Naruto: I have an attribute panel

Chapter 464 The Wronged Nine-Tailed Fox

The Land of Demons, the Shrine of the Priestess.

All eyes were on Taiyi, some with anticipation, some with eagerness, and others with a hint of worry.

Taiichi glanced at Huangtu beside him without leaving a trace. Huangtu had his right hand half raised, looking like he wanted to say something but hesitated. Did he not want Taiichi to heal the priestess, or did he not want Taiichi to get closer to the Land of Demons?

"Whether it can be cured or not needs to be confirmed through examination, but from what I've observed, Lady Shrine Maiden's injury doesn't seem to be simple."

Taiichi quietly took two steps forward and looked the priestess up and down. This usually unreasonable action was not stopped by anyone this time.

"Lord Taiyi's medical skills are indeed superb; he can perceive so much information just by using his senses."

The priestess Miroku smoothed her sleeves, and as her wide sleeves swayed, a subtle ripple spread out, silently dispelling Taiyi's senses.

Taiichi's brow twitched slightly, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He silently withdrew his chakra perception, inwardly marveling at the priestess's keen perception.

"My body can still hold on. Let's first clarify the matter of the demons with you. I think Konoha also urgently needs to know the current situation of our country."

"What the priestess says is true." Tai's expression turned serious. "My information is quite outdated. I heard that the Land of Swamp has already fallen. Haven't the Iwa ninja's reinforcements arrived? With their capabilities, surely they can't even stop them?"

After saying that, Taiyi turned to look at Huangtu beside him, his eyes filled with doubt, his expression clearly saying: Did your Iwagakure village actually contribute anything?

That distrustful look immediately made the honest Huang Tu uneasy. Their Iwa ninja troops were currently fighting desperately on the front lines, and every moment, their comrades might sacrifice their lives for the ninja world.

Even if you were Matsushita Taichi, you would not be allowed to slander their dedication at this time.

Huang Tu clenched his fists, his clumsy mouth unable to refute for the time being, but he had already taken a fighting stance.

"Lord Huangtu and the ninjas of Iwagakure have done their best. If it weren't for their help, the Land of Demons might have already fallen."

The priestess Miroku spoke up just in time, nodding to the earth in thanks for the support from Iwagakure Village.

This interruption immediately diminished the imposing aura of the loess, and even their desire to cause trouble for Taiyi faded somewhat.

"The demons and their ghostly army are immortal and indestructible. Ordinary means are simply ineffective in eliminating or even stopping them. What's worse, it seems that ninjas are assisting them. Our organized defenses are frequently attacked and destroyed by ninjas. This is the reason why we collapsed so quickly."

Miroku told Taiyi all the latest information about Kui-ryu, which also made Taiyi understand the current situation of the Demon Kingdom.

As Tai listened, he checked his memory: Ninja assistance? Could they be referring to Yomi? But even the Iwa ninja were being repeatedly defeated despite their participation in the battle. Could Yomi possibly possess such fighting strength?

The more Taiyi thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong; it seemed that other forces were involved.

At this moment, Taiichi thought of the two Akatsuki members who had escaped from his grasp before, Kakuzu and Hiruko.

Was it just a coincidence that they appeared in the Bear Country at that time?

Could the Akatsuki organization have gotten involved in the escape of the demon from its seal?

Taiichi's deep thought was naturally noticed by the priestess Miroku, who asked, "Has Lord Taiichi made any discovery?"

"Perhaps I'm overthinking it, but it's still best to say something to everyone, as a reminder." Taiyi looked at Maitreya, then turned to look solemnly at the yellow earth.

"On my way here, I encountered Kakuzu and Blood Raven from the Akatsuki in the Land of Bears. They might be behind the escape of the demon from its seal, so everyone should be on guard."

"The Akatsuki?" The priestess Miroku looked puzzled, clearly unfamiliar with the organization.

At this moment, the female official who had led Taiichi here earlier approached the priestess's ear and whispered everything about the Akatsuki organization, making the priestess Miroku's face grow increasingly grim.

On the other hand, the loess soil reacted more directly and violently.

His honest and simple face twitched uncontrollably, his clenched fist turned white at the knuckles, and the veins on the back of his hand became visible.

Taiyi's words, "Maybe they're behind this," were like a needle, piercing a taut string in his heart.

"The Akatsuki!"

Huang Tu practically spat out those three words through gritted teeth, his voice filled with suppressed anger, "They're such troublemakers! How come they're everywhere in the ninja world!"

Taiyi keenly sensed the extraordinary resentment and vigilance in Huangtu's tone.

This is not right. Iwagakure and Akatsuki should not have much direct conflict, at least not on the surface.

The yellow earth's reaction at this moment was more like a long-suppressed resentment and the frustration of being secretly wronged.

