"Shh!"
In the inky darkness of the spring, Mizuki Ryosuke's eyes suddenly snapped open.
The conversation with Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo still echoed in his mind—every word, every revelation etched into his consciousness. Though it felt like an eternity had passed, in reality, it had been only a fleeting moment.
At this instant, his body was still submerged in the Extremely Yin Spring.
The moment he regained awareness, Mizuki Ryosuke could feel the crushing pressure of the Extremely Yin Spring encasing him like an invisible vice.
Yang governs the body.
Yin governs the spirit.
On the surface, the Extremely Yin Spring appeared to be just ordinary water, but in truth, it harbored an oppressive force that gnawed at the depths of his spirit.
It was as if his very soul was nothing more than a speck of dust, caught in the raging storm of the Extreme Yin Power within the spring.
Mizuki Ryosuke estimated that within three seconds, his spirit would be completely crushed.
Without hesitation, he activated the sealing technique passed down by Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo—one that stood among the highest-level Fūinjutsu.
The Nine Palaces Seal!
A brilliant white light suddenly flared to life on Mizuki Ryosuke's forehead, and pure white markings rapidly spread across his entire body.
As the markings took shape, they formed a massive "Nine Palaces Diagram", covering his entire form.
The Extremely Yin Spring's energy could not be sealed within an ordinary vessel. Instead, it had to be contained within the Consciousness Space, the spiritual domain of a shinobi.
A strange white pattern, resembling an eye, began manifesting at the center of his forehead.
At that instant, the Extremely Yin Spring surged violently, as if drawn by an unseen force. The white pattern acted as a vortex, devouring the ominous waters like a whirlpool swallowing a sinking ship.
The more of the Extreme Yin Power that was absorbed, the darker the originally pure white Nine Palaces pattern became.
—
Inside Mizuki Ryosuke's Consciousness Space
Three Tails Isobu, who had been lazing about in boredom, was suddenly startled. The haze that usually obstructed his vision had been preventing him from watching his only source of entertainment—Mizuki Ryosuke's real-time experiences.
But now, something different was happening.
Isobu's single, massive eye widened.
"…What the hell? Where is all this water coming from?!"
Before the Sanbi could fully process the situation, a flood of inky-black liquid surged through the space, completely submerging his enormous form.
For a moment, the massive turtle was flipped onto his back, legs flailing in the air.
And yet, there was no discomfort—only exhilaration.
"Hahaha! Water! There's actual water!!!"
Excited beyond belief, Isobu thrashed his massive limbs, sending waves rippling through the blackened sea of consciousness.
The Three Tails—a turtle-like being that had spent countless years trapped in confinement, forced to roam land and deserts—was finally surrounded by water.
And he couldn't be happier.
—
While Isobu indulged in his newfound joy, Mizuki Ryosuke was experiencing the greatest trial of his life.
Compared to this, the process of sealing a Tailed Beast was nothing.
The immense spiritual power of the Extreme Yin Spring poured into his Consciousness Space, forcing it to expand at a terrifying rate.
It was like trying to pour an entire ocean into a single cup—a hopeless endeavor.
Yet, the Nine Palaces Seal made the impossible possible.
Whenever Mizuki Ryosuke's spirit shattered under the overwhelming force, the seal absorbed the Extreme Yin Power and restructured his soul, strengthening the seal.
It was a cycle:
Absorb. Break. Reshape.
Over and over again.
And in the real world, the physical effects were apparent—
The Extremely Yin Spring was visibly shrinking.
As the spring diminished, the once perpetual mist of the Haze Space began to dissipate.
—
Far from the depths of the spring, Terumi Mei watched in awe as the fog gradually lifted.
Her keen eyes gleamed with realization.
This haze, which had once shrouded the land for centuries, was vanishing—
And it was all because of one person.
Mizuki Ryosuke.
At Terumi Mei's feet, a half-dead orange cat trembled violently.
Its large, watery eyes reflected sheer disbelief.
"…What in the world did I just witness?"
That demon of a man had entered the fog, and now— the fog was disappearing?!
"Meow…?"
The big orange cat let out a pitiful wail.
For hundreds of years, the feline race had been plagued by this accursed mist.
And now, this terrifying man had solved it in the blink of an eye?!
At this moment, in the eyes of the big orange cat, Mizuki Ryosuke was no longer just a man—
He was a god.
—
Meanwhile, Mizuki Ryosuke's Nine Palaces Seal had reached its final stage.
As the last drop of Extreme Yin Spring was absorbed, the pure white seal that covered his body fully darkened—a transformation complete.
The "eye" at the center of his forehead opened fully, as if acknowledging its role.
And then—
It vanished beneath his skin.
At that moment, Mizuki Ryosuke had successfully sealed the Extremely Yin Spring inside himself.
With that, the Haze Space was finally cleared—
A problem that had persisted for centuries, solved by one man's sacrifice.
His body ached. His mind throbbed.
Yet, Mizuki Ryosuke endured.
Slowly, he climbed out of the drained spring, his breathing ragged.
But he didn't waste time celebrating.
Instead, he immediately plunged into his Consciousness Space—
And what he saw left him speechless.
The once small and contained space had expanded a hundredfold.
What used to be a finite mental realm had now transformed into an endless sea of darkness.
And then—
"PFFT!!"
A colossal form erupted from the waters beneath him.
Mizuki Ryosuke turned, just in time to see a massive creature leaping out of the black sea—before plunging back into the depths.
A chuckle escaped his lips.
"…Looks like Isobu's happy with his new home."
—
"Oi, Ryosuke!"
A loud, booming voice echoed through the space.
The Sanbi swam toward him, waves crashing around its titanic form.
"You did a damn good job, kid!"
For the first time, the Three Tails, often seen as a terrifying demon, was beaming with joy.
Even his massive, intimidating face looked somewhat… adorable.
Mizuki Ryosuke couldn't help but grin.
"Well? Happy now?"
"Of course!!"
Isobu's giant one-eyed gaze softened with nostalgia.
"…To be honest, I never thought I'd be able to live in water again."
Hearing this, Mizuki Ryosuke's smile faltered slightly.
The world knew the Tailed Beasts as monstrous, destructive beings.
But who ever stopped to see the loneliness beneath their power?
Who ever stopped to ask—
What did the Tailed Beasts truly long for?
At that moment, Mizuki Ryosuke understood.
And he made a silent promise—
You won't suffer that loneliness anymore.
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