Hearing his words, the Five-Tails felt reassured. Now it could submit to him with peace of mind. If it ever discovered that he was incapable of guiding the Tailed Beasts, the agreement of submission would naturally be voided.
"Very well, I am willing to submit to you."
Haku and Fū looked up at the Tailed Beast and the God King, finally understanding the situation.
It seemed an agreement had been reached.
Haku asked excitedly, "Lord God King, can I sit on it?"
Fū chimed in, "Me too!"
The God King looked at the two kids. "Of course."
He then turned to the beast. "Five-Tails, please crouch down so we can get on."
The Five-Tails was left somewhat speechless by the sudden request. However, since it had just agreed to submit, it naturally had no choice but to comply. Bending its legs, the massive beast crouched down on the ground.
Ryōsuke grabbed Fū with one hand and Haku with the other, leaping directly onto the Tailed Beast's back. Even while crouching, the beast was still thirty meters tall. There was no way Fū and Haku could have climbed up on their own.
Landing on the Five-Tails' back, he sat down and released the two children.
The massive beast's back had a flat area perfectly sized to accommodate the three of them. Ryōsuke found it quite comfortable, while Haku and Fū sprawled out completely, their faces full of bliss as they felt the soft, furry surface.
Ryōsuke pointed in a specific direction. "Five-Tails, let's head this way. We are going to the Stone Village. Just walk."
He wasn't about to let the Tailed Beast run. Its speed would be blindingly fast, especially since the Five-Tails resembled a horse. If it broke into a sprint, the sheer force would cause massive tremors, making it impossible for Haku and Fū to even sit up straight. Besides, even at a walking pace, it wouldn't be slow.
Hearing this, the Five-Tails immediately stood up and began to walk. To ensure its passengers remained comfortable, it moved with slow, deliberate steps, heading in the direction the God King had pointed. Although it couldn't run to its heart's content, the long-lost feeling of freedom still brought it immense comfort.
Seeing the Tailed Beast act so obediently, Ryōsuke felt relieved. It seemed the Five-Tails was quite trustworthy, though he didn't hold the same optimism for the other Tailed Beasts.
The Nine-Tails, in particular, was a different story. Its hatred and resentment had twisted its naturally neutral chakra into something incredibly sinister. He would have to be extremely careful when dealing with that one. After all, he didn't possess Naruto's Talk no Jutsu to directly reform such an evil entity.
After walking for a distance, the Five-Tails spoke up. "Could you find a vessel for me to settle down in?"
Ryōsuke was thoroughly confused by the request. "What are you talking about? Why do you want a vessel?"
The Five-Tails elaborated, "A vessel like a Jinchūriki."
Ryōsuke was even more speechless this time, completely unable to comprehend the beast's logic. "What's so great about being locked in a tiny, enclosed space? Now that you've submitted to me, there's absolutely no problem with letting you stay outside, as long as you don't cause any destruction."
The Five-Tails shook its head. "I'll pass on that. Compared to the outside world, I am much more suited to staying inside a human body."
After all, it had originally made its home inside the Sage of Six Paths, just like the other eight Tailed Beasts.
Back then, they could come and go freely. If they wanted to come out, the Sage of Six Paths would naturally let them out to relax.
It continued, "Since you possess the Rinnegan, you should be able to create a seal that allows us to enter and exit freely. Of course, if you want to become my Jinchūriki, I wouldn't mind."
Ryōsuke was at a loss for words. This Tailed Beast's preferences were truly bizarre. Although he couldn't understand it, perhaps it was just a habit the beast had developed over the centuries.
However, he had no desire to become a Jinchūriki. He already possessed chakra reserves comparable to the Nine-Tails, and as time passed, he would only grow stronger. Naturally, he didn't need a Tailed Beast's chakra to support him.
"I'll pass on being a Jinchūriki, but I will look for someone else suitable until you are satisfied."
The Five-Tails was somewhat surprised by this response. Other humans desperately wanted to seal it inside their bodies to obtain its chakra, granting them access to massive reserves of power. Even the Sage of Six Paths had occasionally drawn upon their chakra. Yet, the man before it—who had awakened the Rinnegan and could naturally be considered a sage himself—did not covet its power at all. It was quite peculiar.
"Very well. Since you are unwilling, just find me a suitable vessel."
Haku, who was listening nearby, suddenly grew interested. "I'm willing to be the Jinchūriki! I like fluffy Tailed Beasts."
To him, the Tailed Beast just felt like a large animal, not the evil entity from the rumors. Plus, keeping it inside his body would feel just like having a pet.
Fū stared at Haku with wide eyes. "Are you sure you want to do this? Becoming a Jinchūriki means you'll suffer a lot. You'll become someone people hate and despise."
People were always terrified that the Tailed Beast inside a Jinchūriki would explode and endanger everyone around them. People like the God King and Haku, who didn't loathe her, were incredibly rare.
Haku looked at Fū and said firmly, "Don't worry, I don't care what other people think. With Lord God King here, I won't become a potential threat."
Right now, he only cared about the God King's words; the opinions of others meant nothing to him.
Hearing Haku's words, Fū replied, "Alright."
She respected his decision. With the God King around, having a Tailed Beast sealed inside Haku wouldn't cause any problems at all.
Then, could she do the same? Since the God King could communicate with Tailed Beasts, he should be able to make the Tailed Beast inside her submit as well. Perhaps he could even create a seal that allowed it to enter and exit freely. Once the God King finished his current business, she would ask him for a favor.
The Five-Tails was somewhat surprised to hear Haku volunteer to become a Jinchūriki. To think this little one actually had such an idea, and even claimed to like Tailed Beasts. It was truly astonishing.
In the eyes of humans, Tailed Beasts were considered monsters, and the two sides had clashed countless times. Humans constantly schemed to steal their power, and naturally, the Tailed Beasts refused to let themselves be used. However, this child seemed likable enough. Taking him as a new vessel wouldn't be a bad idea.