"Your Excellency Huangtu seems to have a strong feeling about this organization?" Taiyi asked tentatively, looking directly into Huangtu's eyes.

Huang Tu's chest heaved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but after glancing at the witch Maitreya and her female official beside him, he swallowed his words back.

The village's secrets and shame are clearly not suitable to be discussed in detail here.

He just snorted heavily and said in a muffled voice, "In short, if it really is these rats in the gutter who are up to this, things will be much more troublesome."

Taiichi understood immediately. It seemed that Iwagakure had indeed suffered a loss at the hands of Akatsuki, and the loss was probably quite significant, to the point that even a composed and tough man like Huangtu lost his composure like this.

He couldn't help but recall the vague information mentioned in the previous Konoha intelligence report regarding the departure of the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi—

—Could this be related to this?

The atmosphere inside the main hall became even more somber because of the name "Akatsuki".

Dealing with the calamities caused by demons was already a headache enough, but now the Akatsuki organization has also gotten involved. The ninja world is truly plagued by disasters.

Miroku took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the unease in her heart and the excruciating pain in her body. As a priestess, she had to remain calm and decisive at this moment.

"Thank you for the reminder, Lord Taiichi. Regardless of whether Akatsuki is behind it, the most urgent task is to stop the demon and its army. Lord Huangtu, the warriors of Iwagakure are fighting valiantly on the front lines. Their sacrifices and dedication will be remembered by the entire Land of Demons."

She once again expressed her sincere gratitude to the loess soil.

Huang Tu's expression softened slightly, and he nodded, accepting the gratitude, but his brows remained furrowed.

Seeing this, Taiichi knew that it was not advisable to delve into the topic of the Akatsuki organization for the time being, so he took the opportunity to bring the topic back to the present.

"I have a fairly good understanding of the situation. The rest requires me to personally go to the front lines. But before that, I don't know the extent of the priestess's injuries—"

Taiyi left Maitreya with ample choice before he could finish speaking.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Taiyi." Miroku didn't hesitate. The Land of Demons was going through a turbulent time, and there were still many things waiting for her to deal with. She couldn't let her health collapse.

After examining her, Taiichi's expression turned grim; the priestess's injuries were more serious than he had imagined.

It wasn't a physical injury; the medical standards in the Land of Demons were clearly quite good, and the shrine maiden's external injuries had been effectively treated. The key issue was that an evil power was lurking within her.

This power is constantly damaging Miroku's body, preventing her from repairing herself, and this power is of such high quality that it cannot be removed by ordinary means.

As Taiyi carefully examined the nature of this power, he gradually felt a sense of familiarity.

After a moment's thought, Taiyi realized that it was the power of an evil god.

Now, apart from himself and the evil god himself, who was the Blood Raven that Obito rescued back then, the ninja world also has this method.

"It seems the Akatsuki organization is indeed hiding behind the scenes."

Taiyi explained Miroku's current physical condition and his latest discovery to her. Although she was mentally prepared, Miroku's mood still became heavier.

"Your Highness, there is no need to worry too much. The one in front of you is just a shadow clone with limited abilities. The real body will arrive around tomorrow morning, and the injury will be healed then."

Only then did everyone realize that this was just Taiyi's shadow clone.

Well, just look at the frozen expression on Huang Tu's face, and then look at the shaman's twitching eyebrows, and you'll know how awkward the scene was.

Taiyi didn't want this either. Normally, he wouldn't have to worry about his identity being exposed, but he never expected that he would have an injury that he couldn't handle.

"Although I cannot cure it, I can alleviate your pain, so that you no longer have to suffer from this power devouring your body."

This is one of the few remedies Taiyi can offer.

"I see."

The hint of anger in Maitreya's eyes was immediately replaced by gratitude.

No one knew that beneath her wide priestess robes, her body was trembling slightly. The cold, evil power lurking in her wounds was constantly devouring her life force and energy, bringing unspeakable pain.

She was sustained entirely by her strong willpower.

"Then I will trouble you, Lord Taiyi." Miroku did not refuse. The situation was critical, and she needed to remain clear-headed and have a certain level of initiative.

Taiyi took a few steps forward. Huangtu and the female official instinctively wanted to stop him, but when they saw Maitreya shake his head slightly in a gesture of greeting, they stopped and just watched him warily.

Taiyi did not directly touch Maitreya, but instead extended his right hand from a distance, a soft and bright pale green light emanating from his palm, which slowly enveloped Maitreya.

Maitreya's body trembled slightly. She could clearly feel a surge of vital energy gently permeating her body. Wherever it passed, the cold, bone-chilling evil god's power retreated slightly as if encountering its nemesis, and was forcibly suppressed and isolated.

