That day...
Kurama finally recalled
the fear once inflicted by the Mokujin user,
and the shame of being trapped inside a wooden cage.
"Gana!!!"
The crimson beast opened its fang-filled mouth wide. A gray orb of light radiated destruction, and everything in its path was left in ruins.
"Mokuton: Mokuryū no Jutsu!" (Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique)
With a calm face, the long-haired man clapped his hands, and from beneath his feet rose several fierce wooden dragons, surging with immense force, spiraling toward the now-berserk beast.
Boom!
Focused on preparing a 2:8 feast, Kurama couldn't dodge in time. He could only watch helplessly as the familiar wooden dragon coiled around him. With no choice, he fired his half-charged Tailed Beast Bomb at the dragon's open mouth.
The powerful attack instantly obliterated the dragon's head. The not-yet-dissipated bomb then shot straight toward Hashirama, whose brows furrowed at the incoming threat.
"Can't let my beetle get hurt. Otherwise, I won't be able to brag to Madara~"
Hashirama glanced back at the towering Mokujin behind him, where the stylish beetle still rested on its back.
He then gathered chakra again, raising another giant wooden figure. The mountain-sized hand reached toward the approaching Tailed Beast Bomb.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion shook the area, sending up a cloud of dust and a burnt scent. Yet the mighty Mokujin remained unmoved. That terrifying Tailed Beast Bomb had been crushed with a single palm.
"Didn't expect a Tailed Beast to come knocking. Coincidence?"
Standing atop the Mokujin, Hashirama observed the raging fox demon, thoughtful.
According to intel, the Nine-Tails should've been roaming in the northeast of the Land of Fire. How did it cross the whole country to cause trouble in the Land of Waterfalls? It was baffling.
"Damn you, Chōmei…"
Seeing his signature move easily blocked, Kurama calmed down slightly and began silently cursing the unconscious Chōmei.
That stupid bug never mentioned the human here was a descendant of Asura! Just from that Wood Style alone, he already had some of Asura's flair.
Kurama started having second thoughts. His massive beast eyes grew pensive.
Better to live and fight another day. The others who got captured would revive anyway. Why risk it for them? Worst case, he just won't brag in the chat room anymore and avoid the ridicule of that damn tanuki.
With that in mind, Kurama subtly glanced back to check for obstacles, then feigned madness again. Hot breath surged from his huge mouth as if ready to go all out against Hashirama.
"You ready to die together?"
Seeing the Nine-Tails preparing a desperate strike, Hashirama refocused, hands ready, waiting to see what trump card would come.
"ROAR!!!"
Kurama raised his massive head and blasted foul breath toward Hashirama, making it hard to keep his eyes open. Chaotic energy gathered in its mouth.
"Mokuton: Hōbi no Jutsu." (Wood Style: Hobi Technique)
Expecting a killing move and not wanting his beetle harmed, Hashirama quickly formed the Hōbi technique. Countless wooden branches wove into a mask-like shield before him.
"Eh? Why's it so quiet?"
Under the mask, Hashirama scratched his head. From Kurama's posture, that should've been a big attack. Why the bluff?
Peeking from behind the wooden shield…
"Huh? It ran?"
To his surprise, the once-defiant Nine-Tails was now a speck on the horizon, with its nine tails flailing behind it. Judging from the speed, this wasn't the first time it had pulled a stunt like this.
"Hmph~ People wonder why I was picked to lead the tailed beasts. You need brains to handle nine tails!"
Kurama ran joyfully across the vast plains, its fox face showing a smug expression. Thinking about that dumb human again made it chuckle.
"Haha! That guy's just as dumb as Asura. So what if he's strong? In this world, brains win~"
"I didn't catch that. Say it again?"
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice chimed in. Kurama, caught off guard, casually replied:
"I said that human's as dumb as Asu—Nani?! How are you this fast?!"
