Master Uchiha Shin, you are the legendary [Konoha Thunder God]. I heard that you are about the same age as me, but you look so tall!
Karura approached Uchiha Shin, her face slightly flushed as she scanned his entire appearance.
To be honest, this was the first time she had been this close to the opposite sex. After all, she was a prisoner now, barely allowed any contact with the outside world.
"I train regularly. But you, on the other hand, have thin arms and legs. It's obvious that you're malnourished.
The Sand Village treats you like a tool, just another Jinchūriki. They don't even provide you with proper food and drink."
Uchiha Shin had no trouble conversing with the outgoing Karura. After pinching her soft cheek and arms, he made a casual complaint.
Karura shifted uncomfortably, twisting her body as she whispered, "No, the food that Sister Pakura gives me is fine… but I don't sleep well, so I look a little worn out."
The Sand Village's Jinchūriki seals were nowhere near as refined as Konoha's. Their half-baked seals could easily break if the host became mentally unstable.
Even if she tried to sleep normally, Shukaku might force his way out while she was unconscious.
Even though Karura was talented, there was no avoiding this cruel fate.
Because of that, she hadn't slept well for months. The pale complexion, the haggard look—it all stemmed from her exhaustion.
After saying this, Karura looked up at Uchiha Shin again.
"Master Uchiha Shin… you came to kill me, didn't you?"
"…Why would you think that?"
Her words took him aback. He hadn't expected her to bring up something so grim so casually. What surprised him even more was her expression—she didn't look scared. She wasn't clinging to life, nor did she seem particularly resigned to death. She was simply stating a fact, like she had accepted it long ago.
"Lord Uchiha Shin, I heard that Konoha and the Sand went to war. You invaded our village, and now you're here with me. Wouldn't it make sense for you to tear Shukaku out of me and let him run wild to cause chaos?"
"…"
Her words weren't unreasonable. That was the logical way to handle a Jinchūriki in wartime.
But instead of answering, Uchiha Shin smirked and shook his head. His red Sharingan eyes bore into hers. "Karura, you guessed wrong. I'm not here to kill you. I don't kill cute girls."
His voice was smooth, almost teasing.
"And what I want to do… is help you."
As soon as he said this, the pattern in his eyes shifted—Mangekyō Sharingan.
The moment their eyes met, Karura's consciousness was yanked into another space.
SPLASH!
A crisp sound echoed as the two of them stepped onto the thin surface of water. The surroundings were dim and vast, stretching endlessly in all directions.
"Where… is this?"
Karura looked around cautiously before subconsciously reaching for Uchiha Shin's hand. She had no idea what had just happened. One second they were talking, and the next, they were here.
"Not an illusion," Uchiha Shin said casually. "I brought you here to meet the one responsible for all your sleepless nights."
His voice echoed through the empty space.
Karura's breath hitched. She already knew what he meant.
And sure enough, a massive shadow loomed before them.
"ROOOAAARR!!!"
A deafening roar shook the air as a hulking, monstrous figure burst out of the darkness.
Shukaku.
The One-Tailed Beast.
A massive tanuki, its body covered in dark blue curse marks, glared at them with pure malice.
"AAAH—!!"
Karura shrieked in fear and instinctively clung to Uchiha Shin's arm.
She had never seen Shukaku up close like this before. Only in her nightmares. Every time he appeared, it was to torment her.
Uchiha Shin chuckled. "Hah. I didn't expect you to be scared. You seemed pretty fearless just now."
His teasing voice made her face heat up. When she realized she was still clinging to him, she quickly let go, flustered. "I-I'm not that brave… Shukaku is terrifying."
Ignoring her embarrassment, she shifted her gaze back to the beast. Even though she was still trembling slightly, she forced herself to face it.
Shukaku was inside a crude "prison," surrounded by jagged earth spikes. But there were no proper chains, and the setup seemed… sloppy.
"My god, this seal is garbage," Uchiha Shin muttered with a smirk. "No wonder you haven't had a good night's sleep since becoming a Jinchūriki."
He glanced at Shukaku, utterly unfazed.
Shukaku, on the other hand, snorted in irritation. "Tch! Uchiha brat, what the hell do you want? And why'd you drag this weakling here?!"
His gruff voice was full of arrogance, but his body language told a different story. He wasn't making any sudden moves.
If it had just been Karura's mind inside this space, Shukaku would've tormented her without hesitation. But Uchiha Shin…
That was different.
Those crimson eyes, the Mangekyō Sharingan—Shukaku remembered them well. A certain Uchiha in the past had beaten the hell out of all the Tailed Beasts. And now, there was another one standing before him.
Seeing the hesitation in Shukaku's gaze, Uchiha Shin grinned.
"Ooh~ No need to act all grumpy on our first meeting," he said mockingly. "I get it, though. You're pissed. After all… I came here to shut you up."
There was a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Shukaku immediately bristled. "I AIN'T SOME DAMN RACCOON, YOU LITTLE SHIT—!!"
His temper exploded as he swung his massive claw toward Uchiha Shin, intent on crushing him.
Karura gasped and squeezed her eyes shut.
BOOM!!
The impact of the strike sent a shockwave through the space.
When she opened her eyes again, what she saw made her breath catch in her throat.
Uchiha Shin had countered Shukaku's attack with a single punch.
And not only that—his punch had destroyed Shukaku's entire claw.
The beast itself recoiled in shock.
"You're even weaker than I thought," Uchiha Shin said, grinning. His expression turned downright predatory.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three Shadow Clones materialized beside him, each crackling with raw electricity as they entered Lightning Chakra Mode.
They wasted no time. In an instant, they shot toward Shukaku at blinding speed.
"What kind of joke is this?! I AM NOT WEAK!!"
Shukaku's furious roar shook the space. His pride had been wounded.
Only three clones?! Against him—a Great Tailed Beast?!
This Uchiha brat was mocking him.
And he'd make him pay for it.
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Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones