Chapter 82: Tailed Beast Capture Plan

In addition, he was the first wandmaker to insist on using powerful magical materials as wand cores.

Many wandmakers had abandoned these powerful materials in pursuit of stability, preferring ordinary magical materials instead.

Ordinary magical materials blend easily with wand wood, while powerful ones become far more uncontrollable during the process.

No one knew how Ollivander controlled this process.

Among wandmakers, many coveted Ollivander’s exclusive secret.

The old man had lived to this age in perfect safety—clearly, he had something special.

After working as an apprentice in the wand shop for half a month, Ollivander finally spoke to Chu Yang about the secret.

“Treat every magical material in your hand as a living thing—imagine it ‘breathing,’ and that breathing produces a unique pulse. Catch that pulse, and Itachi can easily fuse them together.”

“Only after working in this field long enough, and handling enough magical materials, can Itachi hope to feel the pulse I’m describing…”

“I see potential in Itachi not only because Itachi’re intelligent, but because I’ve sensed something similar in your magic.”

“Itachi can use your magic to resonate with this special pulse.”

Chu Yang asked curiously, “But how exactly do Itachi do it?”

“I don’t know how to do it myself—these are just my guesses.” Ollivander laid out a large pile of materials before Chu Yang. “For now, Itachi must communicate the most primitive way: hold the materials, wrap them in your magic, and try to feel it.”

“Are Itachi sure they won’t explode? Some magical materials are extremely volatile!” Chu Yang suspected the old man was using him as a test subject—his gaze had turned suspicious.

“As long as Itachi don’t try to fuse them together, they won’t explode.” Ollivander cleared his throat and urged, “Get started.”

Chu Yang gripped the magical materials before him and, as Ollivander instructed, wrapped them in his magic.

For the first time ever, Chu Yang truly felt a peculiar pulse.

Like a heartbeat.

“Did Itachi feel it?” Ollivander leaned in eagerly. “What was it like?”

“A heartbeat,” Chu Yang replied honestly.

“Exactly. Now just practice repeatedly—Itachi’ll master the trick.” Ollivander nodded in satisfaction. “With your talent, Itachi’ll meet my standards soon. Then Itachi can attempt fusing the core with the wand wood. When Itachi reach that step, Itachi’ll be ready to graduate.”

“The only problem is the supply is running low. For some reason, unicorns have been hard to find lately, and phoenix feathers and dragon heartstrings are even harder to come by. Practicing with ordinary materials is pointless…”

At this, Ollivander fell into deep worry.

Chu Yang immediately replied, “Don’t worry—I can get unicorn hair.”

Ollivander glared at him. “Do Itachi think unicorns are your pet cats and dogs? Even though unicorns are among the gentler magical creatures, that doesn’t mean they’ll let Itachi approach easily!”

“Females are tolerable—but if a male appears near them, they flee instantly. Even if Itachi grew two extra legs, Itachi couldn’t catch them!”

Chu Yang had no patience for arguing with an old man, especially one this ancient.

He pulled an empty suitcase from under the cabinet and, while Ollivander turned to organize wand boxes, used Apparition and vanished from the shop.

The next instant, Chu Yang appeared in the Forbidden Forest, where a towering tree stood nearby, beneath it a group of unicorns playing—calm, serene.

The unicorns spotted Chu Yang—not fleeing, but charging toward him in a group.

In an instant, Chu Yang was surrounded by a circle of unicorns.

They nuzzled him affectionately, just like household pets.

Any expert in magical beasts witnessing this would surely drop their eyes out of shock.

“Alright, alright, stop it,” Chu Yang pushed their heads away, trying to avoid their drool. “Who among Itachi has been shedding the most lately? Help me out—I need some hair.”

The moment he spoke, the unicorns leapt as if electrocuted, bouncing and shaking to shed more hair.

Before Chu Yang could even speak, he bent down quickly to collect the hair.

“Where did that boy run off to?”

Ollivander spent ages searching the storage room for unicorn hair, only to emerge and find Chu Yang gone—he grew angry.

“Mr. Ollivander, were Itachi looking for me?” Chu Yang appeared suddenly beside him, handing over the suitcase.

