"If we're talking about sealing the Tailed Beasts, the Uzumaki Clan—or more accurately, Konoha Village—has the most expertise. But when it comes to Perfect Jinchuriki and achieving a state of mutual coexistence, from what I know, Kumogakure has surpassed Konoha."
In the Forest of Death, Orochimaru, guiding Kagetsu to this secluded spot, explained, "It seems that within their ranks, they possess a secret technique that allows them to communicate with Tailed Beasts. However, this is a top-secret skill of Kumogakure, and I've only pieced it together from scattered intelligence."
"You want to reconcile with the Two-Tails inside you? That's a feat that can't be accomplished in a short time. If your goal is merely to tap into the Two-Tails' power, or to study it, my advice would be to follow the example of Mito Uzumaki. Use sealing techniques along with your formidable mental strength to forcibly suppress the Tailed Beast."
"Humans are always like this."
A low growl echoed through Kagetsu's mind—the voice of the Two-Tails, Matatabi.
"Jinchūriki will inevitably lose control! If your mind wavers for even a moment, the Tailed Beast's chakra and willpower will overwhelm you. If you can't contain it, you'll lose consciousness, and slowly, your body will give way to the Tailed Beast's rampage."
"The seal Minato placed on you is excellent. As long as your emotions remain stable, the portion of the Two-Tails' chakra sealed within you won't break free from the seal's restrictions.
"However, you must learn to control it. If your status as a Jinchūriki is exposed, that schemer Danzo will undoubtedly start making moves."
Orochimaru patiently advised Kagetsu.
"So today's training is about learning to control the Tailed Beast's chakra?" Kagetsu nodded. The extra presence within his mind had remained quiet so far, not causing any immediate trouble, but it was a lurking danger nonetheless.
Learning control before diving into research was the safest approach.
"First, try summoning the Tailed Beast's chakra. Then focus on controlling it," Orochimaru instructed as he stepped back. "I've set up a barrier around this area. If you lose control, I'll intervene."
Kagetsu took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and descended into his mindscape. There, he stood before the prison that held the Two-Tails. In the darkness, a pair of enormous glowing eyes opened, glaring at him. Kagetsu slowly extended his hand toward them.
A stream of blue chakra, radiating intense heat, began to flow from beneath the cell like a river. It gathered at Kagetsu's feet and started crawling up his body.
The instant the chakra enveloped him, Kagetsu felt an overwhelming heat spreading through his consciousness, as if his very mind was being consumed as fuel for a fire.
The will of the Tailed Beast, intertwined with its chakra, surged forward like a tidal wave, invading both his mind and body.
The more chakra leaked out, the deeper and stronger the invasion became.
Those with weak willpower would be shattered by the force of the chakra's intent, losing consciousness and allowing their bodies to be completely taken over—resulting in an uncontrolled Tailed Beast transformation.
Not only does the Tailed Beast's chakra cause mental instability, but in an uncontrolled state, it can also severely erode the Jinchūriki's body—sometimes even threatening their life.
Even when the Tailed Beast harbors no ill intent toward the Jinchūriki, the power it lends is inherently dangerous. Only a perfect Jinchūriki can wield it safely.
Wisps of blue flames began to appear on Kagetsu's body. Like scales, the flames layered over him, building up piece by piece. As the azure fire climbed higher, the muscles of his exposed arms bulged unnaturally, one after another.
Kagetsu's eyes snapped open. His once-normal pupils had shifted into eerie, feline slits, radiating a sinister gaze that locked directly onto Orochimaru. Behind him, a single blue flame-tail flicked in the breeze, swaying with a dangerous rhythm.
"So, he's already lost consciousness?" Orochimaru muttered to himself. "It seems I was a bit too hasty."
Those violent, savage eyes filled with primal rage made Orochimaru sigh inwardly.
But the transformation wasn't over. Kagetsu was on the verge of advancing beyond his half-Tailed Beast state—dangerously close to a full transformation. Feeling the surge of chakra swelling from Kagetsu, Orochimaru's brows furrowed in concern.
A Kusanagi blade slipped out of Orochimaru's mouth, drawn as effortlessly as a magic trick. He gripped the sword firmly. His plan was simple—end this quickly and wake Kagetsu before he lost himself completely.
A thunderous roar tore from Kagetsu's throat.
His body crouched low, his limbs moving with the fluidity of a cat as he pressed into the ground. His back arched high, and in the next instant, he looked ready to pounce—aiming to shred Orochimaru into pieces.
Orochimaru didn't doubt for a second that Kagetsu would do exactly that.
However, just as Kagetsu was about to launch forward, his body froze mid-air, as if held by an invisible force. He hung suspended, standing on the tips of his toes, his entire body rigid like a statue.
"Hm?" Orochimaru's sharp eyes caught the shift immediately.
Before he could react, an inky-black shadow slithered over Kagetsu's half-transformed body, wrapping him in its suffocating grip.
Countless black tendrils, delicate yet unnervingly strong, wove their way through the chakra cloak surrounding Kagetsu—the protective shroud provided by the Tailed Beast.
In the depths of his mind, Matatabi's cat-like pupils narrowed in frustration. No matter how it thrashed, it couldn't regain control over Kagetsu's body, which it had previously dominated.
A strange power was now challenging Matatabi's control, vying to wrest Kagetsu's body away.
At the same time, Matatabi sensed something unsettling: Kagetsu's consciousness was surging back to the surface, his willpower pushing through the chakra shroud. Worse still, that tenacious spirit was probing Matatabi's mind, attempting to invade the beast's own awareness.
For a moment, Matatabi felt its own chakra slipping from its grasp. Even its thoughts and presence were being forcibly constrained by an overwhelming force—binding it in a way it had never experienced before.
"Shadow Secret Technique?"
Orochimaru's eyes flickered with a hint of realization as he stared at the pitch-black shadow. But then he quickly corrected himself: "The Shadow Secret Technique shouldn't be able to achieve this level. Could it be a Shadow Release Kekkei Genkai?"
Seeing the situation change, Orochimaru held off on his earlier plan to end the trial. It was clear that Kagetsu hadn't completely lost consciousness or been rendered helpless.
Orochimaru, who had been preparing to wake Kagetsu from the mental test, decided to stay put and observe for now.
The Tailed Beast's chakra slowly began to lose its ferocity. It felt as though the will within it had been replaced by another, one much calmer and more controlled.
If the blue flames surrounding Kagetsu earlier were like a raging wildfire, now they resembled campfires and torches—burning in a controlled, purposeful way, as if ignited according to the user's intention.
"Not bad, kid," the cat-like Matatabi inside the cell muttered, now relaxed as the wild chakra faded away. It lay back down on the ground, its thunderous voice booming as it addressed Kagetsu, who stood before it again.
"We're not enemies, so there's no need to fight. My promise to you still stands," Kagetsu said softly, gazing at the massive creature in the cage and offering a quiet reassurance.
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