"They're scattered all over... and two of them are in the water."
Uchiha Madara paced through a quiet forest as he flipped through intelligence he'd shamelessly swiped from the Sky Realm. His dark eyes gleamed with thought.
According to the intel, the Tailed Beasts were spread across various corners of the ninja world. Some lived in wide plains, others nestled between canyons, and a few wandered freely in rivers, lakes, and seas. Each had its own territory, yet there were no signs of conflict over land.
Hashirama's Mokuton (Wood Release) wouldn't be able to function at full strength in water battles, so Madara decided the aquatic ones could wait. They'd be his eventually.
"No rush on the water ones… they're already mine in my heart. Let's start with the Four-Tails."
After analyzing the situation, Madara chose the Four-Tails living near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water as his first prey.
No time to waste—he set off.
With a focused gaze, Madara's eyes turned crimson, and a blue chakra cloak enveloped his body. As it thickened, a gigantic tengu-like warrior formed, its wings spread wide. The pressure from the flap of its wings blew the surrounding forest into chaos.
"Let's go. The Hokage seat… will be mine!"
In his completed Susanoo, Madara locked onto his target and became a streak of blue lightning, slicing through the sky and clouds like a heavenly blade.
"Such a reckless boy. Nothing like Gin-san."
Perched on a rooftop, bare feet on gray tiles, the languid woman who'd handed Madara the intel tapped her smoking pipe, brushing back windswept bangs. She watched the blue giant vanish into the horizon and shook her head.
"But at least he's motivated. Not as lazy as Gin-san."
Elsewhere, on the wide plains within the Land of Fire, a white streak zipped across the land. Steam roared off its body, and five fluffy white tails trailed behind like comets. The creature's hooves thundered against the earth.
Muō was having another blissful day running across his territory, hooves kicking up dust, the joy of freedom in every step—completely unaware of the looming danger.
"Hey, is anyone there?"
As Muō galloped in bliss, a voice echoed in his head. Recognizing it, he skidded to a stop, tilted his head, and replied mentally:
"Is that you, Shukaku?"
He entered the exclusive Tailed Beast chatroom and found it shrouded in darkness—only one chubby figure stood there.
"Hmph! Who else would chat first, if not that idiot tanuki?"
A snarky voice cut in as a slim figure cloaked in red stepped into view, oozing mockery.
"You idiot, Kurama!"
Shukaku shouted, clearly annoyed at hearing that familiar, mocking voice.
"Enough already! Shukaku, what happened?"
Just before the two could erupt into a full-blown argument, a calm voice sounded out. A blue-flamed feline appeared from the shadows, gently trying to mediate.
"Matatabi, you doing okay?"
Muō smiled at the blue feline.
"Not bad, just bored."
Matatabi lazily licked a paw.
"Where's everyone else?"
"I'm here," a simple voice called out as a small turtle emerged from the dark, its single eye blinking innocently.
"So hot lately… I feel like I'm melting," a slug-like creature whined in a soft babyish tone.
"Busy cocooning. Do not disturb." This one came from a pristine white cocoon—clearly mid-transformation.
"Hey, I'm so bored! Anyone wanna fight?" boomed a rough voice. Eight octopus-like tentacles burst out of the dark, followed by a massive minotaur figure with a battle-ready glare.
"Looks like everyone's lively. Any news? Entertain me."
Shukaku rubbed his round belly as envy twinkled in his coin-like eyes. Ever since being sealed by the Land of Wind's monks, he had little contact with the outside world. The chantings were driving him insane, so he'd pop into the chatroom now and then just to hear gossip.
"Heh, stupid Shukaku. You're a disgrace to us Tailed Beasts. No wonder the old man gave you just one tail—you're weak!"
The red figure howled with laughter at Shukaku.
"Judging strength by the number of tails is dumb, Kurama!"
Shukaku fired back, his temper flaring. If not for the chatroom's constraints, he'd have launched a few Renkūdan (Drilling Air Bullets) by now.
"Eh? It's not?" Kurama lay sprawled, eyes narrowing in mock confusion.
"I agree with Shukaku. Tail count doesn't mean everything," Matatabi said seriously, shaking his head.
"Enough talk. Let's fight!" Gyūki flexed his eight tentacles, eyes full of battle spirit.
"Hey, don't forget what the old man told us—we're supposed to stay far away from each other. Best if we never meet again," Isobu the three-tailed turtle warned, peeking out with a thoughtful gaze.
"Wait, didn't I see you near my home last week?"
"Oh, that? I thought I saw a beautiful turtle and wanted to make friends. Didn't notice it was your turf," Gyūki replied, scratching his head sheepishly.
Shukaku sneered, "What's it like to be imprisoned by humans?"
Kurama, ever the instigator, turned to poke fun at Shukaku again.
"Yeah, tell us," the others chimed in, blinking with innocent curiosity. Most of them had only been used as living weapons—none had experienced prolonged captivity.
"Ha! Who said I'm imprisoned? I'm being worshipped, okay? Daily songs, total luxury."
Shukaku puffed out his chest.
