!
A graceful figure suddenly appeared within the sealed space.
Wearing a thin nightgown, her hair loose and disheveled, Uzumaki Mito stepped forward, her wooden sandals clicking softly against the floor.
"Nine-Tails, it's the middle of the night. What are you making a fuss about?"
"Shut up, you wretched woman! I'm getting out tonight, no matter what!"
The Nine-Tails had never been so brazen—even speaking insolently to a woman Senju Hashirama himself dared not cross.
But Mito wasn't fazed.
Forming the Tiger Seal with a single hand, she unleashed her chakra.
WHOOSH!
Four golden chains shot forth from her chest, tearing through her delicate gown like gleaming steel whips.
The Nine-Tails didn't back down. As the strongest of the Tailed Beasts, he wasn't about to cower before a mere human woman.
ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!
His chakra flared, his rage intensifying.
Until—
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The adamantine chains lashed against his body.
"AAARGH!"
The Nine-Tails let out a guttural cry of agony.
It was excruciating.
Mito stood tall, her expression unyielding. In this space, she was queen.
At last, the Nine-Tails began to understand why Hashirama had sealed him in this place.
Reluctantly, he began to back down.
But he couldn't let go of the humiliation Kakuzu had inflicted on him. The mocking words echoed in his mind, fueling his simmering anger.
Mito, perceptive as always, lowered her chains and scrutinized the Nine-Tails.
Over the years, they'd coexisted peacefully. Why was he acting up tonight?
She studied him carefully, her face suddenly turning a shade of crimson.
The realization hit her.
The Nine-Tails was still an animal, after all. And animals had… urges.
Flustered, Mito tightened her nightgown, her exposed skin a reminder of her rushed appearance.
"Nine-Tails," she said gently. "If there's something on your mind, you can tell me."
The Nine-Tails glared, his earlier fury dampened.
"Tell me—who was that man?"
"Which man?"
"The one with the unusual chakra at the funeral."
"Unusual chakra…?"
Mito's brow furrowed as she tried to recall.
It only took a moment of reflection before she remembered. But Uzumaki Mito's expression darkened.
"Kakuzu? You're thinking about a man?!"
"So, that guy's name is Kakuzu, huh? Damn it!"
"You pervert, Kurama!" Uzumaki Mito's opinion of the Nine-Tails dropped sharply. She'd thought the fox was lonely and acting out because of that…
Smack!
Another iron whip lashed against Kurama's forehead.
"Arghhh!" Kurama yelped, clutching his head. That strike hurt.
"No more nonsense! Keep it up, and you'll regret it," Mito said, stomping her foot before leaving the sealing space.
Kurama was left behind, tears of pain threatening to spill from his eyes.
"Kakuzu! You bastard, I'll remember this!"
...
Deep within the forest.
Kakuzu extended his hand, using his Dark Release to absorb the dark-red chakra entirely. He then sealed it into a storage scroll.
This wasn't just ordinary chakra—it was something far more potent, a fragment of the Nine-Tails' power. However, this energy couldn't return to Kurama right now. If someone were ever to tame this power, the legendary "Nine Masked Beasts" would serve them.
Kakuzu wasn't sure if he was capable of conquering this power yet. For now, he decided to seal it away until he had the confidence to take control.
"How odd. Earlier, the Nine-Tails was so ferocious," Kakuzu muttered. "But now it's as docile as a kitten."
Sealing the chakra had been far too easy. There wasn't even a hint of resistance or emotional backlash from the Nine-Tails' chakra. It was unnatural, to say the least.
Still, Kurama's lack of resistance worked in his favor. Kakuzu didn't overthink it. Stashing the scroll away, he prepared to leave this troublesome place.
But just as he turned, Kakuzu froze mid-step.
Someone was behind him.
They had appeared silently, without a trace. The only reason Kakuzu noticed was his honed instincts, developed through countless life-and-death battles.
In the ninja world, there were very few who could get this close to him unnoticed. Even Tobirama Senju couldn't manage it—Kakuzu's senses could detect the moment Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique activated.
Hashirama Senju was dead, which left…
A foreboding sense of danger gripped Kakuzu.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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