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Asachi Midorima looked at the Six-Tails with immense anticipation, hoping to receive a definitive answer from the creature.
However, the Six-Tails could only respond with a sense of helplessness.
"This isn't something I can achieve simply because I want to, or because I don't want to," the Six-Tails said, shaking its head. "The truth is, you are not a perfect jinchuriki. You are merely borrowing my power. Unlike other jinchuriki, I lend you my strength willingly, and I do not threaten your life. But the trust between us is maintained only at a very 'normal' level—something akin to a mutually beneficial relationship."
It continued, its voice carrying a weight of resignation. "Just as you said yourself, the Akatsuki wants to kill you because you are a jinchuriki. And after you die, I will become part of the Ten-Tails. I do not wish to disappear, so I lend you my power. But this 'cooperation' exists because we each have needs, not because we genuinely trust one another. Do you understand this principle?"
Midorima nodded.
To draw a somewhat imprecise analogy, the relationship between Asachi Midorima and the current Six-Tails was more like that of colleagues, or perhaps, to put it a bit more intimately, like roommates.
But within a person's social circle, roommates are not necessarily the closest companions. More often than not, there will be friction between them, along with shared interests. At best, they help each other out.
To entrust your back, or even your very life, to the other party, to place unconditional trust in them—relying on this level of relationship alone is absolutely impossible.
One must experience life and death together to truly eliminate the barriers standing between them.
However, the next life-or-death battle awaiting him would be the final decisive confrontation with the Akatsuki.
He no longer had the time or the opportunity to cultivate such a bond.
"I understand," Midorima said, nodding.
"So, what do you intend to do?" The Six-Tails seemed somewhat eager to see Midorima make a fool of himself.
Gaining its true acknowledgment? How could that be possible?
If it were so easily achieved, the contradictions between tailed beasts and jinchuriki would not be so irreconcilable.
"Garaga," Midorima called out as he opened his eyes.
The massive serpentine head of Garaga appeared within his field of vision.
"What is it?"
"Please give me some space. No one is to enter. That includes you as well. If this place is destroyed, I will find a way to compensate you for it," Midorima stated.
Garaga detected a foreboding undertone in Midorima's voice and immediately asked, "Do you need my help?"
"Keeping everyone else out would be the greatest help you could give me. Also, no matter what happens, do not interfere... No, do not come near at all!" Midorima added emphatically.
"Anything at all... and I'm not to enter?" Garaga pressed, its inner unease growing steadily.
"Yes. I'm counting on you." Midorima looked directly at Garaga.
Garaga stared at Asachi Midorima for a full three seconds before finally nodding its head.
"I understand." Without another word, Garaga dragged its enormous body and departed from its own cavern.
"Alright." Midorima closed his eyes and addressed the Six-Tails. "Right now, I am completely defenseless. I want you to unleash your power to its fullest extent. Even if I die as a result, I will not utter a single word of complaint."
"Are you serious?" The Six-Tails was stunned.
"True trust can only be forged on the battlefield. However, I have neither the time nor the opportunity to cultivate that now. The next time we fight together, the enemy we face will very likely be the Akatsuki. If we try to build that trust then, we will truly be staring death in the face," Midorima explained.
"The Akatsuki is that strong?" the Six-Tails asked, surprised.
"Yes. But what is even stronger is the Ten-Tails, as well as the one who intends to use the Ten-Tails to wreak havoc."
"You mean to say that the fellow we fought before is not our true objective?" The Six-Tails recalled the Deva Path.
"Yes, but he is not our ultimate target. There are certain things I know, but no one believes me... Our real enemy, the enemy of the entire shinobi world, is the person manipulating the Ten-Tails. And that person is not the Deva Path; he himself is being used," Midorima stated.
"Can you tell me who it is?"
"..."
"What's wrong? After all that talk, you say you're not even afraid of death, yet you don't dare to speak that person's identity aloud?" the Six-Tails mocked.
"Uchiha Obito... the one who placed you under genjutsu. The reason I was reluctant to say his name is not because of how formidable he is, but because I feared it might provoke you. After all, a tailed beast being controlled by a mere human is not a pleasant memory. It is a humiliation. Every time you recall it, it should bring pain, and you should sear that feeling into your mind. To possess such immense chakra, yet be dominated by an ordinary human..."
"Enough!" The Six-Tails cut Midorima off, seething with a volatile mix of shame and rage. "You only needed to say it once. I understood. There is no need to repeat it so many times! Just as you said, recalling it even once is already excruciating. By forcing me to relive it over and over, are you trying to kill me?!"
"..." Midorima sneered inwardly.
If the beast wanted him to reveal secrets, there naturally had to be a price to pay.
"Alright, let's begin. If you wish to kill me and escape, I will not stop you." Midorima closed his eyes, completely abandoning all resistance.
The risk of doing this was immense, but it was also the fastest way to gain the Six-Tails' trust.
Only by eliminating the barriers between them could there be any chance of utilizing Sage Mode while simultaneously maintaining Tailed Beast Mode.
Naruto might have had other methods, but he was the reincarnation of Asura's chakra. Midorima, on the other hand, relied solely on his Cell Laboratory.
Once he had thoroughly relinquished all defense, the Six-Tails ceased to remain dormant. A torrent of tailed beast chakra began to surge outward relentlessly, and Midorima's body started to swell and grow monstrously in response.
His skin split apart, blood threatening to burst through his veins and spill out of his body at any moment. But just as quickly, the Cell Laboratory would repair the damaged cells anew.
This cycle repeated over and over.
Throughout this harrowing process, Midorima never once let out a cry of pain.
Outside, Garaga, who stood guard, sensed the terrifying chakra emanating from its own dwelling.
This chakra was so overwhelming that even Garaga found itself unable to resist its oppressive force.
But soon, accompanying the massive overflow of chakra, there was also a faint, indistinct scent of blood wafting through the air.
Garaga grew increasingly restless. It wanted to charge inside and see what was happening, but Midorima's words flashed through its mind, leaving it trapped in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.
Just at that moment, Tagitsuhime entered its field of vision.
Garaga's temper immediately flared. It reared its upper body upright, fixing its gaze on the approaching Tagitsuhime.
"Halt!" Garaga barked, stopping Tagitsuhime in her tracks.
"What is it?" Tagitsuhime looked at Garaga with displeasure.
If possible, she preferred not to have too much interaction with Garaga.
"This is as far as you go. You cannot proceed any further."
"Why?" Tagitsuhime asked, perplexed.
"Asachi Midorima gave strict instructions," Garaga stated.
"I was the one who brought him here. And I'm not allowed to enter?" Tagitsuhime retorted.
Garaga tilted its head upward, recalling Midorima's exact words. "He said... you are not allowed in! No, he said no one is allowed in, and that includes even the White Snake Sage!"
Tagitsuhime rolled her eyes. This was Ryuchi Cave. How could there possibly be a place within it that the White Snake Sage could not enter?
Yet, the fact that Asachi Midorima had come here and that even the White Snake Sage regarded the matter with such gravity indicated that his purpose this time was truly extraordinary.
"Suit yourself. I merely wanted to inform him that Orochimaru has already begun his training in senjutsu. When he has a moment, you can pass along the message."
Tagitsuhime did not press the issue. After stating her business concisely, she waved dismissively and departed.