swiftly?
Before witnessing Richard withstand the Tailed Beast Ball, Isobu would have dismissed such claims as arrogance.
Though the Three-Tails had suffered defeats against other tailed beasts and exceptional shinobi, it remained one of the nine bijū—few entities in the Naruto world could challenge it directly.
However, after observing Richard endure its Tailed Beast Ball without apparent damage, Isobu recognized that Richard's confidence wasn't mere bravado.
Richard's demonstrated defenses exceeded even Isobu's own durability—the Three-Tails itself couldn't withstand a direct Tailed Beast Ball unscathed.
Though unable to identify Richard, Isobu maintained intense vigilance, prepared to submerge to the lake bottom at any moment. While the lake represented familiar territory, surface exposure created vulnerability compared to the depths.
Isobu remained silent.
Richard, however, recognized that the Three-Tails had adopted a more serious disposition.
Under Isobu's watchful gaze, Richard casually rolled his neck.
Then, he activated his super speed.
In an instant, he vanished from Isobu's field of vision, transitioning from facing the bijū directly to positioning himself behind it.
Before Isobu could react, Richard seized the middle of the Three-Tails' three tails.
Compared to Isobu's massive appendage, Richard appeared minuscule—like a mouse confronting a tiger.
Despite this physical disparity, Richard's strength matched or exceeded the tailed beast's.
Upon securing his grip on Isobu's central tail, Richard exerted tremendous force, hurling the Three-Tails toward the adjacent forest.
Having barely registered the initial contact, Isobu experienced an irresistible momentum as its entire body became airborne.
Who is this human?
As Isobu left the lake's surface, astonishment rather than fear dominated its thoughts.
Excluding its vulnerable early existence before reaching maturity, the Three-Tails had never encountered a human capable of physically overwhelming it.
Now, not only had such a human appeared, but Isobu found itself launched toward the forest in an utterly undignified manner.
BOOM!
The massive Three-Tails, comparable in size to a small island, traced a perfect parabola through the air.
Then, like a descending meteorite, it crashed into the forest, creating an immense impact crater visible from considerable distance.
Though uncertain about Richard's extraordinary capabilities, Isobu conclusively determined that Richard represented the most anomalous human it had encountered throughout its existence.
A physical constitution capable of withstanding a Tailed Beast Ball!
Sufficient strength to hurl a tailed beast several kilometers!
Aside from his relatively modest chakra reserves, Richard appeared virtually without limitation.
Given another opportunity, Isobu would prioritize dialogue rather than immediate hostility. Though conversation might not have altered the outcome, direct aggression had produced the current situation.
After launching Isobu into the forest, Richard wasted no time. Combining flight and super speed, he arrived behind the Three-Tails with lightning velocity.
Once again, he secured Isobu's tail.
Regarding his strategy against the Three-Tails, Richard favored simplicity and directness—demonstrate overwhelming strength until Isobu acknowledged his superiority.
Once the bijū recognized their vast power differential, securing its cooperation as a summoning animal would follow naturally.
Upon regrasping Isobu's tail as the beast attempted to regain its footing, Richard implemented a different approach.
Rather than simply throwing Isobu again, Richard opted for what he mentally termed the "Hulk Treatment."
Maintaining his grip on Isobu's tail, Richard proceeded to repeatedly slam the tailed beast against the ground.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Under Richard's relentless assault, Isobu experienced continual impacts with the earth, each collision creating another crater in the forest terrain.
Each impact generated seismic vibrations comparable to moderate earthquakes.
The previously dense forest rapidly deteriorated into devastated wasteland.
After slamming Isobu against the ground dozens of times, Richard finally released the beast's tail and hovered before its face.
"I'll reiterate my question," Richard addressed the Three-Tails. "Will you sign a summoning contract with me?"
"If you continue to refuse, I can maintain this activity indefinitely."
"Not merely today—I can return daily until you accept."
Though summoned creatures coerced into contractual relationships typically demonstrated less loyalty than willing partners, this consideration held minimal importance to Richard.
His singular objective remained establishing a summoning contract with the Three-Tails, securing the bijū as his personal summon.
