Chapter 97: Juvenile Tailed Beast
As everyone knew, the forbidden techniques developed by the Second Hokage were often extremely useful.
The Spirit Transformation Technique was no exception.
This technique could materialize a person's soul and was an advanced application of Yin Release.
By turning the soul into a tangible force, the caster could perform many operations and accomplish things ordinary people never could.
Later on, Tsunade's ill fated lover, Dan Katō, became famous for precisely this technique.
At this moment, however, Kei was using it not on himself, but on the Nine-Tails before him.
Through the Spirit Transformation Technique, he could materialize the Nine-Tails' consciousness, which would make the next step far easier.
Of course, the process was anything but simple.
As a Tailed Beast, the Nine-Tails' soul was extraordinarily difficult to draw out and materialize.
If not for the Nine-Tails' own cooperation, this task would have been nearly impossible.
After spending a great deal of time, that stage was finally complete.
Kei successfully drew out a portion of the Nine-Tails' consciousness and sealed it into the fox body he had prepared in advance.
Sealing Technique!
Once everything was done, he sealed that fragment of the Nine-Tails' consciousness into the fox's body.
The process was somewhat similar to creating a jinchūriki.
However, the fox itself had already been specially prepared and contained no remaining consciousness of its own, allowing the Nine-Tails' will to smoothly take over the body.
Under Kei's gaze, the little fox slowly opened its eyes and looked upon the world once more.
"I'm finally out!"
It let out an excited cry.
Having been sealed inside Mito's body for many years, it had been a very long time since it had seen the outside world.
Its excitement was completely understandable.
But very soon, it realized something was wrong.
"My body..."
It carefully sensed its current state, and disbelief immediately entered its voice.
"How can it be this weak?"
Even though the fox body Kei had created could carry a portion of its consciousness, its strength was simply far too feeble.
To put it bluntly, although the body could generate Nine-Tails chakra and barely maintain its own existence, its actual combat strength was likely inferior even to that of an ordinary shinobi.
Could such a frail body really belong to the Nine-Tails?
"Kei, you brat!"
The Nine-Tails widened its eyes and glared at him.
"Didn't you say you'd use my flesh and blood to cultivate a new body? Why is it this weak?"
"Ah, because I was in a hurry, I only barely managed to piece a body together."
Kei waved a hand.
"Don't underestimate how difficult this already was."
Being able to create a body that could independently generate Nine-Tails chakra based on the Nine-Tails' flesh and blood was already an incredible feat by the standards of the current age.
If not for Kei's level of expertise, it would have been outright impossible.
"If I had been given enough time, perhaps I could have made the body stronger. But there's no point thinking about that now."
He paused, then continued.
"Still, this body has its advantages."
"Compared to your original body, this one is still in its infancy. It incorporates the genes of various Summoned Beasts as well as your own. If you train it properly, it can continue to grow stronger."
"Your true body, Nine-Tails, was far too powerful from the beginning. You probably never had the chance to experience the process of becoming stronger step by step. This is the perfect opportunity to make up for that regret."
"Hmph."
The Nine-Tails let out a cold snort.
"That's not true."
"We Tailed Beasts can also grow stronger through training. It's just that compared to our natural power, that sort of growth rarely means much."
Even as Tailed Beasts, they were still intelligent beings capable of training and learning.
Over the years, all of the Tailed Beasts had learned at least some Ninjutsu, rather than relying solely on their massive chakra.
The clearest example of this was Shukaku.
As for the Nine-Tails, perhaps because its chakra reserves were already so overwhelmingly huge, it had never shown much in the way of Ninjutsu, but that did not mean it lacked knowledge of it.
"This is infuriating!"
The Nine-Tails inspected its current body again, growing more and more dissatisfied.
"To think a body cultivated from my genes would end up this weak."
"Don't get too agitated."
Kei spoke softly.
"This body is still in its infancy and cannot bear your consciousness very well. If your emotions surge too violently, it may affect the body."
In truth, the Nine-Tails was already being very careful.
Compared to the weight of its consciousness, this body was far too fragile and could easily be damaged if it was not cautious.
If that happened, it would have no choice but to return to Mito's body again.
"To think the Nine-Tails could have such a cute side."
Off to the side, Mito looked at the miniature Nine-Tails and felt a strange sense of dissonance.
Compared to the original Nine-Tails, which had always resembled a natural disaster given form, this little version actually gave off a bizarre kind of cuteness.
After all, it was still just a cub.
Even wrapped in ominous Nine-Tails chakra, it now looked more fierce-cute than terrifying.
As long as one was weak enough, even baring fangs could end up looking like sulking or acting spoiled in the eyes of others.
That was exactly how Mito felt at that moment, and the contrast left her inwardly bewildered.
It could only be said that compared to the original Nine-Tails, this little thing before her was simply far too different.
"For the time being, stay by my side."
Kei spoke softly.
"That is both part of our agreement and a practical necessity."
"Nine-Tails, you wouldn't want to be caught and treated like a Summoned Beast, would you?"
Hearing that, the Nine-Tails could not help but shudder.
People in the shinobi world were extremely practical.
With the way it currently looked, it resembled an unusually rare Ninja Beast.
If no one saw it, that would be one thing.
But once shinobi outside caught sight of it, they would definitely try to capture it.
After all, no matter how weak it now was, it was still the Nine-Tails.
Even setting everything else aside, the Nine-Tails chakra in its body alone was enough to drive many people mad with greed.
Even if it could not be used in battle, it could at the very least be treated as a substitute research subject for the Nine-Tails.
Imagining that scene, the Nine-Tails shivered from head to tail, unable to bear the thought.
"Fine."
It shook its head, then finally said,
"In that case, I'll reluctantly stay by your side."
As it spoke, it tilted its head up proudly, as though remaining with him were some special favor it had granted.
But given its current appearance, the gesture came off as more comical than imposing.
"Very well, then many thanks, Lord Nine-Tails."
Kei smiled, not minding the tone at all, and turned to Mito.
"Then, Lady Mito, I'll leave things here to you."
"Go ahead."
Mito nodded with a smile.
"To be honest, without him making trouble in here, I feel much more relaxed."
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]