"Roar~"
Under the restraint of the golden chains, the mutant summoning beast grew increasingly violent. Unaccustomed to such confinement, it struggled desperately, seemingly possessing limitless strength.
For Honoka Uzumaki, this was her first time unlocking her hidden powers. As time passed, she began to falter.
"Ugh..."
Honoka bit her lip hard, her pale eyes slowly regaining focus. Her once upright red hair started to fall as she watched the uncontrollable mutant summoning beast with despair etched on her face.
"Damn it... I still can't do it..."
Her power... was waning.
The mutant summoning beast sensed this. Seizing the opportunity, its eyes gleamed, two white beams flashed, locking onto Honoka's gaze. In that instant, Honoka's body froze, her chakra dissipating, leaving her standing motionless as if controlled.
Following this, the golden chains protruding from her back began to vanish rapidly.
"It's... a genjutsu from that beast?"
Natsuhane quickly realized something was wrong and rushed to break the genjutsu on Honoka.
Placing a hand on Honoka's shoulder, he injected a small amount of chakra into her and whispered, "Release!"
Meanwhile, the mutant summoning beast didn't idle. With its focus solely on Honoka, it lunged towards her, jaws wide open.
It wanted to devour Honoka! It couldn't wait.
It was ravenous, never having encountered someone with such abundant chakra before.
The beast's incessant need to consume people and other summoning beasts wasn't driven by their flesh but by their chakra.
This creature was insatiable for chakra.
It knew well that devouring Honoka would initiate its next evolutionary phase.
Under Natsuhane's chakra infusion, Honoka gradually regained consciousness. Seeing the beast charging at her, she despaired and murmured, "It's over..."
From behind, Natsuhane's voice called out, "Why panic? Did you forget I was here?"
Realizing Natsuhane was behind her, Honoka was stunned. Then, with a pale face, she shouted, "Don't be foolish! You can't beat it. Even Kirigakure's elite Jōnin couldn't match this monster. Run! I'll cover you!"
Honoka clasped her hands together, her chakra surging once more. She was determined to give her all. Her death seemed inevitable, but she hoped to allow the innocent Natsuhane to escape.
As the mutant summoning beast drew nearer, Honoka turned and yelled, "Run! You don't have to die with me!"
Natsuhane smiled slightly, shook his head, and firmly grasped Honoka's hand, interrupting her final attempt to cast a jutsu.
The chakra surrounding Honoka vanished instantly.
"Wh-what are you doing? I barely managed to gather that!" Honoka exclaimed in shock.
Natsuhane said nothing, pulling Honoka behind him. He replied softly, "Stay behind me and be quiet. I don't want you to die; it would be a real shame if you did."
"You..." Honoka was utterly bewildered. She couldn't comprehend what this young man intended to do.
"Roar~"
The mutant summoning beast was now right in front of them.
Its huge, drooling maw aimed to engulf them. Its tongue shot out, ready to pull them in.
At this critical moment, Natsuhane's eyes narrowed, and he let out a powerful shout. An immense chakra surged forth, stopping the beast's tongue mid-air.
The entire beast's body froze, unable to move an inch forward, not daring to even breathe.
Honoka's chakra had been enticing, but Natsuhane's chakra instilled unprecedented fear.
How could a mere human possess such vast chakra?
The beast, which had consumed hundreds of summoning beasts for their chakra, found Natsuhane's chakra incomparable.
Frozen in place, this was the first time the mutant summoning beast felt true fear.
Behind Natsuhane, Honoka was equally astonished, rendered speechless for a long time. Finally, regaining her senses, she whispered, "You... you're this strong?"
Natsuhane nodded, stepping closer to the paralyzed beast, and spoke coldly, "If you don't want to die, follow me. Don't worry, I know you're a glutton. I have more than enough chakra to feed you. Obey me, and I'll share it with you."
The mutant summoning beast seemed to understand. It nodded frantically, coiling its body and kneeling before Natsuhane, whimpering submissively.
Hearing the pitiful sounds, Natsuhane couldn't help but chuckle. No matter how ferocious a beast, when it submits, it turns into a harmless creature.
Without hesitation, Natsuhane drew a kunai, made a cut on the beast's forehead, and then pricked his own finger, mixing their blood.
"From now on, I am your first master. Hmm... I'll call you Whimpering Beast."
"Roar? Whimper, whimper..."
Though displeased with the name, the beast had no choice but to comply under Natsuhane's dominance.
Thus, Natsuhane successfully tamed the strongest mutant summoning beast.
Seeing the Whimpering Beast so obedient, Natsuhane, never one to withhold rewards, placed his palm on the beast, pouring a substantial amount of chakra into it.
As the chakra surged into it, the beast's eyes widened, its body trembling and expanding.
While this chakra was nothing for Natsuhane, for the Whimpering Beast, it was akin to devouring hundreds of summoning beasts.
As its body swelled, it gradually transformed into a cocoon. Moments later, a giant cicada-like creature emerged. Seeing this new form, Natsuhane frowned.
"This is... ugly," he muttered in disgust.
Sensing Natsuhane's disapproval, the Whimpering Beast looked down, realizing its grotesque appearance. Fearful of displeasing its master, it trembled in terror.
"Honoka, do you think it's ugly?" Natsuhane asked.
But Honoka, still in shock, couldn't respond. Her jaw hung open in disbelief.
A beast so powerful, tamed so effortlessly by Natsuhane—if she hadn't witnessed it herself, she wouldn't have believed it.
With no answer from Honoka, Natsuhane sighed, circling the giant cicada in thought. He shook his head, contemplating.
The air grew tense...
The Whimpering Beast trembled continuously, terrified of its master's potential wrath.
Suddenly, Natsuhane had an idea. He slapped his forehead and muttered, "Right! It can evolve further..."
Natsuhane placed his hands on the Whimpering Beast again, pouring more chakra into it.
"Make it worthwhile. Don't evolve into something else ugly! I may have lots of chakra, but I can't waste it."
As the chakra flowed, the Whimpering Beast's body began to transform again.
"Roar~ Roar~"
Ecstatic about another feast, the beast hoped its next evolution would be more pleasing.
When the chakra infusion doubled from before, the giant cicada form began to change.
A white cocoon reappeared...
...
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