Chapter 61 Three Pets (Three chapters combined, including a bonus chapter...)
The cold blade hovered in mid-air, less than two centimeters away from the trembling, dark mass that was only the size of a palm.
The cold light gleaming on the blade stung Black Zetsu's eyes.
It was so close! Just a hair's breadth away from death! This will that had endured for millennia was about to be utterly annihilated, and all its schemes would have vanished into nothingness!
The immense fear and relief of surviving the ordeal caused Black Zetsu's small body to tremble uncontrollably.
"Tell me more about your Eye of the Moon project, and your mother." Yan Sheng's voice rang out, still devoid of emotion, but the undeniable pressure was even stronger than before.
Under immense pressure from the life-or-death situation, Black Zetsu blurted out the truth in desperation. Now that he has calmed down, he is overwhelmed with endless regret.
A thousand-year-old secret is being revealed in its entirety to a terrifying being of unknown origin and stance at this very moment and place.
But then I thought, if I hadn't said anything, I would have already vanished into thin air by now, so I didn't regret it so much.
This torment of regret and helplessness almost made even a cold and gloomy creature like Black Zetsu "boil".
Seeing Hei Jue hesitate, Yan Sheng's yellow, beady eyes darted around, clearly up to no good. Yan Sheng's wrist tightened slightly, the hovering blade pressing down a fraction, the chilling killing intent piercing towards Hei Jue as if it were tangible.
"Don't try anything funny," he threatened, his tone flat. "You know the consequences of lying."
Black Zetsu shuddered violently, its last shred of hope crushed. It knew that before this man, any falsehood was tantamount to suicide. It could only... continue speaking.
I don't know how men know whether they're telling the truth or a lie.
"My mother." Black Zetsu's voice carried a strange mixture of emotions, both heartfelt reverence and the humiliation of having to reveal a secret. "Kaguya Otsutsuki is the most precious and extraordinary woman on this planet."
"Almost all the ninjas on this land today can be considered her descendants. She is the progenitor of chakra and the origin of all ninjutsu." Its voice suddenly rose, filled with deep pride, "...With the blessings and expectations of the people, she gave birth to two sons. My two older brothers, Hagoromo and Hamura... Mother loved them so much, even though they later... hurt her heart so much and misunderstood her good intentions, she only accepted it with tears in her eyes and never truly blamed them."
It's clear that its narrative is filled with deep resentment towards her two older brothers, and it portrays Kaguya Otsutsuki as a tragic mother betrayed by her rebellious sons.
"However, those two traitors! They not only failed to understand the price Mother paid to protect this world, nor the loneliness she endured, but they were also seduced by the shallow words of humanity. In the end, they joined forces to betray their beloved mother, killing and sealing her away!"
When the topic turned to "deep emotions," Black Zetsu's body churned violently due to his unstable emotions.
—Leaving aside the obvious subjective assumptions and emotional embellishments, the core information it reveals includes: the progenitor of chakra, Kaguya Otsutsuki, being sealed by her own child, and so on.
The amount of information is so vast that it is enough to shock anyone.
"The ultimate goal of the Eye of the Moon Project is to free Mother from the seal set by those two traitors." Having finally finished speaking, Black Zetsu looked anxiously at Yan Sheng, awaiting his verdict.
Yan Sheng remained silent, his deep eyes revealing no emotion, as if he were processing this astonishing information.
Only a deathly silence remained in the laboratory after the dust had settled.
After a long silence, Yan Shengcai slowly spoke, asking a question that caught Hei Zetsu completely off guard: "Your mother's surname is Otsutsuki?"
Black Zetsu was taken aback, then subconsciously replied, "Yes."
"The Otsutsuki, the race that uses planets as nurseries to plant divine trees, devours the life energy of planets to transform into chakra fruits, and is like a cosmic locust?" Yan Sheng's tone remained calm, but what he said was like a thunderclap, exploding in Black Zetsu's mind.
"...?!"
Why would this man know about the Otsutsuki clan? Could he not be a native of this planet?
Thinking back on this man's strange and powerful strength, could it be that he was also a member of the Otsutsuki clan? Was he sent by the main Otsutsuki family to settle scores with his mother and seize the fruit?