“What’s this?” Ollivander took the heavy suitcase from Chu Yang’s hands, puzzled.

“Unicorn hair,” Chu Yang answered.

“I don’t care where Itachi got this much hair—I told Itachi again, unicorn hair isn’t that easy to…”

Before Ollivander could finish, the half-open suitcase glowed with a soft, moonlike radiance—he recognized that light instantly and snapped the lid shut without thinking.

He swallowed hard, whispering cautiously, “Do Itachi really keep a whole herd of unicorns at home?”

…

Naruto world.

The Tailed Beast Capture Plan was nearing its end. All tailed beasts had been successfully sealed, except the Nine-Tails, whose location remained unknown, and the Eight-Tails, which had escaped capture multiple times.

The plan, meant to proceed smoothly, had encountered an unexpected setback.

Though the Hidden Leaf had tried hard to suppress the news during the captures, other ninja nations eventually detected it.

The Hidden Leaf had already overshadowed other villages in strength; now, with news of their tailed beast captures spreading, panic swept through the shinobi world.

Even the Daimyo of the Land of Fire could no longer withstand the pressure and sent envoys to verify the rumors. Reluctantly, Hashirama Senju personally appeared to explain, publicly revealing his plan to distribute the tailed beasts.

Thus, the Five Kage Summit was hastily moved forward, to be held in the Land of Lightning.

Tobirama Senju assumed full control of the Hokage’s duties while Hashirama was away, and Uchiha Izuna, as the public head of the Anbu, accompanied Hashirama to the summit as his bodyguard.

Hashirama continued to demonstrate his trust in the Uchiha clan.

But with Izuna’s departure, command of the village’s Anbu was left vacant—especially the Anbu squad responsible for tracking tailed beasts.

This unit had always been directly overseen by Uchiha Izuna.

After much deliberation, Tobirama decided to temporarily assign Anbu command to Uchiha Madara.

But Madara outright refused without hesitation.

“I only fight tailed beasts. Everything else, I don’t care.”

Madara firmly rejected the offer, growing increasingly detached.

Now it was Tobirama’s turn to be troubled.

The Hidden Leaf had decent talent reserves, but finding someone suitable to handle tailed beasts was difficult—after all, even Uchiha Izuna had let the Eight-Tails escape multiple times.

After much thought, Tobirama finally thought of a reckless, brilliant little brat.

Ninja Academy.

Chu Yang was in class.

Today’s lesson was advanced projectile training—students were taken outdoors to the firing range to practice throwing shuriken and kunai.

The young Third Hokage still outperformed everyone else—mischievous as ever, his talent was undeniable, excelling in every category.

In contrast, the equally mischievous Danzo Shimura lagged far behind, ranking only in the lower half of the class.

Transferred Shizune and Mizumon En were both performing better than him.

Chu Yang was about to scold him for his lack of focus when a teacher approached and whispered something in his ear.

“The teacher wants to see me?” Chu Yang blinked in surprise, but set aside his work.

After handing over the rest of the lesson to a substitute, Chu Yang hurried to the Hokage Tower—while the First Hokage was away, Tobirama Senju spent nearly all twenty-four hours there handling affairs.

“Teacher.” Chu Yang opened the door and immediately saw Tobirama Senju bent over documents.

“Ah, Itachi’re here.” Tobirama exchanged a few pleasantries, then pulled a scroll from his pile and handed it to Chu Yang. “Take a look at this.”

Chu Yang took the scroll, unrolled it, and read just a few lines before frowning. “This is tailed beast intelligence? And past mission records?”

“Correct.” Tobirama nodded, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk. “This should have gone to Uchiha Izuna, but Itachi know he’s away.”

“So Itachi’re giving it to me?” Chu Yang looked uneasy. Dealing with brats was far easier—and safer—than dealing with tailed beasts.

“Get ready and depart.”

Tobirama’s casual tone nearly made Chu Yang explode.

Was this even human speech? That was the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails—top-tier combat power in this world. One misstep and Itachi’d be dead.

“Fine.”

Complaints aside, Chu Yang didn’t refuse. Tobirama had chosen him for a reason, and Chu Yang himself was uniquely suited for this mission.

