Chapter 39: Capturing a Single Tail (Two chapters combined, including a bonus chapter...)

Kaori's soul floated silently to the side, watching this scene that was beyond her imagination.

—Uchiha Masaki, a senior member of the clan who was in charge of an important logistics department and was known for his shrewdness, was now reporting his work to her young son with the respect of a subordinate to a superior.

His tone was familiar and his content detailed, clearly indicating that this kind of reporting had been going on for quite some time and had become a fixed pattern.

Six-year-old Shi stood to the side, trying her best to add details she had observed, looking just like a "little intelligence officer".

Kaori's feelings were complicated and hard to describe.

She had long sensed her youngest son's unusual maturity and composure, and even suspected he might possess extraordinary power. But she never expected that Yan Sheng would quietly subdue Uchiha Masaki.

They even found a successor for him (Poetry).

Judging from this, it was definitely not something that could be accomplished overnight. Yan Sheng is only fourteen years old now, which means that he will be even younger when he subdues Uchiha Masaki.

How can a teenager gain the loyalty of an elite adult?

Then, recalling how Yan Sheng casually made that shocking and extremely vicious "blood oath" request not long ago, and even more outrageous—the opposing Thousand Hands Clan Chief actually agreed to it.

At that moment, Kaori seemed to see, in a daze, the shadows of his two older brothers clearly reflected in his young son:

Madara possesses an innate, powerful leadership aura and decisiveness that inspires unconscious conviction and following, while also having Izuna's shrewd calculations, insight into human nature, and ruthless mind that will stop at nothing.

No, it goes even further.

He combined the strengths of both his brothers and surpassed them in talent.

This is nothing like the child she remembered who needed to be carefully protected, was frail and sickly, and was ignorant of the ways of the world.

It was clearly a lion that had already grown fangs and claws.

An indescribable mix of emotions welled up in Kaori's heart: shock, bewilderment, pride, and... worry.

The children were growing up to be unexpectedly outstanding, which should have been a source of pride for a mother. However, Yan Sheng's overly precocious, cold, and powerful qualities made her feel uneasy.

The path he chose was destined to be fraught with difficulties and bloodshed, far removed from her expectations of him.

She was already dead and could not offer any help... I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

However, I felt more proud than anything else.

The rule of the ninja world has always been to admire the strong.

Weakness and mediocrity may bring temporary stability, but they are more likely to lead to a humiliating demise.

Most ninjas who struggled to survive in blood had a deep-seated awe and longing for power—they would rather die a glorious death than an ordinary one.

Her initial wish for Yan Sheng—"I only hope you live peacefully"—was entirely due to Yan Sheng's congenital frailty. His body, which seemed so fragile, confined all possibilities for the child, forcing her to suppress her hopes to the bare minimum, only praying that the child would not leave him.

However, now...

Kaori's gaze traced Yan Sheng's profile. Although still thin, his sickly pallor had been replaced by an inner strength; although young, his composure in controlling the situation and the authority to issue commands far surpassed that of many adults.

He was no longer the glass cup she needed to carefully hold in her hands, worrying about whether it would see the sunrise tomorrow. Instead, he was a sword slowly drawn from its sheath, its cold light flashing, destined to cut through the wind and rain.

Her child, through his own will and ability, broke free from the shackles of his body and forged a path she had never imagined. He influenced the clan's decisions and even the future direction of the entire ninja world.

As a mother, how could she not be proud?

That deep-seated ninja bloodline's recognition and yearning for power ultimately prevailed in Kaori's heart. She began to re-examine her young son with a completely new perspective.

The strength, wisdom, and courage that Yan Sheng has shown are reassuring and perfectly in line with the way an Uchiha or a ninja should live.

Kaori's soul rippled slightly, and a complex yet ultimately relieved smile appeared on her face.

Of course, she still worries about the hardships her child may face, but she believes that her child has the strength to overcome those hardships.

***

The construction of the Konoha Alliance is in full swing. With the immense deterrent power brought by the alliance of the Senju and Uchiha clans, as well as Hashirama Senju's unique personal charisma and sincere vision, more and more small and medium-sized ninja clans are beginning to waver.

After a heated discussion, the current heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans finally reached a consensus, acknowledging Hashirama Senju's blueprint for peace (actually, they were impressed by Konoha's formidable strength and potential), and decided to join the clans.

Their joining is of great significance, meaning that Konoha has been greatly enhanced in terms of intelligence, control, and tactical diversity.