But that's not right! He doesn't have the Rinnegan!
The small black body suddenly froze, its color seemingly becoming even darker and thicker due to the extreme shock and fear. Its "face" revealed an undisguised horror and suspicion.
"Don't overthink it." Yan Sheng explained calmly, as if he could read minds. "I have nothing to do with them."
After saying that, he slightly turned the blade and continued to ask, "Then, what about your mother? Her initial purpose in coming to this world should also have been to 'devour' this planet, right?"
"No!" Black Zetsu screamed with all his might, his voice shrill and piercing. "Quite the opposite! Mother did it to protect this planet—"
"Is this true?" Yan Sheng interrupted, his gaze piercing straight to the core, "Or is it what you think is 'true'?"
"I..." Black Zetsu choked.
It couldn't see through Yan Sheng's stance and couldn't judge whether the other party was "enemy or friend".
If Kokusatsu is an enemy of the Otsutsuki, then emphasizing his mother's "protection" might offer him a chance to survive; but if Kokusatsu is acting from a planetary perspective and despises all Otsutsuki...
It was in a state of utter confusion, racking its brains but unable to come up with a solution that satisfied both sides, and cold sweat poured down its back.
"Forget it." Yan Sheng lost his patience, his tone turning cold and resolute again. "Killing you will ensure that there won't be another person who is so determined to resurrect her."
Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu instantly understood Yan Sheng's stance—he was on the opposite side of the Otsutsuki! He was the guardian of the planet, or at least he abhorred the Otsutsuki's plundering practices.
Seeing the hovering blade gleaming with deadly cold light once more, about to fall, Black Zetsu disregarded everything else and shouted:
"etc!"
The blade paused slightly.
Seizing this fleeting opportunity, Black Zetsu spoke rapidly: "Don't you humans have a saying: 'Don't look at the process, only the result! Don't care about your heart, only look at the actions!' In any case, Mother is now on the side of this planet! She doesn't want this planet to be destroyed!"
"With the power of the Otsutsuki, you don't even have the right to resist! Leaving Mother alive is the only possibility!"
It desperately searched for a reason to sway Yan Sheng, but seeing that Yan Sheng remained unmoved and poised to draw his sword, it gritted its teeth and revealed a deeper, more astonishing secret:
"Actually... Mother betrayed the Otsutsuki clan! By protecting this planet, she was also protecting herself!"
"oh?"
Yan Sheng finally reacted, uttering a meaningful syllable.
Fearing that Yan Sheng might "go back on his word," Hei Jue hurriedly confirmed, speaking so fast it was like pouring beans, "Mother was originally sent to this star system as a guardian, responsible for watching over the Divine Tree and waiting for the fruit to ripen before handing it over to the main family. But... but Mother fell in love with this land, fell in love with the people here! She didn't want to see this vibrant planet drained dry by the Divine Tree and turned into cosmic dust, and she was even less willing to hand over her power to the main family."
"So, she rebelled, ate the chakra fruit that was supposed to be handed over, gained power, and used this power not only to protect herself, but also to fight against the Otsutsuki main family that might come in the future! She wanted to protect this world!" Black Zetsu's voice rose, trying to emphasize Kaguya's righteousness.
"But her two foolish sons, Hagoromo and Hamura, could not understand their mother's profound plans and good intentions! They only saw the violence their mother used to quell the war and establish order, but they could not see the terrifying enemy she was dealing with behind it! They were blinded by their narrow-minded ideas of freedom and peace, and in the end, they joined forces to seal their mother away, thus cutting off the strongest force on this planet that could fight against the Otsutsuki family!"
Black Zetsu's voice was filled with grief, indignation, and resentment.
"The Eye of the Moon Project is not just about reviving Mother, but also about gathering the chakra of the entire planet to restore her to her full power, or even make her stronger! Only in this way will we have a fighting chance when the Otsutsuki clan's pursuers arrive! Otherwise, the entire planet will become their food!"
"The White Zetsu army created by Infinite Tsukuyomi is also to prepare for future wars!"
Yan Sheng listened quietly, his gaze indifferent, like a cold pool.
