"Since you refuse to return to Kirigakure with us," Shigure said coldly, "then I'll knock you out and drag you back myself! Let me see what kind of power a Jinchūriki truly holds!"
The blade in his hand thrust forward without hesitation.
Though caught off guard at first, Utakata quickly regained his composure, twisting aside. Even so, a shallow cut traced his neck, drawing a line of blood.
Rolling across the ground, Utakata's face grew grim.
What strength… of course the Mist wouldn't send weaklings to capture me.
He raised his hollow reed to his lips, expelling a stream of bubbles. They floated toward Shigure, shimmering ominously, each one capable of detonating with deadly force.
But Shigure's movements blurred into a trail of afterimages. With a whispering rush of sound, he carved through the bubbles, bursting them effortlessly.
He stood before Utakata again, calm and unshaken.
"Don't waste my time with childish tricks. Show me the Six-Tails' power."
"You…!" Utakata's pupils contracted. If Shigure had struck just now, he might already be dead—or at least crippled. Instead, the boy was toying with him, demonstrating that victory was already within his grasp.
Damn it. Arrogant brat.
"Fine," Utakata growled. "Since you want to see the Six-Tails, I'll let you taste it for yourself!"
Behind him, a massive, slug-like tail formed from bubbling chakra, lashing in the air. It was only one tail—a partial manifestation of Saiken's power—but the surge of killing intent was unmistakable.
Shigure's eyes narrowed. "Borrowing chakra? So you're not going to fully transform?"
Utakata studied him warily. "Wait… are you also a Jinchūriki?"
Shigure raised his sword, Zangetsu, and shook his head. "No. I am not a Jinchūriki."
"Impossible! If you're not a Jinchūriki, how can you wield Tailed Beast chakra?"
"I obtained a fragment of Shukaku's chakra—through special circumstances," Shigure said simply. His gaze sharpened.
"So? Will you only skim power from Saiken, or will you release him completely?"
Utakata stiffened. The weight of Shigure's presence pressed down on him like a storm. Even Saiken rumbled nervously within.
This boy… his chakra feels dangerous. And yet, no trace of the Ichibi lingers in him… he only carries a sliver of its power.
Saiken's voice echoed in Utakata's mind:
"He speaks the truth. He isn't a Jinchūriki. Just a human with a fragment of Shukaku's chakra—and not much of it."
Utakata let out a breath.
Not a Jinchūriki… that's good. If he truly was, my odds of escaping today would be slim.
"Hey," Shigure called sharply, "are you fighting me or daydreaming?!"
With a thunderous crack, Shigure vanished.
Body Flicker Technique—fast, fluid, precise.
Above him in an instant, Shigure descended like a falling blade, his heel slamming down. The force rattled Utakata's skull, his vision blurring as he crashed into the earth.
Groaning, Utakata pushed himself up. The Six-Tails' chakra had shielded his body from serious harm, but the impact left his thoughts reeling.
What was that just now? He turned into liquid for a moment… was that the Hōzuki clan's Hydration Technique? No—too refined. That was Body Flicker, enhanced to perfection.
At his age, to combine swordsmanship with the raw power of Body Flicker…
Unbelievable. Even in Kumogakure, where sword-nin fuse their kenjutsu with lightning-style techniques, no one has merged sword arts directly with this kind of instantaneous movement.
Saiken's warning growled through his mind.
"Utakata—be careful!"
Steel gleamed. Shigure's blade swept down in a flash.
Utakata twisted desperately, the strike grazing across his scalp. A lock of hair drifted to the ground, severed cleanly.
Shigure shook his head, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
This is the Six-Tails' Jinchūriki? Too weak. He's not even on Gaara's level.
Utakata stumbled back, but Shigure didn't pursue. Instead, he lifted his gaze, extended a hand, and clenched his fist from a distance.
Cloud Release: Cloud Mist Solidification!
All the while, during their taijutsu exchange, Shigure had been weaving cloud mist across the battlefield. Now, the vapor thickened and condensed, forming into a giant hand that seized Utakata in its grip.
"A Jinchūriki of the Six-Tails, yet this is all you can muster?" Shigure said flatly.
"You're a failure of a Jinchūriki."
Haku's eyes narrowed as he watched. In just a few moves, he captured him. Lord Shigure's strength has grown terrifyingly fast… and this cloud mist ninjutsu, it's unlike anything I've ever seen.
Chōjūrō gripped Hiramekarei tightly, awe written across his face. He caught a Jinchūriki as if it were nothing. Too easy… he didn't even need us. Maybe he only brought us along to give Lady Mei peace of mind.
Boom!
Suddenly, scarlet chakra surged outward. Utakata roared as Saiken's power burst free, shattering the misty restraints.
Finally, tails of corrosive chakra whipped behind him, bubbling and seething.
"So," Shigure said, a faint smile playing on his lips, "you've finally decided to transform."
The Six-Tails' chakra flooded the island, suffocating and heavy. Shigure's expression sharpened. Gluttony, prepare yourself.
With a flick of his hand, he wove another jutsu.
Hidden Mist Technique!
A thick blanket of fog surged outward, filling the Mist Cage in mere breaths.
Haku recognized it instantly and nodded in admiration. "Lord Shigure… using the sealed battlefield itself as the medium for Hidden Mist. Against a Tailed Beast, limiting vision like this drastically cuts their threat."
Within the fog, the cloud mist thickened again, twisting into pale tendrils that lashed from every direction, binding Utakata's bubbling form.
Shigure appeared above him, raising his hand.
Gluttony—activate.
A black substance materialized, coating Utakata's body.
But in the next instant, Utakata's skin shimmered blue. His body liquefied and slipped free, evading the consuming force.
[Gluttony Devour Progress: 1%]
Even with that brief contact, one percent of the Six-Tails' chakra was stolen. Not bad.
Shigure smirked.
With this, Gluttony's power has climbed to twenty percent. Twice what it was before. Just a few more rounds… and it'll be enough.
Boom—boom—boom!
Several bubbling tails lashed out like spears, stabbing toward him.
Shigure raised his hand, and a wall of cloud condensed before him, blocking the attack head-on.
"Still fierce, aren't you, Six-Tails?" he muttered, his eyes burning with challenge.
...
TN:
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