After the aftermath of the Tailed Beast Bomb's explosion gradually dissipated, another figure teleported to the top of the Eight-Tails using the Body Flicker Technique.
Looking at the chasm that split the entire village in two, deep and unfathomable, Orochimaru sighed:
"This is the power of a Tailed Beast. It's too exaggerated."
"They make decent pets."
Jin didn't hide his natural voice either, his tone shifting from a low, smoky baritone back to his youthful voice.
"Let's go."
Jin controlled the Eight-Tails, preparing to leave Kumogakure by crossing the canyon behind them.
"Aren't you going to kill the witnesses?"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow.
He glanced at the large number of unconscious Kumogakure's Ninjas on both sides of the chasm.
Among them were Kumogakure's high-ranking figures like Toroi with his Magnet Release and Dodai with his Lava Release.
Orochimaru could sense they still had faint signs of life.
"They are witnesses who saw 'Uchiha Madara' attack Kumogakure. Why kill them? Isn't it more interesting to let these firsthand witnesses spread the story?"
Jin said with a laugh:
"With the Eight-Tails stolen, what will Kumogakure's next move be? Will they cause trouble for Konoha? After all, Uchiha Madara also came from Konoha. How will our Third Hokage respond? I'm so looking forward to it~"
Hearing this, Orochimaru was somewhat speechless.
He could see it now… Jin was just a troublemaker who enjoyed chaos.
Don't think that just because he was from Konoha, he would truly consider things from Konoha's perspective.
"But indeed, this way is more interesting."
Orochimaru couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
Yes, actions don't necessarily need a purpose.
Often, just the word 'fun' is enough motivation.
Actually, Orochimaru had a bit of a troublemaker streak too.
This could be seen from the Konoha Crush Plan he orchestrated in the future.
At that time, Orochimaru had told Hiruzen that he launched this large-scale attack without any particular purpose.
He just wanted to do it, so he did.
As for Sasuke, he only discovered such a perfect vessel for himself after arriving in Konoha.
Since he was already there, he might as well take something with him, right?
…
Noon the next day.
In a wasteland in the Land of Hot Water, a small trading nation between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
"Huh? Wh-where is this? Isn't this inside that guy Blue B's body?"
Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, the Eight-Tails was first bewildered.
After a few seconds, it realized this wasn't the mental space of a Jinchuriki but the real world.
It started dancing excitedly and burst into song.
"Oh yeah~ Though I don't know what happened~ This Eight-Tails-sama is free~ Gonna take a bath first~"
Just as the Eight-Tails was humming its off-key tune and twisting its mountain-like body, preparing to jump into the nearby lake, a teasing voice suddenly came:
"Your singing is terrible. No wonder you could get along with Killer B."
"Who's there!?"
The Eight-Tails turned its head abruptly, meeting Jin's gaze.
"You are?"
The Eight-Tails' entirely white eyes stared intently at Jin.
"Don't you remember the face of your savior? Orochimaru's drug is really potent."
Jin said with a hint of helplessness.
According to Orochimaru, the Genjutsu-inducing pill he developed, that could make a Jinchuriki rampage, would cause both the Jinchuriki and the Tailed Beast to be unable to recall any memories of the rampage afterward.
Then, Jin revealed his Mangekyo Sharingan.
The deterrence this thing had on Tailed Beasts was very powerful.
"It's you!?"
Although it didn't remember what happened last night, seeing these eyes, the Eight-Tails guessed eighty to ninety percent of the truth.
"Become my so... no, my companion, Eight-Tails."
Jin made an inviting gesture towards the Eight-Tails.
'Damn, because I've been staying in the chat group too long, I picked up some bad habits from those dead folks.'
"...You just covet the power of us Tailed Beasts, right? Just like your ancestor Uchiha Madara."
The Eight-Tails said with a darkened expression.
Although it was breathing fresh air after a long time, it held no fondness for this human brat.
It felt Jin was just like those people in Kumogakure, only interested in the power of the Tailed Beasts.
Not to mention he had the eyes Tailed Beasts hated the most.
"No, no, no~ I have zero interest in the power of you Tailed Beasts. The reason I captured you from Kumogakure was simply because I suddenly felt like raising a Pokémon."
Jin wagged his index finger.
In fact, forget the Eight-Tails, even Nine-Tails wouldn't be much help in boosting Jin's strength.
Rather than wasting effort on this, Jin felt it would be more efficient to find a way to coax Dio's The World or Yamamoto's Ryujin Jakka earlier.
Jin just suddenly wanted to experience what it was like to be a Pokémon Master, so he did it.
It was that simple.
The Eight-Tails was momentarily at a loss for words.
It didn't understand what a [Pokémon] was, but it grasped the meaning Jin intended to convey.
It just literally meant, 'I'm not interested in you guys, I just want to raise something for fun.'
"What do you plan to do with me? Lock me inside a Jinchuriki?"
The Eight-Tails asked, suppressing its displeasure.
"How can I call you out for battles if I lock you in a cage?"
Jin laughed in response.
"Originally, I thought about keeping you in the Uchiha Clan's back mountain, but a few old foxes are in the way. For now, just play around within the Land of Fire. Sometimes I'll summon you to work using the Summoning Technique."
"Really?"
The Eight-Tails felt the happiness was too sudden, too unbelievable.
'Did that mean aside from being petted occasionally or acting as a fighter, the other 99% of the time would be under my own free control?'
'Th-this is too good, isn't it?'
"I can't be bothered to lie to an octopus. By the way, I'm Jin. Remember that name, I'm your Trainer."
Saying this, Jin extended his right fist towards the Eight-Tails.
'What the hell is a Trainer?'
The Eight-Tails wondered inwardly.
But looking at the fist offered to it, a few seconds later, it also extended its own fist and bumped it against Jin's.
"I am the rap-loving Eight-Tails, Gyuki~ Take care of me from now on, Tr-Trainer."
Hearing this, Jin smiled.
'Its personality was indeed easier to handle than the Nine-Tails'.'