He certainly didn't believe Black Zetsu's one-sided story, especially since the guy was cunning by nature and had just tried to deceive him. However, the threat posed by the Otsutsuki was confirmed by the planet's consciousness.
"It sounds like your mother is in a very delicate position," Yan Sheng said slowly, the tip of his knife seemingly pointing at Black Zetsu. "She betrayed her clan, yet she tried to 'protect' the world using the clan's methods. And the price of her 'protection' was the free will of the entire world."
Black Zetsu urgently defended himself: "This is a necessary sacrifice! What is free will in the face of absolute destruction? As long as Mother is resurrected, she will naturally lead us—"
"Enough." Yan Sheng interrupted it, his voice icy. "I won't discuss what your mother is thinking for now. I only ask you, when will the Otsutsuki main family arrive?"
Black Zetsu paused, "I...I don't know. It might be soon, or it might be a long time. But one thing is certain: they will come! They must have noticed that the Divine Tree fruit was devoured without permission!"
Yan Sheng fell into deep thought.
After a long while, he looked at the trembling Black Zetsu on the ground, who had exhausted all his trump cards in order to survive, and quickly weighed the options in his mind.
Killing it would be simple and would cut off the possibility of Kaguya Otsutsuki's resurrection, but it would also mean losing a potential source of information about Otsutsuki, as well as a pawn that might be useful.
After all, Black Zetsu would spare no effort to gather information and methods to fight against the Otsutsuki main family, all for the sake of Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Keeping it, however, carries enormous risks; it's like a venomous snake that could turn on you at any moment. But if it can be effectively controlled, perhaps more value can be extracted from it.
Yan Sheng's gaze finally fell on the sealing array he had personally set up.
Tobirama Senju's barrier, combined with his sealing techniques, can temporarily trap Black Zetsu, but in the long run, a more reliable method is needed.
He suddenly thought of something, and his eyes flickered slightly.
"Is your existence indispensable to completing the Eye of the Moon Project?" Yan Sheng asked, his tone unreadable.
Blackie, puzzled, cautiously replied, "Of course."
Its final task is to pierce the spot on its back; if this step is not accomplished, there is no hope of resurrecting the mother.
"In other words, without you, the Eye of the Moon Project cannot be realized," Yan Sheng concluded.
Black Zetsu sensed something was amiss: "...You could say that."
Yan Sheng nodded, making his decision. He flicked his wrist, sheathing his sword. But this action did not make Black Zetsu feel at ease; instead, it made him even more uneasy.
— Yan Sheng formed a hand seal, and the sealing array on the ground shone brightly. Countless fine runes seemed to come alive, starting to rotate and shrink, and then wrapping around Hei Jue in the center.
"What...what are you going to do?!" Black Zetsu cried out in terror, trying to struggle, but under the suppression of the double barrier, it could only sadly accept the reality.
"I'll get you a more 'safe' place to live," Yan Sheng said calmly.
He planned to seal Black Zetsu's consciousness, stripping it of most of its abilities, leaving only the most basic "information receiving" function, turning it into a "living database" that could not act autonomously, could not contact the outside world, and could only passively answer questions.
This requires extremely sophisticated sealing techniques, and even involves manipulation of the soul. Only in Tobirama Senju's laboratory, which is isolated from the outside world, would he dare to attempt it.
The deep blue light completely swallowed the tiny patch of darkness.
Black Zetsu's screams gradually faded within the sealing light, eventually turning into deathly silence.
When the light faded, all that remained on the ground was a palm-sized, oval stone covered with intricate black patterns. Occasionally, a faint glimmer of dark light would flash across its surface, proving that an unwilling consciousness was sealed within.
Yan Sheng bent down and picked up the "pebble," feeling the cold, imprisoned aura within it.
“Kaguya Otsutsuki…the main Otsutsuki family…” he murmured to himself, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
His only task in this world is to guide Sasuke and nip in the bud any potential world-destroying thoughts that might arise in him. Everything else is irrelevant to him.
—Then why bother doing this? The answer lies in the "commonality" between the two worlds.
The information gleaned here might be the key to breaking the deadlock in his other world. Upon returning to his own world, he will still need to confront the threat of the Otsutsuki. But his world is shrouded in darkness and cunning, its traces difficult to discern, making it far less accessible than this imprisoned sample for analysis.
