pdf-ebookys Chapter 277 Shukaku's Bright Future
Chapter 277 Shukaku's Bright Future
Dark sealing runes began to spread rapidly throughout this space of consciousness, constructing a new cage. However, Shukaku's entire head was firmly pressed beneath the water's surface by Kurama's irresistible giant claws. It could not lift its head, could not see any expression that might exist on Naruto's or Kurama's face at this moment, and could not perceive the changes in the outside world.
All it could sense was the familiar, despairing power of the seal closing in, and the profound sorrow of impending loss of freedom once more, of being imprisoned in boundless darkness. This became its last memory before its consciousness faded...
It was as if I had taken a nap, and my consciousness slowly rose from the darkness.
When Shukaku "opened" its eyes again, the expected darkness and oppression of the seal did not appear. Instead, what entered its enormous eyes was a completely different scene, one that even made it hold its breath for a moment—
Before me stretched an endless, golden desert! The sun shone warmly in the sky, the sand beneath my feet was fine and scorching, and in the distance, massive sand dunes rose and fell like golden waves.
You can even see a few tenacious cacti scattered among them, forming a picture of the hometown that it remembers most and longs for the most!
"!!!"
Shukaku's last vestiges of sleepiness vanished instantly! It even raised its massive paw and rubbed its eyes in disbelief, wondering if it was hallucinating or still in some unrealistic dream.
However, the real touch from the claws, the warmth from the sun, and the dry, desert-specific scent in the air clearly told it—this was not a dream!
"Whoa?!"
Shukaku stared in disbelief at the breathtaking scenery, his mind almost blank. "Wasn't I just held down by that stinky fox, about to be resealed? What's going on? Could it be... could it be that I've really... really returned to the desert?!"
Rational thinking has been completely cast aside!
"Whoa—!!!"
Shukaku could no longer suppress the surging emotions within it, and let out a strange cry of release. Its massive body lunged forward and plunged headfirst into the nearest soft sand dune!
It rolled and thrashed wildly in the fine sand, letting the long-lost feeling of freedom envelop its entire body. It scooped up large amounts of sand with its claws and threw them into the air, watching the golden sand rain fall down, then excitedly rolled continuously on the huge sand dune, leaving behind winding tracks.
This incredibly real and exhilarating feeling finally confirmed to it—this was not an illusion! It really... really left that narrow, dark, sealed space!
"Waaaaah..."
In its extreme excitement, a huge, crystal-clear tear actually seeped from the corner of its eye, slid down its sandy cheek, and was then absorbed by the dry sand.
Immediately, the brief sentimentality brought on by that tear was replaced by an even more overwhelming ecstasy.
"Hahahaha!!! I... I'm finally free!!!"
Shukaku's deafening laughter and excited howls echoed and spread intensely across the boundless desert.
Shukaku was as excited as a husky that had broken free of its reins, jumping and leaping between the sand dunes without any regard for its image, stirring up clouds of dust, and venting the pent-up repression of being imprisoned for countless years and the boundless joy of regaining "freedom" at this moment.
So pleasant... So wonderful... It's been so many years... This is the first time I've felt so happy!
The beauty of regaining freedom even made Shukaku, who was running freely in the desert, feel that even if he saw that stupid face of that stinky fox right now, he could be magnanimous and not care!
then……
"Bang--!"
Shukaku, who had closed his eyes and was only focused on running wildly, hadn't been gloating for long when his entire face slammed into an invisible barrier!
The impact caused its massive body to spread out exaggeratedly like a character from an animated film, slowly sliding off the barrier and collapsing limply onto the sand.
"Waaah..."
Shukaku shook its massive head, still a little dizzy from the impact, and groggily stood up again, its eyes filled with confusion and anger. What dares to block my way?!
It stretched out its paw in confusion, groping forward—"...What...is this?!"
The sensation from the claws was unmistakable—there was clearly an endless sea of sand ahead, with an unobstructed view, but there was an invisible, smooth, and hard wall that completely blocked its path!
Shukaku's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition poured over him like ice water.
"Damn it... Don't try to play tricks on me!" It tried to appear calm, using its roar to mask its inner panic. The next moment, it instinctively tried to channel its chakra, condensing a hot, airborne bullet to slam into that damned barrier!
But... what about chakra?!