"Really? Didn't someone used to cry here every night?" Kurama said, eyebrow raised.
"Lies! That was from the songs—too touching!" Shukaku roared.
"One day, you'll be on a leash too, you dumb fox!"
"As if! You think I'm like you?" Kurama rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Wait… where's Son Gokū?" Muō looked around and frowned.
"Huh? He's always first to join. That's weird," Gyūki muttered.
Just then, a large figure slowly emerged from the dark.
"Everyone, be carefu—"
Before Son Gokū could finish, his body rapidly shrank, and under a wave of chilling darkness that made the Tailed Beasts' blood run cold, he vanished.
"What just happened?!"
Saiken trembled uncontrollably as he sensed an ominous force.
"That… felt like Indra," Matatabi whispered, fur on edge.
"Impossible! Indra's been dead for ages!" Kurama barked. "Sure, his descendants exist, but none of them are that strong."
"Then what about Son Gokū?" Gyūki asked, visibly shaken.
"Muō, you're closest to him. Go check," Kurama ordered.
"Er… okay," Muō nodded seriously and left the chatroom.
"I think Son Gokū lives over there…"
Back in reality, Muō galloped across the plains, heading toward the volcanic region. Steam boiled off his body as his hooves pounded the ground.
But someone was waiting in his path.
"Huh? A human? Whatever, if he wants to die, that's on him."
Muō charged forward, his horns capable of shattering mountains.
"So this is a Tailed Beast… just as Tobirama said. Dangerous indeed."
Senju Hashirama calmly observed Muō's charge. He could feel the overwhelming chakra. If let loose in a city, this creature could destroy it in under an hour.
Just as Muō prepared to trample him, he sensed something shocking—
"…Ashura's chakra?"
"So fast… Mokuton: Kai Butai no Jutsu! (Wood Release: All Encompassing Hands Technique!)"
Hashirama slammed his hand to the ground. Giant wooden hands surged up, grabbing at the stunned Muō.
"Wha—!?"
Muō instinctively used his Vapor Release but found to his horror that the wood shrugged off the heat. New branches just kept growing.
"This human… is he Ashura's descendant?"
Panicking, Muō tried to retreat, but Hashirama read his every move.
"Mokuton: Mokujin no Jutsu! (Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!)"
A massive wooden avatar appeared and unleashed several wooden dragons from trick angles.
"Damn!"
Muō desperately gathered a dark sphere in his mouth.
"Bijūdama! (Tailed Beast Bomb!)"
"Not on my watch!"
Hashirama's wooden giant rushed in and slammed its palm into Muō's face, forcing him to swallow the bomb. It fizzled out.
"Persistent guy…"
Hashirama narrowed his eyes. Tailed Beasts weren't normal creatures—they didn't faint. Even suppressed, they kept struggling.
"Koan enters the town with hands lowered…"
He raised a hand. The word "seat" glowed in his palm—and in his Wood Human's hand. A strange sleepy power radiated out.
Soon, Muō fell fast asleep like a pig. Hashirama grinned.
"Good thing I trained at Ryūchi Cave. These jutsu are amazing."
With Muō knocked out, Hashirama hoisted him up and strolled toward Konoha.
"Heh. Madara, I'm winning this!"
Back in the chatroom, panic.
"Muō? Muō??"
No response.
First Son Gokū, now Muō?
The Tailed Beasts all sensed something horrifying looming over them. They looked at one another, terrified.
"He's probably just distracted," Kurama tried to laugh it off, but his fox eyes were filled with worry.
"Matatabi, you go—"
"I'm not going!" Matatabi jumped up like a startled cat.
"Isobu—"
"Not suited for land, remember? I'm just a turtle~"
"Don't look at me, I'm slow," Saiken added.
"I'm in a cocoon," said Chōmei.
"Same here," Gyūki shrugged his tentacles.
"Ugh, useless! Fine, I'll go myself!"
Just as Kurama got ready to leave—
"Huh? Son Gokū, where've you been?" Matatabi suddenly exclaimed.
But Son Gokū wasn't in the chatroom—he was physically beside her.
"Good, he's safe."
Kurama sighed in relief.
Too soon.
"SON GOKŪ, YOU'RE INSANE!!"
Matatabi screamed and immediately disconnected.
"Matatabi? MATATABI?!"
Only busy tones responded.
And so the chill of dread seeped into even these chakra incarnations.
"This… isn't funny, you guys," Kurama said, trying to laugh it off.
"I'm going back to my swamp. Keep in touch!"
Saiken tried to retreat.
"Don't move! You'll be next."
Kurama glared.
"What, threatening me now?" Saiken snapped and disconnected.
In the real world, he slithered toward his swamp refuge.
"Excuse me, are you related to the Slug Sage?"
Saiken froze. A man with black hair looked up at him with a piece of paper.
"You've got six tails… oh, you're a Tailed Beast too?"
"Foolish human… die."
Saiken launched acid—standard instinct.
"A reckless attack… a threat."
Hashirama sighed and pressed his palms together.
"My wood giant is big, so bear with it…"
(End of Chapter)
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