Chapter 45: Teacher, Meet My New Partner, the Five-Tails (1/2)

Boom!

After Shadow Clone No. 1 was defeated, Shadow Clone No. 2, summoned by Wakaho during the Five-Tails' full release, was also crushed into the ground...

Hovering in the sky, Wakaho kept a close eye on the fully released Five-Tails, Kokuo, beginning to realize how difficult this situation was becoming.

His chakra reserves were already low, and Shadow Clone No. 2 only had enough chakra left to attempt a single Sharingan genjutsu. But the results...

"Is it because I haven't awakened the Mangekyo yet?" Wakaho frowned and then, as a last-ditch effort, he raised his hand to the sky and silently recited:

"I pledge my loyalty to the Root, to serve Danzo-sama from this day forward."

No response.

"I pledge my loyalty to the Anbu, to contribute to the Leaf Village with all my might."

Still nothing...

It was clear that trying to temporarily awaken the Mangekyo was a lost cause. Perhaps if Orochimaru were here, there'd be a chance, but would Kokuo wait around for that?

"Human, how do you know my name?" Kokuo suddenly turned, its gaze locking onto Wakaho in the sky.

At this moment, their eyes met—a perfect opportunity.

Wakaho had been trying to use the Sharingan's genjutsu to control Kokuo, and now Kokuo was giving him the chance.

But Wakaho hesitated.

Don't ask why. Just blame it on Indra's pride!

"Seems like my current powers are still too weak..." Wakaho muttered to himself. Then, maintaining an air of arrogance befitting Indra, he crossed his arms and looked down at Kokuo.

"Look into my eyes, Kokuo..."

"Can you really not remember anything?" he asked, his tone authoritative.

"..."

Kokuo didn't respond.

It also didn't prepare a Tailed Beast Bomb.

Instead, it stared deeply into Wakaho's eyes, its expression puzzled, as if trying to confirm something...

Wakaho waited patiently.

A Tailed Beast's name is a secret, only revealed to those who've earned the Tailed Beast's recognition. Wakaho had banked on this, hoping that once Kokuo was released, it might show some respect.

But instead, Shadow Clone No. 2 had been stomped into the ground...

Yet now, it seemed that knowing Kokuo's name was still useful.

At this moment—

Boom!!!

A disturbance was approaching rapidly from the distance.

From destroying Kannabi Bridge to fully releasing Kokuo, it hadn't taken long, but it was enough time for Orochimaru to break through the blockade and make his way here.

Seeing Kokuo still deep in thought, Wakaho decided it was time to give a little nudge.

"I recognized your chakra, Kokuo... I never expected the people of this era to steal your power in such a way."

"...It's truly pitiful."

Hearing this, Kokuo's eyes finally wavered.

Those ancient memories were beginning to resurface, and as Kokuo stared into the young human's eyes, the familiarity of it all became clearer.

"Are you... Indra?" Kokuo asked, its voice filled with a mix of recognition and confusion.

That's right!

Wakaho barely resisted the urge to fist-pump in victory but was about to say something when Kokuo hesitantly asked:

"But why... haven't you grown up?"

Wakaho's face darkened.

"No... I remember you grew up. We all did. But you... you..."

As Kokuo continued to recall, Wakaho's expression became increasingly puzzled.

It seemed Kokuo's memories were a bit jumbled?

Could it be due to the recent unsealing?

It didn't matter. As long as it recognized Indra's chakra.

"Kokuo! Look into my eyes!" Wakaho shouted, the three tomoe of his Sharingan spinning at full power.

Kokuo's eyes immediately mirrored the three tomoe, and the Sharingan genjutsu took effect!

"I am Indra, reborn from the cycle of reincarnation. Listen carefully to what I say next."

"Kokuo, you and I come from the same era. I have freed you, so you must join me in reestablishing order in this world!"

"Asura was wrong... his weakness only brought chaos to the world. Only I can bring true light to this world!"

"Until I regain my full power, you will stay by my side and keep this secret... do you understand?"

Taking advantage of Kokuo's confusion post-unsealing, Wakaho launched a combination of speech no jutsu, backed by Indra's chakra and the power of his Sharingan genjutsu. The results were impressive.

"You are Indra, the Sage of Six Paths' child..."

"I remember. I remember everything... you've been reborn from the cycle, Indra."

"You're the one who saved me..."

Kokuo seemed to regain clarity, especially after feeling the authentic power of Wakaho's Sharingan.

It was Indra's chakra, after all—there was no mistaking it!

Wakaho sighed in relief.

Now it was just a matter of slowly convincing Kokuo to loyally serve the Uchiha...

Though controlling it with the Sharingan would be easier, a perfect Jinchuriki would be stronger than a rampaging Tailed Beast.

He just wondered what the higher-ups in the Leaf would think once Kokuo was back in the village...

Whatever. It's wartime, and they wouldn't dare challenge the Uchiha now, would they?

"Oh, and by the way..." Wakaho suddenly remembered something and continued with his speech no jutsu, saying:

"Kokuo, during my time observing this world, I've located the other eight Tailed Beasts."

"Most of them are sealed within humans, and the Jinchuriki holding Kurama, the Nine-Tails, is the strongest of them all."