Hyūga Shigeo looked at Zabuza, his tone calm yet unyielding.
"Live. We don't want to die," Zabuza finally said, his voice hoarse but firm.
Shigeo raised a hand slightly, and the magnetic sphere that had trapped them instantly lost its chakra flow. With a dull crash, it fell toward the sea below. Only then did Zabuza and Haku realize that they had been suspended on the massive tower crane all this time.
As the sea wind roared beneath them, Shigeo's Rinnegan shimmered to life. A black receiver rod appeared in his hand. With a small twist, he broke it in half and, before Zabuza could react, thrust it straight into the man's chest.
"Since I've chosen to spare your lives," Shigeo said coldly, "you'll serve me from now on. Betray me, and I'll make you wish you were dead."
Zabuza's chest convulsed with a sharp jolt of pain. In that instant, he could feel the presence of something invasive within his body—a pulse, a command, a mark of domination. His expression darkened, but he finally nodded. "Understood. We won't betray you."
And so, Haku and Zabuza were brought to the western base of the Blue Gate organization. Shigeo handed them over to the branch leader known as "Feather."
"If they perform well," Shigeo instructed, "and prove they truly intend to serve, reward them accordingly. But if Zabuza shows the slightest trace of disloyalty… then our bond ends here."
That was his way—mercy when deserved, death when necessary.
On the road back to Minami no Kuni, Shigeo suddenly halted. He turned, stepping onto a mountain ridge that overlooked the horizon, then sat down cross-legged.
Lately, his mind had been haunted by the technique recorded in Jūzō Tenten — the Ten Elephants Reincarnation. The scripture's words echoed in him, intertwining with the whispers of the tailed beasts sealed within his body.
At present, he possessed seven of them. Only the One-Tail and the Eight-Tails remained.
The One-Tail, Shukaku, had already been reborn. The last piece of the puzzle was the Eight-Tails, Gyūki.
Shigeo exhaled softly. "It's time."
He had neglected his system's functions for too long, caught up in governing the village, building alliances, and ensuring the South Ink Nation's safety. He'd been so preoccupied with stability that he hadn't pursued power.
Now that things were calmer, he could finally move again.
"It's been a while, Uncle Killer B," he muttered with a faint grin. "Let's see if you still remember how to rap while fighting."
The image of the eccentric jinchūriki flashed through his mind, making the corners of his mouth rise. With that, Shigeo vanished into the distance, his path turning north—toward the Land of Lightning.
Cloud Village, trading post of the South Ink Nation.
The local shopkeepers, a middle-aged couple named Zhao, stood frozen in shock as the young man before them smiled warmly.
"Y-you mean… you'll be staying here, my lord?" the husband stammered. "I—I'll prepare a room for you right away!"
They could hardly believe it. The Hyūga Shigeo—the man whose name stirred both awe and terror throughout the ninja world—was standing in their shop.
Years ago, during the Sky Ninja rebellion, they had not been in Nameless City and thus had never seen him in person. They were nominally citizens of the South Ink Nation, but their understanding of Shigeo came only from stories: that he was ruthless, cold, perhaps even demonic.
Yet the man standing before them was nothing like the rumors.
Young, handsome, and polite, he had an easy smile that seemed to soften the air around him. His presence radiated calm strength, not malice. To the couple, he felt less like a demon and more like the sun itself.
"Any room will do," Shigeo said gently. "No need to make a fuss."
"Y-yes, of course!" They rushed off, excitement barely contained.
Thus, Shigeo began residing quietly in Kumogakure. The Zhaos treated him like family, and he often helped out in their store when business was slow.
Sometimes he wandered the village streets, his posture casual and unassuming. At other times, he used subtle genjutsu to "politely" question Cloud shinobi about the whereabouts of Killer B.
But none of them knew.
Apparently, the Eight-Tails' movements were top-secret, even to most within the village.
One quiet afternoon, the Zhaos went out of town to restock supplies, leaving Shigeo alone to mind the shop. He lounged lazily behind the counter, chin in hand, staring out the window with half-lidded eyes.
So boring…
"Excuse me," came a familiar voice. "Boss, do you have any dried squid? I'll take three packs."
Shigeo stood up, turning to the shelf behind him. But before he could answer, he felt it—a faint, sharp chill behind him.
When he turned back, his expression froze for a heartbeat.
Standing there was a tall blonde woman with her hair tied in a long braid, eyes sharp as lightning. Her presence exuded power, calm, and pride—the unmistakable aura of a jinchūriki.
"Yugito Nii…" Shigeo whispered inwardly.
Her brows furrowed. "Hyūga… Shigeo?"
Though her voice carried doubt, her gaze was unwavering. It had been seven, maybe eight years since their last encounter, yet she recognized him instantly. The world had not let her forget that face—the so-called "Monster of the South."
Realizing the danger of the situation, Shigeo's mind raced. He couldn't risk the Zhao couple being implicated.
So he did the first thing that came to mind.
He grabbed a coin pouch from the counter and bolted for the door—looking every bit like a petty thief.
"Hey! Stop right there!" Yugito shouted, already giving chase.
Shigeo vaulted across rooftops, chakra flaring lightly beneath his feet. The shouts of pursuit echoed behind him.
Within moments, two Cloud ninja appeared beside Yugito.
"Yugito-sensei! What's going on?"
"Catch him! That man is Hyūga Shigeo!"
The two froze for a split second, then one darted off to report to the Raikage's office while the other joined the chase.
Within minutes, alarms began to wail across Kumogakure. The entire village erupted into motion—an emergency mobilization, as if war itself had come to their gates.
Shigeo sighed softly as he leapt from rooftop to rooftop. "I came to find Killer B… and instead, I find trouble."
If he truly wished to flee, no one could stop him. But he wasn't ready to leave yet. He wanted to see if all this commotion might finally draw out the Eight-Tails' host.
"Let's make this fun, then," he murmured, clapping his hands together.
"Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Multiple Shadow Clone Technique)!"
In an instant, dozens—hundreds—of Shigeos appeared, scattering through the village streets. Cloud shinobi fanned out in every direction, chasing false targets.
Meanwhile, the real Shigeo landed quietly in an alleyway, his hands forming another seal. A soft shimmer enveloped his body.
When the light faded, Hyūga Shigeo was gone.
In his place stood Omoi, a perfectly normal-looking Cloud ninja.
Whistling nonchalantly, Shigeo strolled back into the busy main street, blending seamlessly with the crowd. Above, his clones continued to draw chaos through the rooftops, fighting, evading, and exploding in bursts of smoke.
As explosions echoed and shouts filled the air, "Omoi" stepped into a bustling restaurant. He ordered a plate of grilled meat and a bowl of rice, sitting by the window with a perfect view of the ongoing battle.
With a smirk, he popped a bean into his mouth.
"This is the first time I've ever watched my own fight from the audience," he mused. "Not bad."
Outside, chaos reigned—Cloud's finest shinobi clashing with the illusions of one man.
Inside, Shigeo leaned back in his chair, amused.
"Good," he murmured, eyes glinting with mischief. "Hit harder."
(End of Chapter)
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