"Compared to you and me, I think the next jinchūriki and Shukaku will have it tougher."
The red-haired boy propped his chin on his hand, analyzing with detachment.
His personality contained much modern society couldn't tolerate—hence feeling like a fish in water here. Sakaki had pointed out his changed feelings. Hii Kōri genuinely didn't feel he'd suffered much.
"Most jinchūriki have tailed beasts implanted in childhood, right? To a child, the tailed beast takes away their normal life—more like an enemy."
"Of course, the same for tailed beasts imprisoned inside jinchūriki. Starting point that twist—building good relations is impossibly difficult."
"True. Shukaku's temper isn't great. This old monk struggled too, when young."
A monk purely specialized in Buddhism, Bunpuku mastered no wonderful techniques. With such crude seals and immature cultivation, how he fought against Shukaku surely wasn't something to laugh off.
But now, those past were just a little bit rough.
Hey! Even you saying that, I'll get mad!
Nowadays, this big tanuki just acted cute in his consciousness.
Bunpuku pressed palms together, smiling without saying a word.
Hey Bunpuku, ask this kid if he can come in. I wanna talk.
Oh? Can't this old monk convey it?
Shut up! If I could, I wouldn't ask!
In consciousness, Shukaku crossed his arms, splashing water.
"Ah, fine... Young man, Shukaku wants to see you. Can you manage it?"
Bunpuku could communicate with Shukaku in consciousness space, but bringing others in? Impossible.
"? I'll try. Give me your hand, Master Bunpuku."
Though puzzled, Hii Kōri didn't refuse. Taking Bunpuku's gaunt hand, fingertip pressing his palm, he wrapped spiritual energy in Yin Release chakra and inserted it.
Perhaps with multiple physical effects, Hii Kōri used Yin Release smoothly, yet utterly lacked genjutsu talent.
Rather than interfering with others, he excelled at Yin's "creation" characteristics. If using spiritual energy offensively, he preferred offensive applications—like "Mental ★ Impact ★ Blast" or such.
So to be safe, he used precisely controlled Yin chakra, infused with some physical energy, as a sustained-release capsule.
Yin chakra dissipated, then—
Consciousness descended.
Boundless water stretched into darkness. Though lightless, sight functioned.
"Well... you're quite imposing."
Standing on the water, Hii Kōri released Bunpuku's hand and turned to look up at the massive tailed beast.
Shukaku, the One-Tail—a sandy-brown tanuki or raccoon covered in gray-green curse seal. Most distinctive: that giant tail, seemingly countless tails gathered together.
Have to admit—any creature magnified to this size felt oppressive. And Shukaku's physiognomy wasn't exactly gentle.
"But are you tanuki or raccoon? No tail ring on your tail... so tanuki?"
Erudite though he was, Hii Kōri had weak subjects. He'd researched bionics, but taxonomy? Example: he didn't learn mushrooms weren't plants until his twenties.
His geography knowledge was similarly niche—which regions produced what ores and gems, timber properties—all clear. The rest? Clueless.
Oh, and some Kanyu Gaku—learned from Shinto and Yamabushi.
Pragmatism—that's the word.
"How should I know?!"
Shukaku, who'd wanted to ask a favor, got blocked by questions before speaking. He couldn't help roaring dissatisfiedly.
His good temper was only for Bunpuku. Others got no such preferential treatment.
But Hii Kōri's previous words suited his taste, so he did nothing else.
"Red-haired kid, you said you came to reinforce the seal, right?"
Cutting off Hii Kōri's questions, Shukaku slowly lowered his body—almost burying his face in water to meet his eye level, showing sincerity.
"Then hurry up and reinforce my seal."
Now both Bunpuku and Hii Kōri knew why Shukaku wouldn't let Bunpuku speak for him.
If firmly sealed, Bunpuku could leave this cell and see outside—Shukaku's childish, straightforward thought. Even unsaid, both understood.
Which Bunpuku would never willingly convey.
"...Might be tough."
Hii Kōri picked his ear, sighing.
"Didn't you say you were sent to reinforce the seal?!"
Hearing this, Shukaku whoosh straightened from the water, yelling loudly.
"Hey hey hey, what's the rush? 'Tough' doesn't mean impossible."
Splashed, Hii Kōri wiped his face and glanced at Bunpuku with an "Aren't you going to control your kid?" expression.
"What do you say, Master Bunpuku?"
"Namu."
What could Bunpuku say? He didn't want Shukaku sacrificing for his freedom. But Shukaku directly asked Hii Kōri—did his agreement matter?
Hii Kōri represented Sunagakure on a mission. Agree or disagree, someone would be put in a difficult position.
So—silence.
"Fine. I'll design something. Three to six months for optimal solution. You've lived long—you know designing this stuff takes time."
Seeing Bunpuku's reaction, Hii Kōri accepted the task.
Collect mission fees from "Vegeta," debate self-cultivation with Bunpuku, grill Shukaku about secret history—he'd make a killing.
"Oh yeah, you never answered—tanuki or raccoon?"
"Who cares?!"
Probably embarrassed at taking matters into his own hands before Bunpuku, Shukaku whoosh splashed, ejecting Hii Kōri from consciousness space.
"Ah... kicked out."
Opening his eyes, the red-haired boy clicked his tongue, still unfinished.
This tailed beast's way cuter than Special Grade Cursed Spirits—appearance and communication.
"In your eyes,am I a thorough person?"
Checking the time, he should leave. Hii Kōri asked his final question.
"...In this old monk's eyes, not penetrating at all. Quite the opposite—deep desire."
"Haha, that so?"
He didn't take this as disparagement. If anything, given who he was now, quite the praise.
"I'll visit again, Master Bunpuku. And Shukaku. Next time, bring snacks. Kazekage Building cafeteria's pretty good."
***
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