Chu Yang’s swift agreement brought a faint smile to Tobirama’s face. “Aren’t Itachi afraid of the danger?”

Chu Yang grinned. “It’s not as dangerous as the war between the Senju and Uchiha clans.”

A spear is easy to dodge; an arrow from the shadows is not. Human treachery is far more terrifying than tailed beasts.

“Actually, I’ve always hoped Itachi’d take this task. If Itachi complete it successfully, your standing in the village will rise significantly. It’s not too late to step in now.”

“The plan to weaken the Uchiha has succeeded, but we must also steadily reduce their influence within the Hidden Leaf. Handing over Anbu was a risky move—we must watch carefully.”

Tobirama warned, “After this mission ends, until Izuna and my brother return from the Land of Lightning, Itachi’ll temporarily command Anbu. Use this time to do something—do Itachi understand?”

Chu Yang nodded. He understood the unspoken meaning: Tobirama wanted him to familiarize himself with Anbu operations in advance, preparing for the future.

Afterward, Tobirama tested Chu Yang’s progress in ninjutsu before letting him go.

The next day, Chu Yang departed the Hidden Leaf with three squads totaling twelve Anbu members.

Their target: the Eight-Tails. According to mission records, the Eight-Tails had last been spotted at the border between the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Fire.

Chu Yang deduced the Eight-Tails was likely within the Land of Waterfalls.

The Land of Waterfalls was a peculiar nation—its geography was terrible, surrounded by four nations, leaving it vulnerable to attacks from all sides.

Had it not been for its countless waterfalls, with many settlements hidden behind them, its people would have struggled to survive.

Yet this miserable nation had established its own ninja village earlier than many other small nations!

At a time when the Five Great Nations had just founded their villages, many countries couldn’t muster enough ninja to form one.

The Land of Waterfalls’ village was much like other settlements—hidden behind waterfalls, in a state of isolation and concealment.

Chu Yang found them pitiful.

The Hidden Leaf’s Anbu, upon entering the Land of Waterfalls, made no effort to conceal their presence—not only because Anbu was still new and inexperienced, but more so due to sheer superiority.

The war between the two great families had ended only recently, and most Hidden Leaf ninja still upheld the value of respecting the strong—especially the Uchiha clan.

As long as it didn’t interfere with the mission, Chu Yang had no intention of restraining or educating his subordinates; if Itachi were weak, Itachi got beaten, and if Itachi couldn’t handle it, don’t blame others for not showing Itachi mercy—that was an eternal truth.

The territory of the Land of Water was not large; with ninja speed, one could traverse all of it in at most a week.

To save time, Chu Yang assigned three ANBU squads to split up and act separately; their main objective was to locate the Tailed Beasts, not engage them in direct combat—caution would ensure no life was lost.

This plan faced opposition from some team members.

“Lord Yang, before the operation begins, Tobirama-sama repeatedly emphasized that securing your safety is the top priority—even more important than capturing the Tailed Beasts!”

Though he understood his teacher’s good intentions, Chu Yang felt this order bordered on overprotective nonsense.

“If protecting me is more important than capturing the Tailed Beasts, then what’s the point of us being here? Tourism?” Chu Yang said grimly.

The team members looked at each other, until finally someone stepped forward, gritting his teeth: “We must leave someone behind to protect your safety.”

Chu Yang gave him a long, cold look. “What’s your name?”

The team members tensed, then cast pitying glances at the speaker. The man’s eyes flickered with panic—he feared Chu Yang would see him as a thorn in the side for defying his superior—but then his gaze hardened. “Uchiha Yōto.”

“Yōto…” Chu Yang’s expressionless face suddenly softened into a faint smile. “Then Itachi’ll stay behind. Everyone else, disperse according to plan.”

Uchiha Yōto’s face lit up with ecstatic joy.

The members of the other two squads were stunned, then realized Chu Yang had been testing them—and immediately wore expressions of regret.

Everyone understood one thing.

This guy Yōto would be heavily promoted when they returned! “Watch for the waterfall’s rear!”

