Kei Yamanaka stiffened for a moment, then felt absolutely awful.
Now he understood what people meant by "lies don't hurt, but the truth does."
Damn it!
As soon as he got back, he copied a skill that increased chakra!
Seeing Kei's expression, Nine-Tails curled its lips slightly, feeling refreshed and completely free of the earlier frustration.
You go ahead.
Kei reluctantly waved at Kushina with a bitter face.
Kushina gave him a reassuring glance before approaching the Nine-Tails, forming hand seals to activate the Contract Seal.
A massive amount of chakra gathered, countless jet-black sealing formulas spread across the Nine-Tails' entire body.
This time, the usually mischievous Nine-Tails made no attempt to sneak in an attack on its jinchuriki, instead staying still obediently while the technique was applied.
Its vertically slit pupils never left the visibly irritated Kei, the faint smile on its face laced with mockery and taunt.
No matter how hard it struggles, escape isn't happening anytime soon.
Isn't watching this arrogant brat squirm far more entertaining?
"Next comes the Edo Tensei-like technique."
When Kei saw the Contract Seal fully envelop the Nine-Tails, completely preventing it from being summoned via Summoning Technique, he felt instantly reassured.
If they could develop a life-transferring formula similar to Chiyo's Edo Tensei, then no matter how much Madara Uchiha schemed or stirred things up, Kushina's safety would be guaranteed.
As for the side effect of such life-transfer techniques—consuming the caster's lifespan—
Hadn't he already mastered the Mind Body Switch Technique?
Or was White Zetsu's life energy simply insufficient?
[Beep~ Significant deviation detected in a major character's destiny path. World line progression has shifted. Rewards unlocked: Keyword Copy opportunity x1, Keyword Draw opportunity x3, Keyword Detach opportunity x1, Keyword Gift Opportunity x1, Keyword Downgrade opportunity x1.]
The familiar system voice notification sounded.
A faint smirk tugged at Kei's lips as he glanced at the Personal Panel displayed by the system.
...
[Host: Kei Yamanaka]
[Occupation: Ninja]
[Activated Skills: World Traveler (Red), Zero-Frames Start (Red), Yin Release Master (Purple), Water Release Master (Purple), Space-Time Insight (Purple), The Expert King of the Ninja World (Blue), Handsome (Blue)]
[Inactive Skills: Chrysalis User (White), Fragile Skin, Tough Life (White), Bro, You Smell So Good (White), Smiling Welcome (White)]
[Keyword Copies Available: 1]
[Keyword Draws Available: 3]
[Keyword Gifts Available: 5]
[Keyword Detaches Available: 2]
[Keyword Downgrades Available: 2]
...
As someone who always enjoyed filling his inventory to the brim in games,
just looking at this Personal Panel made Kei feel delighted.
Plus, two detaches and two downgrades.
If Madara Uchiha really wanted to pick a fight—
Kei would definitely make him experience firsthand what it means to be beaten senseless by snow-covered mountains after being mocked by cheeky brats.
Rinnegan? Gone.
Hashirama Cells? Gone.
Top-tier Fire Release? Reduced to tiny flickers～
Kei Yamanaka had access to the Flying Thunder God Technique.
As long as he could sustain the chakra consumption, he could strike or vanish at will—deciding in an instant whether to stay or flee.
Heck, he might even stop the Fourth Great Ninja War before it even began.
The more Kei considered it, the more promising the plan seemed.
Quickly, he explored his Memory Palace (a mental technique used for organizing information) and searched for the location where Madara Uchiha had hidden himself, according to the original story.
But after searching for a while,
He realized the original account had only briefly mentioned that when Madara was near death, he had been in a mountainous grave site located in the northern part of the Land of Iron.
It was also the location where, later on, Obito Uchiha orchestrated Sasuke's eventual betrayal with Orochimaru and helped Itachi Uchiha transplant his Mangekyō Sharingan into Sasuke.
The Land of Iron wasn't huge, yet it wasn't exactly small either.
Finding such a precise location in such a vast nation would be no easy task.
Besides, Madara definitely had more than just one base.
After all, the place where Obito Uchiha got injured was Kannabi Bridge.
Kannabi Bridge had been an important rear supply route for Iwagakure during the Third Great Ninja War.
Its location was roughly near the border between today's Grass Country and the Land of Earth.
Given how badly injured Obito had been—half his body already ruined—
If they'd tried transporting him all the way to that grave site in the northern Land of Iron for treatment, he would've died halfway there.
Therefore, there must be another unknown base belonging to Madara Uchiha somewhere in Grass Country—or perhaps in the neighboring Rain Country.
"I wonder if the Intelligence Division has any leads."
Kei decided inwardly that he should visit Konoha's intelligence division someday soon.
At minimum, he needed to find exactly where that mountainous graveyard was.
"Brat, why are you smirking?"
Kurama narrowed its eyes slightly.
It had been observing Kei's expression since earlier.
Originally assuming the boy would feel frustrated for quite some time after being defeated, it hadn't expected him to start smiling so quickly—not long after its own momentary pride.
Not again, what the hell is he smiling about?!
Why the hell is he smiling like that?!
"Kurama, you actually look kinda cute when you smile."
Kei grinned.
"What?! What did you just say?"
Caught off guard by this unexpected compliment, Kurama blinked in confusion.
[Keyword Gift of [Smiling Welcome]]
With visible anticipation in his eyes, Kei gave the command in his mind.
A streak of white light—visible only to him—shot forth instantly and disappeared into the body of Kurama.
"Brat! Are you mocking me?!"
Kurama vaguely sensed an ill-intentioned aura coming from Kei.
Its originally dazed expression turned fierce, its thoughts racing rapidly.
It was the strongest among the nine tailed beasts!
The mighty Kurama, called a living natural disaster—now being called "cute"? That's mockery! Total mockery!!
That Yamanaka kid was trouble from the start!
"That smelly fox, when you say something like that, maybe try toning down that grin? It looks kinda awkward to me."
Kushina, who had just returned beside Kei, stared at Kurama with a hundred questions swirling in her mind.
Honestly, is this smelly furball really that sensitive to flattery?
Just saying he looked cute, and he got this happy already?
"Kurama, may you always wear a smile."
After saying just that, Kei Yamanaka seized Kushina's hand and bolted.
"Eh?"
The Nine-Tails watched their retreating figures, puzzled, as it lifted a paw to touch its cheek.
Its lips were curled upward, eyes curved happily.
This expression should have been fierce and violent—but somehow…it looked…soft?
"Kei Yamanaka! You damned bastard! What did you do to me?!"
"What kind of genjutsu is this?! Why can't I control my own face?! Come back here! Come back!"
"Grrr—damn it! You underhanded brat! You won't even face me like a real opponent!"
"Just you wait, Kei Yamanaka! I won't let you off for this!"
Earth-shaking roars echoed through the Seal Space.
As they ran, Kushina glanced back at the Nine-Tails, now throwing a fit atop the sealing altar.
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