Yuki Seisui pondered for a moment before finally speaking.
"According to what you said, Nine-Tails has more chakra than you, so you can't beat him."
"Then why don't you use sealing techniques?"
As he spoke, Seisui's gaze fell upon the black runic markings covering Shukaku's body.
These markings were condensations of sealing power.
Shukaku was a unique existence among the tailed beasts.
Of course, every tailed beast was unique in its own way.
But this "uniqueness" didn't mean Shukaku was the only tailed beast of his kind—it meant that among all tailed beasts, he was the only one capable of using ninjutsu.
He could even use sealing techniques.
Using sealing techniques against a tailed beast… wouldn't that make things easy?
Seisui's idea sounded perfect, but Shukaku merely curled his lip in disdain.
If things were really that simple, he would have long since become the strongest of the tailed beasts.
Did this kid really think he had never tried using sealing techniques or ninjutsu?
The markings on his body were curse seals. They could seal certain things, yes—but strictly speaking, they weren't sealing techniques. They were curse techniques.
To the world at large, they might be lumped together as sealing arts, but in truth, these curse seals could only control sand, iron sand, and similar substances.
Did people really think Magnet Release and Sand Release were developed by the Sunagakure ninjas themselves?
The Second Kazekage, Shamon, had been the most obsessed with studying tailed beasts.
He had treated Shukaku—who was sealed in a temple at the time—as a living weapon and researched him for years.
The One-Tail had been studied inside and out.
Sand Release, Magnet Release, and puppet techniques were all developed after that research.
It could be said that the Sunagakure's rise to one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries—aside from the Land of Wind itself being a major country—owed a great deal to Shukaku.
Even though he had only ever been a research subject.
"The curse seals on me can't restrain that stinking fox, Nine-Tails," Shukaku said gruffly.
Seisui responded casually,
"Then you can make traps."
"For example, bury both yourself and Nine-Tails together in sand, then manipulate the sand to release yourself."
"Wouldn't that work just fine?"
As he spoke, Seisui stared intently at the curse markings on Shukaku's body.
If he remembered correctly, Shukaku had already possessed these markings since he was young.
Glancing at the thoughtful Shukaku, Seisui mused inwardly, This is probably the Sage of Six Paths' handiwork.
Was this compensation for favoring Nine-Tails too much?
These markings weren't ninjutsu. Although Seisui didn't know an extraordinary amount about sealing techniques, with Uzumaki Kushina's help, he had learned quite a few.
The markings on Shukaku resembled sealing techniques, but in reality, they felt like part of an entirely different system.
Seisui didn't dwell on it.
After all, as he had thought before—
Even before the Otsutsuki descended, this world already had other power systems.
Creatures like Moryo, the priestesses of the Land of Demons, and the natural energy of the Three Great Sage Regions.
There were also beings like the Jashin and the Shinigami.
These things had existed since ancient times.
Especially the Shinigami and the Jashin—the original Naruto story never fully explained them.
It was as if their existence was simply natural.
So for the Sage of Six Paths to possess other methods beyond chakra was perfectly normal.
As for why these curse seals were carved only onto Shukaku, Seisui chose not to think about it.
Because there was no way to figure it out anyway.
When Otsutsuki Kaguya comes out, I'll just ask her myself.
While Seisui and Shukaku were talking, a battlefield-altering event was unfolding on Kumogakure front.
Hatake Sakumo and Minato were hidden in the shadows, while several other chunin lay concealed in surrounding positions.
Looking at Minato, Sakumo spoke with a solemn expression.
"Minato, this mission is critical."
"If we intercept these supplies, Kumogakure will likely retreat."
"And once Kumogakure retreats, Iwagakure will most likely withdraw as well."
"At that point, only Kirigakure will remain. Even if they don't retreat, Konoha will be able to crush them in the Land of Waves."
"So this mission must succeed. Failure is not an option."
Sakumo's words made Minato nod seriously.
He might not have thought this far ahead before—until now, he had simply done whatever Seisui told him—but with Sakumo laying it out clearly, he understood.
He wasn't foolish; he just hadn't considered the broader picture.
Seeing Minato nod, Sakumo said nothing more.
The two of them stared grimly at the road ahead.
They had received intelligence that Kumogakure's supply convoy would pass through here today.
Time passed slowly, the sun climbing higher in the sky.
Just as the waiting began to weigh on everyone's nerves, Sakumo and Minato—watching the distant road—brightened simultaneously.
"They're here!" Sakumo tossed a leaf onto the road. "That's their agreed signal."
Seeing Konoha, the hidden chunin around them concealed themselves even more carefully.
They all understood how important this mission was.
And so did Kumogakure. That was why this operation was destined to be difficult.
Even with the White Fang and the Yellow Flash present.
Because no one knew who Kumogakure would send to escort these supplies.
As the Cloud shinobi drew closer, Minato clearly saw the man leading them.
A.
The son of the Third Raikage.
Alongside him were young Killer Bee and more than twenty jonin.
This lineup alone showed just how seriously Kumogakure valued these supplies.
Even while the front lines were locked in fierce combat with Konoha, they still dispatched so many elites—and the young A himself—to guard them.
Seeing this, Sakumo frowned.
"This is bad," he muttered.
Minato frowned as well.
With so many jonin, this mission truly was extremely difficult.
Sakumo himself possessed Kage-level strength, but the young A was no less formidable.
The two had clashed before on the front lines.
Even Sakumo had been unable to gain the upper hand.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode was simply broken in this high-attack, low-defense ninja world.
Not only did the Lightning Armor dramatically increase defense, it also granted overwhelming speed.
It could be said that the young A, once wrapped in lightning armor, was a lower-tier version of the Third Raikage himself.
Sakumo could hold him back, but what about the dozens of jonin?
With that thought, Sakumo looked at Minato and spoke gravely.
"You must be careful on this mission."
"Yes," Minato replied, equally serious. "I should be able to keep those jonin occupied."
He recalled how he had used Flying Raijin to dart through the Sunagakure forces on that battlefield, and confidence rose within him.
…..
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