Just as Uchiha Yuan and Hyuga Asana had left, the space at the spot they had just been twisted, and Obito, wearing a mask, suddenly appeared out of thin air.
Immediately after, the ground wriggled, and Black-White Zetsu, now merged into one, burrowed out from underground and arrived at Obito's side.
"Who were those two people just now?" Obito asked.
"One of them was definitely Uchiha Yuan. I'm too familiar with his ocular powers. As for the other, I'm not sure. Since Uchiha Yuan could detect us, we didn't dare get too close," Black Zetsu responded.
"In the shinobi world, the only jutsu that lets you fly straight into the sky without relying on anything seems to be that Lightweight Boulder Technique from that old man Onoki, right?" White Zetsu said.
"Uchiha Yuan wouldn't be colluding with the Iwa-nin."
"Then I can't imagine who else it could be. Obito, who do you think it was?" White Zetsu turned and asked.
"I also don't think it's someone from Iwa, and the way that guy flies reminds me of that Deva Path Pain created by Nagato.
Black Zetsu, didn't you mention last time that one of Uchiha Yuan's Mangekyo abilities is somewhat similar to Amaterasu?"
Black Zetsu nodded.
"Then do you know what the other eye's technique is?"
"Obito, you mean—"
"Yeah, I think the reason that person could fly might be due to Uchiha Yuan's ocular jutsu—or maybe that person doesn't even exist but is just Uchiha Yuan's shadow clone," Obito said.
After hearing Obito out, Black Zetsu thought about it and agreed that it made some sense. Deva Path Pain could fly because of the Rinnegan's ability.
The person beside Uchiha Yuan could fly too—most likely also due to some ocular technique.
"Obito, should we go test Uchiha Yuan?" White Zetsu asked.
"No need. For now, let's not interact with Uchiha Yuan. Last time, Black Zetsu suffered a heavy loss at his hands. Until we figure out his abilities, we'd be better off keeping our distance," Obito replied.
"So what should we do now?"
"Let's help Kirigakure settle the issue with the Three-Tails first!"
At the same time, Uchiha Yuan and Hyuga Asana, riding on Shadiao, arrived near the Land of Rivers, adjacent to the Land of Waves.
This country lies between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire and doesn't have any powerful ninjas, though wandering shinobi and bounty stations are everywhere.
"Yuan, what are we doing in the Land of Rivers?" asked Hyuga Asana, lying on Shadiao's back.
"There are more bounty stations here in the Land of Rivers. I want to buy information about someone from them."
"Buy intel? About whom?"
"Info about Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki. I already have the chakra of the One-Tail, Two-Tails, Three-Tails, Five-Tails, Six-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Eight-Tails. I just lack the Four-Tails and Nine-Tails. If I gather all nine Tailed Beasts' chakra, it'll be complete.
So I want to see if I can buy info about the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki while I'm here. If I can, I'll take the opportunity to get the Four-Tails' chakra as well, then I'll only be missing the Nine-Tails'."
"Yuan, why are you collecting Tailed Beast chakra?" Hyuga Asana asked, confused.
"Asana, do you remember the story I told you about Princess Kaguya?"
Hyuga Asana nodded.
"I told you that Kaguya obtained the Rinnegan and chakra by consuming the fruit of the God Tree. And that God Tree was, in fact, the Ten-Tails.
After the Sage of Six Paths and his brother defeated Kaguya, he sealed the Ten-Tails within himself, thus becoming the first Ten-Tails Jinchuriki.
Then the Sage of Six Paths used Yin-Yang Release to separate the power of the Ten-Tails from its body and divided it into nine portions—what we now know as the Nine Tailed Beasts.
In other words, if you gather all nine Tailed Beasts' chakra and the Ten-Tails' shell, you can reawaken the Ten-Tails."
"Yuan, do you want to revive the Ten-Tails?" Hyuga Asana pressed.
Uchiha Yuan shook his head. "The Ten-Tails is too hard to control. It's got no real will, nothing but a monster bent on destruction. I don't plan to revive it.
All the Tailed Beast chakra I have is just a small portion, and the Ten-Tails' shell is also only a partial fragment. My goal is to create a smaller, controllable Ten-Tails, and then become its Jinchuriki."
"To become a Jinchuriki? Yuan, isn't that dangerous? If a Jinchuriki has their Tailed Beast extracted, they die. Isn't it not worth it for just a little of the Tailed Beast's chakra?"
