NOVEL WEB Chapter 63: Chapter 073
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Chapter 150+ on my patreon.com/dzeref887
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[Nine Tails - Kurama]: …
The Nine Tails knew—there was no saving that dumb tanuki anymore.
"…," Kitahara Kaede.
Kitahara Kaede looked speechlessly at the chubby tanuki swimming and struggling in the lava.
Because…
That idiot was saying something ridiculous.
"You're serious?"
Kitahara Kaede seemed a little surprised.
"Of course!"
"I can't beat you, but I can beat your pet, can't I?" Shukaku suddenly switched from his previous desperate cries for help to slapping his belly proudly.
"…," Kitahara Kaede.
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-) ]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Uh… what does Shukaku mean by that?
[Minato Namikaze]: Hmm, yeah.
[Tobirama]: I think I get it.
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: Let's hear it, Tobirama. What do you think?
[Tobirama]: It's actually easy to understand.
[Tobirama]: Shukaku's been in the group for a while now, right?
[Minato Namikaze]: Yeah, he didn't join us when we were watching in Kaede's genjutsu world, but it's been a while since he came in.
[Tobirama]: So, it's pretty clear.
[Tobirama]: He may not know everything, but he's figured out one thing for sure—Kitahara Kaede is incredibly strong.
[Tobirama]: So, this fat tanuki, while acting like he's got pride, has already planned his escape route.
[Tobirama]: He wants to defect and become Kaede's pet.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Hey hey hey! That's way out of line!
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: What do you mean "defecting" and "becoming a pet"?
[Tobirama]: Then explain it yourself. What do you mean by saying you won't fight Kitahara Kaede, but instead you want to fight his pet?
[Tobirama]: Doesn't that mean you've already chickened out, but still want attention, so you're trying to gain favor?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So… he's fighting for affection?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Hmph. It was Kitahara Kaede who invited me to join Konoha! If I join too easily, doesn't that mean…
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: And what makes the Five-Tails Kokuo better than me?!
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: I want to prove the ranking of tailed beasts isn't based on the number of tails—so the One-Tail is not inferior to the Five-Tails!
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Hahahaha…
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Silly tanuki, I'd advise you to give up on that thought.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: What for, you stinky fox? Are you jealous? That's right—half of you was taken, and the other half's sealed in Uzumaki Naruto.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: You've got no value to be claimed anymore.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Speechless. If you like being claimed so much, go for it.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: But wow, you really know how to pick your opponent.
Kurama said while folding his claws together and flopping them down like he was enjoying a good show, his long rabbit-like ears twitching with anticipation.
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: What? Is there a problem with that?
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: Are you saying… you think I'll lose? You actually think I'll lose to the Five-Tails?!
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Nah, go ahead and fight. I'll watch!
[One-Tail - Shukaku]: …
The more Kurama acted like this, the more uneasy Shukaku felt.
Because the tailed beasts were all part of one family long ago—the first Jinchūriki was the Sage of Six Paths.
After his death, they were split up.
Over a thousand years, each tailed beast developed its own shape and ecological needs.
Kurama, for example, needed forests and lakes. He drank mountain spring water and slept on grass.
Shukaku, on the other hand, needed to be surrounded by sand—it helped him feel comfortable and enhanced his abilities in battle.
Even if they didn't get along, they were still tailed beasts.
So Kurama's reaction… really made Shukaku uneasy.
But—
He looked forward, at Kitahara Kaede.
"I'll fight it."
"That's the Five-Tails Mūō, right?"
"I won't lose."
"Even if I can't beat you, once I join Konoha, I want better treatment than him!" Shukaku declared loudly.
This made it clear—he had no problem joining Konoha, but he didn't want to be ignored.
That's why he challenged Kaede's ninja rabbit, Little White Bunny.
"…," Little White Bunny.
The ninja rabbit's clear eyes were practically stunned.
Because she hadn't expected that a thousand-year-old chakra construct—one of the tailed beasts—would actually turn out to be such a dumb and sweet creature.
A mere tailed beast challenging her, when clearly, she was his superior from the start?
Wasn't this a gift-wrapped offering?
But…
Could she fight in her current state?
Just like she told Black Zetsu—her power hadn't recovered yet.
"I'll allow it," Kitahara Kaede said as he looked down at the fat tanuki cooling off in the lava. "I'll give you a chance."
"If you want to fight for affection, then fight for it. If you win, I'll keep you by my side."
"Phew—"
Shukaku let out a breath of relief.
See? This was going smoothly!
"…," But Little White Bunny was still in a daze.
Kaede gently tapped her forehead.
"You need more combat experience," Kaede said as he lowered his head and patted her. "Shukaku's an idiot, but he's not bad in a fight."
"Your combat ability is way too poor."
"Even with top-tier equipment, you wouldn't know how to use it."
"If you only have chakra but no skill, you'll be seen as nothing more than a dumb, sweet bunny," Kaede said.
"…," Little White Bunny.
She felt like there was a deeper meaning in his words.
"!"
Just then, Little White Bunny felt Kaede press her lower back and inject a huge amount of chakra.
This chakra… could return her to her original form.
It might not last long—maybe just one second.
But one second… might be enough.
So she closed her eyes and accepted Kaede's gift of chakra.
Meanwhile…
Orochimaru had already left the group chat.
"…," Orochimaru.
For Orochimaru, he was dazed for a while.
Because his soul had suffered from the pressure. Due to his research into Living Corpse Reincarnation, his soul had transferred through multiple bodies.
So his soul had been somewhat damaged.
Weaker than the average person's.
For example—right now.
"Ababababa—"
His body temporarily went dumb, but the effect only lasted about 10 minutes.
!
He regained consciousness.
Then began checking his condition.
His soul was damaged—but this body was still fine.
"A major loss."
"No… maybe not."
Orochimaru muttered to himself.
Because this trip to Konoha had two goals: First, to give his former teacher, the Third Hokage, a "lesson"—as a dutiful student.
Second, to find the next vessel for his Living Corpse Reincarnation.
That's right.
Living Corpse Reincarnation was a forbidden technique that allowed one's soul to transfer from one body to another.
In theory, with enough vessels, one could achieve immortality.
But the technique had flaws—such as soul degradation after repeated transfers.
And compatibility issues with new hosts.
Also, the technique wasn't perfect, forcing him to switch bodies every five years.
His entire Sound Village existed for this purpose.
To find talented shinobi, raise them from childhood, and turn them into his vessels.
Obedient, exceptional, and integrated into him.
It was similar to the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Transfer Technique, but where the Yamanaka's was temporary—his was permanent possession.
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