The Inuzuka and Aburame clans also expressed their intention to join, valuing the stable living environment and powerful allies that would allow them to better continue and develop.

Some marginalized clans that were originally dependent on other forces also began to secretly contact Konoha, seeking protection.

Although the process involved bargaining and negotiations, the overall trend was positive, far exceeding Madara and Hashirama's initial expectations.

In that selected settlement, advance teams began preliminary construction and planning, creating a thriving and hopeful atmosphere.

However, beneath this seemingly bright and vibrant scene, a pair of eyes lurking in the darkness are coldly watching everything.

Black Zetsu hid in a crevice in a cliff not far from the planned Konoha settlement, watching the Senju and Uchiha ninjas work together in an unusual way, watching representatives of other ninja clans come and go, and watching the symbol of "Konoha" gradually being erected...

His yellow, beady eyes were filled with anxiety.

Too fast...

It went so smoothly!

This completely disrupted his plans!

The chakra reincarnations of Indra and Ashura should have been constantly consumed in an eternal struggle, hating each other, ultimately leading to one side destroying the other! This is the correct script to awaken Mother.

But now? These two have actually joined forces?

No! Absolutely not!

They must be stopped! The hatred must be reignited!

But taking direct action is too risky. Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju are much stronger than before, especially that strange Uchiha Kokushibo... Black Zetsu still feels lingering fear when he recalls his last thrilling escape.

hateful.

He needed a more insidious, divisive approach to sow the seeds of division within their alliance.

Meanwhile, in the Uchiha clan's territory.

Uchiha Masaki gave his daily report to Mikatsu as usual. However, the information he brought today was somewhat different from the usual reports on clan affairs and alliance progress.

“Young Master Yan Sheng,” said Uchiha Masaki, “our reconnaissance team has recently sent back some unusual information.”

Yan Sheng didn't stop wiping the knife. "Speak."

"It's about... the Tailed Beasts."

Yan Sheng stopped wiping his knife this time.

Tailed Beasts? This term was completely foreign to him; it was the first time he had ever heard of it. He raised his eyes and looked at Uchiha Masaki, his question clear even though he didn't speak.

Uchiha Masaki immediately understood. After all, he knew that although this young master was exceptionally talented and intelligent, he had lived a secluded life since childhood and lacked knowledge of many secrets of the ninja world.

He organized his thoughts and explained in detail to Yan Sheng:

"What exactly the Tailed Beasts are, their true origin and essence, no one can say for sure to this day. They seem to be ancient creatures that have existed in the world since the emergence of chakra, and many people believe that they are the embodiment of natural forces."

He paused, then continued, "All we know is that they do exist, and each of them possesses a massive size, like a mountain, and... a terrifying amount of chakra as vast as the ocean, far beyond the comprehension of us ninjas."

"As for the origin of the name 'Tailed Beasts,' it's impossible to verify. But it's generally speculated," Uchiha Masaki gestured with his hand, "that it's named after the number of tails on their backs. This is also their most prominent and easily distinguishable feature."

"—As the name suggests, the known tailed beasts have between one and nine tails, and it is said that the number of tails is unique and will not be repeated. Therefore, they are often referred to as one-tailed, two-tailed... up to nine-tailed."

At this point, Uchiha Masaki's tone became serious: "Tailed Beasts have astonishing destructive power and can easily destroy a country. But fortunately, they are not the type to actively cause destruction... They usually inhabit remote deserts, forests, lakes, or deep in the mountains, and have their own territories. As long as you do not trespass into their territory or try to provoke or anger them, they generally will not attack humans."

"Therefore, although it is terrifying, it has maintained a balance with humans without interfering with each other for many years."

Yan Sheng listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the scabbard.

Its enormous size, terrifying chakra, named after the number of its tails, and territorial nature mean it's at peace unless provoked...

This information was quickly combined and analyzed in his mind, eventually converging into the conclusion that it was the most perfect tool, naturally born for war and domination.

If one could control one of them, or even more... then the efficiency of promoting "order," crushing opponents, and seizing merit would be further enhanced.

It is far more efficient than relying solely on manpower.

The feeling of being moved was so strong that a barely perceptible glint flashed across Yan Sheng's usually calm and collected black eyes.

After a long pause, he looked up at Uchiha Masaki again and said calmly, "Do you know their exact location?"