After hearing Chu Yang’s final instruction, the team members scattered in all directions, their faces tinged with envy, vanishing swiftly from Chu Yang’s sight.

Their only task now was to locate the Tailed Beast as quickly as possible.

Only then could they redeem themselves.

When only Yōto remained beside him, Chu Yang finally unleashed Kenbunshoku Haki, scanning for the Eight-Tails’ chakra signature.

As one of the top combatants in the Hokage world, the Eight-Tails’ presence was immensely powerful; even when deliberately concealing its trail, it stood out sharply under Kenbunshoku perception.

Two days later, deep into the night.

Inside a cavern behind a colossal waterfall, Chu Yang sensed an overwhelming aura—forming in his mind a monstrous creature with a bull’s head and an octopus’s body.

The Eight-Tails, Gyūki!

“Found it.” Chu Yang turned to Yōto. “Notify the others to converge here. Send the report back to the village.”

Gazing at the waterfall before him, like a river pouring from heaven, Yōto shivered.

With some doubt, he used the ANBU’s special communication method to transmit the message.

“Lord Yang, how did Itachi know the Eight-Tails was here?” Yōto asked cautiously.

“Intuition.” Chu Yang said only two words, then fell silent.

Yōto wanted to slap himself. He should’ve asked more questions before sending the message—what if Uchiha Madara arrived? How would he explain this? Chu Yang didn’t notice Yōto’s regretful expression.

Inside the cavern, the Eight-Tails stirred. Suddenly, the waterfall’s spray grew violent.

“Control your breathing and chakra.”

No sooner had Chu Yang spoken than the waterfall before them parted like a curtain being drawn aside, revealing a wide, empty space.

Behind the waterfall stood a massive shadow.

Goosebumps erupted across Yōto’s entire body. He stared at Chu Yang in disbelief—and for the first time, true conviction took root in his heart.

The Eight-Tails hadn’t sensed them.

Instead, guided by an inexplicable unease, it left its current cave under the moonlight.

With a mere turn of its body, the lake beneath it erupted into towering waves, flooding the surrounding ground and nearly reaching Chu Yang’s hiding spot.

The Eight-Tails scanned the surroundings, then turned away coldly, vanishing into the endless night.

As the Eight-Tails’ figure grew indistinct, Yōto blurted out: “Lord Yang, let’s chase it!”

Chu Yang remained motionless, watching ahead with icy eyes. “Wait.”

Yōto was about to argue when the lake nearby rippled again. The shadow reappeared in the darkness. Yōto instantly fell silent.

The Eight-Tails circled once more, then departed in the exact opposite direction.

“Was it trying to lure us out just now?” Yōto stared in disbelief at the Eight-Tails’ retreating back.

“After being pursued this long, even a fool should be wary.”

Chu Yang frowned at him. “How did Itachi even get selected for ANBU?”

Yōto scratched his head sheepishly. “In combat… I’m confident.”

Chu Yang’s expression eased slightly.

Relying on the strength of Kenbunshoku Haki, Chu Yang stayed just beyond the Eight-Tails’ perception, closely trailing behind it.

Yōto served as the liaison, relaying real-time updates on the Eight-Tails’ movements to the others.

Another day passed.

The Eight-Tails seemed exhausted. It stopped advancing and entered a ravine, slowly sinking into a deep pool, its massive body settling down like a boulder.

The pool couldn’t fully contain its body; it sat with half its form exposed, like an ordinary man lounging in a bathtub—its posture oddly comical.

Leaning against the mountain behind it, the Eight-Tails gradually closed its eyes. By then, all members of the ANBU squads had gathered around Chu Yang. Seeing the moment ripe, he ordered: “Set up the barrier!”

The team obeyed, vanishing instantly before Chu Yang.

Three squads, twelve men total, surrounded the Eight-Tails from twelve different directions.

All twelve simultaneously formed hand seals. Moments later, twelve beams of light shot skyward, converging into a polygonal diamond-shaped barrier.

“Now, it’s your turn, Uchiha Madara.”

A shadow leapt down from the waterfall, walking slowly toward the Eight-Tails as Chu Yang spoke.

