“How does it look, Lord Yayoi?
My little tactic worked quite well, didn’t it?” Kakuzu asked with clear satisfaction.
He had successfully drawn the Seven-Tails’ attention and even managed to break through its defense.
He quietly stepped in front of Yayoi to shield him.
A Tailed Beast Ball was still far too dangerous.
He would leave the rest to Lord Yayoi.
“It was certainly very effective,” Yayoi replied, equally pleased.
The Seven-Tails, now driven mad with rage and heavily weakened, had become much easier to handle.
“Die, you filthy humans!”
The Seven-Tails condensed another chakra sphere — a Tailed Beast Ball — inside its mouth and tilted its head back, preparing to launch it.
Yayoi slightly tilted his head and flicked his fingers.
Irori instantly appeared in front of him.
The hem of her blue kimono fluttered, revealing a glimpse of her snow-white, jade-like calves.
Irori brought her hands together, her purple eyes glowing brightly.
Ice Release: Ice Banquet Corridor!
Crack crack crack.
The sound of freezing air echoed through the forest.
A pale, cold wind swept across the land, instantly freezing the ground, the air, the trees, the river, and even the sky itself.
Everything turned into a mountain-sized block of ice, trapping both the Seven-Tails and the Tailed Beast Ball inside.
The violent aura of the Tailed Beast Ball continued to rage, faintly approaching its critical point.
Then, with an ear-splitting explosion, the Tailed Beast Ball detonated at point-blank range right in front of the Seven-Tails.
The mountain-sized ice block shattered and scattered in every direction, destroying trees deep in the forest and creating countless massive craters.
The Seven-Tails’ aura looked noticeably weaker and lifeless, but it had sustained no visible injuries.
Yayoi let out a small breath.
Controlling the puppet while releasing such a powerful technique in one breath had taken a considerable toll even on him.
Among the Tailed Beasts, the Seven-Tails ranked third in strength after the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails, but this was not its prime.
Recalling the battle months ago when Uchiha Madara had defeated it, Yayoi realized he still had a long road ahead.
Since the Seven-Tails was not at full strength, it could not fire Tailed Beast Balls consecutively.
Yayoi did not miss the opening.
He quickly flicked his fingers again, sending Irori charging toward the Seven-Tails.
The Seven-Tails was now on guard.
It had realized that the human controlling the puppet was no ordinary ninja.
He was not as skilled as the red-eyed Uchiha who had nearly killed it months ago, but he was far from mediocre.
The giant insect spread its six wings and took to the sky, trying to seize control of the airspace.
Earth Release: Yellow Spring Marsh!
The Seven-Tails suddenly felt its legs sink.
Before it could react, its massive body began sinking into a swamp.
After releasing the technique, Kakuzu immediately retreated without hesitation, using Water Body Flicker to escape the Seven-Tails’ attack range, leaving a trail of water behind him.
Kakuzu’s Earth Release was not strong enough to completely seal the Seven-Tails, but it could slow its movements for a while.
Irori’s figure appeared above the Seven-Tails’ head.
Like a fairy, she spun gracefully in the air, the hem of her blue kimono fluttering beautifully.
An extremely cold current gathered beneath her feet.
When she swung her wrist toward the Seven-Tails, a silver-white light flashed.
Ice Release: One-Slash Ice Burial!
Boom!
A blade-shaped mass of ice fell from the sky and slammed into the Seven-Tails’ hard shell.
The monstrous beast let out a pained cry, as if vomiting bitter water from its stomach.
Its mind spun and its face twisted in agony.
Thin, paper-like ice crystals floated in the air beneath Irori’s black wooden clogs.
Using them as stepping stones, she dashed lightly through the sky.
Every time she landed, new sturdy ice fragments appeared beneath her feet, allowing her to continue her aerial pursuit.
Yayoi also began moving, changing position while controlling Irori.
The Seven-Tails roared in fury and opened its massive mouth, firing a small black sphere filled with destructive energy straight at Yayoi’s location.
It was a weakened version of the Tailed Beast Ball.
Its power was much lower, but it required no charging time and could be used instantly.
Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!
Yayoi responded calmly with his free right hand, forming hand seals.
Thick, tall earthen walls rose from the ground one after another.
Because he had stored a large amount of chakra, the walls he created this time were far larger and sturdier than usual.
Boom!
The weakened Tailed Beast Ball struck the earthen wall, kicking up rubble and dust.
Behind the wall stood Yayoi, completely unharmed.
Yayoi was not surprised.
Even without the puppet, his own power was far from ordinary.
He could not completely block a full Tailed Beast Ball, but this weakened version had power comparable to a high-level Fire Release technique, so defending against it was not a problem.
Besides ninjutsu, he was also highly skilled in taijutsu.