Isobu's willingness represented an irrelevant factor in Richard's calculation.
From a medical perspective, Isobu's current condition, while uncomfortable, wasn't life-threatening.
Tailed beasts existed as chakra-based lifeforms. Though outwardly resembling physical creatures, they consisted entirely of materialized chakra.
While their unique constitutions provided considerable resilience, tailed beasts weren't truly immortal. Killing a bijū remained possible, if complex.
Hearing Richard's ultimatum, the Three-Tails deliberated briefly before promptly nodding.
Excellent!
Richard's expression reflected satisfaction.
Though the Three-Tails wouldn't significantly enhance his combat effectiveness, commanding a tailed beast as a personal summon represented an undeniably impressive achievement.
Following Isobu's affirmative response, Richard immediately retrieved a summoning contract scroll prepared during his stay in Otogakure from his system space.
Unfurling the scroll, Richard first inscribed his own name.
Then, channeling chakra to his right fingertips, he pressed his handprint onto the document.
After completing this process, he wrote the Three-Tails' name—"Isobu"—on the scroll.
Upon Richard finishing the inscription, Isobu instinctively raised its right claw, channeled chakra to its tip, and delicately pressed against the scroll, leaving its own mark.
Completed!
Observing Isobu's "handprint" on the summoning contract, Richard nodded with approval and addressed the tailed beast: "Becoming my summoned creature isn't as detrimental as you might anticipate."
"In fact, this arrangement benefits us both. Within a few years, you'll recognize the advantages of our contract."
"For clarity: absent specific need, I won't summon you unnecessarily. You may continue your existence as preferred."
"However, when summoned, compliance is expected."
"Otherwise, today's demonstration might seem merciful by comparison."
After delivering these terms, Richard returned the summoning contract to his system space.
Approaching Isobu, he patted the bijū's enormous head before ascending skyward under the Three-Tails' watchful gaze, flying toward Kirigakure.
Before reaching Kirigakure, Richard observed Mei Terumi leading Ao and Chōjūrō toward the lake serving as Isobu's sanctuary.
Though Kirigakure had discontinued efforts to create a new Three-Tails jinchūriki, they diligently monitored the bijū's location.
The absence of a replacement jinchūriki stemmed from lack of suitable candidates and uncertainty regarding successful capture.
Nohara Rin had become the Three-Tails' jinchūriki through Madara Uchiha's intervention, while the Fourth Mizukage had possessed sufficient strength to subjugate the bijū personally.
Despite being Kirigakure's strongest shinobi and future Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi couldn't guarantee successful capture of the Three-Tails.
Additionally, creating a new Three-Tails jinchūriki would essentially announce the Fourth Mizukage's death to the wider world.
Observing Mei and her companions heading toward Isobu's lake, Richard deduced their motivation.
Almost certainly, the Tailed Beast Ball's detonation had drawn their attention.
Despite considerable distance separating the lake from Kirigakure, the Tailed Beast Ball's explosion would have remained detectable to skilled sensors like Mei and Ao.
Without hesitation, Richard flew directly toward the trio.
Upon reaching them, Richard noticed Ao and Chōjūrō—who hadn't previously encountered him—immediately adopt defensive postures.
Ignoring their wariness, Richard addressed Mei: "The Three-Tails remains unharmed. We merely had a spirited exchange."
This statement immediately transformed all three shinobi's expressions.
Mei's face registered surprise.
Ao and Chōjūrō displayed undisguised shock.
Having experienced Richard's abilities firsthand, Mei understood his significant combat prowess.
Nevertheless, she hadn't anticipated that Richard would emerge from confrontation with the Three-Tails—particularly after it deployed a Tailed Beast Ball—appearing completely unaffected.
The Tailed Beast Ball represented a bijū's ultimate offensive technique. Its deployment indicated the Three-Tails had exerted its maximum capability.
Recognizing that Richard's strength exceeded her initial assessment, Mei's feelings became increasingly complex.
Unlike Mei, Ao and Chōjūrō possessed no firsthand knowledge regarding Richard's capabilities.
However, they immediately recognized a critical implication: Richard knew the Fourth Mizukage had perished.
