Chapter 106

The Eight-Tails’ words made Killer B feel both resentful and deeply serious.

He knew how terrifying the Eight-Tails was—Even the Third Raikage had needed to give his all to suppress it in life.

Moreover, he knew that tailed beasts, with their pride, would never lie about something like this.

“Little Eight, Itachi mean this Leaf Death God is still hiding his strength?”

Killer B found it emotionally hard to accept.

“Maybe.”

The Eight-Tails said: “As for why, don’t ask me. Humans are too complicated, too treacherous.”

Killer B fell silent, then turned to the Fourth Raikage. “Big Brother, what do Itachi think of that guy?”

The Fourth Raikage knew Killer B was referring to Fujinaka Genma. He replied gravely: “A very dangerous man. I can feel he still has hidden techniques.”

“Just with Lightning Release, that guy isn’t inferior to me!”

In front of enemies, he brags—but among allies, he must admit the truth.

Otherwise, his comrades might misjudge the situation, with dire consequences.

Hearing the Fourth Raikage’s words, even Killer B was stunned, let alone the other Cloud ninja.

Now, he had no doubt left about the Eight-Tails’ words.

“How the hell did that guy train? He’s younger than me—he’s a monster, an idiot, a bastard…”

Killer B muttered inwardly, then couldn’t help singing again.

On the other side.

Fujinaka Genma and Minato were also discussing Killer B and the Fourth Raikage.

Minato held them in very high regard, especially Killer B.

So young, yet already beginning to master a tailed beast’s power—remarkable indeed.

Remember, Kushina Uzumaki’s chakra and Jin Gang Sealing were strong enough to directly suppress the Nine-Tails, yet she never managed to tame it or control its power.

In Minato’s view, Killer B’s greatest treasure wasn’t his current strength, but a hidden, indescribable power.

It was an extraordinary will, an extraordinary emotion.

“If things continue like this, Killer B will eventually fully master the Eight-Tails’ power.”

Minato looked far ahead.

Once Killer B fully mastered the Eight-Tails’ power, he would stand at the pinnacle of the ninja world.

Few in the entire ninja world could stand alone against a tailed beast.

Fujinaka Genma listened and nodded in agreement.

Just look at how Sasuke, after awakening his Mangekyo Sharingan, went over and got crushed by Killer B.

Sure, Killer B later lost to Samehada—but Samehada’s state at the time was no different from that of a tailed beast.

That guy fused directly with Samehada, a living weapon. Samehada is no different from a tailed beast.

So, by that logic, Samehada is also a jinchuriki.

Of course, Samehada is a freak—can’t be judged by normal standards.

“Minato, Genma—if Itachi both go all out, can Itachi take down the AB combo?”

Choji Akimichi couldn’t help asking.

Minato looked at Fujinaka Genma.

Fujinaka Genma paused slightly, then lied: “Even if we win, we’d likely suffer heavy losses.”

“The Eight-Tails is uncontrollable!”

“Minato-sensei knows how terrifying a Tailed Beast Ball is!”

“We can’t block it yet!”

Minato nodded.

The Wind Release: Rasenshuriken can clash head-on with a Tailed Beast Ball, but its area of effect is enormous—the battlefield can’t be controlled, and both sides might suffer devastating losses.

That was something he didn’t want to see.

“Pity—we could’ve ended the war quickly otherwise.”

Someone sighed involuntarily.

Fujinaka Genma’s mood was also complicated.

He could suppress the Eight-Tails if he used his full power.

But Kushina Uzumaki’s childbirth was an inevitable calamity. Madara Uchiha knew childbirth would weaken the seal—he wouldn’t miss this chance to reclaim the Nine-Tails.

Even without Obito Uchiha or Kamui, the White Zetsu’s abilities alone would make infiltrating the Hidden Leaf fairly easy.

So.

Fujinaka Genma must keep Jin Gang Sealing as his last card.

He could let others know he possessed Jin Gang Sealing—but absolutely must not let them know his Jin Gang Sealing could suppress, even seal, a tailed beast.

Only then could he deliver a massive surprise to his enemies.

“Though the war can’t end quickly, the battle with the Cloud will settle into a stalemate.”

Minato calmed their spirits—he was already stepping into the role of Hokage.

The war couldn’t end swiftly, but mutual caution would soon turn it into the same stalemate they’d had with the Stone.

Standoff, stalemate, minor skirmishes.

However.

The Cloud probably wouldn’t easily seek peace with the Leaf.

Back at the temporary camp to rest, Minato went off to attend to duties, while Fujinaka Genma leaned against a large tree, closed his eyes, and activated the Qikan system.

The system assessed his recent battle and awarded him 10,000 Qikan points—somewhat low.

But at least it was more than what he’d earned during the standoff with the Stone.

“Still, another long stalemate seems likely ahead.”

Fujinaka Genma sighed.

Minato would surely return to the Hidden Leaf to become the Fourth Hokage—likely right after the official end of the war with the Stone.

Here, he’d have to stay behind—he might not even be able to attend Minato’s succession ceremony.

“I still need 35,000 Qikan points—still short of 50,000…”

Looking at his Qikan point total, Fujinaka Genma frowned slightly.

He’d been earning too little lately.

He must prepare the Immortal Talismans before the Nine-Tails’ rampage.

Indeed.

In the following days, the situation unfolded exactly as Minato predicted.

The intensity of the Leaf-Cloud battles dropped sharply; both sides showed restraint.

A month passed in a flash.

Minato’s transfer order arrived at the front, along with Orochimaru.

But another piece of news shocked Fujinaka Genma.

Rin died!

Kakashi went blind!

Obito Uchiha died in battle!

“Butterfly effect!”

A single word flashed in Fujinaka Genma’s mind.

His instinct told him: It was the Uchiha, it was Black Zetsu, it was White Zetsu—secretly pulling strings.

“Orochimaru-sama, are Itachi certain Obito Uchiha is truly dead?”

Fujinaka Genma took a deep breath and asked calmly.

Orochimaru looked at him strangely. “Of course. His body has already returned to the Leaf and was buried with honors.”

Minato’s expression was sorrowful. Hearing Fujinaka Genma’s question, he immediately recalled the events in the Land of Grass. His gaze sharpened: “Genma, do Itachi suspect something’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure.”

Fujinaka Genma shook his head, then turned to Orochimaru: “Orochimaru-sama, is Obito’s Sharingan still intact?”

“Itachi suspect someone stole Obito Uchiha’s Sharingan?”

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly, then said: “I haven’t seen Obito’s body. But since no such rumors exist, his body is likely intact.”

“Or perhaps it was destroyed beyond recognition.”

Fujinaka Genma frowned, then thought for a moment and said to Minato: “Minato-sensei, I’d like to return to the Hidden Leaf for a while.”

Orochimaru grew even more curious—something was clearly hidden here. He smiled: “That doesn’t follow the Hokage’s orders.”

Fujinaka Genma nodded. “Then I’ll send a Shadow Clone back with Minato-sensei.”

Saying this, he created a Shadow Clone.

But whether it was the clone or the original returning to the Leaf—neither Minato nor Orochimaru could tell.

Orochimaru made no further comment, only smiled: “As long as it doesn’t delay things here, I don’t care.”

“Orochimaru-sama, rest assured—even if the Third Raikage came back to life and charged at us, Itachi and I together could hold him off!”

Fujinaka Genma spoke with full confidence, then his Shadow Clone and Minato vanished together using the Flying Thunder God Technique.