However, if he tried to charge the Tailed Beast with only his physical body, he would undoubtedly be killed.
Otherwise, if he had coordinated with Irori for a joint attack from the beginning, the battle might have ended much sooner.
Cold stars soon began shining in the sky again.
Countless ice spears rained down toward the earth like meteors once more.
The Seven-Tails fiercely counterattacked, roaring toward the sky and enduring the meteor-like barrage with its body.
At the same time, Irori spread both arms wide.
A pale, cold torrent of air surged toward the ground like a tsunami.
Ice Release: Snow Frost Killing!
Thick white frost instantly covered the Seven-Tails’ body.
A cold front passed through, turning the forest deathly white.
The land and trees looked as if they had lost all life in an instant.
The Seven-Tails’ beastly aura gradually weakened, but its resistance grew fiercer.
The cold air did not last long, and the thick frost soon began to crack.
Yayoi remained calm.
He understood that defeating a Tailed Beast was never going to be easy.
Fortunately, Irori’s abilities were perfectly suited for capturing and restraining large creatures.
Chakra-powered ice blades and spears streaked across the sky like white meteors, rushing toward the Seven-Tails.
The cold-front-like air further hardened the frost clinging to the Seven-Tails’ body.
Kakuzu occasionally appeared as well, using Earth Release to cover the beast or weakening it from a distance with Water Release techniques.
He also kept throwing shuriken and kunai.
Although they caused almost no damage, they were extremely insulting and only fueled the Seven-Tails’ rage, driving it further into madness.
The attacks only stopped when the Seven-Tails’ aura had completely weakened and Yayoi could once again freely control Irori.
Staring at the Seven-Tails, now turned into a giant ice sculpture, Yayoi recalled Irori’s performance and let out a deep sigh.
Even for a Tailed Beast, and even when not at full strength, it was not something that could be suppressed so easily.
He could say he had defeated the Seven-Tails without suffering any injuries, but he was exhausted.
Moreover, this was only possible because Irori had first sealed the Seven-Tails’ flight ability with Ice Release.
If the beast had taken to the sky, Irori would have been forced to watch helplessly.
Although Irori also possessed aerial combat capabilities, she was ultimately not as agile as the Seven-Tails.
The Seven-Tails’ power was not considered particularly strong among the Tailed Beasts, but its exceptional mobility and air superiority made it virtually invincible in many situations.
Yayoi took two military ration pills from his tool pouch and swallowed them.
Kakuzu also approached wearily.
After helping suppress the Seven-Tails, his chakra reserves had been significantly depleted.
“Next…”
Just as Yayoi was about to step toward the Seven-Tails, a black shadow flashed and a ninja blade entered his field of vision.
Kakuzu’s expression changed.
Earth Release: Earth Spear!
Kakuzu used Body Flicker to intercept the attacker and blocked the descending ninja blade with his darkened arm.
Clang!
The blade struck Kakuzu’s arm with great force, sending sparks flying, but it failed to even break his skin.
The newcomer looked surprised.
She took a step back, her expression shifting slightly.
Unfortunately, it was already too late.
Irori’s figure appeared like a ghost beside the attacker.
Her slender, jade-like fingers gently touched her.
White frost immediately spread across the attacker’s body, leaving only her head able to move.
Yayoi glanced at the assailant.
It was a girl around twelve or thirteen years old, still quite childish in appearance.
She had long, straight black hair, fair skin, and refined features.
Most striking were her crimson, double-tomoe Sharingan.
“Sharingan… You’re from the Uchiha clan?”
The girl was dressed in the typical layered armor and form-fitting black ninja attire common in the Warring States period.
She looked like a young female warrior.
Judging from her skilled combat style, she was probably already accustomed to killing, her senses dulled to it.
This was a common problem among ninjas in the Warring States era.
Even four- or five-year-old children had to become used to cutting people down, or they would be killed themselves.
Yayoi stared at the girl’s two-tomoe Sharingan and showed no fear of her genjutsu.
His chakra activity far surpassed that of ordinary ninjas, which meant any genjutsu used against him would be significantly weakened.
Even with the Sharingan, controlling someone with genjutsu was extremely difficult at the two-tomoe level.
“Lord Yayoi, shall I kill her?”
Kakuzu stepped closer, killing intent clear in his light-green eyes.
“You thieves!
The Seven-Tails was suppressed by Lord Madara!
The Seven-Tails belongs to us, the Uchiha clan!”
The girl shouted loudly.
Even though she was restrained, there was no fear of death in her crimson Sharingan.
“…”
The girl’s words stirred an unpleasant memory in Yayoi.
His lips twitched slightly.
Every time he heard that name, he unconsciously recalled his own helplessness that night, feeling like nothing more than a small fry.