"Don't worry! As long as I'm strong enough, no one will come after me. And becoming the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki isn't for the Tailed Beast chakra—it's for the Kekkai Mora."
"Kekkai Mora? What is that?" Hyuga Asana looked completely confused.
Hyuga Asana had never heard of the concept of Kekkai Mora. She only knew about Kekkai Genkai and Kekkai Tota.
"Kekkai Mora is actually in the same family as Kekkai Genkai and Kekkai Tota.
Kekkai Genkai comes from combining two chakra nature transformations, creating new jutsu, or is inherited through bloodlines and genes.
Kekkai Tota is a technique produced by combining three chakra nature transformations.
But Kekkai Mora transcends both Kekkai Genkai and Kekkai Tota, forged by merging all seven chakra natures: fire, wind, earth, water, lightning, yin, and yang.
Each of the Nine Tailed Beasts has a corresponding nature. Gather all nine, and all seven elements are assembled. In other words, the Ten-Tails naturally possesses all seven natures—a trait it shares with its Jinchuriki.
As long as you become the Ten-Tails' Jinchuriki, you can use the power of Kekkai Mora."
"You can use it? Don't you directly possess it?" Hyuga Asana seized on Yuan's word choice.
"I'm not sure—I'd have to see what the situation is once the mini Ten-Tails is created," Uchiha Yuan answered.
Hyuga Asana nodded and didn't ask further.
In the original story, Uchiha Madara, after becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, indeed could freely use various Kekkai Genkai.
But the only Kekkai Mora techniques Madara used were Infinite Tsukuyomi and God: Nativity of a World of Trees—and those were only after he absorbed the God Tree and sprouted the Rinnegan-Sharingan on his forehead.
However, that particular Rinnegan-Sharingan was the God Tree's original eye—also Kaguya's eye. Whether Madara truly possessed Kekkai Mora, even Uchiha Yuan wasn't sure.
The only thing certain was that Madara could use Kekkai Mora's power.
So Uchiha Yuan went to all this trouble to create a mini Ten-Tails, all for the sake of obtaining Kekkai Mora's power.
Later, after he awakened the Rinnegan and combined it with the power of the small Ten-Tails, Uchiha Yuan felt he too would be able to enter Sage of Six Paths Mode, or at least be able to use Truth-Seeking Orbs at will.
This was Uchiha Yuan's true goal in collecting the Ten-Tails.
"Asana, once I finish creating the mini Ten-Tails, I'll finally have the strength to face those Ōtsutsuki on the Moon head-on.
By then, we can go straight to the Moon, use the Ōtsutsuki genes to complete your own, and then use the power of the Tenseigan on the Moon to help you awaken your own Tenseigan. That way, you'll be able to break the Cage Bird Seal."
Hearing Yuan mention the Cage Bird, Hyuga Asana quickly interjected, "Yuan, Orochimaru-sensei and I have found something interesting while researching various clans' blood."
"What interesting thing?" Uchiha Yuan asked.
"Orochimaru-sensei discovered that the Taketori clan—distant relatives of the Hyuga in the Land of Fire—and the Kaguya clan from Kirigakure in the Land of Water are actually 'one family.' Their genes are strikingly similar, and in the past, they were one clan.
Moreover, their genes can also complement mine, so they must be another bloodline branch left by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya."
"If you need help, just send me a message via Shadiao. Whether you need me to grab people or anything else, I can handle it."
"Don't worry! I won't hold back from asking." Hyuga Asana smiled.
"Then let's sign the summoning contract with Shadiao." With that, Uchiha Yuan took out Shadiao's summoning scroll.
Hyuga Asana took the scroll, cut her palm, and left her handprint and name on it.
After the contract was completed, Uchiha Yuan and Hyuga Asana changed their appearance and headed to the bounty station in the Land of Rivers.
Bounty stations don't just put out assassination contracts—they also sell intel and handle all manner of shady business.
As soon as Uchiha Yuan and Hyuga Asana entered the station, many eyes turned to look at them.
Uchiha Yuan hated those stares. He snorted coldly, and with a burst of Lightning Release chakra, those around them immediately realized he was not to be messed with and quickly averted their gaze.
"Are you two here to take on a mission or to turn in one?" asked the station attendant, all smiles.
"Neither. We're here to buy information," Uchiha Yuan replied, deliberately lowering his voice.