Uchiha Masaki was taken aback by the question, and subconsciously replied, "Uh... the clan has some records and scattered information about the approximate habitats of some of the tailed beasts, so we know a few general locations. But the exact locations, especially whether they've moved, are unknown..."

"Which one is the closest?" Yan Sheng interrupted his explanation.

Uchiha Masaki thought for a moment, "There are signs of One-Tailed activity in the desert area where the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers meet."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Yan Sheng, who was deep in thought and seemed to be seriously considering the location. His eyelids twitched and an absurd idea popped into his head.

He asked, half-jokingly and half-probingly, "Young Master Yan Sheng, you wouldn't be thinking of... catching one back, would you?"

He himself found the question laughable as soon as he asked it. What kind of beings were Tailed Beasts? How could they be captured by human hands? Moreover, Young Master Yan Sheng was still young; although his strength was unfathomable, facing a monster of such calamity-level power...

However, his smile froze on his face the moment he met Yan Sheng's gaze.

Yan Sheng did not answer "yes" or "no".

He simply stared at Uchiha Masaki with a blank expression. His dark eyes held no emotion, only an absolute, chilling calmness and seriousness.

It was as if capturing the tailed beast was not some earth-shattering adventure in his eyes, but rather a "matter" worth evaluating, planning, and then... executing.

Uchiha Masaki's facial muscles stiffened, the hint of a joke completely vanished, and a chill ran down his spine.

Because he realized that Yan Sheng might be serious—he was genuinely considering how to capture a tailed beast capable of destroying a country.

“Young Master Yan Sheng.” Uchiha Masaki’s voice became dry as he tried to dissuade him, “The power of the Tailed Beasts is extraordinary and cannot be controlled by one person or one clan. Throughout history, there have been people who have tried to control the Tailed Beasts, but there has never been any record of anyone using the Tailed Beasts. You know what that means.”

"I know." Yan Sheng interrupted him again calmly, then lowered his head, his gaze falling on the katana in his hand. His fingertips brushed against the cold blade, as if he were measuring whether its sharpness was enough to cut through the tailed beast's defenses.

"Continue to gather all information about the Tailed Beasts, the more detailed the better." Yan Sheng issued a new order, his tone as calm as if he were simply instructing what supplies to purchase tomorrow, "especially information about their abilities and weaknesses."

Seeing Yan Sheng's calm and calculating demeanor, Uchiha Masaki's words of advice stuck in his throat. He swallowed hard, bowed stiffly, and replied:

"......yes."

***

Several days have passed, and Uchiha Masaki has used every available channel and resource, but there is still no effective information on how to safely approach, control, or even capture the Tailed Beasts.

The intelligence returned was either vague ancient legends or hearsay and unfounded speculation, with very little of it being truly valuable.

That's normal. After all, the vast majority of people who have witnessed and fought the Tailed Beasts didn't even have time to leave any detailed records before turning to ashes. Those who managed to escape and bring back even a few words were an extremely rare minority.

Yan Sheng had clearly anticipated this outcome. If a mature and feasible method of control truly existed, the ninja world would be vastly different from what it is today. His reason for sending Uchiha Masaki to investigate was primarily to confirm this and gather as much basic information as possible.

Having already received the answer that "this road is blocked," he naturally wouldn't continue waiting idly.

So he went to find Uchiha Madara.

Ban was processing documents when he saw Yan Sheng walk in "fully armed"—with a sword at his waist. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Going out?"

"Okay." Yan Sheng nodded, keeping his promise, "I'm going out to take care of some business."

"What is it? Where are you going?" Ban put down his pen and asked.

Yan Sheng had already prepared his explanation, and said in a calm tone: "It's uncertain whether things will succeed; it's just an attempt, so I can't go into details. The location is in the Land of Wind."

He vaguely set his destination as the Land of Wind, rather than the location that Uchiha Masaki told him, which wasn't exactly a specific place, nor was it a lie: the Land of Rivers is located between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, so claiming to go to the Land of Wind wasn't wrong.

Ban's brows furrowed. The Land of Wind was a harsh place, teeming with sand bandits, and far from a safe haven.

Is it dangerous?

"Half and half," Yan Sheng gave an ambiguous answer.

Half the danger?

Ban's heart immediately tightened. In his view, it would be best if there was absolutely no danger. If there was even a 50% risk, he simply didn't want his younger brother to go. But looking into Yan Sheng's calm and determined eyes, the words of dissuasion that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.

