Chapter 373: Six-Tails Sealed; Calling for an Anti-Uchiha Chiya Alliance!! [HN]

The Six-Tails, Saiken, was driven completely berserk by the excruciating pain.

Its enormous body thrashed wildly, smashing the valley walls into pieces as thick acid splattered in every direction like a torrential downpour. The dense fog churned violently, while the air filled with a pungent, foul stench and an aura of destruction.

The Six-Tails’ enormous single eye locked onto Mirai and Chimi, who had just dealt it a severe blow, filling with rage and hatred as its mouth opened wide.

A terrifying mass of acid, far denser than before and almost dark green in color, rapidly gathered within its mouth.

It was clearly preparing to unleash a devastating attack.

Mirai and Chimi’s expressions changed slightly.

Although their combined attack had severely injured the Six-Tails, it had also consumed a considerable amount of their strength.

Faced with this full-powered attack fueled by rage, they sensed a deadly threat and prepared to defend themselves and retreat with everything they had.

At that moment, a calm voice filled with unquestionable authority rang out.

“Enough.”

The voice was not loud, yet it seemed to contain some strange power that instantly overwhelmed the Six-Tails’ roar and the thunderous rumbling of the valley.

Uchiha Chiya did not even form a hand seal.

He simply raised his right hand.

“Hum!”

In an instant, countless golden chains condensed from pure chakra shot out from the void behind him like gigantic golden serpents brought to life.

Ancient sealing runes were engraved across the chains, radiating an immense aura capable of suppressing everything.

Their speed was so great that they surpassed the limits of visual perception.

Adamantine Sealing Chains!

This powerful sealing technique originating from the Uzumaki bloodline now displayed earth-shattering power under Chiya’s terrifyingly precise control.

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

The golden chains ignored the torrent of dark green acid spewed out by the Six-Tails, effortlessly piercing through it like hot knives cutting through butter.

The acid struck the chains but could not corrode them in the slightest.

Instead, the pure chakra contained within the chains instantly purified and evaporated it.

In the next moment, amid the Six-Tails’ terrified shrieks, dozens of massive Adamantine Sealing Chains had already formed an inescapable net around its enormous body, binding and tightening around it.

From its head to its tail, every joint and every point of exertion was firmly restrained by the chains.

“ROAR!!”

The Six-Tails struggled wildly, its terrifying strength powerful enough to overturn mountains.

Yet the seemingly slender golden chains remained completely unmoved.

Instead, they tightened further and further, while the sealing runes on their surfaces shone brilliantly like red-hot brands, sinking deep into the Six-Tails’ chakra body.

Its vast tailed-beast chakra, as boundless as the sea, was completely countered by the Adamantine Sealing Chains, a technique specifically designed to suppress tailed beasts.

It was rapidly suppressed and sealed, leaving it unable to mobilize even a trace of its power.

Its enormous body visibly shrank and condensed, eventually being forcibly compressed and dragged into a streak of blue light.

Chiya casually produced a specially prepared sealing scroll, and the blue light was sucked directly into it.

On the surface of the scroll, the number “6” flashed briefly before everything returned to normal.

The suffocating pressure of the tailed beast vanished from the valley in an instant.

Only the lingering acidic mist and the devastated battlefield remained, bearing witness to the intensity of the battle that had just taken place.

The entire process had taken no more than a few seconds.

Clean, decisive, and utterly overwhelming.

Mirai and Chimi were left dumbfounded.

Although they knew that their father was incomparably powerful, witnessing him casually seal a tailed beast like a god descending upon the mortal world still shook them deeply every time.

It was an absolute difference in level.

While it filled them with pride, it also strengthened their determination to become even stronger.

Terumi Mei’s beautiful eyes shone brightly as she walked over to Chiya and gently linked her arm through his.

“Every time I watch you make a move, it makes me feel as though none of the world’s problems are worth mentioning in front of you.”

Chiya put away the sealing scroll, and the ripples of his Rinnegan gradually subsided.

