Chapter 240: Stabbed in the Back by a Friend
"Yugito, what is that?!"
Samui, curious as well, shifted her perspective for a moment, then immediately snapped back with a look of horror on her face.
She instantly understood why Yugito had mentioned fingernails earlier.
Looks like this world's version of herself is going to have it rough...
"Yugito, the real-world you isn't like that, right?"
Samui suddenly shuddered and instinctively took two steps back.
If the real-world Yugito was also like that, and they were going to be confined together for a while, wouldn't she be in danger?
"What are you thinking? Do you seriously believe the Sage of Six Paths really had improper relationships with the tailed beasts?"
Yugito rolled her eyes.
"Hard to say."
Samui pursed her lips.
"Why don't you go back and take another look?"
Yugito said irritably.
Go back and look again?
What did she mean?
Could it be that she had misunderstood something?
Samui was doubtful, backing away a few more steps: "You're not planning to do something to me while I'm switching perspectives, are you?"
"..."
Yugito didn't respond, just stared at her expressionlessly.
"Alright."
Samui decided it was better to trust her companion.
So she shifted her perspective again.
Earlier, she had only glanced at it for an instant. Now, Samui suddenly realized—It wasn't [Yugito] doing something to this world's version of her.
She was the one attacking!
No wonder this world's version of her had such a small chest!
Uh… is there really a necessary connection between those two things?
Anyway, case solved.
Why was it that even though [Konan] said ordinary people in this world's Kumogakure despised tailed beasts, [Samui] was still accompanying [Yugito] on outdoor training?
Because although [Samui] despised tailed beasts, she was craving [Yugito]!
After their sparring session ended, [Samui] proposed a "weighted training method".
It could be seen that the Infinite Tsukuyomi world wasn't the complete opposite of the real world in every respect.
For example, in the real world, Kumogakure valued strength and valued tailed beasts. In this world, even though Kumogakure despised tailed beasts, it still valued strength and still valued tailed beasts.
Real-world Yugito was the same in this regard as her Infinite Tsukuyomi counterpart.
That was why she still went out to train.
It was just that Infinite Tsukuyomi's [Yugito] had another reason for training outside.
It was the villagers of Kumogakure's hatred and exclusion of her.
Ever since she was young, she had been called a cat demon, forced to drink expired milk. The only happiness in her childhood was when she saved up enough money to eat tuna rice bowls or eel rice bowls.
Then, finally, she gained the recognition of a friend.
Who would have thought that while this friend claimed to be heart-to-heart with her, she was actually playing mind games?
Today, this friend had actually betrayed her trust and intended to do something utterly unspeakable to her!
The so-called "weighted training" was actually [Samui] mastering a sealing technique that disrupted chakra concentration, claiming it would let [Yugito] continue training under such conditions.
But in reality, once [Yugito] relaxed her body and mind and allowed herself to be sealed, [Samui] immediately revealed her true colors.
With a wicked grin, she said strange things like, "Little cupcake, let me check whether your tailed beast has developed properly."
[Samui] also had fingernails, but as the saying goes, a gentleman excels by making use of tools.
Fortunately, help descended from the heavens.
Uchiha Hikari's Susanoo arrived like a god descending to the mortal world, landing beside them and interrupting [Samui]'s evil act.
"Who are you people?!"
[Samui] vigilantly drew her short blade and held it horizontally in front of her.
Before Shiromo's side could respond, [Samui] suddenly seemed to realize something: "You're here for the Two-Tails, aren't you?"
"That's right. Hand over the Two-Tails."
[Konan] stepped forward and spoke calmly.
"The Two-Tails can be handed over for your enjoyment, but you must spare Yugito!"
[Samui]'s gaze was resolute as she tightened her grip on the short blade.
Although the enormous Susanoo that had descended earlier had already vanished, it was deeply etched into her mind.
She knew the opponents' strength was terrifyingly powerful, perhaps even the Raikage and the Eight-Tails wouldn't be able to match them.
But no matter what, she swore to protect Yugito with her life!
"Considering you already helped us seal the Two-Tails' movements in advance, step aside. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
Uchiha Hikari, who had turned her back earlier to steel herself, turned around again. With a sweep of her hands, two crimson long blades appeared in her grip.
Just as armless Sasuke in the original story could replace his missing arm with a Susanoo arm, Hikari, so proficient with Susanoo that she could sprout wings from its skeletal form, naturally could shrink Susanoo's weapons directly into her own.
"This world is too sinful. If you don't move aside, she'll go 'one sword to punish evil, one sword to suppress the soul', you know."
Shiromo added.
"Sinful? The union of humans and tailed beasts is indeed sinful, but the love between us is pure and flawless. I…"
Before [Samui] could finish speaking, Uchiha Hikari moved.
[Samui] had no choice but to raise her blade to meet the attack.
Clang.
The short blade was effortlessly severed by the Susanoo blade. Hikari followed up with a backhand slash across Samui's face, then ignored her completely, dissipated the blades, and walked toward Yugito lying on the ground.
"Stop! It's not over yet, I…"
[Samui] tried to intervene again, but in the next instant, a strange pattern appeared at the wound on her face. Her chakra was instantly drained, and she collapsed powerlessly onto the ground.
Thud.
Hearing [Samui] fall, Hikari finally turned back, smiling brightly at Shiromo, "I was cool just now, right?"
"Cool. Wandering swordsman Uchiha Hikari, approved."
Shiromo nodded in praise.
"Hehe."
Receiving affirmation, Uchiha Hikari happily ran over to Yugito and pressed her hand down.
Absorbing the tailed beast's power, synchronizing it to Kurama Yakumo to turn illusion into reality, and finally transferring it into the Gedo Statue via the Yachihoko.
This entire chain of operations took a great deal of time.
Shiromo hoisted [Samui] off the ground and placed her farther away, then had [Konan] wrap her up with paper.
This was to prevent her from doing anything troublesome once her chakra recovered, which would require dealing with her again.
"Hm?"
Just as Uchiha Hikari was about to complete the Two-Tails' conversion, Shiromo suddenly sensed movement from [Samui]'s side.
[Samui] had recovered some chakra. However, she didn't attempt any resistance. Instead, she quietly used some kind of item.
It was unclear what it was.
But based on Shiromo's guess, it wasn't any sedative or poison, more likely some sort of communication ninja tool.
Shiromo didn't stop her.
First, the Two-Tails' absorption was almost complete anyway. Even if reinforcements arrived now, it wouldn't matter.
Second, if [Samui] had contacted the Raikage, he might bring the Eight-Tails along as well, which would actually save them the trouble of going to look for it later.
That would be a good thing.
Sure enough, after waiting for a while, a bolt of lightning suddenly leapt down from the distance, appearing behind Shiromo and the others.
"Bastards! Let go of Yugito! Let go of the Two-Tails!"
[Raikage A] roared at them in fury.
(End of this chapter)