Chapter 069
They immediately realized that both Gaara and the fake Anko Orochimaru had been transferred away by Kitahara Kaede.
[Minato Namikaze]: It seems Kitahara-kun realized that "Anko" was actually Orochimaru in disguise, so he first secured Gaara to prevent any complications.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Truly reliable.
[Tobirama]: Indeed.
Hashirama and Tobirama were reassured.
The Sand Village might take action due to the chaos if left alone, but with their weapon (Shukaku, the One-Tail) taken away, they'd have to think twice.
However—
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Wha—what the hell!? So direct!?
As the first victim among the Tailed Beasts, Shukaku let out a sharp scream.
Because—
"Where is this place—!?"
"Why is this happening…"
"There's magma down there!"
Shukaku realized it was falling from a high altitude, and with a splash, it landed—turns out, the fake Anko (Orochimaru) had already arrived earlier and had been dissolved by the magma.
"Is this Hai Di Lao (hot pot)?"
"No, this is Tanuki Hot Pot!" (Play on words.)
Chapter 054: I'll grant your wish, Shukaku—I'll let you fight Kaguya! (Please subscribe!)
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Shukaku, can you explain clearly?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Uuuu…
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: It's terrifying!
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Right in front of me, the ninja you said was Orochimaru disguised as Anko got swallowed by magma.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: ?
[Minato Namikaze]: So Kitahara-kun transferred you both into a magma space?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Yeah, before I could even react, both I and the disguised Orochimaru ended up in this strange place.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: And the fake Anko—Orochimaru—is gone now.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: He was directly dissolved… so scary.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
[Tobirama]: So it really is magma.
[Tobirama]: But why was Orochimaru the one who died?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Probably because I've got thick skin.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …I'm soaking in magma right now. It's really hot, but I haven't melted yet.
[Tobirama]: Thick skin?
Everyone noticed a crucial detail.
[Minato Namikaze]: Wait, Shukaku—have you returned to your original form?
As we all know, there's a strange dynamic between Tailed Beasts and their jinchūriki.
Tailed Beasts can be sealed inside ninjas, turning them into "jinchūriki." Controlled properly, a jinchūriki can draw on the Tailed Beast's chakra for immense power.
But that chakra is limited.
If the Tailed Beast approves of its jinchūriki, it willingly shares more of its power—this leads to transformations like partial or full Tailed Beast Mode.
Sudden boosts to speed, agility, and strength—like flipping a cheat switch.
However, there's another state—if the jinchūriki gives up resisting, the Tailed Beast takes over and emerges physically, with the jinchūriki trapped inside.
Now, Shukaku saying it has thick skin means… it's regained its full form. That would imply Gaara, as its jinchūriki, has lost consciousness?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Yup.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Huh? I've turned back to my original form.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: ????
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: I'M FREE!!!
As a Tailed Beast that had been sealed away for so long, Shukaku had long hoped to regain its freedom.
And now… that dream had come true, just like that!
What the heck!?
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Stupid tanuki.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: ??
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: What, stupid fox, are you jealous?
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Hahaha…
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: I've returned to my original form.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Hmm… I'm still partially sealed due to the jinchūriki link, but now—I'm free!
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Hahaha…
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Stupid tanuki, take a good look around you.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Huh…
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …Oh no.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: It's getting hotter and hotter.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: I'm still in the magma sea!?
Shukaku quickly came to its senses.
Freedom is great, sure.
But freedom in magma?
Not so great!
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Let's analyze this. Shukaku's current situation—Kitahara Kaede discovered that Orochimaru was impersonating Anko.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So he quickly took care of the imposter Orochimaru.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Then, anticipating trouble from the Sand Village, he sealed their Tailed Beast weapon too, huh?
[Minato Namikaze]: Yes, First Hokage-sama.
[Minato Namikaze]: This can be considered a temporary seal on Shukaku.
[Minato Namikaze]: Since Shukaku's been isolated.
[Minato Namikaze]: But based on Shukaku's description, the space it was moved to consists of a sea—with magma underneath. Very dangerous.
[Minato Namikaze]: That said, it also guarantees Shukaku can't make any moves.
[Minato Namikaze]: Right now, it probably needs all its strength just to survive.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: So what does this mean?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: I told you, didn't I? I wouldn't even harm a single tree or flower in Konoha!
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: So why put me here!?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Well… you did tell us, but Kitahara Kaede didn't know that.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Besides, this is a very stable approach.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: He dealt with the fake examiner Orochimaru and crushed the Sand Village's morale.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: So in the end, I'm the only one who suffered!?
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Hahaha… How's that magma-roasted Tailed Beast taste?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Dumb fox! Come here if you've got the guts!
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Well, I'd love to, but given Kitahara Kaede's relationship with Naruto, I doubt he'd ever do that to him.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Is that so?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Then if Gaara gets on better terms with Kitahara Kaede, I won't have to suffer this fate?
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Maybe.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: But for now, I doubt he'll care.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: So you're on your own.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Huh!?
Shukaku blinked.
It was still in molten magma—it could handle it as a Tailed Beast, but the temperature was rising.
It swam slightly in the searing lava, seemingly trying to spread the heat a bit.
Meanwhile, everyone's attention turned back to the group livestream.
After discovering Orochimaru impersonating Anko, Kitahara Kaede had taken just two actions:
He voluntarily let his ninja rabbit—Little White Bunny—bite him.
Then it seemed like he awakened a new ability.
This time, it was the exclusive power of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki: Amenominaka.
Amenominaka is a technique that opens a dimensional rift using Kaguya's eye jutsu, transporting people to an alternate space.
It was both a move and a test.
Kitahara Kaede had already suspected that his ninja rabbit, Little White Bunny, was actually the final boss of the ninja world—Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
So, he drew power from the bunny again to try activating Kaguya's ability.
If it worked, it meant his bunny was truly Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
If it failed, then all his powers were just transmigrator perks.
The result was clear.
His bunny was the real deal—Kaguya Ōtsutsuki herself.
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