Since the opportunity has been presented to us, there's no reason to let it slip by.
After putting away the sealing stone and erasing all traces of his presence, Yan Sheng quietly left the underground laboratory.
......
The Land of Rain, as the name suggests, is a country where it rains all year round.
The Akatsuki organization established its base here.
Obito Uchiha leaned against the cold stone wall, his brows furrowed beneath his mask.
Black Zetsu has been in Konoha for several days now, but he's disappeared without a trace, sending back no news. This is very unusual. Even if Black Zetsu couldn't find anything, he should at least come back and report.
Could something have gone wrong?
A shadow crossed Obito's mind.
Could that man who looked just like an old man really have been spotted and subdued by Black Zetsu? No, that shouldn't be possible. He knew Black Zetsu's survival skills; he might not be good at fighting, but he was definitely a master at escaping.
Perhaps something got in the way.
Obito shook his head, temporarily suppressing his unease.
In any case, the Eye of the Moon project cannot be halted. With Blackbeard absent, many details require his personal oversight.
He looked into the depths of the base, where the newly joined Uchiha Itachi and a group of "comrades" each with their own ulterior motives.
“Next step…” Obito muttered to himself, his Sharingan slowly rotating beneath his mask, “It’s time to find some ‘serious business’ for the Akatsuki.”
The plan to capture the tailed beasts needs to be prepared.
Only by collecting all the tailed beasts can the Ten-Tails be resurrected, the Infinite Tsukuyomi activated, and a world with Rin where heroes will not weep be created.
***
Konoha Ninja Academy, first-year classroom.
Sunlight streamed through the window, lazily spilling onto the desks.
Sasuke Uchiha sat upright, forcing himself to concentrate on the knowledge his teacher was explaining. However, an overly intense and undisguised gaze shone on his left side like a spotlight, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
It's Naruto Uzumaki.
The isolated boy was now casually sprawled on the table, his head tilted towards him, his bright blue eyes fixed on him, filled with curiosity and... a kind of inquiry that he couldn't understand.
How could anyone openly spy on someone else—that gaze was practically burning two holes in his cheek; it would be impossible for him not to notice.
However, Sasuke was stubborn and simply ignored Naruto.
"Ring ring!"
The lunch break bell rang.
The students took out their own lunchboxes. Sasuke also took out an exquisite double-layered lacquered wooden food box from his bag.
Opening the box reveals a beautifully arranged meal: perfectly grilled fish, vibrantly colored vegetables, fluffy white rice, and two pickled plums on top.
The aroma filled the air, causing several classmates nearby to unconsciously sniff.
Sasuke is an excellent student and handsome. Even though his personality became gloomy after the night of the massacre of his clan, he still attracts a large number of young girls who admire him.
In order to strike up a conversation with him, they would always try to start with various details.
Today, a girl with pink hair blushed and shyly came over, whispering, "Sasuke-kun, your bento looks so good, and it smells so nice. It must taste amazing!"
And that is indeed the case.
Yan Sheng is an excellent cook. Although he is not picky about food, he will never be perfunctory if he has the means. This is a courtesy and self-discipline ingrained in him. He will not easily compromise himself, especially within the scope of what he can control.
To satisfy his occasional cravings, Yan Sheng had learned cooking in his early years. With his extraordinary comprehension and learning ability, he quickly surpassed ordinary people in skill, and thus did not spend too much time mastering the craft.
As for why he would "condescend" to prepare a bento for Sasuke, it all comes down to Yan Sheng's sense of responsibility.
If it were a business transaction, Yan Sheng would definitely be the most reliable partner, whether as the principal or the agent.
He never cuts corners or does things half-heartedly. Once he takes on a task, he strives for perfection and will not allow himself to make mistakes or fall behind others in any way.
Therefore, when he observed that other children had lunches prepared by their families, he naturally took on this responsibility.
Preparing a bento for Sasuke was, in his eyes, the duty of a "guardian," and besides, it was not a difficult task for him.
He simply sets aside a little time each day to cook some simple, everyday dishes. With the help of his ninjutsu clones, the actual amount of time he needs to cook personally is not much.