Uchiha Madara chuckled softly. “Well done, boy. No wonder Hashirama and Tobirama hold Itachi in such high regard. If Itachi were an Uchiha, I might even take Itachi as my disciple.”

Madara’s overwhelming chakra instantly jolted the Eight-Tails awake. It rose with a deafening roar.

The ground trembled violently, the waters churned, as if the end of the world had arrived.

Chu Yang suddenly realized a problem—he shouldn’t have stayed here. The residual shockwaves from Madara and the Eight-Tails’ battle could easily obliterate everything around.

What a blunder!

Without pausing to admire the Hokage world’s highest-level battle, Chu Yang fled the battlefield at top speed. The next instant, he felt a wave of searing heat surge behind him.

“Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction!”

Chu Yang turned—blinding firelight filled the sky, flames roaring upward like a pillar of hell.

His heart tightened. He dared not delay. He sprinted full speed toward the barrier’s edge.

Just as he exhaled, every hair on his body stood on end. He immediately formed hand seals, raising barrier after barrier around him.

[Wood Release: Tree Boundary Wall]

Feeling one barrier wasn’t enough, Chu Yang continuously channeled chakra. Layer upon layer of defenses rose around him, stacked like mountain ridges.

On the other side, Madara’s “Great Fire Destruction” engulfed the Eight-Tails. The beast retaliated, swinging its colossal tail to summon tidal waves that swelled into a monstrous tsunami.

The fire curtain collided with the tsunami. Superheated steam exploded outward. Trees and plants on nearby cliffs withered instantly upon contact.

Madara puffed out his chest and blew gently. The faint breeze from his mouth expanded into a violent hurricane, scattering the steam before him.

The first Tree Boundary Wall, as expected, was destroyed by the heat.

Madara glanced back at Chu Yang, then looked up and laughed. “I was going to warm up first, but it seems I don’t have time to play. Let’s end this quickly.”

With that, Madara summoned the complete form of Susanoo—a towering armored energy giant rose from the earth, facing the Eight-Tails head-on, its presence undiminished.

The Eight-Tails, Gyūki, sensed the threat and roared again. Its gaping maw opened wide, dark red chakra coalescing into a spherical form.

Tailed Beast Ball! Chu Yang immediately raised more Tree Boundary Walls.

Having fought Tailed Beasts many times, Madara knew their power well. Susanoo’s four arms fully extended, swords poised in perfect readiness.

A low, oppressive hum filled the air—the Eight-Tails compressing the Tailed Beast Ball.

The twelve elite ANBU maintaining the barrier struggled to breathe under the crushing pressure.

Suddenly, the vibration ceased.

The Tailed Beast Ball was expelled.

It shot through the air like a cannonball, tearing a shrieking hole in the sky.

In an instant, it reached Uchiha Madara’s face.

Susanoo’s sword slashed down, striking the Tailed Beast Ball with full force. Violent energy waves surged outward like a tsunami. The diamond-shaped barrier cracked repeatedly, like a mirror on the verge of shattering.

At that moment, Susanoo unleashed its full power, slicing the Tailed Beast Ball into four fragments that flew off in different directions.

One fragment flew straight toward Chu Yang’s position!

Fuck, this is collateral damage? Chu Yang stared at the Tailed Beast Ball—larger than a football field—barreling toward him, cursing inwardly.

When it landed, his painstakingly constructed dozen barriers vanished in an instant.

But thankfully, those barriers absorbed the residual force, leaving him unharmed.

When he opened his eyes again, Chu Yang saw only a desolate wasteland.

The waterfall, the green hills, the trees, the flowers—all gone.

“This is almost like a mushroom bomb…” Chu Yang swallowed hard. No wonder Tailed Beasts could sway wars between nations—this single Tailed Beast Ball could wipe out how many ninja? Aside from the fragment that struck Chu Yang’s side, the others hit the barrier.

The violent impact made the entire barrier tremble, cracks multiplying rapidly—it wouldn’t hold much longer.

The complete Susanoo and the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, engaged in brutal close combat. Their clash was cataclysmic—either one, dropped into any city, would be an extinction-level disaster.

“Once the barrier breaks, we must restrain the Eight-Tails’ movement—or none of these three ANBU squads will survive.”

