"What's your name, kid?"
"Gekko Chizan, of the Gekko Clan from Konoha."
"Hmm, do you have any bugs on you? Like... uh... the edible kind."
Gekko Chizan was a bit stunned. What the hell? Edible bugs??
Suddenly, he remembered—he might still have some of Aburame Shibi's bugs on him. Could that be what this guy meant?
"You mean these?"
He casually took out the bugs that Shibi had originally placed on him.
To block Shibi's perception, he'd specially stored them all in a bottle.
Looking at the bugs in the bottle, Chōmei grinned—or rather, his saliva started to drip.
"Mm-mm-mm, it's been so many years since I last ate bugs."
"Hiss... ha... and I can sense that these bugs have quite a bit of Chakra in them. Definitely delicious."
Watching Chōmei drool, Gekko Chizan twitched the corner of his mouth. He had prepared a lot of persuasive lines.
But judging from Chōmei's look, it seemed unnecessary.
He took them out.
To block Shibi's perception, he'd specially stored them all in a bottle.
Looking at the bugs in the bottle, Chōmei grinned—or rather, his saliva started to drip.
"Mm-mm-mm, it's been so many years since I last ate bugs."
"Hiss... ha... and I can sense that these bugs have quite a bit of Chakra in them. Definitely delicious."
Watching Chōmei drool, Gekko Chizan twitched the corner of his mouth. He had prepared a lot of persuasive lines.
But judging from Chōmei's look, it seemed unnecessary.
Ah well.
Bugs, huh. At worst, he could just keep closer ties with the Aburame Clan from now on.
After all, he was now the head of the Gekko Clan—even if it only had two members.
"Here, eat up."
He casually tossed the bottle to Chōmei.
Chōmei didn't even look—he swallowed it whole.
That scene completely stunned Chizan. Bro, there was still a bottle in there.
You can eat glass too?
Crunch.
A crisp cracking sound rang out. The bottle had already turned to powder and was swallowed down with the bugs.
At that same moment, outside the waterfall, Aburame Shibi's expression shifted slightly.
"What's wrong, Shibi?"
"Just now, all the bugs I left on Chizan have died."
Nara Suzaku's face also changed when he heard that. Normally, Shibi's bugs were extremely well-hidden, and no one would bother attacking a few insects.
Even if someone did, it wouldn't be all of them at once.
If all the bugs had died, then Gekko Chizan...
"Damn... should we abort the mission?"
The thought popped into Nara Suzaku's mind instantly.
But he quickly shook it off. Right now, Gekko Chizan's whereabouts were unknown. They couldn't assume he was dead just because a few bugs had died.
"Let's wait a few more days—maybe it was just an accident."
...
"Ah! Delicious! It's been so many years since I had bugs that tasty!"
"Kid, you're alright!"
Having tasted something so delicious, Chōmei handed Gekko Chizan a figurative good-guy card.
Although Chizan really didn't want it.
"So, Chōmei, how about leaving with me?"
"I promise you'll get to eat bugs like that every day."
Since food clearly worked on Chōmei, why not go with that angle?
With Gekko Chizan's stealth skills, grabbing some bugs from the Aburame Clan wouldn't be hard.
"Hmph, you think I'm just a glutton?"
"I'll have you know, I've got big appetites!"
Chōmei's whole body started trembling with excitement.
He'd been trapped for far too long. Freedom... he couldn't even remember how many years it had been since he was free—his memory was getting fuzzy.
But one image slowly surfaced in his mind.
Back when all nine Tailed Beasts sat in a circle. At the time, he hadn't looked like he does now—he was just a giant bug.
And in front of them stood a man—Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, their creator.
"Tch, old man... I wonder if this counts as the one you said would come..."
"Whatever. I'm done living without freedom."
With that thought, Chōmei finally made his decision.
"Kid, even if I want to go with you, without a proper sealing technique, how are you going to seal me inside you?"
Every Jinchūriki needed a powerful sealing jutsu to contain a Tailed Beast inside their body.
A seal was absolutely essential.
And it couldn't be any old sealing technique—it had to be a strong one.
"Oh, I've got that. Look here."
As he spoke, Gekko Chizan pulled out a scroll and unrolled it.
A bold Four Symbols diagram appeared.
"This is called the Four Symbols Seal. I got it from a powerful ninja."
"With this seal, I can completely seal you inside me."
"Then we can leave this place together and head to Konoha, eat well and live large."
Yeah, even if Chōmei didn't understand it, seeing this little guy act all confident made it seem reliable enough.
"You're sealing me now? How do I help?"
That one line from Chōmei completely stumped Gekko Chizan.
Talking was easy, but actually doing it? He hesitated.
He had learned the Four Symbols Seal, sure—but how was he supposed to seal something as huge as a Tailed Beast???
Maybe sensing his confusion, Chōmei suddenly shuddered, and his body shrank under the binding chains.
Soon, a mini version of the Seven-Tails appeared in front of him.
"Is this size okay?"
"When it comes to changing body size, Shukaku and Saiken are better at it. One's sand, the other's snot. Pfft."
Chōmei wiggled around a bit. Although still bound by chains, he could manage some small movements.
"But Chōmei, if I just seal you now, won't the people outside find out?"
"Is there any way to fool them?"
Gekko Chizan remembered how the Eight-Tails once escaped by shedding its tail and thought this might be a good time to pull a similar trick.
After thinking a moment, Chōmei spoke.
"You've got a point. How about my shed husk?"
"It still contains my Chakra. I'll infuse some more into it to keep it active—it should last for about six months."
"How's that?"
Hearing that, Gekko Chizan couldn't help laughing. So this Chōmei wasn't exactly innocent either—he already had a trick like that up his sleeve.
"What are you laughing at? I've been alive for who knows how many years! What's wrong with having a few tricks?"
Apparently annoyed by Gekko Chizan's look, Chōmei got a little mad.
"Hahaha, Chōmei, I'm starting to think you and I are a perfect match."
"Alright, I'll prepare the seal. You get ready to shed."
"Then let's leave this place and enjoy some freedom."
Man and beast locked eyes and nodded firmly.
And began their preparations.
The Four Symbols Seal originates from the Uzumaki Clan. It uses the cycle of the four symbols to lock away evil forces. This powerful sealing style leaves a marking on the body or other target, allowing the user to seal even powerful enemies for extended periods inside the chosen host.
It's an extremely advanced sealing jutsu. If it hadn't been for the detailed instructions from Jiraiya, Gekko Chizan would never have been able to learn it.
Now, he was just copying it step-by-step.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo