Kurama's anger boiled over, his words dripping with obscenities.
He cursed relentlessly, while Yuki Seisui calmly turned his gaze to Bunpuku, exhaling slowly.
He no longer wished to speak further.
For some reason, his own temper had been unusually sharp recently. Hearing Bunpuku repeatedly accuse him of excessive killing and overwhelming intent, he could not help but respond a little more than necessary.
Yet, once the words were out, Seisui felt a sense of relief wash over him.
"Monk, you are useless now."
Seisui looked at Bunpuku, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
"Amitabha." Bunpuku seemed not to hear him, remaining cross-legged on the ground, chanting a single mantra before closing his eyes.
His message was clear: do with him as you will.
Seeing Bunpuku's demeanor, Seisui showed no hesitation. He leapt from Kurama's head and walked to Bunpuku.
He brought his hands together and struck Bunpuku's abdomen.
"Breaking the sealing formula!"
There are two ways to dispel a sealing jutsu.
One is careful dismantling, step by step.
The other is to break it with sheer force.
The "Breaking Seal Method" is the latter.
Seisui did not know much about sealing techniques, but he had mastered this violent method.
Using immense chakra combined with this seal-breaking technique, he forcibly shattered the seal on Shukaku.
With Seisui's strike, Bunpuku was instantly grievously injured, blood trickling from his mouth. Yet he still did not open his eyes.
Ending my lonely life here isn't so bad.
He had become Shukaku's Jinchuriki shortly after birth, living in temples and prisons ever since.
It seemed his existence was solely to contain Shukaku.
Dying here… perhaps it's not a bad way to go.
Though Seisui claimed to have no compassion, Bunpuku could sense a form of mercy in the world he was constructing.
No words of mercy, but mercy in his heart.
Bunpuku's lips curled into a faint smile, without a trace of fear.
As the seal broke, Shukaku emerged. Bunpuku's body cracked, sand pouring out.
He did not scream or panic, instead smiling as he looked at Seisui.
"Master, compassion is already in my heart."
"Amitabha."
With that, Bunpuku recited the mantra one last time before his breath ceased entirely. His body was covered by sand, and Shukaku had fully emerged.
This time, Seisui did not control Shukaku, but Kurama pinned him to the ground instantly.
"Damn fox!"
"Behave and stay here!"
Kurama showed no mercy. Seisui looked at Shukaku trapped beneath him and smiled.
"Kurama, release it."
"It can't escape."
Seisui glanced at Uchiha Haru and Minato, who had approached.
With the five of them—Seisui, Haru, Minato, Jiraiya, and Tsunade—Shukaku had no chance.
Oh, and Kurama makes six.
Five humans, one fox.
At Seisui's words, Kurama let go of Shukaku.
Seeing Kurama's glaring eyes and the Mangekyo Sharingan of the two humans, Shukaku realized escape was impossible. He sat down, resigned.
"Do what you want. I won't resist."
Being studied was familiar; the Second Kazekage had done it for years.
The sand techniques of Sunagakure had been devised during that time.
Unable to resist, Shukaku gave up entirely.
Seisui observed and spoke.
"I'll give you two choices."
Shukaku, confused, slouched on the ground.
"First choice: leave now. We won't stop you."
"Really?!" Shukaku's eyes brightened.
"Of course," Seisui nodded.
"But leaving now risks exposure. Other ninja villages and factions will converge to capture you."
Shukaku fell silent, knowing the human spoke the truth.
But that made it worse.
He couldn't defeat them.
It was frustrating.
"Second choice?" Shukaku's tone was low.
"Come back to Konoha with us."
Seisui smiled, everything was under control.
"Is there a difference?" he muttered. "Back to Konoha, I'll be sealed anyway. Outside, I'll still be sealed. No difference."
Seisui raised his head.
"You won't be sealed," he said.
"As long as you don't harm anyone or threaten the village, you won't be sealed."
"Really?"
"Really."
"You can live in the forests surrounding Konoha," Seisui continued.
"You'll assist Konoha in repelling invaders and occasionally fight on the battlefield."
"How does that sound?"
"Okay!" Shukaku's eyes shone at the news he wouldn't be sealed.
Seisui's terms were fair, and the fox accepted immediately.
Even near Konoha, freedom was better than a dark sealing chamber. Fighting occasionally wasn't a problem; resistance would only lead to being sealed anyway.
Seeing Shukaku's agreement, Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged a glance of astonishment.
Seisui had negotiated a Tailed Beast for Konoha—through conversation alone.
Even if it was the weakest, it was still a Tailed Beast.
A natural disaster of immense power.
And he agreed to aid Konoha voluntarily.
Tsunade felt dizzy.
If only my grandfather had negotiated this way… Konoha would have been invincible.
========
Meanwhile, on Iwagakure battlefield, Danzo fled as Onoki drove him into retreat.
A war had just ended.
Huangtu watched his father curiously. "Father, we could have destroyed Konoha. Why spare them?"
"Fool!" Onoki scowled at his son. "We could have destroyed Konoha's ninja…"
"But then what?"
"Face Konoha's counterattack ourselves?"
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