The barrier deployed by the ANBU was no small-scale technique. If violently shattered, it would recoil.

In the worst case, it could cause fatalities; even in the least extreme scenario, most would lose their ability to move.

Chu Yang’s Wood Release has strong suppression effects against Tailed Beasts and can catch opponents off guard, but this also means Chu Yang must risk intervening in the battle between Uchiha Madara and the Eight-Tails.

The danger level is rising linearly.

“Yang Dou’s not bad—dying here would be a waste, and my Master wants me to cultivate loyal subordinates in the Anbu; he’s a good candidate…”

As Chu Yang pondered, he made thorough preparations.

As the battle between Susano’o and the Eight-Tails intensified, the barrier could no longer withstand their residual energy, and with a crisp shattering sound, it collapsed.

The uncontrolled chakra erupted into a storm engulfing everyone; all twelve Anbu members suffered severe injuries and lost all mobility.

Freed from restraint, the Eight-Tails grew even more reckless, as if entering a frenzy.

Conversely, without the barrier, Uchiha Madara became the constrained party—because their battle’s shockwaves could strike the immobilized Anbu at any moment.

What should he do?

While contemplating a strategy, Uchiha Madara’s peripheral vision suddenly caught Chu Yang approaching.

What is he doing?

A flicker of confusion passed through Madara’s eyes; then he suddenly realized something and dispersed the longsword in his hand.

In its frenzy, the Eight-Tails swept all its tails toward Susano’o, wrapping them tightly around it and attempting to drag Susano’o toward itself.

Susano’o’s four arms each gripped one of the Eight-Tails’ tails, and both sides began to wrestle.

In raw strength, the Tailed Beast still held the edge; Susano’o was slowly being dragged.

At that moment, Chu Yang had reached a position near the Eight-Tails, and the raging beast failed to notice his approach.

Chu Yang began forming hand seals.

He intended to use a Wood Release sealing technique to restrict the Eight-Tails’ movement—though this was merely a limitation; to achieve true containment, Hashirama Senju himself would have to cast it.

Only Hashirama Senju in Sage Mode.

As Chu Yang completed the seals, a massive red torii gate materialized above the Eight-Tails’ head, plummeting swiftly and landing precisely on its eight tails.

This was the Shinshōmon, a Wood Release sealing technique unique to Tailed Beasts. Originally requiring Sage Mode to activate, Chu Yang had modified it during his tenure at the academy, allowing him to cast it without Senjutsu chakra.

The Eight-Tails’ surging Tailed Beast chakra abruptly stalled, like a vehicle slamming on its brakes on a highway.

The eight powerful tails suddenly went limp! With Chu Yang’s current Wood Release level, and without mastering Sage Mode, even this partial restriction on the Eight-Tails was extraordinary.

“Perfect opportunity!” Uchiha Madara let out a thunderous laugh; Susano’o surged forward, yanking the Eight-Tails close, breaking free of the tails’ grip, and once again gathering chakra into his hand as the longsword reappeared.

Four longswords, under Madara’s control, slashed simultaneously at the Eight-Tails’ tails! The sound of tearing muscle echoed as all eight tails fell to the ground; the agonized Eight-Tails let out a deafening roar.

Uchiha Madara pressed his advantage, giving the Eight-Tails no time to recover; his crimson Sharingan fixed on the beast, now in extreme weakness.

After a moment, the Eight-Tails ceased struggling; its gaze grew dull and vacant.

Chu Yang understood—the Eight-Tails was now under the control of the Sharingan; next, Uchiha Madara would seal it and assign it to a suitable vessel to become a jinchuriki.

The great battle settled; after resting for a while, the Anbu members gradually regained mobility.

They gathered before Uchiha Madara, without a word, kneeling one after another—behind their masks, faces flushed with shame.

“Lord Madara, it’s our fault we failed to maintain the barrier—it caused Itachi great trouble in battle!”

“Lord Madara, punish us for our incompetence!”

Apologies poured forth endlessly; the cold Madara found the group merely noisy and snapped, “With abilities like yours, how are Itachi still in the Anbu? The thought that Konoha’s safety depends on the likes of Itachi makes me truly uneasy.”

