Ryou wasn't going to engage in some unspoken rules with his female subordinate like Konan thought; he actually had serious business to attend to.
For instance, unsealing Shukaku's clone, learning Magnet Release, and dealing with the Spore Clone and the Seven-Tails' Kotoamatsukami.
He wasn't always controlled by his lower half.
Ryou brought Candy to the hollow of the Great Tree of Takigakure, specifically the one where the Seven-Tails was being held.
At this moment, the Seven-Tails was recovering its chakra; it had already woken up.
However, the roots of the Great Tree of Takigakure firmly restrained the Seven-Tails, preventing it from moving even an inch.
Hearing sounds from outside, the Seven-Tails looked out and saw a young man with messy black hair walking in, a cat perched on his shoulder.
"Uchiha... Ryou!"
Ryou looked at the Seven-Tails and smiled. "Yo, Chomei, you're awake. Do you still remember who you are?"
The Seven-Tails roared, "Uchiha Ryou, you are just like your ancestors—evil Uchiha!"
Ryou rubbed his chin. The Seven-Tails had been captured by Hashirama and hadn't had much interaction with Madara.
As for the 'ancestors' it mentioned, it likely meant the incarnations of Indra before Madara, or other powerful Uchiha Shinobi.
The Uchiha Clan had always been a clan that pursued power and war; they hadn't done many good deeds.
Ryou approached the Seven-Tails and threatened it, "Chomei, Shukaku has already been sealed by the Gedo Statue. You're next."
"..."
The Seven-Tails stopped shouting, a hint of fear appearing in its compound insect eyes.
Tailed Beasts are immortal; even if they die, they have their own ways of resurrecting.
But if they were consumed by the Ten-Tails, they truly would have no future.
Seeing the Seven-Tails' fear, Ryou smiled. "Chomei, bow your head and call me 'Grandpa,' and I'll let you off!"
The Seven-Tails roared at Ryou, "In your dreams! Uchiha Ryou, you evil Uchiha, don't think for a second I'll bow my head!"
"Just you wait, Shisui will come to save me. When that time comes, you'll definitely get what's coming to you!"
Ryou crossed his arms, speechless at the Seven-Tails. "Chomei, Chomei, do you still not understand? Shisui isn't your partner. Your will was modified by his Sharingan Genjutsu."
The Seven-Tails shouted, "Even if that's the case, so what? Shisui is much better than you and Uchiha Madara. He is a normal Uchiha!"
"How bold!"
Ryou got a little angry and beckoned the Great Tree of Takigakure to extend vines and whip the Seven-Tails.
The Seven-Tails was very stubborn and didn't make a sound.
"Oh, a tough nut to crack. Let's see how tough you really are."
Ryou then had the Great Tree of Takigakure's vines take on the properties of Lightning Release chakra, shocking the Seven-Tails with a powerful current.
"Chomei, if you never realize that your will is being controlled by the Sharingan, I'll just keep hitting you."
The Seven-Tails held onto its conviction: "Shisui is my friend. I believe in our bond!"
Ryou then took out the Spore Clone that had previously turned against him due to Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, having the Great Tree of Takigakure extend vines to pin it against the tree wall.
As soon as the Spore Clone woke up, it rebelled: "Main body, you must believe in love! Believe in the Will of Fire! Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire shall continue to burn—"
Before the Spore Clone could finish, Ryou lashed out with a vine.
"You've really turned! You think I can't handle you today?!"
Ryou whipped it for a while, but the Spore Clone still looked like a devoted follower of the fire.
Ryou felt a bit tired, so he performed the Summoning Jutsu to call forth Fish Ball, telling it to douse the Spore Clone with water to help it wake up.
The summoned Fish Ball was a bit dazed; it had just been lecturing Nagato!
"Ryou, what's this for?"
Ryou told Fish Ball about the Spore Clone being controlled by Kotoamatsukami. Hearing this, Fish Ball got excited.