In response to the pink-haired girl's praise, Sasuke gave a curt "hmm" without even looking up.
Before the massacre of his clan, when he was in a better mood, Sasuke might have responded briefly out of politeness. But now, the enormous changes have made him increasingly gloomy and taciturn, wanting only to shut himself off and unwilling to talk to anyone.
It's worth mentioning that he thought his cold attitude would deter the girls. However, to his surprise, they became even more enthusiastic, whispering among themselves, "Sasuke-kun is so cool like this," and "He looks even more handsome with a cold face..."
Sasuke was at a loss. He genuinely found these chattering girls annoying, but the family etiquette he had received since childhood prevented him from speaking ill of them, so he could only choose to avoid them.
Holding his lunchbox, Sasuke got up and left the noisy classroom, heading towards the rooftop of the school building.
The rooftop was deserted, offering a wide view, and a gentle breeze brought a moment of tranquility. This was exactly the environment Sasuke needed at that moment.
He found a shady corner to sit down, opened the food box, and prepared to enjoy his lunch.
However, just as he picked up his chopsticks, a sound came from the entrance to the rooftop, as if someone had accidentally kicked the threshold and then hurriedly pulled back, accompanied by a "grumble" sound—it seemed to be the rumbling of a hungry stomach.
Sasuke instinctively turned his head to look. He only managed to catch a glimpse of a dazzling golden hair that quickly retreated behind the door.
Is it Naruto Uzumaki?
Sasuke naturally knew Naruto Uzumaki, not just because they were classmates. More importantly, Naruto was too "famous": he had no parents, was an orphan, was mischievous and constantly playing pranks, and was a problem child in the eyes of teachers and classmates. Almost everyone disliked and ostracized him.
Sasuke had also been curious about this, because he had heard many people, both privately and publicly, refer to Naruto as the "Demon Fox." He had asked his brother about it.
At that time, his brother's eyes held a very complex expression. Of course, Sasuke still can't fully understand that complexity; perhaps he'll only be able to when he's older.
In short, his older brother patted his head and said softly, "Naruto... is a very pitiful child. Sasuke, if you can help him a little at school, then... don't get too close to him."
Although his brother's words were contradictory, Sasuke kept them in mind, but he didn't take them too seriously.
After all, before the night of the massacre, Naruto almost never paid attention to him, and when he did look at him, his eyes held a certain defiant provocation.
Sasuke, of course, wouldn't try to curry favor with someone who wouldn't listen.
Until the night of the genocide occurred.
Sasuke keenly noticed that Naruto was looking at him more often, and his gaze was no longer provocative, but rather a direct scrutiny.
Sasuke couldn't understand Naruto.
Unlike the others, who either sympathized with him and offered comfort or gloated... he simply watched, over and over again, as if trying to find some answer in him.
What a strange guy.
Sasuke looked away and then back at his bento box, but suddenly felt that his appetite had not been so good.
Afternoon classes ended, and the school bell rang.
Sasuke packed his schoolbag and followed the crowd out of the school building.
As soon as he stepped out of the gate, he saw a tall figure standing outside the school gate, out of place with the surrounding environment.
Yan Sheng was still wearing that simple, dark robe, his long hair tied up, waiting there with an indifferent expression. Just by standing there, he naturally exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay, drawing frequent glances from the parents and students picking up their children around him.
Several girls from the same class nearby let out quiet gasps of amazement.
Wow! Look, that guy is so handsome!
"Is he Sasuke's older brother? I've never seen him before."
"I heard he's a distant relative, and now he's adopted Sasuke-kun..."
Hearing the whispers, Sasuke pursed his lips, a complex mix of embarrassment and indescribable emotion welling up inside him.
He quickened his pace, jogged up to Yan Sheng, and called out softly, "Brother Yan Sheng."
Yan Sheng nodded slightly in response, said nothing more, and turned to lead Sasuke toward home.
Just as he turned around, his sharp, hawk-like eyes swept seemingly unintentionally over the noisy inside of the school gate.
A striking golden hue, like sunlight piercing through the gloom, entered his field of vision.