To its shock, Hashirama's Mokujin was sprinting beside it, carrying the unconscious Chōmei. Despite the burden, it kept up with Kurama's pace. Two wooden legs spun like wheels, and that human—who Kurama had mocked—stood atop the Mokujin, glaring.
"Hold still!"
Hashirama clapped his hands. Countless wooden tendrils grew from the Mokujin, forming massive wooden hands to grab the Nine-Tails.
"Kaihō: Kajō no Jutsu!" (Binding Sack Technique)
Caught off guard, Kurama was instantly ensnared. It tried to bite back but found itself powerless. A giant palm with the word "Seat" slapped down on its head.
"Kōan Nyūten Suishu." (Tranquil Subjugation Seal)
In that moment, Kurama's vision went black. Its consciousness regressed to childhood—when it was still a cheerful fox who liked making friends.
"Huff… Huff…"
"Yay! Nine-Tails successfully sealed~"
Seeing the dazed Kurama lying on the ground with snot bubbles, Hashirama grinned brightly.
With the Nine-Tails captured, he now held three tailed beasts. The scales of victory were tipping hard.
Whistling cheerfully, Hashirama had his Mokujin lift Kurama and head proudly toward Konoha.
Sorry again, Madara. I win this round~
Not long after Hashirama left with the Nine-Tails, a battered group arrived at the battlefield. Staring at the devastated terrain, the grim-faced leader of the Land of Waterfalls' ninja forces was shocked.
"Chief, should we pursue?"
The commander of the waterfall ninjas, bloodied and weary, hesitated, then shook his head.
"Retreat. Tend to the wounded first."
"Yes, sir."
Back at their base, all that remained was ruin, flickering flames, and the cries of the injured.
Earlier, after seeing Hashirama take Chōmei from the forbidden area, the waterfall leader rushed back to mobilize forces.
But before arriving, explosions erupted ahead.
"Who dares attack us?!"
Though the Land of Waterfalls wasn't a great nation, it wasn't to be trampled.
"Chief! You're back! It's the Calamity Beast—it came!"
A terrified ninja greeted him, trembling.
"What?!"
The leader was stunned. He had heard of the "Calamity Beast," but why would such a disaster come to their remote corner?
"Follow me. Let's see what it is!"
Swallowing his fear, he rallied his men to confront the beast.
"Gana~"
But before he even saw it clearly, a Tailed Beast Bomb hit him in the face.
Luckily, he had drunk plenty of Hero Water. Chakra surged in his body.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
He slammed the ground, raising a thick stone wall.
"Don't panic. It's just a big animal with chakra—"
BOOM!!!
The wall vaporized instantly under the bomb's heat, and the shockwave swept over them.
"No!!!"
"Burp… Chōmei's not here anymore?"
Kurama, indifferent to the casualties, casually tossed a few mini bombs at the base and chased after Chōmei's fading scent. That chase ended with the battle at the chapter's beginning.
Back in Konoha—
"Hah~ Still no sign of cousin?"
In a bustling street, a handsome but dead-eyed man yawned while scanning the crowd—none other than Uchiha Gin.
"Older women really are caring~"
Freshly freed from Yome's gentle embrace, Gin looked refreshed. The lingering scent on his lips brought delightful memories.
He just wished the week had more than seven days…
"Hey, curly-haired monkey, why are you here?"
A crisp voice interrupted his daydreaming. Recognizing it, Gin rolled his eyes and lazily turned to face Itama and Uchiha Chiri.
"This your street? Why can't I be here?"
Technically, the street was private property built by craftsmen from the Land of Waves—and belonged to him.
"Didn't you say you'd stay home today?"
Suspicious, Itama furrowed her brows.
"Had a feeling something exciting would happen today, so I came out early."
Trying to look innocent, Gin yawned.
Chiri stepped forward, sharp eyes scanning his clean clothes before finally settling on his lips.
"Gin-san, did you eat?"
With her refined ninja sense of smell, Chiri caught a strange scent—familiar, even.
