Chapter 17: The Nine-Faced Subha Sutra
In the sealing space, Tonari had already been there for quite some time.
As time passed, the Two-Tails could feel that Tonari's body was almost fully healed. Once he was ready, he could leave the space whenever he wanted.
Actually, even if Tonari didn't want to leave, the Two-Tails was determined to send him out.
This kid was just too chatty!
At this point, the Two-Tails sincerely wished for Tonari to hurry up and get out. After overcoming his initial unease and struggles, Tonari had completely given up on resistance and was now living a carefree, laid-back life.
No matter how much he worried, it was futile.
And now… he was back to telling stories.
If that wasn't bad enough, all the stories were about cats! The Two-Tails felt like it was on the brink of a breakdown. If not for the cage keeping it in, it might have lunged out to give Tonari a thrashing.
"Stop! Enough! Stop for a moment. I think you've told enough stories for now. Why don't we take a break and talk about that plan you mentioned? The one to grant me freedom?"
The Two-Tails couldn't take it anymore and interrupted Tonari, who was still enthusiastically narrating.
Tonari, slightly embarrassed, swallowed the words he had been about to say. His stories were clearly hilarious, so why did the Two-Tails look so exhausted?
It must have laughed too hard!
Yes, that had to be it!
"Ahem, since you're so curious about this matter, I'll explain it briefly," Tonari said, sitting cross-legged on the ground.
He knew better than to deceive the Two-Tails when it came to this issue; it was a matter of principle. However, that didn't mean he had to rush. At the very least, he needed to show the Two-Tails the potential of his plan.
"Have you ever heard of a technique that descends from the heavens… ah, no, I mean a certain ninjutsu?" Tonari asked.
The Two-Tails shifted slightly, preparing to listen. "What is it?"
Tonari didn't bother with suspense. "The Summoning Jutsu."
The Two-Tails: "..."
A metaphorical "井" symbol seemed to appear on its forehead.
Seeing the Two-Tails' reaction, Tonari didn't panic. Instead, he gestured for it to calm down. "Don't get worked up! Just hear me out first.
"I know your current state doesn't allow for your complete form to be summoned, otherwise the whole concept of a jinchūriki would be pointless.
"But we can work out a compromise. If your full body can't be summoned, why not try summoning a chakra clone instead? It's similar to the Shadow Clone Jutsu that many ninjas use, except this clone would only be a fraction of your chakra."
Tonari's tone grew more confident as he elaborated. "The clone doesn't need to be strong; it doesn't even need to fight. All it has to do is walk freely outside. Isn't that enough for now?"
The Two-Tails listened silently, its eyebrows furrowed in thought. The idea sounded plausible, even if it wasn't perfect.
However, it wasn't entirely satisfied. As a proud creature, it longed for true freedom, not just a semblance of it.
Tonari noticed the Two-Tails' dissatisfaction and added with a grin, "Don't be upset, Big Beauty. This is just the first step in my plan. Once we accomplish this, the next phases will begin.
"This is a three-step process. I promise you'll eventually be able to roam freely outside! Step one is just the beginning. There are two more steps after this!"
The Two-Tails' curiosity was piqued. "What's the second step?"
Tonari's face lit up with a mysterious smile. "The second step is even harder than the first. I can't guarantee success in the short term, but it's not impossible. All I need is access to a certain ninjutsu."
"What ninjutsu?" the Two-Tails asked, intrigued.
"The Nine-Faced Subha Sutra!" Tonari declared.
The Two-Tails looked confused. "Nine-Faced Subha Sutra? What kind of ninjutsu is that?"
The more time the Two-Tails spent with Tonari, the more mystified it became. How could a chakra-less human child possess such a strong will, unyielding even in the face of its intimidation? Moreover, he seemed to know things even seasoned ninjas didn't.
"This jutsu can fully harness your powers as a tailed beast. If I can obtain it, I'll unlock your true potential. The only problem is… finding it depends on luck," Tonari admitted, shrugging.
The Two-Tails nodded slowly. "And the third step?"
Tonari hesitated, then stared blankly at the Two-Tails. "What third step?"
The Two-Tails: "..."
For a moment, it looked like it wanted to strangle him, but its expression soon turned odd, as if it was suppressing laughter.
"What's wrong?" Tonari asked, puzzled.
Suddenly, his surroundings began to blur and distort. The next thing he knew, he was regaining consciousness.
The sharp scent of antiseptics and alcohol invaded his nostrils, and he blinked against the harsh light.
As his vision cleared, several figures came into focus.
He immediately recognized them: Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage; Shimura Danzō, the head of Root; and the Hokage's advisors, Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane.
Their gazes weren't fixed on his face, however. Instead, they seemed to be focused lower.
It took a moment for Tonari to process what was happening. Then it hit him.
His lower half was completely exposed!
His face turned pale as he scrambled to grab a nearby blanket, hastily covering himself.
"Where are my clothes?" Tonari croaked, mortified.
Nara Shikashin, standing nearby, cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ah, well… when we found you, you… uh, weren't wearing any."
Tonari froze. "So, you carried me all the way to Konoha like that?"
Shikashin tried to wave it off. "Don't worry about it. No need to thank me."
Tonari: "..."
Great. I've been paraded through Konoha, butt-naked.
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(End of Chapter)