Hearing this, the twelve Anbu members bowed their heads even lower; Chu Yang thought if Madara kept speaking, they’d bury themselves alive.

“Thank Senju Yang properly—if he hadn’t sealed the Eight-Tails’ movement in time, at least half of Itachi would be corpses!”

With that, Madara snorted, turned to Chu Yang, and for the first time, a faint smile touched his cold face. “If I’m not mistaken, that technique Itachi just used was Shinshōmon—recently developed by Hashirama. When did he teach Itachi?”

Chu Yang smiled evasively. “The Hokage never taught me—I learned it on my own.”

He didn’t even know when Hashirama had mastered Sage Mode; he could only vaguely deflect.

Fortunately, Madara had long heard of Chu Yang’s talent and didn’t doubt his explanation.

Madara asked curiously, “Hashirama’s Shinshōmon requires a special state to activate, but Itachi just cast it without that condition—did Tobirama Senju help Itachi modify it?”

Chu Yang hesitated, then shook his head. “Not my Master—I made some adjustments myself.”

Madara studied Chu Yang for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

“If I could, I’d take Itachi away from the Senju clan…”

After successfully capturing the Eight-Tails, Chu Yang led the Anbu squad back to Konoha for rest.

Madara, who had returned ahead, handed the sealed Eight-Tails over to Tobirama Senju for processing.

Thus, most Tailed Beasts had been sealed by Konoha; only the Nine-Tails remained unaccounted for.

After this operation, Chu Yang gained recognition within the Anbu, and his reputation began to spread.

A faction of Anbu members led by Yang Dou began drawing closer to Chu Yang; with Tobirama Senju secretly backing the Root as a catalyst, building his influence within the Anbu progressed far more smoothly than Chu Yang had anticipated.

The Anbu situation was progressing well, but for Chu Yang, capturing the Nine-Tails was the real challenge ahead.

Because the Anbu squad had failed to contribute meaningfully in direct combat with the Eight-Tails, Uchiha Madara recommended they be excluded from the Nine-Tails capture mission.

In other words, capturing the Nine-Tails now fell solely to Chu Yang and Uchiha Madara.

Chu Yang was deeply honored by Madara’s trust.

But inwardly, he refused—his memory of the Tailed Beast Ball’s apocalyptic destruction was still vivid.

Honestly, if Itachi got hit by one of those, Itachi wouldn’t even find your ashes.

So Chu Yang strongly opposed the plan before Tobirama Senju.

Faced with Chu Yang’s resistance, Tobirama Senju could not force the issue; the Nine-Tails capture plan was temporarily shelved.

…

Demon Slayer world.

After completing numerous demon-slaying missions, Chu Yang fully mastered the Full Concentration: Constant State of the Sun Breathing; by breathing technique alone, he was already a Pillar-level swordsman.

Of course, in actual combat power, Chu Yang far surpassed the world’s highest level—even if Kyojuro Rengoku were reborn, he’d struggle to gain any advantage over Chu Yang.

At this moment, if Muzan Kibutsuji dared appear before Chu Yang, he’d face a swordsman far more terrifying than Kyojuro Rengoku.

During this period, Chu Yang had hunted demons day and night without rest; the number had nearly reached fifty.

As a result, he was now universally known throughout the Demon Slayer Corps, becoming the most sought-after new swordsman.

Even Ubuyashiki Kagaya was considering promoting him to Pillar status immediately.

Chu Yang’s rapid rise had drawn attention not only from within the Demon Slayer Corps, but also from Muzan Kibutsuji.

However, since Chu Yang had never used the Sun Breathing during demon hunts, Muzan was merely curious and did not focus much attention on him.

But that didn’t mean others ignored Chu Yang’s performance.

“According to other demons, this new swordsman has extraordinary physical strength—nearly comparable to ours. I don’t believe it, so I want to test him myself,” said Akaza, Upper Moon Three.

His tone carried an air of superiority, as if looking down from the clouds at Chu Yang, viewing him as an ant.

Among the Twelve Kizuki, all demons held the same belief: demons were humanity’s evolutionary form; humans themselves were a race already discarded by nature.