"Good, good, good! I hate traitors like this the most. Step aside, let me give it a good lesson!"
Fish Ball released Water Release, drenching the Spore Clone with all its might.
"Are you going to talk? Are you? Are you?!"
Fish Ball looked even more enthusiastic than it did when hitting Nagato.
Ryou then ignored the Seven-Tails and the Spore Clone, taking out a tree spore from his body that had absorbed Shukaku's chakra.
This spore looked somewhat abstract, like a small, yellowish-brown tanuki.
With a small head and a big belly, it looked like a real 'bright spark' at first glance.
Ryou then injected his own chakra to activate Shukaku's clone chakra.
Gradually, the Shukaku spore grew larger, transforming into a Chibi Shukaku form.
Shukaku looked left and right, finding that everything around it had become huge. Its massive sand-howling body had become as small as a cat.
"What happened to me?"
Ryou crouched down and gave Shukaku's head a little shock while stroking it. "Shukaku, are you awake yet?"
Stimulated by Ryou's current, Shukaku began to remember. "I know now. My main body has been sealed by the Gedo Statue."
"I'm currently in a clone form!"
Shukaku then bowed to Ryou. "Uchiha Ryou, thank you."
Ryou said to it, "Shukaku, I saved you for your Magnet Release. If you're useless, I'll throw you into the Gedo Statue."
Shukaku nodded hurriedly. "I'm useful, I'm useful! Don't worry, I'll assist you in training Magnet Release and teach you all my techniques."
Ryou was satisfied.
Shukaku then noticed the whipped Seven-Tails and the Spore Clone.
It was somewhat shocked. "Lord Ryou, why are you even hitting your own clone?"
Ryou snorted, "When I get ruthless, I'd even crush my own balls!"
Shukaku backed away in fear. He really was a ruthless person, hitting even himself when he got mean.
Shukaku stopped paying attention to the Spore Clone and focused on the Seven-Tails.
"Chomei?!"
Shukaku hopped over.
The Seven-Tails also noticed the tiny Shukaku. "Shukaku?!"
Shukaku looked at the Seven-Tails. "Chomei, you weren't sealed by the Gedo Statue?"
The Seven-Tails also asked Shukaku, "Shukaku, what's going on with you? Why have you become so small?"
Shukaku answered the Seven-Tails, "This is a deal with Uchiha Ryou. I teach him Ninjutsu, and he lets my clone survive!"
"Though I've lost my power, at least I'm still alive."
The Seven-Tails snorted coldly. "Bowing your head to a mere human? Truly worthy of being the shame of the Tailed Beasts!"
"What?!"
Shukaku was enraged. "Chomei, you stinking bug, what did you say? You're a prisoner right now; you'll probably be sealed by Uchiha Madara tomorrow."
"Better beg me now, and I'll put in a good word for you with Uchiha Ryou."
"Pah!"
The Seven-Tails spat, the saliva drenching Shukaku. "I will never bow to an evil Uchiha. Even if I'm sealed, Shisui will find a way to pull me out."
"This is our bond!"
"Shisui?!"
Shukaku was a bit confused. Ryou walked over to explain. "Shisui is also a member of our Uchiha Clan."
"He used his Mangekyo Genjutsu to brainwash Chomei, implanting a permanent will that Shisui is Chomei's partner."
Shukaku was somewhat indignant upon hearing this. "How can you Uchiha be so wicked? To actually modify someone else's will like that?"
Ryou pinched Shukaku's head and lifted it up. "Shukaku, what are you saying? I am your master now."
Shukaku realized it was no longer that powerful Incarnation of Sand.
"Master, I was wrong, Master. Uchiha aren't bad; Uchiha are all great people."
Ryou laughed, then sat cross-legged and gestured to Shukaku. "Alright, Shukaku, stop with the nonsense!"
"Start assisting me in my Magnet Release training!"
"Okay!"