Kirigakure concealed the Fourth Mizukage's death not only from outsiders but from most village residents.
Elder Genji, who currently administered Kirigakure's affairs, had deliberately withheld the Mizukage hat from Mei specifically to maintain this deception.
Had Ao and Chōjūrō not been Mei's trusted confidants but ordinary Kiri shinobi, they themselves would have remained ignorant of the Fourth's demise.
Yet Richard somehow possessed classified information known to very few within the village.
Had Mei not appeared familiar with Richard, they would have immediately apprehended him for intensive interrogation regarding his intelligence sources.
After more than ten seconds of silence, Mei finally inquired: "What is the Three-Tails' current condition?"
"It's fibe," Richard replied casually. "No significant injuries—merely hurt a litte."
Mei, Ao, and Chōjūrō frowned simultaneously.
As Mei prepared to seek clarification, Richard continued: "I've established a summoning contract with it. The Three-Tails is now my personal summon."
What?
Though Richard's delivery remained calm, his statement impacted the trio like a thunderbolt.
Tailed beasts could be captured, controlled, and sealed within humans to create jinchūriki.
However, since the bijū's creation, no precedent existed for tailed beasts becoming summoning animals through contractual agreements.
Their incredulity stemmed primarily from limited knowledge.
Compelling a tailed beast to sign a summoning contract presented no exceptional complexity. With sufficient strength to "persuade" a bijū, such arrangements remained entirely feasible.
Though tailed beasts possessed remarkable resilience—even "death" merely resulted in eventual reconstitution—this didn't preclude methods to effectively "convince" them.
With appropriate techniques, virtually anything remained possible.
Including permanent elimination of a tailed beast.
Though uncertain regarding Richard's specific methodology, Mei intuitively recognized his sincerity and responded deliberately: "If the Three-Tails remains unharmed, let's return to the village."
"Sure," Richard replied immediately.
Hidden Mist Village
Upon returning to Kirigakure, Mei promptly arranged accommodations for Richard.
Whether by coincidence or design, Richard's assigned residence stood remarkably close to Mei's own dwelling—merely several dozen meters separated them.
After escorting Richard to his quarters, Mei departed with Ao and Chōjūrō.
Predictably, they intended to consult with Elder Genji regarding appropriate countermeasures.
After watching the trio depart, Richard conducted a brief inspection of his accommodations.
Confirming everything met his standards, he reclined on the bed, contemplating his next objectives.
The Three-Tails had become his summoning animal.
He had successfully met with Mei Terumi.
Aside from exploring more philosophical matters with Mei, Richard had accomplished his primary objectives in visiting Kirigakure.
After brief consideration, Richard decided to remain in Kirigakure temporarily.
He would depart when Konoha's Chūnin Exams approached.
Regarding Orochimaru's impending "Konoha Crush" operation during the exams, Richard had no intention of intervening.
Firstly, he maintained an unfavorable impression of the Third Hokage.
Secondly, even without his interference, Orochimaru's invasion would ultimately fail.
Finally, Richard wouldn't object to preventing the Third Hokage from performing the Reaper Death Seal that would seal Orochimaru's arms.
Though such interference might introduce significant timeline alterations, Richard remained unconcerned about losing his "prophetic" advantage.
Even substantial future changes presented minimal concern.
Regardless of specific timeline modifications, the Naruto world's ultimate power ceiling would remain constant.
As long as that fundamental limitation persisted, Richard could adapt accordingly.
Having reached his decision, Richard closed his eyes, intending to rest briefly.
Though his confrontation with the Three-Tails had required some magical energy to withstand the Tailed Beast Ball, his overall expenditure remained negligible, bordering on non-existent.
Without realizing it, Richard drifted into sleep.
Upon awakening, night had fallen.
After his refreshing slumber, Richard rose and left the bedroom, intending to sample Kirigakure's local cuisine.
However, upon opening his apartment door, he immediately encountered Chōjūrō waiting outside.
After briefly examining the future Sixth Mizukage—derisively known as the "weakest Mizukage" for his portrayal in Boruto—Richard inquired directly: "Has Mei Terumi sent you?"