Shukaku was horrified to discover that although it could clearly sense the vast amount of chakra still within its body, it was completely unable to mobilize even a fraction of it! All its power was imprisoned within its body!
"You're even dumber than I thought, you stupid raccoon."
A voice it hated most, full of sarcasm, lazily rang out, "But you really got off easy. How about it, this desert isn't bad, is it? This is a scene that Naruto specially simulated for you using the Eight Trigrams Seal. That kid is too kind-hearted; I advised him that he didn't need to be so nice to you, but he didn't listen."
Shukaku was startled and looked in the direction of the sound. Suddenly, a familiar ball of red chakra rose from the air ahead, rapidly condensing and transforming into…
A miniature nine-tailed fox, only the size of its claw?!
But the little nine-tailed fox continued speaking in the same tone that had made Shukaku's fist hard.
"I don't know why, but Naruto is particularly concerned about your Jinchūriki. I heard you've been quite restless in the seal all these years, haven't you? Therefore, I left a wisp of my chakra in this brat's body as... well, 'administrator' of this sealed space."
"Waaaaah... Die, you stinky fox!!!"
The immense sense of disillusionment crashed down on Shukaku's heart, almost causing it to faint! So... so it was still inside the sealed space?! This vast desert was just an illusion simulated by a sealing technique?! That brat's simulation was far too realistic!
There's nothing that can be done about it. After all, Naruto had already thoroughly researched the Eight Trigrams Seal to make Kurama's living space more comfortable. Now, Kurama can run freely on the grasslands and even fish in its own sealed space.
And... that stinky fox even left a wisp of its chakra consciousness here?! Thinking back to the days when the tailed beasts were free and unrestrained, this bastard always had it in the lead... Now, even after being sealed, it can't escape its "clutches"?
"Roar—!" Anger and frustration drove Shukaku to lose its mind. It raised its huge claws and slammed them down on the miniature Nine-Tailed Fox!
The little nine-tailed fox looked at the giant claw that pressed down like a mountain, its eyes showing no fear, but rather filled with even stronger disdain.
....
About a few minutes later.
The mini-Nine-Tails, with a carefree and relaxed expression, leisurely squatted on Shukaku's huge body below, which was covered with... psychological wounds and bruises caused by being beaten one-sidedly.
Although neither side could use ninjutsu, Shukaku's defeat was as predictable as it had been countless times over the centuries.
"You're really impatient, you stupid tanuki." The little nine-tailed fox picked its teeth with its paw and said slowly, "Although you still look that big, the essence of your chakra is still sealed. Not to mention... tsk tsk, you only have one tail."
Hearing Kurama start using the cliché of defining strength by the number of tails again, Shukaku was so angry that the sand around him trembled, but he didn't even have the strength to protest. He could only let out a reluctant "woo-woo" sound from his throat.
"What's wrong? Have you lost your mind, you bastard?" The Nine-Tails deliberately leaned closer and asked in a tone that seemed to infuriate even a beast. "Fine, I won't stoop to your level. I should go back to Naruto's place and rest. After all, that kid solemnly 'begged' me—if you don't behave and dare to keep the Jinchuriki from sleeping... hehehe."
The final, meaningful, and utterly threatening laugh made Shukaku's massive body tremble involuntarily.
The satisfied miniature nine-tailed fox consciousness transformed into a streak of red light and vanished.
In the desolate "desert," only Shukaku remained, lying on the ground, heartbroken and devastated. The more it thought about it, the more aggrieved it felt, wanting to burst into tears, but afraid that damned fox would suddenly turn back and see it in such a shameful state.
Please...please...it has a 9% chance of guessing that this terrible idea of "leaving a wisp of consciousness to monitor" was definitely suggested by that stinky fox himself!
The thought of living in that bastard's shadow for the long years to come, under the seal, filled Shukaku with despair.
Why... why can't even being sealed away escape the fate of being bullied by it?!
Shukaku felt increasingly aggrieved and couldn't help but bury its huge face deep in the sand, making a dull and sad "woof woof" sound, while its huge tail listlessly patted the sand.
However, this sealed space, meticulously constructed by Naruto, was far too comfortable for Shukaku—warm "sunlight," fine "sand," and the familiar dryness... As Shukaku cried, exhausted both physically and mentally, his whimpering gradually turned into even snoring.
It just... lay there on the messy sand and fell into a deep sleep.