One person possessing five hearts at once… for a normal human, that would be utterly impossible.
But Kakuzu was not a normal human.
The forbidden jutsu he used was certainly impressive, but unlike the techniques Tobirama created—those that were simply beyond the reach of ordinary shinobi—Kakuzu's jutsu fundamentally altered the body itself, causing irreversible changes.
To Shigure, such a technique held no appeal.
It was, in every sense, turning oneself into a monster.
And if Kakuzu was here, then the other one had to be Hidan.
But why were Hidan and Kakuzu here of all places?
Were they planning to capture the Seven-Tails?
In the original timeline, the Akatsuki had already secured both the Five-Tails and the Seven-Tails the moment they surfaced.
This suggested that the organization had acted well before they began publicly collecting Tailed Beasts—likely to avoid drawing attention—which explained why they didn't rapidly capture the rest in succession.
So… was Chōmei already targeted at this point in time?
Shigure glanced toward the direction the pair had come from.
Too bad for them—they had bumped into him first.
Their plan to capture the Seven-Tails would be meeting an abrupt end.
He turned and sped toward the Jinchūriki's location.
Fū, Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails
At that moment, Fū was sitting alone beside a shallow stream outside Takigakure, quietly wrestling with her own thoughts.
All Jinchūriki in the ninja world shared this fate—treated as both crucial and disposable.
Necessary, yet avoided.
Valuable, yet isolated.
Human weapons.
Shigure could never understand the logic.
If a Jinchūriki was so important, shouldn't the village protect them?
Support them?
Make sure they stayed mentally stable?
Otherwise, in a true emergency, how could they expect the Jinchūriki to unleash the full power of the Tailed Beast?
But it didn't matter.
Their choices were their burden, not his.
Shigure accelerated, descending quietly onto the riverbank opposite Fū.
The moment he appeared, Fū froze—then abruptly stood with heightened alertness.
Someone appeared out of nowhere!
And I didn't sense him at all!
Inside her, Chōmei spoke urgently:
"This man carries the aura of the Six-Tails. He might be Saiken's Jinchūriki!"
Fū's eyes widened.
The stranger wore a Kirigakure forehead protector.
But from the Land of Water to Takigakure, one had to cross the entire Land of Fire.
Mist-nin were incredibly rare this deep inland.
"Ninja from Iwa or Kumo wouldn't be strange, but… who are you?"
Fū demanded. "Why have you come to Takigakure?"
Shigure walked toward her with the ease of someone speaking to an old friend.
"You looked troubled a moment ago. Something on your mind?"
The familiarity in his tone left Fū momentarily speechless.
They didn't know each other—right?
"So what if I do? What does that have to do with you?"
Shigure smiled lightly.
"Maybe I can help."
"Help you with your biggest problem—the Tailed Beast."
At those words, both Fū and Chōmei stiffened.
"What are you planning?" she asked sharply.
Shigure looked her in the eye.
"Are you happy living as a Jinchūriki?"
The question hit harder than she expected.
Happiness?
There was none.
She was treated like a monster, shunned, left without friends, judged for a burden she never chose.
"It seems your life isn't easy," Shigure said softly.
"But it's fine. I can help you end that suffering."
"All of it stems from the Tailed Beast. I am the Jinchūriki of two Tailed Beasts—the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails."
Inside Fū, Chōmei froze.
Isobu and Saiken…! No wonder their chakra felt familiar!
"My body is special," Shigure continued.
"I can house multiple Tailed Beasts without any issue."
"So you can give me the Tailed Beast you don't want.
And I possess a jutsu that allows the Jinchūriki to survive extraction."
If he could settle things peacefully, all the better.
But Fū clenched her fists.
"So your goal really is the Tailed Beast!"
Wings unfolded from her back in an instant—and she leapt into the sky, attempting to flee.
...
TN:
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