“I’m also curious—what kind of person could kill so many demons in such a short time? If Itachi find him, please notify me so I may watch.”

Upper Moon Two, Gyomei Himejima, smiled faintly behind his fan.

Akaza didn’t even glance at him, his expression one of utter disdain.

His contempt for Gyomei Himejima was nothing new.

Akaza loved fighting strong opponents—strength only made him stronger. He despised Gyomei Himejima’s habit of hunting women and children, seeing it as a betrayal of a demon’s dignity.

After Upper Moon Two and Upper Moon Three expressed their interest in Chu Yang, to other demons, Chu Yang was already a dead man—no longer worth attention.

Muzan Kibutsuji thought the same.

Chu Yang, unaware he’d been marked by Akaza and Gyomei Himejima, had just completed a mission and was on his way to Butterfly House.

Under the intense pace of demon hunting, Chu Yang rarely returned to the temple where he once trained with Shinobu Kocho.

The reason was simple—he had no time to cook and was too lazy to bother; Shinobu Kocho often went out to monitor demon movements, leaving Chu Yang alone in the temple.

Rather than sit alone in the crumbling temple, Chu Yang preferred to mooch meals at Butterfly House—where the food was delicious, nutritious, and served in generous portions, enough to satisfy even his appetite.

Butterfly House welcomed Chu Yang warmly; nearly every injured swordsman there regarded him as an idol, for few in Demon Slayer Corps history had slain so many demons in such a short time.

Beyond admiration, many new swordsmen humbly sought his advice—on combat experience, sword techniques—they could learn much from him.

Shinobu Kocho, recovering from injuries, regained partial mobility.

She refused to remain confined to her bed, so she offered what help she could at Butterfly House, easing the burden on Kanao Tsuyuri as Shinobu Kocho’s assistant.

Her master, Tengen Uzui, had never once visited Butterfly House.

Shinobu Kocho waited for him to come see her.

Chu Yang pushed open the door of Butterfly House and met Kanao Tsuyuri just as she was leaving; their eyes met.

Kanao Tsuyuri was as beautiful as ever, her every gesture graceful and gentle.

“Where are Itachi headed, Senior Kanao?” Chu Yang asked curiously; she had recently asked him to call her “Senior” instead of the formal “Madam.”

“It’s Itachi,” Kanao Tsuyuri smiled warmly. “I heard Itachi’ve slain even more demons lately. At this rate, by our next meeting, Itachi might be called ‘Pillar’ just like me.”

“That doesn’t matter—I’ll keep slaying demons whether I’m called Pillar or not,” Chu Yang chuckled. “But Itachi still haven’t told me where Itachi’re going.”

“Of course, I’m on a mission!” Kanao Tsuyuri sighed. “I’m treating the wounded and going on missions—sometimes I think, I’m so busy I’ll retire before my time.”

Chu Yang knew she was pretending—he knew she enjoyed this life more than anyone, and he simply didn’t bother to call her out.

Most Demon Slayer Corps members complained aloud, yet their resolve to slay demons remained unshakable.

“Then I wish Itachi a safe journey!”

“Thank Itachi.”

After exchanging pleasantries, they passed each other—but after a few steps, Chu Yang suddenly felt a sharp pang in his chest and turned back abruptly.

Before him was Kanao Tsuyuri’s slowly retreating back—so frail, like a willow wisp in the wind, ready to be shattered by any storm.

A heavy stone seemed lodged in Chu Yang’s chest, leaving him strangely uneasy.

Watching the solitary figure of Butterfly Kanao walking away, Chu Yang felt a bad premonition and couldn’t help blurting out, “Senior, if Itachi’re bored, I can go with Itachi.”

Kanao paused her steps, turned back in surprise—as if she hadn’t expected Chu Yang to say such a thing—but immediately, a playful smile appeared on her face.

She looked at Chu Yang with a half-smile.

Chu Yang didn’t know why he’d blurted out those words; he scratched his head and said awkwardly, “If Itachi don’t want to, forget it.”

To his surprise, Kanao smiled brightly and said, “Executing a mission alone really is a bit boring…”

(End of Chapter)