Chapter 46: It's a Peace-Loving Tailed Beast, Reluctant to Harm Humans (2/2)

Kokuo let out a puff of air from its nostrils, as if acknowledging Orochimaru's greeting.

"Indra... why have you changed your name?"

Kokuo's voice echoed in Wakaho's mind. "And this human... he is hypocritical. I do not like him."

"He has the potential to be the only intelligent being of this era, and is crucial to my plans... Every era requires wise individuals, Kokuo."

Wakaho responded mentally. "And it's not that I changed my name, but that I've awakened a part of my memories from the cycle of reincarnation..."

"The former Indra was me, and the current Uchiha Wakaho is also me. Don't get too hung up on it, Kokuo."

"..." Kokuo fell silent for a moment. "It seems the long cycle of reincarnation has greatly changed you, Indra."

Kokuo had come to fully recognize Wakaho's chakra and the mark of Indra within it after establishing a certain chakra connection. Although there were differences from the Indra Kokuo remembered, it could still accept it as normal, much like recognizing a childhood friend who has changed over the years but remains fundamentally the same.

"Wakaho-kun..." Orochimaru interrupted the conversation between Wakaho and Kokuo, pointing towards the mass of figures on the other side of the mountain.

"It seems we need to leave. The Iwagakure ninjas... probably won't welcome us."

He then looked at Wakaho with a smile. "Could you ask your partner to fire another Tailed Beast Bomb? I believe it would be quite willing to do so..."

Wakaho was indeed tempted by the idea.

Looking at the mass of Iwagakure ninjas... just one more Tailed Beast Bomb, and how many soldiers would be wiped out?

Wouldn't that rack up quite a bit of credit?

"No, Sensei."

Wakaho shook his head, frowning. "My partner is a peace-loving tailed beast; it is not inclined to harm humans."

"The Land of Earth was once its habitat; it doesn't want to destroy the environment..."

As for credits and achievements, they were just work performance metrics.

Iwagakure was Konoha's enemy, not his Uchiha clan's. Why should he care?

The ninja world war was going to last for many years, and Wakaho had no intention of forcing Iwagakure to surrender. That would only benefit Konoha.

"..." Orochimaru fell silent.

So what about the previous Tailed Beast Bomb?

But before he could dwell on this, Wakaho cut him off again.

"Also, it was only recently that I freed it. It is still somewhat weakened."

"When I saw that you were in danger earlier, it reluctantly used a low-power Tailed Beast Bomb to help you, for my sake."

"That's also why it's even weaker now; its condition isn't optimal..."

"..." Orochimaru fell silent once more.

Weakened?

He didn't think so.

A roar that shook his organs and left him deaf—how could that be called weakened?

However, he did notice that the Tailed Beast Bomb had indeed struck Iwagakure's defenses earlier...

"In that case, we shouldn't stay any longer, Wakaho-kun."

Orochimaru didn't dwell on it, his smile regaining some of its composure.

"Alright then, Sensei. Call out your partner quickly. It didn't catch up with me earlier, so I'll give it another chance."

"..."

Orochimaru's composure once again slipped away.