The boy named Naruto Uzumaki was clinging to the corner of the school building, peeking out half his head and gazing longingly in the direction they had left. His azure eyes reflected Sasuke's retreating figure, and there was a hint of longing and loneliness hidden within them.
Yan Sheng withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward with a normal expression.
This hero's son seems to care a lot about Sasuke.
......
The setting sun cast long, narrow shadows of the two people, and the streets were filled with the aromas of dinner wafting from every household.
Sasuke silently followed beside Yan Sheng.
Yan Sheng was thinking—confirming that Naruto Uzumaki cared about Sasuke, and seeing the momentary desolation in the boy's eyes, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples: an idea suddenly emerged.
Why didn't he add another layer of insurance?
Simply guiding Sasuke's thoughts and relying on one's own strength to protect him is not enough.
In the grand scheme of things, the most effective way to make someone completely abandon thoughts of destruction and foster a desire to protect is to create a crucial and indispensable "anchor point" in their life. This "anchor point" must be able to stir their emotions and occupy their thoughts.
Based on his understanding of Sasuke's sensitive, proud, and easily extreme Uchiha personality, this "anchor point" must meet several demanding conditions: First, it must be proactive enough and have the tenacity to persist in sticking to him no matter how much cold treatment he encounters; otherwise, given Sasuke's current closed-off state, he would easily push people away.
Secondly, one must possess sufficient potential and strength; otherwise, in future turmoil, not only will one be unable to protect Sasuke, but one may even become a burden. Having the will but not the ability is useless.
Furthermore, the best personality is one that is as fiery, bright, and optimistic as a "little sun," so that it can dispel the gloom that keeps accumulating in Sasuke's heart and guide him to look towards the sun rather than the abyss.
Finally, one must possess the tenacious vitality and willpower of an "indestructible cockroach" in order to withstand setbacks and blows.
More importantly... it's best if the two people can form a deep bond of "being unique to each other" so that they won't give up on each other for someone else.
...Sasuke is now an orphan, and Naruto Uzumaki is also an orphan. The most interesting thing is that the latter is not only ostracized, but also has nothing.
Yan Sheng's eyes flickered slightly.
Perhaps we could give it a try? Include that child in the scope of observation and guidance as well.
Thinking of this, he spoke, breaking the silence, his voice flat and devoid of emotion: "What do you think of Naruto Uzumaki?"
Sasuke was taken aback by the abrupt question, looked up, and his face was full of confusion. After hesitating for a moment, as if searching for the right words, he finally answered dryly, "Classmate, deskmate, bottom of the class... a strange person." That was all he could remember about Naruto at the moment.
"Hmm." Yan Sheng received the initial feedback and didn't ask any more questions, as if it were just a casual remark.
This only made Sasuke more confused.
Why would Uchiha Kokusatsu suddenly care about Naruto? What's so special about that loser?
After walking for a while, Yan Sheng asked another seemingly unrelated question: "Would you like to have a pet?"
Sasuke remained silent for a long while before replying in a muffled voice, "...No."
Actually, he had thought about it before.
He had envied other children who had summoned beasts or cute little animals, and had thought about raising a kitten or a ninja dog. But before he could even tell his parents, everything had turned into ashes and bloody memories.
He can't even take care of himself now, his heart is a wasteland, where would he have the extra energy and expectations for the future to take on the responsibility of another little life?
"Hmm," Yan Sheng said to himself, "I've prepared three pets for you."
Sasuke: "?"
He said "don't" instead of "yes," right?
Yen Sheng: "You don't need to take care of their food, water, or toilet needs; you just need to play with them. You don't need to feel like it's a burden." He emphasized, "It's not you raising them, it's me raising them. You only have the right to play with them."
These words were like a small pebble gently tapping on the frozen lake of Sasuke's heart. An indescribable emotion, mixed with surprise and a faint warmth, welled up inside him.
Thinking about it carefully, although the man always has a cold face and speaks in a concise manner to the point of being indifferent, he will prepare lunch for him and pick him up from school on time. Now... he has even considered that he might want companionship and prepared a pet for him.
—No matter what, Sasuke is still only a seven-year-old child. He naturally has curiosity and affection for the word "pet".
