"Careful!"
Seeing Uchiha Chiri recklessly approach the enraged tailed beast, Hashirama's clone was shocked and was about to step in to restrain it—when a large hand stopped him.
"Brother Hashirama, stay calm."
Sucking on a lollipop from who-knows-where, Uchiha Gin rested one hand behind his head and used the other to block Hashirama's path.
His lifeless eyes showed no panic—only calm confidence. Looking up at Chiri locking eyes with the Nibi, the corners of his mouth curled slightly in pride.
"Little Chiri is my student, after all~"
"Pft! You? Don't go ruining someone else's future!"
Tobirama crossed his arms and seized the moment to mock him, though his crimson eyes never left the Nibi's movements. His knuckles were white—ready to grab his sister and retreat if things went wrong.
"Those tea leaves I gave him… might as well have fed them to the dogs!"
Gin clenched his fists, glaring at Tobirama, thinking he was all too happy to take gifts without lifting a finger.
"Human, prepare to be reduced to ash!"
The Nibi's mismatched eyes glinted with killing intent. Blue flames puffed from its nostrils, and the fire in its jaws was at the brink of eruption.
"So unruly… is this what a wild cat is?"
Feeling the danger, Chiri's calm face showed no fear—only thought. Moments earlier, she had touched its fur and realized the flames weren't hot at all, but soft to the touch—just chakra made visible.
"Who are you calling a wild cat?"
Offended, the Nibi closed its mouth, canceling the blast, and decided to use its claws instead—more satisfying for tormenting a human.
"Die! Cat Claw!"
It crouched, its flaming tails swaying, then struck down with claws gleaming like blades.
"Whoosh!"
The sound split the air. Hashirama's clone frowned, ignoring Gin's block, and clapped his hands midair.
"Clap!"
Purple chakra surged from him. Even as a clone, restraining a tailed beast was possible.
"Wood Style: Wood Dragon—huh?"
"Boom!!!"
Before his technique could fully emerge, he froze mid-sentence. Landing in a daze, his eyes went wide in disbelief.
"You see? I told you—my student wouldn't disappoint~"
"But… she's so young?"
Gin smirked. "Ever heard of prodigies?"
Hashirama stared at the scene, while Tobirama frowned deeply, clearly troubled.
"Meow! Don't come closer!"
The once-aggressive Nibi now looked like a kitten held by the scruff, retreating in vain—its tail firmly caught in the pink hand of Chiri's Susanoo. With no way to resist, it collapsed in defeat as she petted it.
Ah… petting cats really is satisfying.
"Wow~ Chiri-nee's Susanoo is so pretty~"
Even having seen it before, Itama still couldn't help praising the tall, robed, butterfly-winged pink giant.
"Hmph! Flashy."
Beside her, Hikari crossed her arms, jealousy flashing in her eyes.
Tobirama, watching, recalled his old rival and thought grimly, If big brother were gone, would Konoha's power shift entirely to the Uchiha?
"Kitty, look into my eyes."
After a moment of play, Chiri set the Nibi's head straight and unleashed the full force of her Mangekyō.
Let's drown in the world of the Mangekyō…
"Meoooow!!!"
A wave of icy power invaded its mind, and in the next moment, the Nibi was sitting obediently in place—completely under her control.
"Gin-sensei, mission complete~"
Leaping onto its head and stroking its fur, Chiri looked down at Gin with a hint of pride.
"Heh, my little Chiri is the best~"
Gin never held back on praise for his student.
"Well, Brother Hashirama? Stable enough?"
"The Mangekyō's power truly is remarkable."
Hashirama had fought its wielders before—it was troublesome for him, but deadly to most others.
"Chiri, can you keep going?"
"I can, Gin-sensei."
Feeling her eye power recovering, Chiri touched the blue pendant at her neck and smiled.
"Wait, let me try next!"
Hikari tugged Gin's arm impatiently.
"All right, Chiri, rest for a bit and let Hikari have a turn~"
"Good luck, Hikari-senpai."
As the Nibi was moved aside, Hikari scanned the cages for her target.
"That one's looking at me!"
The Sanbi withdrew into its shell, trembling.
"Pull yourself together, Isobu!" Gyūki huffed.
"Show this human what you've got!" Chōmei added cheerfully.
"Uchiha Hikari…" Hashirama mulled over her name. Unsure how to address her, he decided after a brief pause—
"Uh… Hikari-onee-san, are you choosing the Sanbi?"
"…"
The lively atmosphere froze instantly.
Gin gave Hashirama a pitying look and sighed. "Brother Hashirama… sigh, I'll explain next time."
Before he could elaborate, a murderous aura loomed behind Hashirama.
"Huh?"
Sensing danger too late, he tried to block—but—
"Crack!"
A massive pink cleaver bisected him. Looking down at his lower half turning to deadwood, he gave his brother's clone a meaningful glance before his upper half crumbled too.
Next time, remember to call me Ane-ue!
"Big brother!" Tobirama's fury flared, but Hikari glared back with killing intent that froze him where he stood.
Even the tailed beasts sensed the danger, huddling together in fear.
With Hashirama's clone gone, the remaining cages couldn't be unsealed.
"Then I'll just burn them open."
Without hesitation, Hikari unleashed Amaterasu on Gyūki's cage, black flames devouring the wood and the beast within.
"It smells… delicious," Itama muttered, drooling.
The wood soon collapsed, freeing Gyūki—who was now well on its way to becoming grilled octopus-beef.
"I surrender! I surrender!"
Reluctantly, Hikari ended the flames with her other Mangekyō power, Kagutsuchi, leaving Gyūki badly burned but alive—and now under her control.
"Gin, can I keep going?"
"Go ahead."
Chiri stood again, eager for her turn.
What followed was a swift slaughter. Under Hikari's flames and Chiri's pink Susanoo, the cages fell one by one. The beasts tried to flee—especially the flying Chōmei—but were hunted down and subdued.
"How was that? Fast enough?" Gin asked the speechless Tobirama.
"…Too fast," was all he could mutter before dispelling his clone.
"Finally gone!"
With the Senju brothers out of the way, Gin turned to Itama, eyes gleaming.
"Quick, bring me the Amber Purification Bottle—we're about to start the harvest!"
(End of Chapter)
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