Time was tight.
According to Reiji's plan, the Raikage would definitely head to the Valley of Clouds and Lightning. This wasn't just a matter of the Jinchūriki—it was because the Eight-Tails was more powerful than the Two-Tails.
On top of that, Reiji had picked up a piece of somewhat unreliable intel through Konoha's ANBU channels.
Kumogakure's Iron Armor Seal was especially effective against the Eight-Tails, but against the slightly weaker Two-Tails, it was easy for her to slip out.
A fully combat-capable Eight-Tails versus a temporarily incapacitated Two-Tails? Even a fool would know which to prioritize.
This was a trap—and the Third Raikage, A, was bound to walk right into it.
More importantly, the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki had already begun the process of Tailed Beast transformation!
And the current Jinchūriki was none other than Fukai's father—the man who would later rename himself Blue B.
If Reiji remembered right, this guy wasn't a perfect Jinchūriki.
So Reiji took control of him, regulating the number of his clones to limit the extent of his transformation, making it easier for the Third Raikage to subdue him swiftly.
From there, the Raikage would inevitably rush from the Valley of Clouds and Lightning to the Temple of Wind and Thunder.
That alone would take twenty minutes. Including everything else, the total travel time came to thirty minutes.
Reiji had left the Raikage an additional five to ten minutes to suppress the Jinchūriki, who hadn't fully transformed.
Fifteen minutes had already passed. By that estimate, the Raikage would arrive at the Temple of Wind and Thunder within the next twenty to twenty-five minutes.
Meanwhile, the lead actor in Reiji's carefully staged play—Raimei—was still on the rooftop, sparring with Reiji's clones as the Kumo shinobi continued to arrive!
That meant Reiji only had ten to fifteen minutes left to release the Two-Tails. After all, he had to give her some time to showcase her strength.
He could move fast—but he couldn't afford to be late!
That would be the moment when the Two-Tails burst free and the Raikage arrived.
By then, Raimei would be engulfed in flames, burned to ash—and from those flames, the new Raimei would be reborn, saving his comrades from destruction!
As the central figure in the first act, Reiji had taken quite a liking to this Raimei guy.
He was wild and arrogant, had no friends—which made it much less likely anyone would recognize Reiji later on.
Even though he was just a Genin, his taijutsu was already at Chūnin level. So much potential!
And his recklessness? It was exactly the kind of performance the next act needed.
Ultimately, his arrogance and impulsiveness would be crushed before the overwhelming might of the Two-Tails.
And the reborn Raimei would be a driven youth who had seen the power of a Tailed Beast, faced death, and awakened through pain and scars.
He'd learn that his arrogance meant nothing, become quieter, more composed.
He'd crave strength after witnessing true power.
He'd treasure life more deeply after seeing his comrades fall—and swear to become stronger, to protect the village, to protect his friends!
Wasn't that the so-called martial spirit of Kumogakure?
Before the Two-Tails, Reiji lowered his head, smiling as he murmured,
"Mizukuma-sensei, look how well I've mastered what you taught me—blending in with the village."
Not far away, the Two-Tails—who had been lying down—suddenly spoke in a clear and beautiful voice.
"Invader, you seem sad."
Reiji raised his head and shook it.
"Yeah, I'm sad. But I shake my head because that's my weakness—I'm not telling you!" he said playfully.
"Are all humans like you?" the Two-Tails, Matatabi, asked again, then shook her cute little cat head before finishing her thought.
"You feel so familiar, but I just can't remember why...!"
"No—that's it! You're not human!"
"Who are you really?!"
Her tone grew colder with each sentence.
But by then, Reiji's attention had already drifted. He was busy thinking about how to let this girl out.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm not human. I'm Amagashiki Ōtsutsuki, the third son of Princess Kaguya."
He answered offhandedly, then suddenly noticed that Master Chōkū, who had been howling at his feet, had gone silent.
"Oho~ Master, sounds like you know something?"
Hearing Reiji's teasing tone, Master Chōkū shook his head wildly, like a rattle drum.
"No, no, no! I don't know anything!"
Reiji didn't press further. Time was tight. He simply made a mental note of the suspicion.
He bent down, grabbed Chōkū by the collar, lifted him up, and pointed at the chains binding the Two-Tails.
"Master, how do you unlock these chains?"
Chōkū trembled and sneaked a glance at the Two-Tails. Seeing the icy look in her eyes, he immediately shook his head, terrified.
"I-I don't know."
Reiji narrowed his eyes, a wicked grin creeping across his face as he drew his massive slab of a sword and laid it against Chōkū's neck.
"Master, I'm really curious—what's tougher, your neck or your skull?"
As he spoke, he swung the heavy blade down with one hand.
He clearly meant to strike—the killing intent in his eyes was unmistakable.
Just then, a cold and haughty female voice rang out from behind him.
"Stop!"
Reiji's massive sword halted instantly, the blade hovering just a hair's breadth from Master Chōkū's neck.
"Cut the chain, and I can get out," Matatabi said.
Reiji's gaze shifted between Matatabi and Master Chōkū, his face full of suspicion.
With his perception and intelligence, there was no way he hadn't caught that quick glance Chōkū gave Matatabi just now.
From the looks of it, these two were hiding something—something shady.
Reiji's eyes flicked over the chains. Then he suddenly smiled and waved at Matatabi.
"Hey, girl~ turn over. Let me see your other side."
"What?!" Matatabi's wide, adorable eyes shot open in shock, her pupils shrinking to pinpoints as flames suddenly roared to life around her body.
Even so, she made no move to stand up.
"What do you take me for?!" she snapped sharply.
Reiji gave an awkward laugh.
Clearly, this Two-Tails, who'd lived for who knows how many years, wasn't easy to fool.
"Ahem, not that kind of 'back.' I meant the other side!" Reiji raised his brows and stressed the point, trying to clarify.
But anyone with experience knew—there was no explaining their way out of a comment like that.
Seeing Matatabi still fuming, Reiji took out his hourglass, glanced at the time, and let out a resigned sigh.
"Come on, don't play dumb. Back in the day, I was the string game champion of Little Red Flower Kindergarten.
You really think I wouldn't notice that massive length of chain tucked under your belly? Doesn't it feel uncomfortable?"
With her cover blown, Matatabi was both furious and flustered.
This guy—what a mouth! Damn it!
Fuming, she slowly tensed her limbs, locking her eyes on Reiji as she slipped into a classic feline pounce posture.
She was confident—within this cramped space, taking him out would be a breeze.
In fact, Reiji had felt something was off the moment Master Chōkū sneaked a glance at Matatabi.
A jailer and a prisoner exchanging looks—and the prisoner taking the lead?
Who wouldn't suspect something fishy?
And with Matatabi stepping in to stop him from killing Master Chōkū, if Reiji still couldn't see what was going on, then he really would be a fool.
It was obvious now—Matatabi wasn't really restrained. She was keeping the chains taut herself. There was likely a whole extra length of chain stashed under her belly.
With that realization, everything clicked into place.
The Two-Tails had taken control of the head monk at the Temple of Wind and Thunder and carved out a quiet hideout for herself.
Whenever she got bored, she could sneak out for a breath of fresh air.
If things got dangerous, she just laid low—and with Kumogakure backing her, no one could really do a thing.
As expected! None of these ancient beasts were ever simple!
Well, except for Gyūki. That guy probably really didn't have a brain—dumped all his skill points into raw muscle.
Given all that, the situation was now simple.
With that thought, Reiji lifted his massive sword and rested it against Master Chōkū's neck, grinning as he said,
"Matatabi, time to dance!"
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