He recognized that look in his eyes because it was exactly the same look he had when he was convinced of something—unwavering, resolute, and brooking no sway.

Silence spread between the two brothers.

Finally, Madara took a deep breath and compromised: "...Go."

Yan Sheng nodded slightly and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute." Madara called out to him, adding a condition, "You take Uchiha Masaki with you."

Yan Sheng paused, but he wasn't surprised.

Although he never explicitly stated that Uchiha Masaki had pledged allegiance to him, how could Madara, with his keen insight, not notice the unusual frequency of Masaki's recent contact with him? Madara simply tacitly accepted this, just as he had tacitly accepted Izuna's growing influence within the clan.

Yan Sheng's original plan was to go alone, which would allow him more freedom and secrecy. However, Madara had already backed down, and the person who made the conditions was one of his own. Bringing Uchiha Masaki along might cause some trouble, but it wasn't unacceptable.

“Okay.” Yan Sheng nodded in agreement.

Upon hearing this news, Uchiha Masaki felt as if his world was collapsing.

Following Young Master Yan Sheng to that desolate desert of the Land of Wind was already tough enough, let alone knowing the truth: Yan Sheng was definitely after the Tailed Beasts.

Uchiha Masaki's vision went black.

He wanted to refuse, but he dared not disobey the clan leader's order, much less defy the unpredictable Yan Sheng. With a bitter face, he packed his luggage and set off with Yan Sheng, looking gloomy.

***

After several days of trekking, Uchiha Masaki and Kokushi arrived at the vast desert region located at the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers, as indicated in the intelligence report.

As far as the eye can see, there is only endless yellow sand, rock pillars eroded into strange shapes by the wind, and ripples in the air distorted under the scorching sun.

The two spent an entire day carefully exploring this desolate land, examining every canyon, dune, and cave that might harbor a giant creature.

However, nothing was found.

Apart from the disturbed desert scorpions and some drought-resistant lizards, there was absolutely no trace of the tailed beast's activity.

The setting sun cast their shadows long across the sand.

Uchiha Masaki wiped the sweat from his brow, glanced at Yan Sheng who remained expressionless but whose eyes had noticeably turned colder, and tentatively asked, "Young Master Yan Sheng, it seems the intelligence was wrong, or perhaps that tailed beast has already left. Should we...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Yan Sheng's gaze had already turned to the western horizon—the direction of the Land of Wind.

The Land of Rivers is already small, and this border area is even more ambiguous. Perhaps the territory of that tailed beast is more inclined to the Land of Wind.

“Go to the Land of Wind.” Yan Sheng’s voice was flat as he made his decision.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Masaki subconsciously glanced at the sky.

The sun had just completely sunk below the horizon, and sparse stars had begun to dot the dark blue sky. The temperature had also dropped significantly, and a cold night wind began to howl across the sand.

"Now?" Uchiha Masaki couldn't help but sigh, scratching his cheek that was itchy from the wind. "It's completely dark now. Traveling in the desert at night is dangerous; it's easy to get lost, and many nocturnal creatures are also out and about. Perhaps we should find a sheltered spot to camp and wait until dawn..."

Yan Sheng turned his head, his eyes, which seemed particularly deep in the deepening night, looked at him, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable meaning: "It's better to act at night."

Uchiha Masaki: "..."

Yes, they were doing "bad things," and they had to take advantage of the dark and windy night.

—We can't just openly and ostentatiously search for and attempt to capture a tailed beast in broad daylight, as if we're afraid others won't know that the Uchiha clan is after tailed beasts.

Oh no, to be precise, it's Young Master Yan Sheng.

He only knew the truth; the Uchiha clan was innocent. But others certainly wouldn't think that way.

Uchiha Masaki sighed resignedly, giving up all struggle. He knew that further words would be futile.

"Yes, Young Master Yan Sheng." He replied helplessly, silently adjusting his luggage and preparing to venture deep into the desert of the Wind Kingdom at night.

Yan Sheng said no more, and with a swift movement, he disappeared into the deep night, heading towards the Land of Wind.

Looking at the figure ahead, almost blending into the darkness and exuding an indomitable aura, Uchiha Masaki steeled himself, mustered all his strength, and quickly followed.

The cold night wind whipped up sand that stung their faces. An endless darkness enveloped this unfamiliar land; ahead lay unknown danger, a terrifying creature with destructive power that might exist.

