"Kid, what's your name?"
"Kazuyama Gekkō, of the Konoha Gekkō Clan."
"Hm, do you have any bugs on you? You know, the ones that... well... you can eat."
Kazuyama Gekkō blinked in confusion. Bugs you can eat? What kind of request was that?
Suddenly, he remembered that he did have some insects on him, ones with a faint scent reminiscent of the Aburame Clan. Could Chōmei mean those?
"Is this what you mean?"
He casually retrieved a bottle containing the insects he had prepared earlier. In an effort to block Shibi Aburame's senses, he had specifically captured and stored them in this bottle.
Chōmei's massive eyes focused on the bottle, and an unmistakable grin—no, drool—dripped from his mandibles.
"Mmm, I haven't eaten insects in many years."
"S...h...and these smell like they have quite a bit of chakra in them. They're definitely delicious."
Kazuyama stared at Chōmei's drooling face, his mouth twitching in disbelief. He had prepared so many persuasive arguments to win the Seven-Tails over, yet looking at this scene, it seemed completely unnecessary.
Insects... he thought. At worst, he could just spend more time hanging around the Aburame Clan in the future. After all, as the head of the Gekkō Clan—albeit with only two members—he could manage.
"Here, eat."
Without hesitation, he tossed the bottle to Chōmei.
The Seven-Tails didn't even glance at it before swallowing it whole.
This act left Kazuyama stunned.
Big brother, there's still a bottle in there. Did you just eat glass too?
Ka cha~
A crisp cracking sound echoed as Chōmei ground the bottle into powder and swallowed it along with the insects.
Far away, outside the waterfall, Aburame Shibi's expression suddenly shifted.
"What's wrong, Shibi?" Suzaku Nara asked, noticing the change.
"Just now, all the insects I left on Kazuyama Gekkō died," Shibi replied gravely.
Suzaku Nara's face darkened at the news. Shibi's insects were notoriously well-hidden, and there was no reason anyone would target them.
Even if they were discovered, it would be improbable for someone to take out every single one.
If all the insects are gone... what does that mean for Kazuyama?
"Damn, should we terminate the mission?" Suzaku Nara thought, the idea striking him immediately.
But he dismissed it just as quickly. Kazuyama Gekkō's whereabouts were still unknown, and he couldn't declare him dead based solely on the disappearance of a few insects.
"We'll wait a few more days," he said, forcing himself to stay calm. "What if it was just an accident?"
...
"Ah, delicious! I haven't had such a tasty insect in years!"
"Kid, you're pretty good!"
Chōmei, thoroughly enjoying the insects, immediately gave Kazuyama Gekkō a figurative "good guy card." Not that Kazuyama particularly cared for the recognition.
"What do you say, Chōmei? Do you want to leave with me?"
"I promise I'll let you eat insects like these every day from now on."
Kazuyama had noticed the allure of food for Chōmei and decided to use it to his advantage. With his stealth skills, getting more insects from the Aburame Clan wouldn't be difficult.
"Hmph, you think I'm just a glutton?"
"I'll tell you, my appetite is huge!"
Chōmei's body began to quiver, not just with excitement but with a yearning he hadn't felt in years.
He had been confined for so long that the memory of freedom felt like a distant dream. Slowly, an image began to form in his mind.
Long ago, all nine Tailed Beasts had gathered together. Back then, he hadn't had his current mature form. He had simply been a massive bug, untamed and free.
In front of them had stood Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, the Rikudō Sennin—their creator.
"Pfft, old man, do you think I've met the person you spoke of?"
The memory faded, replaced by his present circumstances. Chōmei let out a heavy sigh.
"Forget it, I've had enough of being trapped and losing my freedom."
Resolving himself, Chōmei finally turned back to Kazuyama Gekkō.
"Kid, even if I wanted to leave with you, how would you seal me inside without the corresponding Fūinjutsu?"
Every Jinchūriki required a powerful Fūinjutsu to contain a Tailed Beast. Such seals were critical, and not just any sealing technique would suffice—it had to be one of immense strength and precision.
"Oh, I know how to do that. Just watch."
Kazuyama Gekkō calmly took out a scroll and unrolled it, revealing a striking Four Symbols Seal etched prominently on its surface.
"This is called the Four Symbols Seal. I got it from a very powerful ninja."
"With this seal, I can completely seal you inside me," he said confidently."Once that's done, you can come with me to Konohagakure and live a life of luxury."
Chōmei didn't fully understand what the boy was saying, but the confident, cocky look on Kazuyama Gekkō's face made him think it might work.
"So, you're going to seal me now? How am I supposed to cooperate?"
Chōmei's words left Kazuyama completely baffled. It was one thing to talk big, but actually following through was a whole different story.
Though he had mastered the Four Symbols Seal, how could he possibly use it to contain a massive Tailed Beast like this?
Noticing the boy's hesitation, Chōmei began to shake violently. Bound by dozens of chains, his enormous form started to shrink.
In no time, a smaller, miniature version of the Seven-Tails stood before him.
"Is this size okay?"
"When it comes to changing body size, Shukaku and Saiken are better at it. One's made of sand, and the other's made of, well, snot… so, yeah, forget it."
Chōmei shifted his shrunken form experimentally. Though still restrained by chains, he managed to retain some degree of mobility.
Kazuyama Gekkō watched the transformation closely but was struck by a concern. "But Chōmei, if I seal you directly, won't the people outside catch on?"
"Is there any way to throw them off?"
Recalling how the Eight-Tails had once tricked its pursuers by severing its tail, Kazuyama Gekkō considered a similar tactic might work here.
Chōmei mulled over the idea before responding, "You're onto something. What about my shed shell?"
"With my chakra, I can infuse it to keep it active. It should hold for about six months."
"What do you think?"
Kazuyama Gekkō chuckled, realizing that even in a situation like this, Chōmei wasn't exactly an innocent party. His plan was surprisingly cunning.
"What are you laughing at? I'm a Tailed Beast who's lived for countless years! Am I not allowed to have a few tricks up my sleeve?"
Chōmei sounded annoyed, his pride clearly a little dented.
"Hahaha, Chōmei, the more we talk, the more I feel like you and I are a perfect match," Kazuyama replied with a grin.
"Alright, I'll prepare the ritual, and you get ready to molt."
"Then, let's break out of here together and finally enjoy some freedom."
The man and the beast exchanged determined nods, their goals now aligned. Both began their preparations.
The Four Symbols Seal, a technique originating from the Uzumaki Clan, was renowned as one of the most powerful Fūinjutsu. By channeling the cyclical balance of the four symbols, it could seal away even the most powerful entities, leaving a permanent mark on the chosen object or host.
Kazuyama couldn't help but reflect on how intricate the seal was. Without Jiraiya's detailed guidance, he would never have been able to learn it in a lifetime. Even now, he was just following the steps like a parrot, hoping he didn't mess it up.