"Yeah, ate plenty~"
Gin laughed nervously and smacked his lips like savoring something delicious.
"Gin-san!"
Suddenly, a cheerful voice came from behind. Turning around, Gin saw a group of debtors, with Sarutobi Sasuke smiling at the lead.
"Sasuke! How's Takinotsuke-nii?"
"Thanks to you, he's doing well—and even tutoring Hiruzen again."
Sasuke beamed.
"I wanted to ask about your prison recipes. My uncle's been missing the food…"
Behind him, Akimichi Shinji grinned. His uncle, once released, kept raving about prison meals. As gourmet experts, they couldn't help but grow curious.
"If the prison wasn't shut down, I'd invite you to try it yourself~"
Gin was honestly surprised they liked prison food.
"…We'll send the interest this month."
Unlike the others, Yamanaka Minako was tense. Fiddling with her fingers, she awkwardly squeezed out the sentence.
"No worries. If money's tight, extend the loan. Same interest~"
The Yamanaka were in real debt trouble. At this rate, even young Ino would owe Gin in the future.
"Tch—"
A faint "tch" broke the moment. Gin raised an eyebrow and looked toward its source.
"Don't look at me like that. We Shimura pay our dues. Don't try manipulating us."
Shimura Kenichi just couldn't stand Gin's smug face—even if he owed him billions.
"Oh~ how's Jinji-nii?"
"I'm afraid he's doing just fine!"
"Your mom happy?"
"Of course—wait, what's that supposed to mean?!"
Gin shrugged innocently. Looked like Jinji had rekindled things with an old flame. That could shake up the Shimura leadership…
"Having a good dad sure helps~"
Different era, same rules—connections still ruled the world.
"Gin-san, you don't seem very worried?"
Sasuke asked curiously.
"Worried? About what?"
"About the Hokage position. Your brother's the Uchiha Clan leader, right?"
Oh… that. Gin relaxed.
"The Hokage title should go to whoever is worthy. We Uchiha have dreams too~"
"So we who abstained have no dreams? Just salted fish, huh?"
Kenichi jumped in.
"No no no. I believe the wheel of fate turns. Your clans might have a chance next time!"
Gin spread his hands with an honest smile.
"Thanks for the blessing. We'll remember that."
Sasuke was touched. Such a generous and kind man—if only he were stronger, he'd make a great Hokage.
Gin would bash him with a wooden sword if he knew. Who the hell wants to be Hokage?!
"But… I heard Hashirama already caught two Tailed Beasts. Your brother might not…"
After scanning the surroundings, Sasuke whispered his intel to Gin.
"Nani~ already two? Tsk tsk… Cousin, you're in trouble~"
Gin feigned concern but inwardly rolled his eyes.
He could sense it across town—one like a steaming pot, obviously the Five-Tails. The other reeked like sour bug slime, must be the Six-Tails.
Wood Style really is a tailed beast killer. Hashirama's on a roll.
Cousin… don't lose face now. This is your rare shot at beating Hashirama!
"Gin-san, even if your brother misses the Hokage seat this time, we Sarutobi will fully support him next round."
Sasuke added kindly.
But if Gin had known, he'd scream.
"You guys still supporting us after all the crap I pulled?!"
"We Yamanaka will support too."
Unexpectedly, it was Minako who spoke up next. Her blue eyes locked with Gin's, though her voice was a bit shaky.
"…Hmm?" *2
Itama and Chiri's gazes turned sharp. The friendly vibe vanished. A cold and fiery aura surrounded Minako.
"I mean—IF Uchiha becomes Hokage, could we maybe lower the interest rate a bit?"
Panicking under their gaze, Minako hurriedly explained her motive.
Phew…
As the pressure faded, she nervously glanced at the two beautiful, terrifying women flanking Gin, swallowing hard.
"I'm a married woman! My kid's already old enough to buy soy sauce!"
"Oi~ Madam Yamanaka, why didn't you say so earlier? You wouldn't want to…"
(End of Chapter)
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