Uchiha Masaki felt that his life was racing headlong in an increasingly exciting and outrageous direction.

***

The Kingdom of Wind has a vast territory.

The two walked briskly for a long time under the cold moonlight. As far as the eye could see, there were only endless sand dunes and the Yardang landforms, which were eroded by the wind and resembled a maze.

Unlike the area on the border of the River Country where one can occasionally find some drought-resistant plants and hidden caves, this is a true sea of ​​death where no life exists.

Yan Sheng stopped in his tracks.

Uchiha Masaki stopped almost simultaneously, secretly relieved—were they finally going to give up? Searching aimlessly like this was like looking for a needle in a haystack; perhaps that tailed beast had already moved elsewhere... He even secretly prayed that the legendary One-Tailed Beast would hide well enough so that they wouldn't find it.

However, before he could fully relax, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Suddenly, Yan Sheng, standing in front of them, drew his sword from his waist without warning.

Are there enemies?

Uchiha Masaki's hair stood on end instantly. He instinctively assumed a defensive stance, gripped his kunai tightly, and activated his Sharingan. The three tomoe spun wildly as he warily scanned every inch of sand and every shadow around him.

But--

No.

There was nothing there.

Apart from the howling night wind and the cold sand, he didn't sense anything unusual at all.

"Young Master Yan Sheng..." Uchiha Masaki asked in surprise and uncertainty, just about to ask.

The next moment, all his words were abruptly cut off by a terrifying, almost tangible pressure that suddenly descended.

—Yan Sheng took a deep breath, and in his dark eyes, a magnificent kaleidoscope pattern suddenly appeared and spun.

At the same time, a terrifying aura, far exceeding Uchiha Masaki's comprehension, cold and violent, emanated from Yan Sheng like a tsunami.

Uchiha Masaki didn't even have time to react. He felt an irresistible force crush him, causing his knees to buckle and he collapsed to his knees on the sand with a thud. His bones groaned under the unbearable pressure. His mind went blank; all his thoughts were crushed by the pure, terrifying pressure. Even his activated Sharingan was forced to shut down due to the extreme oppression.

He could only rely on his last instinct to raise his head and look at that god-like figure.

......

Yan Sheng knew very well that his left eye's Mangekyou Sharingan ability, "Fleeting Beauty," only lasted for a mere three seconds. He didn't waste a single second; as his aura exploded and overwhelmed Uchiha Masaki, he already swung his katana.

Moon Breathing, Eighth Form: Moon Dragon Tail.

Countless enormous and beautiful crescent-shaped blades of wind, formed from the cold pressure of the sword and the raging chakra, like red lotuses blooming in hell, accompanied by a ghostly shriek, fiercely tore through the silent night sky and slashed fiercely at the vast desert in front of him.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar shattered the deathly silence of the desert.

The earth trembled violently. Wherever the sword passed, it tore a huge ravine hundreds of meters long and bottomless in the sand. The terrifying shockwave leveled and shattered the surrounding sand dunes. Sand and dust rose into the sky like a tsunami, obscuring the sky and the moon.

Yan Sheng precisely controlled his peak power for those three seconds, concentrating the destructive force into a single point to unleash its maximum power.

—Since discovering his Mangekyou Sharingan awakening, under the careful guidance of his mother Kaori, Yan Sheng has gradually learned how to control and utilize this power. He has also realized that he is different from others. His Mangekyou Sharingan has two abilities: the left eye's "Fleeting Beauty" allows him to briefly revert to his physical state at its peak in a previous life; the right eye's "Ogami Vision" allows him to see souls and their merits and karmic deeds.

Three seconds passed in the blink of an eye.

The vast, ocean-like power receded rapidly like a tide, the magnificent patterns in Yan Sheng's eyes vanished, his face instantly paled, and his breathing became slightly rapid. But he remained firmly in place, coldly gazing at the enormous rift he had created before him, a rift that resembled the entrance to hell.

The smoke and dust slowly dissipated.

Uchiha Masaki knelt on the spot, mouth agape, staring at Yan Sheng's back as if he were a monster. His brain was still in a daze, completely unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Just then—

"Roar!"

A powerful, penetrating roar, filled with extreme anger and rage from being startled, came from the bottom of the cleaved abyss.

The entire desert trembled several times at this roar.

Yan Sheng's lips curled into a cold smile.

Found it.

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Author's Note: Uchiha Masaki: Who am I? Where am I? Someone, please save me!