Kakuzu wondered if Bunpuku really had no fear of death. His response to Kakuzu was simple:
"Everyone who comes into this world has their own mission. I'm just doing what I must."
With that, Bunpuku stopped speaking and closed his eyes, silently reciting a mantra.
Kakuzu chuckled softly. Everyone had their beliefs. In the original tale, Shukaku once remarked that Bunpuku embodied the spirit of the Sage of Six Paths. Perhaps Bunpuku truly was a man of boundless compassion.
However, Kakuzu's inquiry was merely a casual one, he had no real intention of testing Bunpuku further. His interest lay not in Bunpuku's words but in the tailed beast within him. After all, if a Jinchūriki were to die, the tailed beast would disappear, only for its chakra to gradually reform elsewhere and eventually be reborn.
The revival point of a tailed beast wasn't random. Their chakra would gravitate toward something intimately connected to them. For Shukaku, the severed tail Kakuzu had just secured was likely the beast's next resurrection point.
Sealing a true tailed beast into one of his "partners" was a challenge Kakuzu had long considered. But his "partners" were hardly ideal vessels. Controlled by his will, they lacked independent thought and could only perform basic reflexive actions. Compared to genuine Jinchūriki, they were imperfect containers.
For the tailed beasts, an unstable vessel could be an opportunity. If given the chance, they would rip through such a host and escape.
Thus, Kakuzu decided to seal Shukaku into a physical object for now—it was the safest option.
The idea of turning his "partners" into true Jinchūriki wasn't impossible, but it hinged on one critical factor: Hashirama cells. These cells held a natural suppression over tailed beasts, and coupled with sealing techniques, the chances of escape would be minimal.
However, for this plan to succeed, the Hashirama cells needed to be strong—stronger than what Kakuzu currently had at his disposal. His mastery of Wood Release techniques was still far behind even Yamato's level. For now, slow and steady progress was the best approach.
Kakuzu dusted off his hands and adjusted his cloak. At that moment, Sakumo Hatake arrived, his breathing ragged, his face lined with exhaustion.
"What's this? Did a few sealing-nin really push you to your limit?" Kakuzu teased with a smirk.
While it was true that a few Sunagakure sealing squads wouldn't normally pose such a challenge, Sakumo was only in his twenties and had already endured multiple high-stakes battles. He was both physically and mentally drained, with little left to give.
"Kakuzu-sama we should leave," Sakumo said, his voice steady but weary.
Kakuzu nodded in agreement. There was nothing more to be done here. Staying any longer was pointless. With a flicker of movement, the two disappeared into the distance.
The death of the Second Kazekage, Shamon, was bound to send shockwaves through the shinobi world. The ones most affected would undoubtedly be the shinobi of Sunagakure.
In the White Tree Town battlefield, where Konoha and Iwagakure still stood at odds, Hatada Saemon of Sunagakure received the devastating news. Without hesitation, he ordered a full retreat, taking his forces back to the village. The chaos caused by Shamon's death had disrupted Sunagakure's supply lines and thrown the village into disarray. Continuing the battle was no longer an option. Stabilizing their home front was now the priority.
Although Sunagakure's forces withdrew, White Tree Town remained far from peaceful. When Kakuzu and Sakumo returned, they found the area embroiled in conflict—Konoha and Iwagakure forces clashing bitterly.
Inside the Konoha camp, the atmosphere was tense. Guards at the entrance stood on high alert as six teams of shinobi blocked Kakuzu and Sakumo's path.
Seeing their wary expressions, Sakumo sighed inwardly. He stepped forward and said,
"Look closely—I'm not the enemy. Can I not even enter the camp?"
The captain of the guards gave Kakuzu a suspicious glance before turning his attention back to Sakumo.
"Hatake Sakumo, you're not part of this battlefield's unit. Since you've completed your mission, return to the village immediately. You don't belong here."
Kakuzu stood by with his arms crossed, silently observing the exchange. It was natural for these shinobi to be wary of him. After all, this was a time of war, and vigilance was paramount. That they had allowed Kakuzu to approach the camp at all was already a significant concession.
But the fact that Sakumo—a rising star renowned even in these chaotic times—was being denied entry suggested something was amiss within Konoha's ranks.
Sakumo seemed ready to argue further when suddenly, a high-ranking Konoha shinobi emerged from the camp.
He cast a glance at Hatake Sakumo and Kakuzu before addressing the captain of the defense squad with a calm tone.
"Let them in. This is the commander's order."
"Yes, understood!"
The captain of the defense squad gestured with a wave, and the members of the team promptly stepped aside to clear the way to the camp. Meanwhile, the messenger ninja shifted his gaze to Kakuzu, his eyes carrying a subtle, meaningful expression.
"The commander… wants to see you."
Kakuzu said nothing. Once the Konoha ninjas had moved aside, he stepped forward, making his way into the camp one deliberate step at a time.
The atmosphere in Konoha's central base was somber. Everywhere he looked, Kakuzu could see the signs of despair. The expressions on the faces of the passing ninjas were heavy with defeat, their energy drained. It was evident that they had suffered a crushing loss in battle.
But this wasn't just the aftermath of a single defeat. No—what truly weighed on them was the absence of hope. The war seemed unwinnable, and the realization had sunk deep into the hearts of those fighting.
Kakuzu observed it all, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. Following the messenger, he eventually arrived at the central tent of the camp. As he stepped inside, he was immediately greeted by a somber scene.
A figure lay on a sickbed, surrounded by three medical-nin, tirelessly channeling chakra into her fragile body. The exhaustion etched on their faces left no room for optimism.
Seeing this, Hatake Sakumo's throat tightened. Slowly, he approached the bed.
"Lady Momoka…"
Yes, the person lying there was none other than Senju Momoka, the leader of the Senju clan after the eras of Hashirama and Tobirama Senju.
Gone was the radiance she once carried. The years had not been kind to her, and streaks of gray now framed her temples. The sight stirred something deep within Kakuzu, a sense of time's relentless march.
When he first came to this world, it had been Year 6 of the Hidden Leaf. Now, it was Year 32. Twenty-six years had passed, slipping through his fingers like sand.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
Read more than +100 chapters and support me on Patreon
Patreon(.)com/Jixo