Upon hearing Yan Sheng say this, and declare that he didn't need to take care of him, Sasuke couldn't help but show a hint of suppressed curiosity and anticipation on his face.
My originally gloomy mood brightened up a little as a result.
Yan Sheng is a good person.
Sasuke thought to himself, feeling frustrated.
Yes, he has now acknowledged Yan Sheng, and calling him "brother" is genuine.
Back home, Yan Sheng gestured for Sasuke to wait in the living room, while he went back to his bedroom first.
Sasuke sat obediently on the sofa, his heart pounding like a kitten's. His gaze kept drifting towards Yan Sheng's door, wondering what kind of animal would be brought out—a fluffy puppy? A well-behaved cat? Or something even more special?
However, when Yan Sheng walked out of the bedroom again, his hands were empty and there was no living creature with him.
Sasuke's expectant expression froze instantly, turning into confusion. Just as he was about to ask a question, Yan Sheng had already walked up to him.
"Hold out your hand," Yan Sheng said.
Although Sasuke was puzzled, he still spread out his hands as instructed.
Then, he saw Yen Sheng reach into his pocket and pull out two palm-sized, fluffy, hand-woven...dolls?
One looks like a raccoon with dark circles under its eyes, while the other looks like a white horse with horns.
Yan Sheng placed the small sand raccoon doll in Sasuke's outstretched right palm, and then placed the small white horse doll in his left palm.
Sasuke: "...?"
This is... a pet? Are you just playing with him?
Sasuke was filled with questions and felt embarrassed and annoyed at being teased.
At this moment, Yan Sheng took out a third "doll" from his pocket—a small thing with wings, like a mini dragonfly, and placed it on his head.
Sasuke froze completely, one on his head and two in his hands, his expression changing from confusion to utter bewilderment.
These are what they call pets? Three...dolls?
Yan Sheng looked at Sasuke's stunned expression, and at the three tailed beasts in his palm and on his head, who were equally bewildered by being suddenly shown to others. He spoke calmly, his tone as natural as if he were saying, "Here are some candies."
"Take it and play with it."
The words had barely left his mouth.
The One-Tailed Beast, placed in Sasuke's right palm, was the first to react. Its tiny body trembled violently, as if it couldn't believe what it had just heard. Then, a surge of utter humiliation and rage overwhelmed its reason, and with all its might, it let out a piercing, shrill roar filled with grief and indignation:
"Uchiha Kokusatsu, I'll f*** your grandpa!"
It's a majestic One-Tailed Beast, Shukaku! A tailed beast that once ravaged sandstorms and struck fear into the hearts of all! Now it's being treated like a pet to amuse children?! And they're saying, "Take it and play with it"?! What a disgrace!
A mournful roar echoed in the living room, carrying the sound of humiliation and shattered dignity.
However, its anger lasted for less than three seconds under Yan Sheng's calm, unwavering gaze, which was as deep as an abyss.
Yan Sheng said nothing or made any threatening gestures; he simply watched it quietly. But Shukaku could read a clear warning in those eyes, as well as an undeniable sense of oppression from that absolute power.
Okay... circumstances are stronger than people, no, stronger than tailed beasts. Whoever has the stronger fist is right; this rule applies everywhere.
Yiwei's body stiffened for a moment, his anger as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head, hissing and finally turning into a wisp of unwilling smoke, and he fell silent.
It reluctantly shut its mouth, and all the "fur" that had stood up on its body drooped down.
After the initial shock, Sasuke's dark eyes, which had been dimmed by melancholy, suddenly shone with a light of surprise.
"They...are alive?" He carefully cradled the two furry little creatures in his left and right hands, afraid to move them too much for fear of shaking the one above his head off. His voice was filled with childlike wonder and disbelief.
Before Yan Sheng could answer, the One-Tailed Beast, still seething with anger from its recent setback, immediately turned its attention to the weak and vulnerable Sasuke, taunting, "What else? You think you're dead? You have no sense at all! This mighty and majestic figure of mine..." It paused, seemingly realizing that its current thumb-sized form was far from "majestic and majestic," and its tone became even more vicious.
