Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 153: Fusing with the Eight-Tails' Chakra

Having obtained what they came for, Tonari and Orochimaru wasted no time fleeing the chaotic aftermath in Kumogakure.

Tonari's transformation of the wood into the Eight-Tails' horn was temporary. With the village still in disarray from the Eight-Tails' rampage, this was the best opportunity to leave.

If the Cloud ninja discovered the horn's disappearance before their escape, retreating would become significantly more difficult.

---

Not far from Kumogakure, in an unnamed forest, a black-cloaked ninja stood with a petite cat perched on his shoulder.

The cat whispered into the ninja's ear, and the figure leapt away into the shadows.

"Such a daring brat," the ninja muttered. "He really caused that much havoc in Kumogakure? That terrifying energy earlier must've been from the Eight-Tails."

This ninja was none other than Kakuzu, who had formed an alliance with Tonari a year prior.

Under their agreement, Tonari would use his expanding intelligence network to make Kakuzu's money-making ventures easier.

Tonari had overdelivered, building a robust network that not only brought in significant profits for himself but also multiplied Kakuzu's earnings.

With their partnership proving mutually beneficial, Kakuzu was more than willing to continue their collaboration.

In return, Kakuzu had pledged occasional assistance for simple tasks and more substantial aid for dangerous missions, albeit for a hefty fee.

This mission in Kumogakure had been one such high-risk endeavor. Knowing Orochimaru would accompany him, Tonari had preemptively arranged for Kakuzu to wait outside the village as a contingency.

Normally, their plan to provoke the Eight-Tails into rampaging would've allowed for a clean escape. But obtaining the Eight-Tails' original chakra required a far riskier approach.

Should things go awry and the Third Raikage intervene, the combined might of Tonari, Orochimaru, and Kakuzu would significantly increase their chances of survival.

This additional safety net was why Tonari had dared to steal the Eight-Tails' horn in plain sight.

Without thorough preparation, Tonari's cautious nature would never allow such reckless behavior.

Fortunately, their escape had gone smoothly, and Kakuzu didn't have to intervene.

As Kakuzu observed from the forest, he chuckled. "Lucky for him. If we were enemies, I might've been ambushed and taken out by now."

From this point forward, Kakuzu regarded Tonari not just as a resourceful upstart but as a genuine partner.

---

After leaving Kumogakure, Tonari and Orochimaru traveled swiftly back to Konoha, avoiding unnecessary stops.

Kumogakure's leadership would undoubtedly try to suppress news of the Eight-Tails' rampage, their losses, and the stolen horn to avoid appearing weak.

In recent years, Kumogakure had suffered a string of setbacks.

The loss of the Two-Tails was likely linked to Konoha, but without concrete evidence, they couldn't sever their alliance with Konoha, especially while tensions with Iwagakure remained high.

Now, the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki was gone, and the beast itself couldn't be sealed into a new host until it calmed down. Even with Killer Bee as the perfect candidate, the process would take time.

To make matters worse, the Eight-Tails' horn was missing, and they had no idea who was responsible.

---

Back in Konoha, Tonari and Orochimaru dove straight into their research.

The Eight-Tails' horn was a rare and valuable material, offering insights that would take a long time to fully explore.

The chakra from the Eight-Tails contained natural energy and a significant amount of negative emotions. Extracting pure energy from the horn required painstaking precision and numerous trials.

Unlike the Two-Tails, which actively helped Tonari purify its energy, the Eight-Tails' fragment left the task entirely to the researchers.

Tonari didn't mind letting Orochimaru take the lead, using this opportunity to observe and learn.

Orochimaru, for his part, had different priorities. While the Eight-Tails' chakra was intriguing, he was more interested in the creature's unique genetic material.

Orochimaru had already created the White Scaled Snake, a creature with exceptional abilities derived from the genetic material of the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave.

However, the Eight-Tails' DNA offered the potential to surpass even the White Scaled Snake. By integrating traits from both, Orochimaru hoped to engineer a new life form with unparalleled strength.

---

Seven days passed.

Inspired by insights from the Two-Tails, Tonari and Orochimaru finally developed a method to separate the negative emotions from the Eight-Tails' chakra.

Had they rushed into using the chakra directly, they risked succumbing to its corruptive influence, turning into mindless berserkers.

In a transparent container, a small fist-sized orb of brown energy pulsed faintly. Both researchers regarded it with satisfaction.

"What do you think, Tonari-kun?" Orochimaru asked, licking his lips. "How does the Eight-Tails' chakra compare to the Two-Tails'?"

Tonari replied thoughtfully, "If the legends about the Sage of Six Paths are true, then all the Tailed Beasts originate from the same source. In theory, their chakra should be similar. However, centuries of environmental and behavioral differences have undoubtedly caused unique divergences."

Orochimaru sighed. "A pity you guard the Two-Tails so fiercely. Having both for comparison would've been invaluable."

Tonari shrugged. Protecting the Two-Tails wasn't just about safeguarding his power; it was about keeping his trump card hidden.

Orochimaru understood this but couldn't help voicing his regret.

---

Back in Tonari's private lab, Reika and Little Blue awaited his return.

"Everything ready?" Tonari asked as he entered.

Reika nodded, and Little Blue mewed affirmatively.

Their attention turned to a silver-white cat lounging lazily on the table—Little Silver.

Chosen from countless strays for its unique potential, Little Silver was the perfect candidate for this experiment.

Tonari had prepared extensively to ensure its safety.

Drawing on their experience with Little Blue and the Two-Tails' chakra, the team began the procedure.

With precision, they extracted a massive orb of chakra from the Eight-Tails' horn. The red-and-black energy pulsated ominously, radiating a palpable sense of malice.

Even with their careful planning, Tonari and Reika's expressions grew tense.

A ghostly image of the Two-Tails materialized on Tonari's shoulder, its eyes narrowing as it studied the chakra.

"It's starting to coalesce," Tonari noted as the chakra mass began to take the faint shape of the Eight-Tails.

Though the form was blurry and incomplete, the eight tails, muscular arms, and iconic horns were unmistakable.

The chakra was inert, lacking the consciousness that defined a true Tailed Beast. The Eight-Tails' will remained sealed within Kumogakure's pot.

Still, the implications were staggering. If left unchecked, this chakra could eventually develop a new will, creating a second Eight-Tails.

With the negative emotions meticulously extracted, the remaining chakra turned a light brown with a faint reddish glow.

"Is it ready?" Reika asked, her nerves evident.

Tonari nodded, compressing the purified chakra into a syringe-like device. "It's time. Let's begin."

The team moved swiftly, their combined expertise ensuring the process went smoothly.

Little Silver, calm under Little Blue's guidance, lay still as the chakra was carefully infused into its body.

This was a monumental step in Tonari's ongoing quest—a fusion of science, chakra, and nature that could redefine their understanding of the Tailed Beasts.

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