Chapter 16: A Contract Forged
Given the current situation, the Six-Tails would likely remain a wild, free-roaming entity for some time. Both Konoha and Kirigakure would eventually mobilize to recapture it, but hunting a fully manifested tailed beast was no small feat; it required extensive preparation and resources.
But if Uchiha Akira could forcibly contract Saiken as his summon… that changed everything. It would create a unique connection, a loophole. With some preparation, he could potentially summon the beast directly to a controlled location and secure it for himself, beating both villages to the punch. He could truly claim the Six-Tails before Konoha or Kiri had a chance to act.
Creating a summoning contract scroll wasn't difficult, and Akira happened to have a blank scroll in his gear. Working quickly, he used the blood still dripping from the severed tail segment as ink. Within a minute, he had inscribed the intricate formulae and clauses of a standard psychic contract onto the parchment, transforming it into a binding summoning scroll.
Using the Mangekyō Sharingan's absolute control, he compelled the motionless Six-Tails to leave its mark—a massive, chakra-infused paw print—upon the sprawling scroll. Then, Akira swiftly added his own name and blood seal beside it. The contract was complete.
The entire process took two and a half of his precious three minutes.
As the final seconds ticked down, the mental strain became crushing. The Six-Tails' struggles against his will intensified. Tailed beasts were pure chakra entities; even a complete Mangekyō pair would find long-term domination taxing. Akira's single eye was reaching its limit.
'Time's up. Have to pull back. Hopefully, Konoha and Kiri move slowly,' he thought, a plan now in motion where before there was only chaos.
He poured the last reserves of his ocular power into a final, overwhelming psychic command.
The struggling titan suddenly fell still, utterly silent, as if turned to stone.
In the same instant, blue lightning crackled over Akira's body. He vanished from the spot, employing his greatest speed to put as much distance as possible between himself and the beast. He became a streak of light hurtling away from the crater.
Twenty seconds after his departure, the Mangekyō's hold, deprived of its source, finally shattered.
ROOOOOOAAAAAR!
An earth-shaking bellow of pure rage split the air. A devastating pulse of chakra exploded from Saiken, kicking up a dust cloud that blotted out the sun.
By then, Uchiha Akira was already over a kilometer away.
The Six-Tails turned its head, glaring in the direction he had fled. A flicker of something akin to fear passed through its ancient, intelligent eyes. The experience within that genjutsu had been… harrowing. Tailed beasts possessed wisdom rivaling humans, accrued over centuries. Saiken knew the Uchiha shinobi had not employed his full arsenal. It was aware of the legends—of the Mangekyō's ultimate techniques.
It had no desire to chase that particular human. After a moment's orientation, it chose a direction and thundered away into the deepest, most remote part of the forest at its top speed. The seal was broken. It was free. After an eternity of confinement, the Six-Tails would fight to keep that freedom.
Sensing the beast was not in pursuit, Akira allowed himself a breath of relief. While he retained some chakra, conventional ninjutsu was largely useless against such a monster. A chase would have forced him to rely on Kamui, a cost he was glad to avoid.
After several more kilometers, he rejoined the Konoha convoy, which had put considerable distance between itself and the blast zone.
"Uchiha-senpai! Are you alright?" Might Guy was the first to rush forward, his face etched with concern.
Kakashi and the other jonin, standing guard, also turned their assessing gazes on him. A collective, subtle release of tension passed through them upon seeing he bore only superficial burns and light injuries.
"I'm fine," Akira assured them, shaking his head. "The Six-Tails has left the area. Its destination is unknown."
The news that the tailed beast was gone was met with audible sighs of relief. The oppressive, existential dread that accompanied such a creature began to lift. A single misplaced Tailed Beast Bomb could have annihilated them all.
"It's good it left," Hyuga Kamon murmured, finally allowing his Byakugan to deactivate, the veins around his eyes receding.
"This was an unforeseen event," Might Dai said, his expression serious as he addressed the jonin. "Should we send word back to the frontline? A fully free tailed beast… if it appears on the battlefield, it could swing the balance."
"You worry too much, Dai," said Chiba Ryu, the plain-looking jonin. "Tailed beasts are intelligent. They don't seek out human battles without reason. I doubt it will go near the warzone."
"Notification is still prudent," Hyuga Kamon countered, then looked to Kakashi. "Your thoughts, Kakashi?"
Kakashi's visible eye was calm. "We should inform command. A free tailed beast is an S-rank variable. They need to be prepared." His youth was belied by the authority in his tone. In the recent fight, he had single-handedly defeated a Kirigakure jonin without Dai's aid, earning the seasoned shinobi's respect.
"I'll go," Might Dai volunteered immediately. "Uchiha-kun just fought a monumental battle. He needs to rest." He met their eyes. "With the Gates opened, my speed is unmatched here. I can reach the frontline and return within half a day."
"Then we'll rely on you, Senior Dai," Akira said, not arguing. He genuinely needed the respite. The clash with the Jinchuriki had drained him profoundly.
Seeing Dai's willingness, the others agreed. His speed made him the obvious messenger.
With a nod, Might Dai became a streak of green light, disappearing back the way they had come.
The rest of the group continued their solemn duty, escorting the wounded toward the safety of Konoha. As they moved deeper into the Land of Fire, the journey grew quieter, uninterrupted by further conflict.
Half a day later, Might Dai arrived at the frontline headquarters. The news he delivered sent a ripple of grim tension through the command tent.
"Kirigakure's audacity knows no bounds," Namikaze Minato sighed, running a hand through his blond hair. He then offered a grateful look to Uchiha Fugaku, who stood nearby. "Your foresight in assigning Akira to that escort, Fugaku… it may have averted a disaster."
Uchiha Fugaku gave a modest wave. "It was merely a precaution, Minato. Even I didn't expect Kiri to be this desperate."
Fugaku's gaze then swept over the assembled commanders: Minato, Nara Shikaku (the strategist, not Shikamaru, who was still a child), and Akimichi Chōza. His expression turned businesslike.
"That leaves the matter of the Six-Tails itself," Fugaku stated. "The beast is now loose within our borders. How should Konoha proceed?"
(End of Chapter)
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