"Fine, you look pitiful all alone, so being your playmate isn't out of the question. From now on, you'll be responsible for being my servant—"
Before it could finish speaking, that familiar, cold gaze, like the stare of death, fell upon it once more.
Shukaku jolted, the word "servant" that was on the tip of his tongue abruptly changing direction, his tone twisting as he said, "Servant... Pfft! I mean, be friends! Yes! Friends! The kind where we help each other!"
These words were practically squeezed out through gritted teeth, as if the dignity of the Tailed Beasts had been utterly shattered today and trampled on.
Five-tailed Beast: "..." Shukaku is really flexible, isn't he?
Nanami: "......" How embarrassing, Shukaku.
Yan Sheng then withdrew his suffocating gaze and instructed Sasuke, "You can take them to school, but don't get caught."
"Huh?" Sasuke was taken aback, then subconsciously retorted, "Pets aren't allowed at school, unless they're summoning beasts with a contract. And even with summoning beasts, you can only bring them into the classroom with the teacher's prior permission."
"That's why I told you not to let anyone else find out." Yan Sheng's tone was matter-of-fact.
"Uh." Sasuke opened his mouth, but then, thinking about the school rules and Iruka-sensei's serious face, he was caught in a dilemma.
From childhood to adulthood, he has always been a model student who follows the rules. This kind of deliberate violation of the rules is a considerable challenge for him.
The next day, at the Ninja Academy.
The morning sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the dust particles swirling in the classroom.
The bell for the start of class had already rung, and most students were already seated.
Sasuke sat down as well, though he seemed to be reviewing his textbook. But if you looked closely, you would notice that his expression was more tense than usual, and his eyes would occasionally dart quickly over his bulging pockets—where three "forbidden items" that were strictly forbidden from being brought into the school were located.
Iruka walked into the classroom with his lesson plan, his gaze habitually sweeping across the room. When he saw the still empty seat next to Sasuke, a clear tic-tac-toe mark instantly appeared on his forehead.
Naruto is late again!
Speak of the devil and he appears.
Just as Iruka took a deep breath, preparing to begin his lesson while simultaneously contemplating how to punish that incorrigible brat—
"Bang!"
The classroom door was suddenly pushed open, slamming against the wall with a loud thud.
Naruto Uzumaki leaned against the doorframe, bent over, panting heavily, his forehead covered in sweat, clearly having run all the way here.
He raised his deep blue eyes and looked guiltily at the podium, only to meet Iruka's angry gaze. He immediately wilted like a frostbitten eggplant, his shoulders slumping.
Iruka's lips twitched, but he ultimately suppressed his anger and waved his hand: "Alright, Naruto. Come back to your seat! We'll talk about your lateness after class."
"Yes, yes! Iruka-sensei!" Naruto felt like he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly nodded and bowed. Then, he walked dejectedly to his seat and plopped down in the empty seat next to Sasuke with a dull thud.
And just as Naruto sat down...
Deep within his body, in that dark, damp mental space sealed by a massive fence.
The giant fox demon, which had been lying prone with its eyes closed, exuding a deathly and world-weary aura, suddenly flung open its eyelids, which looked like they were burning with blood-red flames.
A pair of scarlet beast eyes, filled with ferocity and intelligence, lit up in the darkness. Their sharp gaze seemed to pierce through the barrier of the seal, sensing the anomalies in the outside world.
Um?
The nine-tailed fox raised its enormous head, its nostrils flaring.
An extremely faint, yet strangely familiar aura... not just one, but three, was near the little devil.
This feels like... is it that idiot Shukaku? And King Mu and Chongming? What are they doing here?
A hint of surprise and uncertainty flashed in the Nine-Tailed Fox's eyes.
It was sealed inside Naruto's body and had limited perception of the outside world, but as a tailed beast, it had a unique connection with him.
—It's definitely the aura of those three! But shouldn't they be sealed away somewhere else? How did they end up all together in Konoha, and even appear next to that brat?
-----------------------
Author's Note: Demons can't eat human food, so I learned cooking skills when I joined the Demon Slayer Corps. In that respect, the scumbag boss is not guilty, but it's also true that he raised me very poorly (just kidding). [doge head with rose in hand]
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