Chapter 44: Hunger for Power
A deep, bottomless trench split the earth as Blue B, still wrapped in his Tailed Beast cloak, was sliced cleanly in half.
When a Tailed Beast is extracted, the Jinchūriki dies.
Likewise, when the Tailed Beast remains sealed and the Jinchūriki dies, the Tailed Beast dies as well.
The crimson chakra that once surged like a storm now dripped slowly, resembling thick blood.
Standing beside Blue B's bisected body, Kagami Uchiha looked like a bloodthirsty demon.
---
Blue B's body still contained a vast amount of Tailed Beast chakra.
Kagami made no effort to hide as he began absorbing it. His ability to siphon Tailed Beast chakra had already been revealed during the battle against the Four-Tails. There was no need to keep it secret anymore.
If anyone questioned it, he could just attribute it to his Sharingan. After all, they didn't have one.
"You... you really killed the Jinchūriki just like that?"
The rest of the group arrived, their expressions a mix of disbelief and shock.
The battle had been surprisingly brief. Kagami hadn't even seemed to use any major jutsu—they had only caught snippets of his words and the occasional movement.
And then, suddenly, one decisive strike had ended it all.
Not even their revered teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, could achieve something so devastatingly efficient.
Kagami offered no explanation. This fight had not been a showcase of overwhelming power.
From start to finish, he had exploited psychological weaknesses and struck at the cracks in Blue B's mind.
When words alone could dismantle an enemy, Kagami had no qualms about playing the talkative strategist.
Looking at the lifeless body, Jiraiya sighed deeply, more troubled by the broader implications.
"Kagami, you were too impulsive. If we had worked together, we might have captured the Jinchūriki alive."
"Now that he's dead... the Hidden Cloud will never let this go."
"Sensei, you're wrong," Minato interjected firmly.
His gaze was steady, his voice unwavering. "It was the Hidden Cloud who killed our comrades first. If anyone refuses to let this go, it should be us!"
His eyes briefly flicked to the edges of the battlefield, where the broken bodies of Leaf shinobi lay in disarray. The earlier reports had already confirmed that the Hidden Cloud had initiated the invasion.
"I know..." Jiraiya's voice was heavy with bitterness. "I know... I just... hate this endless cycle of war."
"If there's peace at the end of this war," Minato replied, smiling faintly, "then I will fight until the very end."
---
As Kagami absorbed the Eight-Tails' chakra, Minato cautiously approached.
"How are you holding up?"
Kagami didn't answer immediately. He glanced inward at the sealing space within himself.
On one side of the sealed domain lay Sukuna, securely locked away. On the other, the extracted chakra from the Tailed Beasts was neatly stored.
Three "units" of Nine-Tails' chakra rested in a corner, alongside dozens of "units" from the Four-Tails.
The newly acquired Eight-Tails' chakra, nearly two hundred "units," dwarfed the rest. It was a significant boost to his resources.
The Eight-Tails' chakra, predominantly water-aligned with unique properties, was a goldmine for study.
The Tailed Beasts, in essence, were products of Yin-Yang Release. Each new addition to Kagami's collection expanded his understanding of Yin-Yang techniques.
If his comprehension grew deep enough...
He entertained the notion of achieving Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan abilities through chakra manipulation alone.
---
Kagami lacked Orochimaru's biological research capabilities.
He couldn't grow an Eight-Tails horn from a single skin cell, but he didn't need to.
With the Sharingan's insight into chakra, Kagami could delve deeper than cellular analysis, down to the metaphysical core—akin to manipulating molecules rather than just cells.
Orochimaru could only lament his lack of Sharingan as Kagami smirked internally.
Smoothing his thoughts, Kagami turned back to the group.
"I already told you—it's just a Tailed Beast."
"Only someone like Jiraiya-sensei would have trouble with it."
BONK!
Caught off guard, Kagami felt a heavy fist slam into his head.
Who could strike so fast and so hard?
Ah... it was Kushina.
"What was that for!?" Kagami snarled, clutching his head. Her punch was heavier than even the Raikage's hits.
Kushina stood with her fists clenched, her fiery red hair swaying like tails.
"I worked hard to suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra! Are you saying I'm no better than this pervy old man?"
---
Jiraiya wisely chose silence at this moment.
Kagami evaluated the situation. If it came to a fight, Kushina's raw strength might give her the edge.
And if Minato joined her? Definitely a lost cause.
Kagami had always maintained a sharp distinction between how he treated strangers and his clan. To outsiders, he was cold and unapproachable. But to his clan, he was the picture of charm and filial devotion.
Even as a child, when Obito accused Kagami of bullying him, no one believed it.
So now, Kagami softened his expression into a warm, disarming smile.
"Nine-Tails is in a league of its own, far stronger than the sum of all other Tailed Beasts combined."
"When I said it was just a Tailed Beast, of course, I wasn't including the Nine-Tails. You misunderstood."
The difference between Kagami and the future Sasuke was that Kagami knew when to yield and when to stand firm.
Kushina's fist lowered.
"See? I knew you weren't that bad of a kid," she said, her tone playful as she ruffled his hair.
"Call me Big Sis Kushina!"
"Stop messing with my hair!" Kagami growled, swatting her hand away.
"Oh, come on, what's the big deal about a little pat?"
Minato intervened, gently pulling Kushina back. "If Kagami doesn't like it, you should stop. You wouldn't want people calling you by silly nicknames, right?"
That seemed to strike a chord. Kushina relented, leaning casually against Kagami's shoulder.
"Fine, fine, don't be mad. I'll treat you to BBQ back in the village. I'm rich, you know!"
Kagami scoffed. "I own an entire street in the Uchiha district."
"Well, I own a street in the commercial district!"
---
Nearby, Jiraiya nudged Minato, whispering conspiratorially.
"So, Minato... how far have you and Kushina gone?"
"Sensei..." Minato sighed, exasperated. "You know how much travel and research costs, right?"
---
Kōsuke Maruboshi observed quietly, a faint smile on his lips. He saw promise in these young shinobi.
Even Kagami, despite his ruthless demeanor toward enemies, clearly cared for his comrades.
The four had spent weeks together, and the team's dynamic was beginning to solidify.
Watching them, Kōsuke was reminded of the Three Legendary Sannin in their prime.
---
Kagami, meanwhile, had moved aside, pulling out a bento box to eat alone.
The others had long since stopped questioning his solitary habits.
At first, Kushina thought Kagami simply disliked Maruboshi's cooking. That was until she saw what Kagami ate.
His meals were nothing more than a concoction of herbs and medicines—far less appetizing than even ration pills.
Minato and Jiraiya had always known about Kagami's dietary regime. His immense power was no mystery to them.
What they couldn't understand was why Kagami craved strength so desperately.
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