"Buy information? What grade of intel are you looking for?"
"S-rank, I'd say," Hyuga Asana replied.
The attendant's expression changed slightly, and he quickly led Uchiha Yuan and Hyuga Asana to the back.
"Honored guests—"
"Cut the crap. We want intel on the Four-Tails' jinchuriki, especially his current location."
"That intel's not cheap!"
Uchiha Yuan tossed him a sealing scroll. The attendant checked it, and the smile on his face only grew brighter.
"Is this enough?"
"Enough! More than enough! The two of you are truly generous."
"Well, out with it, then?"
"After the Battle of Mt. Kikyo, the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki was ransomed back to Iwa by their shinobi, but he didn't stay in the village long. Instead, he left to travel.
Yesterday, someone spotted him at the largest hot spring town in the Land of Hot Water."
With the intel in hand, Uchiha Yuan and Hyuga Asana summoned Shadiao and flew off toward the Land of Hot Water.
Back in the Land of Waves, with the help of Obito and Black and White Zetsu, the Three-Tails was once again flushed out from underwater.
After just being pounded by Uchiha Yuan—who'd even chopped off two of its tails—the Three-Tails hadn't yet recovered. Now, with Obito secretly assisting, the Mist ninja got lucky and captured the Three-Tails.
The Three-Tails was intended for Yagura, so the Mist ninja didn't bother sealing it here and instead rushed it back to the Land of Water.
All of this was witnessed by the sensory ninja Kumo had left behind.
He rushed back to report to Killer Bee and Yugito Nii.
"Lady Yugito, should we try to steal the Three-Tails?" asked a Kumo ninja.
"No need! We've already struck a deal with the Mist, and got what we wanted. There's no reason to fight now.
Besides, those two are really strong. Back then, just one of them easily defeated me.
Now, with both of them here, if we start fighting the Mist, we'll all end up hurt, and what if those two come back?"
The Kumonins exchanged glances but said nothing.
Killer Bee, for his part, seemed eager for a fight. In raw strength, he could easily beat Yugito Nii, too.
"Bee, you really shouldn't be so excited. You heard the report. Those two are obviously after Tailed Beast chakra.
They've already got my chakra, the Three-Tails', and the Six-Tails'. Even if we don't know what they need it for, it's best to not let them have it. Bee, try your best to avoid fighting them."
Killer Bee might seem a bit unreliable, but he was actually quite sharp. After hearing Yugito's words, he quickly agreed.
As a result, the Kumo-nin chose to retreat.
At the same time, Uchiha Yuan and Hyuga Asana, riding Shadiao, arrived in the Land of Hot Water.
This country is full of hot springs—a great place to relax and travel.
The largest hot spring town is in the capital.
Shadiao carried Uchiha Yuan and Hyuga Asana overhead. The two surveyed below with Byakugan and Sharingan and soon spotted Roshi.
As a Jinchuriki, Roshi's massive chakra was like a beacon in the night—impossible to hide within the crowd.
"Found him. Should we move in?" Hyuga Asana asked.
"There are too many people here. If we fight, a lot of bystanders will get caught up in it. Let's try to lure him out first."
"Need a plan? Leave it to me!"
With that, Hyuga Asana had Shadiao drop lower. When they were a few dozen meters from Roshi, she raised her hand, and powerful gravitational force instantly dragged Roshi over.
Hyuga Asana then had Shadiao join in, and before Roshi could react, he was spirited away.
In the blink of an eye, Roshi was dropped in an empty forest.
"This should do, right?" Hyuga Asana asked.
Uchiha Yuan nodded and jumped off Shadiao's back, landing before Roshi.
Roshi, just getting up, saw Uchiha Yuan descend from the sky.
"You're the one who brought me here?" Roshi asked Uchiha Yuan, who was wearing a mask.
"That's right."
"What do you want?" Roshi asked warily.
"I want to see firsthand the legendary power of a Tailed Beast, so I invited you over."
"See a Tailed Beast's power? Kid, are you out of your mind?"
"Of course not. I just want to see if the Tailed Beast is really as fearsome as the rumors say." As he finished, Uchiha Yuan's body crackled with lightning, and the ferocious Lightning Release chakra made Roshi's face change dramatically.
After so many years of fighting between Iwa and Kumo, Roshi identified Uchiha Yuan's Lightning Release Chakra Mode in a single glance.
(To Be Continued...)