He patted Terumi Mei’s hand and looked toward his two daughters, his voice calm yet powerful.

“Well done. Your tactical application and timing have both improved. Remember this feeling, but also remember that there is no end to the path of strength.”

“Yes, Father!”

The two girls answered in unison, their eyes filled with the joy of being acknowledged and a soaring fighting spirit.

…

The group did not return directly to Konoha.

Instead, they first returned to Kirigakure.

Under Terumi Mei’s governance, Kirigakure had long since escaped the terrifying shadow of the Blood Mist Village and was gradually recovering its vitality.

Although the village was still shrouded in mist, its atmosphere was no longer oppressive, and there were even faint smiles to be seen on the streets.

Back in the Mizukage’s office, Terumi Mei dealt with some accumulated paperwork before dismissing everyone else.

The spacious office was left with only her and Chiya.

The afterglow of the setting sun streamed through the windows, bathing the room in a warm golden hue.

Terumi Mei shed the dignity of the Mizukage and, like an ordinary wife, prepared a cup of hot tea for Chiya before leaning against his side.

“Are you tired?”

She asked softly, her fingertips gently brushing across the slight furrow between Chiya’s brows as she tried to smooth away the worries that seemed to linger there permanently.

Chiya held her hand and shook his head.

He was not tired.

It was simply that the burden on his shoulders was too heavy, and there were too many things that required his consideration.

Yet beside Terumi Mei, that sense of coldness and loneliness always seemed to fade somewhat.

“I just feel that we need to move faster.”

His voice was low, his gaze deep.

“We may not have much time left.”

Terumi Mei did not ask for the specific reason.

She simply rested her head against his sturdy shoulder and said softly, “No matter what happens, I’ll always be by your side. Kirigakure will also be your most steadfast support.”

She lifted her face, a sly smile appearing in her eyes.

“And besides, we’re family now, aren’t we? I really like those two girls, Mirai and Chimi.”

At the mention of his daughters, the corners of Chiya’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“They respect you very much, too.”

A warm atmosphere flowed between the two.

There were no unnecessary words.

Simply being together was enough to comfort their hearts.

Terumi Mei occasionally talked about amusing incidents in Kirigakure or shared some observations and suggestions about Mirai and Chimi’s training.

Chiya listened quietly, occasionally responding with a few words.

Night gradually fell, and the lights outside the window began to illuminate the streets.

Terumi Mei personally prepared dinner, setting out a table of dishes that were not extravagant but were filled with the flavors of the Land of Water.

Mirai and Chimi were also called over, and the four of them sat around the table.

The atmosphere was harmonious, as though they truly were a family.

During the meal, Mirai chattered excitedly about the lessons she had learned from the day’s battle, while Chimi occasionally added a few details.

Terumi Mei smiled and served food to both girls, her eyes filled with warmth.

For Chiya, who had spent years caught in the vortex of power and the pursuit of strength, this moment of peace and warmth was extraordinarily precious.

He looked at Terumi Mei and his daughters laughing beneath the lamplight.

Deep within his cold heart, it was as though a warm stone had been cast into a still lake, sending circles of ripples outward.

Yet when one wishes for stillness, the wind refuses to cease.

Just as Chiya was enjoying this brief moment of warmth in Kirigakure, the undercurrents of the shinobi world began surging once more because of his increasingly frequent actions.

…

Kumogakure, the Raikage’s office.

“Bang!”

The Fourth Raikage, A, slammed his fist onto the desk.

Cracks instantly spread across the sturdy wooden surface.

His beard and hair stood on end like an enraged lion, while Lightning Release chakra flickered uncontrollably around his body.

“Has the information been confirmed?! That bastard Uchiha Chiya captured the Three-Tails and Six-Tails again?!”

His voice exploded through the room like thunder.

The jonin responsible for intelligence nodded grimly.