“The Madara you speak of didn’t even spare the Seven-Tails a second glance.”
Yayoi let out a soft breath, then had Irori release the girl’s restraints.
From the girl’s answer, it was clear the Uchiha clan knew about the Seven-Tails.
This girl had probably been sent on a mission by the Uchiha.
This meant the Uchiha clan had always been aware of the Seven-Tails’ location.
If she died here, it would become very troublesome.
Especially now that the Senju and Uchiha clans had formed an alliance, it would be wiser not to provoke them.
The girl frowned, clearly not understanding the meaning behind Yayoi’s words.
Yayoi saw no need to explain.
After Uchiha Madara returned months ago, he had only briefly mentioned the Seven-Tails’ location.
The other Uchiha ninjas had probably taken an interest because of it.
But the truth was, Uchiha Madara had disliked the Seven-Tails and simply beaten it before leaving.
The idea that the Seven-Tails belonged to the Uchiha was nothing more than wishful thinking on the part of the other Uchiha ninjas.
If Uchiha Madara had left any trace on the Seven-Tails previously, Yayoi would never have dared to target it.
He would have gone after another Tailed Beast instead.
Ignoring the Uchiha girl, Yayoi walked toward the Seven-Tails and used Irori to remove the frost from its body.
A wave of cold air spread out.
Kakuzu and the Uchiha girl following behind involuntarily shivered, their teeth chattering.
The Seven-Tails lay on the ground, barely breathing, completely weakened and powerless.
“You can leave now, little Uchiha girl.”
Yayoi glanced at the Uchiha girl and motioned for her to go.
Outsiders are not allowed to interfere with what happens next.
“This is Uchiha territory.
Why can’t I stay here?!”
The Uchiha girl’s Sharingan had reverted to normal black-and-white eyes, and her tone was far from polite.
Kakuzu raised an eyebrow, looking as if he wanted to teach the girl a lesson about respecting her elders.
Yayoi raised a hand to stop him and stared at the girl.
“This is an important moment where the Senju clan should form an alliance with your Uchiha clan.
As a ninja of the Uchiha, would it really be wise for you not to return?”
“What?!
An alliance with the Senju clan?!”
The girl’s eyes widened as if she had heard something impossible.
“That means you’ve been out of contact with the outside world for a while, hasn’t it?
About two weeks ago, the Senju and Uchiha clans signed a peace treaty and officially formed an alliance.”
Yayoi gave the girl a puzzled look.
She really seemed unaware of the news.
The girl’s face turned pale, anger flashing in her eyes.
“Hey, if you’re going to make something up, at least make it believable!
The Uchiha clan forming an alliance with the Senju clan?
That’s impossible no matter how you look at it!”
Her parents, brother, sister, and countless other clan members had all died at the hands of Senju ninjas.
If the Uchiha formed an alliance with the Senju, what would happen to the deep hatred she carried?
The grudge between the two clans would only end when one side was completely annihilated!
“This is common knowledge.”
Yayoi ignored the girl’s question and answered calmly.
Seeing Yayoi’s confident attitude, the girl unconsciously suppressed her inner impulse and calmed down.
She immediately turned on her heel, preparing to return to her clan to verify whether Yayoi’s information was true.
“Hey, young lady, what’s your name?”
Yayoi’s voice called out from behind.
The girl paused for a moment, then ran off without turning around.
Her voice drifted back from a distance.
“Uchiha Izayoi.
My name is Uchiha Izayoi.”
Watching the girl’s retreating figure, Yayoi turned his gaze back to the Seven-Tails.
“Lord Yayoi, are you worried about that Uchiha brat?”
Kakuzu was extremely curious.
“Being able to awaken the Sharingan at such a young age means that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, she will at least become a high-ranking member of the Uchiha clan in the future.
That’s why it’s wise to build a good relationship with them first.”
Yayoi answered the question.
He didn’t know whether this connection would prove useful later, but having more friends meant having more options.
Especially in the future, when the Senju and Uchiha clans founded Konohagakure, it would become the center of the entire ninja world.
If the Night Kingdom wanted to develop further, contact with Konohagakure would inevitably be necessary.
No individual will could change the torrent of progress brought by the flow of time.
Kakuzu nodded.
This was indeed Yayoi’s way of doing things.
As long as it wasn’t an irreconcilable grudge, he would make many friends and very few enemies.
Kakuzu had followed Yayoi for nearly ten years and had witnessed how he rose from a lowly mercenary to seizing sovereignty over two nations and emerging as the final victor.
In addition to necessary military power, gathering every possible external force was also essential support.
Otherwise, they would forever remain insignificant mercenaries.
“Let’s begin.”
Yayoi gave a signal with his fingers.
Irori, dressed in her blue kimono, walked gracefully to his side like a loyal servant.