424 Learning Ninjutsu in a Glance

Advisor Koharu Utatane frowned.

"Everyone knows the Ōtsutsuki's target is the tailed beasts, but right now the only one under Konoha's protection is the Nine-Tails. As for the other tailed beasts…"

Shinju understood the advisor's concern and nodded.

"I'll get in touch with them."

In fact, after the Ōtsutsuki appeared last time, Shinju had protected the tailed beasts for a while.

But tailed beasts are ultimately different from humans, and each one has its own temperament.Long story short—they just can't live together with people…

Seeing that the Ōtsutsuki hadn't made a move for a long time, Shinju let them return to the mountains and wilderness.

Still, to protect the tailed beasts and guard against the Ōtsutsuki, the newly established tailed beast habitats were set up not far from the major ninja villages…

Tsunade nodded.

"Then it's settled. Meeting adjourned."

Soon, everyone in the office dispersed.

Just as Shinju stood up to leave, Tsunade called out to him.

"Shinju, I heard Konoha's archaeological team found something strange in the sea. If you have time, go take a look at the research institute."

"Alright." Shinju nodded.

A few minutes later, after checking Naruto's homework, Shinju walked out of the Konoha research institute, preparing to speak with the tailed beasts in his mental space.

After the last Ōtsutsuki descent, Shinju had placed a Mind-Transfer Mark on each tailed beast, making it easier to identify and communicate with them when using the Mind Body Transmission Technique.

"The Ōtsutsuki have returned. All tailed beasts—assemble at Konoha."

As soon as Shinju finished speaking, the shrill voice of the One-Tail Shukaku rang out:

"Shinju, I'm under attack, damn it! Hurry up and help!! Σ(っ °Д °;)っ"

That piercing voice snapped Shinju fully awake.

"Hang on, I'm coming right now!"

...

Land of Wind.

One-Tail Shukaku's habitat.

Although Shukaku disliked humans, the endless sands of the Land of Wind were the most suitable place for it to live.

And to protect the tailed beast, its habitat was not far from Sunagakure.

At this moment, Shukaku was under attack. Upon receiving the news, the Sunagakure ninja rushed over immediately and engaged the Ōtsutsuki in battle.

High in the sky.

An Ōtsutsuki clad in white robes, carrying a red-glowing fishing rod, looked down arrogantly at the Sunagakure forces fighting puppets below.

"Puppets are actually pretty useful."

"And more importantly, lower life-forms are just too weak—can't even handle a few puppets."

"As long as I avoid that man, everything's easy ꉂ(ˊᗜˋ*)..."

Just as he finished speaking, Urashiki's expression changed slightly. He noticed that the massive One-Tail tanuki had frozen in place, as if communicating with someone!

In that brief moment of distraction, Gaara seized the opportunity.

"Grand Burial Seal!!!"

"Whooo—!"

Sand surged up across the ground, instantly engulfing Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's body!

Immediately after, the rapidly flowing sand gathered and condensed, forming a gigantic sand pyramid!

Soon, sealing formulas appeared on the surface of the pyramid!

Ōtsutsuki Urashiki was sealed inside!

On the other side, at the instant before his body was swallowed by endless sand, Urashiki saw a red figure appear atop Shukaku's head!

At that moment, only two words filled his mind—

I'm finished!

Opposite him, Shinju stood on Shukaku's head, sweeping his gaze across the battlefield.

Beneath his feet, Shukaku's disgruntled voice rang out:

"Why did you put the Flying Thunder God mark on my head?! I'm not happy! Ծ‸ Ծ"

Shinju curled his lips.

"Stop being so picky."

Then Shinju looked toward Gaara not far away.

"How is it?"

Gaara didn't even need to speak. He simply glanced lightly toward the pyramid in the distance.

Shinju immediately understood. An Aoki-no-Mikoto clone appeared atop the pyramid!

With a loud "whoosh," the clone opened the Gate of Death!

"Night Guy!!!"

A blood-red giant dragon appeared, slamming headfirst into the golden pyramid!

"Boom!"

The pyramid instantly shattered into countless pieces!

At last, Shinju laid eyes on the long-unseen Ōtsutsuki clansman!

However—

The very moment Urashiki's figure was exposed, a Yomotsu Hirasaka space-time gate instantly appeared and swallowed his body whole!

So fast that no one could even react!

Nearby, the Sunagakure ninja all stared wide-eyed. (⊙o⊙)

Amazing!!

So this is the Ōtsutsuki… Is this the Sixth Hokage of Konoha?!

Facing an enemy that had been crushing them, the Sixth Hokage suppressed him the instant he appeared—so much so that he scared the enemy into fleeing outright!

...

Sunagakure office.

Shinju looked full of regret as he spoke.

"I didn't expect that Ōtsutsuki to activate space-time ninjutsu so quickly… even faster than Kaguya. I was careless…"

Gaara smiled.

"Don't say that. If you hadn't arrived in time, I'd have died there today. (σ≧︎▽︎≦︎)σ"

"Since you're here, take Shukaku with you. After all, Konoha is the safest place in the entire ninja world right now."

Shinju nodded—he had the same thought.

"By the way, you fought him directly. Do you know what abilities that Ōtsutsuki has?"

After thinking for a moment, Gaara said,

"Besides the space-time ninjutsu you saw, he can also control puppet soldiers in battle, and the puppets share his field of vision… And that red-glowing fishing rod of his—it can easily break through defenses and hook out a ninja's chakra!"

Shinju asked,

"That's all?"

Gaara:

"..."

"That alone was already more than enough to beat us half to death."

...

Night.

Konoha Village.

Shinju's home.

"So exhausted!" Naruto muttered as he pushed the door open—only to be shocked to find many extra guests inside the house!

"Killer Bee-san, and Yugito… why are you at my place? And these tailed-beast figurines on the table—are they gifts from you? (≖╻≖;)" Naruto asked curiously.

The moment he finished speaking, a figurine that looked exactly like Shukaku suddenly spoke:

"Kid, you're still as annoying as ever! How dare you call Lord Shukaku a figurine! ヽ('⌒´メ)ノ"

The Nine-Tails inside Naruto had never gotten along with the One-Tail and immediately shot back,

"You smelly tanuki! No manners at all!"

The two tailed beasts started arguing back and forth…

Hearing the noise, Shinju came downstairs and said irritably,

"Hey, shut it. Keep yelling and I'll toss both of you into the trash can! (▼ヘ▼#)"

All the tailed beasts instantly fell silent.

After that, Shinju turned to Naruto and explained,

"Recently, new members of the Ōtsutsuki clan have appeared again, so I brought the tailed beasts and their jinchūriki to Konoha for protection…"

Naruto continued asking curiously,

"Then why did all the tailed beasts get so small?"

"A sealing technique I just developed. It can shrink their size and also block the chakra fluctuations coming from them," Shinju said as he walked toward the bathroom.

"You hang out with them for now. I'm going to take a shower—I ran all over outside and I'm dead tired…"

Yugito: (´◊ω◊｀)