Shukaku, the One-Tail, had also been persuaded by Yuki Seisui to come to Konoha.
This time, whether the Sunagakure could maintain its status among the Five Great Ninja Villages was uncertain.
With such a tremendous accomplishment, reporting back would surely bring joy. Even though he hadn't seen the old man's face yet, he could feel the delight of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
From that day on, the Sunagakure would no longer be a threat.
"By the way… where's Shukaku?" Jiraiya exchanged a glance with Yuki Seisui, but quickly asked in confusion.
As he spoke, he scanned the surroundings—Shukaku was too large to hide.
At Jiraiya's question, Yuki Seisui replied, "Haru is watching him."
"He's still in the same place as before."
Hearing this, Jiraiya finally relaxed.
"Rest for a day, then set off."
"Oh, and this time, a group of wounded shinobi will be returning with us as well."
"Escort them while you're at it."
"All right." Yuki Seisui nodded.
After all, keeping an eye on Shukaku or accompanying the wounded wasn't a problem.
=======
The next morning.
Yuki Seisui emerged from Uchiha Haru's tent and stretched lazily.
This was one of the few good sleeps he'd had in this place.
It's a pity Haru isn't here.
After the battle with the Sand shinobi ended, dawn had already broken.
Yuki Seisui had let Uchiha Haru rest while they took turns watching Shukaku, preventing it from going berserk.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Shukaku—he didn't trust Old Madara.
After all, Shukaku had once been given a choice: leave freely or return to Konoha with them.
If it had chosen to leave, it would have done so already.
If that had been the only concern, Yuki Seisui wouldn't have worried.
But Old Madara was still alive.
Though the chance of him controlling Shukaku was small, it was better to be cautious.
Old Madara didn't have the Mangekyo Sharingan.
But who knows if he can still control tailed beasts?
After all, he was a Rinnegan user capable of wielding Susanoo.
He lost his eyes and can still use Susanoo?
Even through shadow clones?
Such things sound ridiculous in a story… yet Old Madara could actually do it.
"Seisui, you awake?" Minato poked his head out of the tent.
Lost in thought, Yuki Seisui casually replied, "Minato, it's time to move out."
Hearing this, Minato's face darkened. "You're only just moving out!"
Realizing he had misspoken, Yuki Seisui coughed awkwardly. "Jiraiya-sensei and the others should already be ready."
"It's time to return to the village."
"Hmph!" Minato snorted and walked off without looking back.
======
Not long after, Shukaku followed at the rear, with Yuki Seisui and Uchiha Haru sitting atop its head, watching the line of wounded shinobi and medical personnel ahead.
The two of them were at the back, with Minato leading the front.
They were escorting these people from front to back.
"That's a tailed beast…"
"It looks so scary!"
"Are all tailed beasts this frightening?"
"Not necessarily. Didn't you see? The fox Yuki Seisui summoned earlier was also a tailed beast, but it didn't look this terrifying."
"That fox had nine tails… it must have been the legendary Nine-Tails, right?"
"I heard Yuki Seisui convinced the One-Tail to protect the village."
"Really? That's wonderful! It doesn't look so scary after all."
Shukaku trailed behind, while some medical ninjas and wounded casually discussed it. A few even swatted its tail angrily, kicking up dust.
"Is that how you Konoha shinobi see me?" Shukaku's voice boomed, silencing everyone immediately.
Yuki Seisui, sitting on Shukaku's head, shook his head. "You're not that scary. Just like a raccoon dog. Don't mind their taste."
"You're the raccoon dog! Your whole family's raccoon dogs!" Shukaku snapped instantly.
"I'm a tailed beast—a mighty One-Tail!"
"Ten-Tails…" Shukaku started, but choked on his words.
He didn't need to say more; Yuki Seisui knew exactly what he meant.
"You mean a part of the Ten-Tails, right?" Yuki Seisui supplied.
"The Ten-Tails was split into your nine tailed beasts."
Shukaku stopped in his tracks, eyes wide in disbelief.
"That stinky fox told you that?!"
Ignoring Shukaku's shock, Yuki Seisui yawned and lay down.
It's no big deal. Kurama didn't tell me; I figured it out myself.
The Ten-Tails God Tree… I know about it.
I even know how the Sage of Six Paths split the tailed beasts.
Shukaku's eyes lit up. He had memories only from his childhood and had never witnessed the Ten-Tails being split. Curiosity bubbled up.
"How was it split?"
"Are you sure you want to know?" Yuki Seisui lazily spoke from atop Shukaku's head. Knowing might be unpleasant.
"I act with no regrets!"
Shukaku perked up. If I tell the others, they'll worship me!
Suddenly, he realized something and asked seriously, "Did that stinky fox know?"
"No," Yuki Seisui shook his head.
"I want to hear it, unpleasant or not!"
At this, Yuki Seisui sat up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
Uchiha Haru copied his smile, recently learning from those around her—Yuki Seisui wanted her to smile more.
"When the Sage of Six Paths split the Ten-Tails from the God Tree, there was only one thought in his mind."
"And the distribution of the tailed beasts followed that thought exactly."
"What thought?" Shukaku asked impatiently.
Yuki Seisui's smile grew brighter.
"One-Tail gets one share, Nine-Tails gets one share; Two-Tails gets two shares, Nine-Tails gets two shares; Three-Tails gets three shares, Nine-Tails gets three shares; Four-Tails gets four shares, Nine-Tails gets four shares… Nine-Tails gets nine shares, Nine-Tails gets nine shares."
"In the end, much was left over, so the Sage gave it all to the Nine-Tails."
That's how it was distributed, as far as I know.
Before Yuki Seisui finished, Shukaku had already stopped to think.
Indeed… his chakra couldn't compare to that stinky fox, Kurama.
Though tailed beasts have infinite chakra, there's still a limit.
It's just that their chakra replenishes faster than it's consumed.
Shukaku was silent for a long while, then finally howled to the sky.
"That old man was wicked!"
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