“Confirmed. Our spies stationed near Kirigakure sent back reliable information. Uchiha Chiya, his daughters, and the Mizukage, Terumi Mei, all appeared in the valley where the Six-Tails was residing. The battle caused enormous disturbances, and afterward, the Six-Tails’ chakra signature completely disappeared. Combined with Konoha’s unusual mobilization of resources and its recent energy detection activities, we can almost certainly conclude that the Six-Tails has been sealed by Konoha!”

“That bastard!”

The Raikage roared.

“That’s a tailed beast! He’s actually started targeting them! What the hell is he trying to do?! Start the Fourth Great Ninja War?!”

“Raikage-sama, Uchiha Chiya’s strength is unfathomable. If he truly intends to seize the tailed beasts, our Eight-Tails or Iwagakure’s Four-Tails and Five-Tails could very well be his next targets.”

“He wouldn’t dare!”

The Raikage’s eyes widened with fury.

Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails’ Jinchūriki, was his brother.

If the tailed beast were extracted from his body, he would likely die just like the previous Jinchūriki had.

That was something he would never allow.

“I’ll tear him apart!”

Killer Bee, who was standing nearby with a sword in his arms, had unusually abandoned his rapping manner.

He spoke in a deep voice.

“Big Bro, calm down. Uchiha Chiya is strong. Very strong. On our own, our odds aren’t good.”

His words were like a bucket of cold water poured over the Raikage’s head.

Although he was unwilling to admit it, Uchiha Chiya’s overwhelming strength, which had dominated an entire era, was undeniable.

At that moment, an ANBU shinobi appeared with the Body Flicker Technique and knelt on one knee.

“Raikage-sama, Kitsuchi of Iwagakure has arrived outside the village with a delegation. He requests an urgent meeting and says that he has an important matter to discuss concerning the survival of both villages!”

The Raikage exchanged glances with everyone present.

They could all see the gravity in one another’s eyes.

“Let them in!”

The Raikage spoke in a deep voice.

He knew that old fox Ōnoki must have been unable to sit still any longer.

After all, his village still had two Jinchūriki.

A moment later, Kitsuchi, travel-worn from the journey, entered the office with two guards.

Without any pleasantries, he got straight to the point.

“Raikage-sama, I assume your village has already received the news. Uchiha Chiya is capturing tailed beasts, and his sinister ambitions are obvious! Konoha’s strength is unprecedented now. If we allow them to gather all the tailed beasts, there will be no place left in the shinobi world for any of us to survive!”

The Raikage snorted coldly.

“Did Ōnoki send you here just to tell me this nonsense? What does Iwagakure intend to do?”

Kitsuchi took a deep breath, his tone firm and decisive.

“My father’s intention is that Kumogakure and Iwagakure must once again put aside their differences and form a solid alliance, both offensively and defensively! We must even unite every force that can be united, including Sunagakure and the neutral Land of Iron, to jointly oppose Konoha and Uchiha Chiya, the greatest threat! We absolutely cannot allow him to continue collecting the tailed beasts!”

The office fell silent.

Kumogakure and Iwagakure had been in constant conflict.

But at this moment, faced with the terrifying pressure brought about by Uchiha Chiya and Konoha, pressure powerful enough to overturn the entire balance of the shinobi world, those old grudges seemed insignificant.

Raikage A clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked.

A trace of hesitation flashed across his face before ultimately turning into grim determination.

“Fine! Tell Ōnoki that Kumogakure accepts this alliance!”

He suddenly rose to his feet, lightning flashing around him.

“For the survival of our village, for the sake of preserving Kumogakure’s legacy… even if it means making a pact with a tiger, I won’t hesitate!”

“Draft the alliance treaty immediately. At the same time, send envoys to Sunagakure, the Land of Iron, and the others! Tell them that when the lips are gone, the teeth will suffer! If they don’t want to become Konoha’s next target, they need to show some sincerity!”

An oppressive and tense atmosphere began spreading rapidly throughout the entire shinobi world, centered around Kumogakure and Iwagakure.

A new storm seemed to be brewing.