Just as Kazuyama Gekkō was about to speak, a system notification suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
"Ding! Great news! Great news!"
"The unworthy host has finally taken the first step toward becoming an adult! The system is very pleased!"
"Big gift! Big gift! A big growth gift is coming!"
"Reward for the host: Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu upgrade! Strengthened! Unique!"
"Ding! The host's Senjutsu ability has been directly upgraded!"
"Ding! The host has now mastered the basics of Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu!"
"Ding! The host has mastered the ability to absorb and convert natural energy!"
A burst of power surged into his body. Kazuyama instantly felt his mind sharpen, and his senses heighten.
This was...Natural energy?
As the natural energy poured into him, Kazuyama felt his whole body relax into an incredibly pleasant state.
So this was his reward? A unique transformation ability? Wasn't this something he could only use in Transparent Escape Technique mode? He hadn't expected such a major upgrade.
Awesome! This was beyond awesome!
"Hey! Kazuyama Gekkō! Are you even listening to me?"
"Do you want me to turn you into a mummy?!"
Suddenly, a wave of intense heat brushed past his face. By the time he snapped out of it, a massive fireball was already right in front of him.
Whoa—what a huge fireball!
Whoa! Pakura's face looks really pissed!
Kazuyama quickly shoved aside the system's excitement and looked down at the furious beauty in his arms.
"Hey, hey! I'm listening!"
"Pakura, how about we put that fireball away first? Not exactly safe to have it out here!"
The fireball edged closer and closer, and Kazuyama genuinely felt like he was about to be vaporized!
In the next instant, he moved. With a flick of his left hand, he activated Crystal Release.
"Huh? What's this?"
Pakura cried out in surprise as crystal formations began to surround her fireball, rapidly encasing it.
The Scorch Release fireball was completely smothered and extinguished in an instant.
The crystals had sealed off the surrounding air, and without oxygen, the flames naturally went out.
Seeing this, Pakura was stunned.
Kekkei Genkai...
"Hehe, how's my Crystal Release?"
"With this Kekkei Genkai, I'm not afraid of anyone."
"So just stay by my side and be my delinquent bride."
"Even if Sunagakure finds us, there's nothing to worry about. Rasa? I'm not scared of him."
As the flames faded, Kazuyama pulled Pakura even tighter into his arms.
Pakura looked at the man in front of her—three years younger than her—and for a moment, she felt completely at peace.
"Pakura, have you ever flown before?"
"Huh? What?"
"Flown."
"..."
Before Pakura could respond, Kazuyama scooped her up again—and took off!
He moved so fast that before she even realized it, they were already airborne.
With wings spread and air currents swirling around them, Pakura's eyes widened in disbelief.
She was an elite jōnin, mentally strong and steady—but the view before her was nothing short of shocking.
"How is it, Pakura?"
"Pretty amazing, right?"
Kazuyama soared through the sky with joy, and suddenly, Chōmei's voice echoed from within him.
"Kazuyama, are you really just going to show off my ability like this?"
"Tch. What's the problem? She's my woman—she was going to find out eventually. So why not now?"
"... As long as you're happy. I'm going back to sleep."
"Sleep? I was planning to introduce you to Pakura."
"What?!"
Before Chōmei could even react, Kazuyama had already flown Pakura to a nearby mountaintop.
"Kazuyama, what exactly is this flying ability of yours?"
Pakura narrowed her eyes slightly as she stared at the wings on his back.
What kind of ability was this? She had never heard of anything that could make someone grow wings...
"Pakura, you must remember—what I'm about to tell you, you can't share with anyone. Only you can know."
"This is my final trump card. My biggest secret."
Kazuyama retracted his wings and looked at Pakura with a serious expression.
It was only because Pakura had become his woman that he was willing to share this secret with her.
"Chōmei!"
"Come out!"
Before Pakura could react, a surge of crimson Tailed Beast chakra erupted wildly.
In the blink of an eye, the massive form of the Tailed Beast began to take shape within the jungle.
Fortunately, this mountain was deep in the Land of Birds where few ever came—otherwise, this scene alone would've scared the life out of many.
Even Pakura was completely stunned the moment she saw the crimson chakra.
"A Tailed Beast..."
"A Jinchūriki..."
As an elite shinobi of Sunagakure, Pakura was well aware of the existence of Tailed Beasts—but this was her first time actually seeing one.
The suffocating pressure and the searing chakra struck every one of her nerves.
"Pakura, I'm a Jinchūriki—the Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails."
"This is my brother, the Seven-Tails, Chōmei."
Kazuyama stood cloaked in Tailed Beast chakra, his whole appearance giving off a faintly sinister edge.
Chōmei folded his wings and his massive form slowly touched down. Though his body was formed from chakra, the overwhelming presence it carried made it feel completely real.
"Yo, Kazuyama's wife! I'm his brother!"
"Don't worry—I didn't see what just happened between you two. He wouldn't let me watch."
"Yeah, not really my thing anyway..."
Kazuyama Gekkō: ????? You! @#!#%!#%!
Pakura: Oh my god!!!
"Chōmei! You bastard!"
As her furious shout rang out, Chōmei vanished along with his chakra form.
Only his gleeful voice lingered behind.
"That's what you get for blocking me! Hahahahaha!"
Kazuyama was falling apart. He never imagined that Chōmei would stab him in the back like this.
That damn bastard!
Pakura, who had just been reeling from the shock of seeing a Tailed Beast, was now overtaken by an overwhelming wave of embarrassment thanks to Chōmei's remarks.
Kazuyama wanted to dig a hole and disappear—his awkwardness could've paid for an entire mansion.
"Pakura, Chōmei's not exactly the most reliable guy. Just pretend you never saw him."
"I just wanted to let you know—I'm a Jinchūriki. The Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails."
Pakura nodded slowly. She had seen it clearly. That chakra, that presence—it was undeniably the real thing.
While it was shocking to learn Kazuyama was a Jinchūriki, what truly stirred her curiosity wasn't that...
It was that he was the Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails?
If she remembered correctly, the Seven-Tails was the Tailed Beast of Takigakure, right?
How in the world did Kazuyama become its Jinchūriki?
"You're probably wondering how I became the Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails."
"Well, how should I put it... It's exactly what you're thinking."
Pakura was stunned.
Exactly what she was thinking...
This guy... did he actually go to Takigakure and steal the Tailed Beast that was originally theirs?
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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