Jiraiya had, of course, realized that something was off about the Tailed Beast Riot in Sunagakure. What stood out most was how Iwagakure and Kirigakure, two villages that had long been adversaries, had suddenly decided to cooperate. Even if their shared objective was the destruction of Sunagakure, sacrificing three Tailed Beasts in the process was an incomprehensibly steep cost.
According to the latest intel, the incident had led directly to the deaths of the Five-Tails and Six-Tails, while the status of the Four-Tails remained uncertain. This meant that even if their attack had achieved its intended result, Iwagakure would have lost both the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, and Kirigakure would have paid with the Six-Tails.
Kirigakure's true intentions remained a mystery, but Jiraiya knew Ōnoki all too well. That old man would never agree to a plan that left his side weaker, especially if it involved a disadvantage as grave as this.
"Do you have any theories?" Jiraiya asked, his voice solemn.
Minato shook his head.
"Nothing for now. We'll have to wait until Aoba and the others return from Iwagakure before we can be certain."
"Right."
Jiraiya gave a slow nod, then released a long, weary sigh.
"I wonder when this world will ever know true peace…"
---
Sunagakure, Dragon's Oasis
Fortunately, Rasa had chosen to build the Dragon's Oasis over fifty kilometers away from the village, and that foresight had proven invaluable. The Tailed Beast Riot hadn't touched the oasis, sparing it from destruction. Only a few forested areas closer to the village had been ravaged when the underground river swelled and broke through during the chaos. But even that damage was minor. With the overwhelming natural energy now surging through the Dragon's Oasis, it was only a matter of time before nature healed itself.
When Rasa returned after two weeks, he discovered that the oasis had expanded again, its diameter now approaching five kilometers. By the standards of the entire Land of Wind, it had already become one of the largest oases in the country. This time, however, Rasa was not alone. With him were the Jinchuriki of the Four-Tails and Six-Tails, both unconscious and still sealed.
"Kazekage-sama!"
Stepping forward to greet him was none other than Bunpuku, the aged Jinchuriki of the One-Tail who had been faithfully guarding the oasis for years.
"Hm. Bunpuku-dono, has everything been peaceful here lately?"
Because Chiyo and Ebizō had returned to Sunagakure, and Rasa himself had remained stationed in the village due to the unrest, he hadn't visited the oasis in quite some time.
Bunpuku respectfully pressed his palms together.
"Rest assured, Kazekage-sama. I've remained here the entire time, using Shukaku's power to watch over the entire forest. There have been no strange movements or disturbances. But how is everything back in the village?"
"Everyone is recovering. We suffered some losses, but all things considered, we were fortunate."
"I see…"
Bunpuku let out a faint sigh. This was the true reason why the world feared the Tailed Beasts so intensely. As a Jinchuriki himself, he understood more clearly than most the fear and resentment that people carried toward them.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, he glanced toward the two unconscious Jinchuriki Rasa had brought and asked curiously,
"Kazekage-sama, have you brought them here to imprison them in this place?"
"No."
Rasa's reply left Bunpuku completely stunned.
"I came to fulfill the promise I made, to grant the Six-Tails its freedom. As for the Four-Tails... he doesn't trust humans, so he asked to come here and witness things for himself."
"!!!"
Bunpuku was utterly shocked. He wondered if he had misheard, but before he could speak again, Rasa had already started to take action.
He stepped forward to the two unconscious Jinchuriki.
"Dragon Vein Seal, Release!"
The moment he spoke, the sealing formulas etched into their bodies dissolved, and an overwhelming surge of chakra erupted from both of them. Within seconds, the towering forms of the Four-Tails and Six-Tails began to materialize at the edge of the vast forest, appearing before Bunpuku in their full, awe-inspiring presence.
"???"
As soon as the two Tailed Beasts gazed out over the immense forest spread before them, visible confusion flashed across their faces. Despite being beings forged from Yin-Yang Release and unable to directly sense senjutsu energy, they could unmistakably feel the immense life force permeating the area.
"What is this place?"
The Four-Tails asked, his voice filled with wonder. The Six-Tails twisted its serpentine head from side to side, scanning the forest with cautious curiosity.
Rasa raised his gaze to meet theirs and spoke with steady composure.
"This is a secret restricted zone of Sunagakure. I call it: Dragon's Oasis."
"Dragon's Oasis!? Kazekage, why have you brought us here?"
The Four-Tails' voice carried suspicion, while the Six-Tails bristled, already tense.
"Simple," Rasa answered, "I came to fulfill the promise I made. To grant the Six-Tails its freedom. But to avoid unnecessary disruptions, it needed to happen somewhere isolated. And beyond that... I have another idea."
The Four-Tails narrowed his eyes, suspicion growing sharper. The Six-Tails let out a hostile snarl.
"Damn it, I knew it! Humans are always the same. Are you going back on your word?"
But Rasa's expression didn't waver.
"Don't be so quick to condemn me. Just listen first."
He turned and gestured to the vast forest stretching behind him.
"Six-Tails, tell me… what do you think of this place?"
"I don't think anything of it," the Six-Tails shot back, voice tight with distrust. "What, are you planning to trap me here?"
"No… it's a suggestion. As a Tailed Beast, you know as well as I do that even if you're released now, the world won't stop coveting your power. It's only a matter of time before someone seals you again. Maybe not ordinary shinobi, but what about the one who controlled you from the shadows?"
The Six-Tails was just about to protest but froze. The mention of that unseen figure immediately silenced it. The Four-Tails remained wordless, and Bunpuku, too, lowered his eyes in quiet contemplation.
"So, instead of roaming endlessly, hunted and never at peace, why not stay here, in Sunagakure's Dragon's Oasis?"
"!!!"
All three, Four-Tails, Six-Tails, and Bunpuku, visibly reacted, taken aback by the proposition. They fully grasped what Rasa was offering.
"Don't worry. I won't shackle you. You know very well your power means little in a fight against someone like me. And while I can't say with certainty that I could defeat whoever has been orchestrating things behind the scenes, the fact that he hasn't dared confront me directly means he has some degree of fear. I can protect you."
"Damn human! Who asked for your protection?"
The Six-Tails growled, but the sharpness in its tone had lessened.
The Four-Tails remained quiet, visibly lost in thought, and Bunpuku simply stared at Rasa with astonishment.
In truth, Bunpuku could tell, the Six-Tails was wavering. For as long as they had existed, Tailed Beasts had known only an endless cycle of pursuit and imprisonment. They had never known true peace. But now, with this offer in front of him… could this man truly be trusted?
At that moment, Bunpuku suddenly stepped forward.
"Kazekage-sama… may I speak with the Six-Tails?"
"!!!"
Rasa blinked, clearly surprised by the request, but quickly grasped Bunpuku's intent.
"But I'll need your permission first. Shukaku wants to come out."
Rasa saw no reason to refuse. As Bunpuku's chakra began to surge and spiral, the massive form of the One-Tail Shukaku burst forth, rising up beside the others.
And in that instant, on the desert's edge that bordered the flourishing forest, three colossal Tailed Beasts stood side by side, their enormous bodies towering above the trees and casting long shadows over the land.