Although it couldn't be completely cured, the continuous, excruciating pain was instantly relieved by more than half, as if a huge burden had been lifted. Even breathing became much easier, and a trace of color returned to his pale face.

"This is only a temporary suppression." Taiyi stopped, the light dissipated, "This is all we can do for now."

"Even so, it has been a great help." Maitreya breathed a long sigh of relief, her voice becoming slightly lighter. She bowed solemnly to Taiyi, "I am deeply grateful."

Taiyi waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to be so polite. With everything settled, he didn't linger any longer: "There's no time to lose. I'll head to the front lines now to see for myself the situation of the Ghost Legion and those attackers, and to gather more detailed intelligence."

He paused, looking at the Nine-Tails that had been quietly resting in his arms, "As for the safety of the Priestess—"

He gently extended the Nine-Tailed Fox forward: "This is my summoning beast, I call it Kyuubi. It's quite powerful and has keen senses. While I'm away, let it stay with you to protect you. I'm worried that the Akatsuki might still harbor ill intentions and try to assassinate you again."

Nine-Tailed Fox was dozing with its eyes half-closed when it heard Taiyi not only call it "Little Nine" but also refer to it as a "spirit beast." Its crimson fur instantly started to stand on end, and it made a disgruntled gurgling sound in its throat.

However, as Taiichi gently stroked its back, an undeniable chakra quietly flowed through it. At the same time, Taiichi lowered his head and glanced at it with a half-smile.

Nine-Tailed Fox immediately wilted.

Thinking about the purpose of my "shameless" following along, and thinking about Tai's terrifying fist—okay, a summoning beast it is, protecting people it is.

It drooped its ears, resignedly jumped down from Taiyi's arms, and walked to Miroku's feet with its short legs. It even rubbed its head against her skirt, trying to look like it was "very reliable".

However, when Maitreya subconsciously bent down to take the "little fox," her movements suddenly froze.

Previously, she had not noticed, but now that she was so close, the priestess's unusually keen senses finally clearly captured the vast and violent chakra contained within the seemingly petite body of the Nine-Tails!

That fiery, wild, and destructive power slowly overlapped with the terrifying figures described in some ancient texts in her memory, figures that had brought calamity to the world.

Nine-tailed fox!

Maitreya's pupils contracted slightly, and his mind went blank for a moment.

The legendary world-destroying beast has now appeared before me in the form of a harmless little fox, and is being kept by this person like a pet, even to the point of wanting to stay and protect me?

The stark contrast left her momentarily at a loss for how to react.

She looked up at Taiyi, her eyes filled with a complex mix of disbelief and deep confusion.

Taiyi naturally noticed Maitreya's unusual behavior.

He wasn't surprised; with the priestess's abilities, it was only a matter of time before she saw through the Nine-Tails' true nature.

He met Maitreya's gaze, nodded calmly, and gave him a reassuring look. He then spoke, his tone calm and reassuring: "Please rest assured, Xiao Jiu is very obedient. With it around, no ordinary villains can get even a step closer to you."

"I'm just taking precautions, after all, your safety is related to the stability of the entire Demon Kingdom, and even to whether the demons can be sealed away again."

Looking into Taiyi's honest eyes, and then looking down at the little fox at his feet that was tilting its head and "innocently" looking at him, Miroku felt a mix of emotions.

But in the end, reason prevailed over shock and doubt.

Taiyi is right; her safety is of paramount importance. And the fact that someone with such terrifying power is willing to protect her, even temporarily, is a tremendous guarantee of safety in the current situation.

As for what this means behind the scenes, and what the relationship is between Konoha and the Nine-Tails, these are not things he needs to consider.

She took a deep breath, forced a smile, and reached out (her movements were still a little stiff) to gently pat the Nine-Tails' head (the Nine-Tails twitched its ears unhappily, but did not dodge): "Then—thank you very much, Lord Taiyi, and also—thank you, Little Nine."

"Eek." Nine-Tails responded reluctantly, which could be considered a reply.

Taiyi nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Huangtu: "Lord Huangtu, could you please show me the specific route to the front line?"

Or, if convenient, could you send a guide?

Huang Tucong was completely unaware of the Nine-Tailed Fox's true identity, but he still responded solemnly to Taiyi's request, "I will personally take Lord Taiyi there. The situation at the front is complicated, and I also need to go back to take command."

"That's excellent." Taiyi did not refuse.

"Your Excellency Taiyi, please be careful." With the help of the female official, Maitreya stood up and solemnly instructed, "The front lines are dangerous, the demon army is unpredictable, and there are enemies lurking in the shadows. Please—put your own safety first."

"I will." Taiichi nodded, then said to Kurama, "Kyuu, protect the priestess. Wait for me to return."

Nine-Tails flicked its tail, as if to agree.

Without further pleasantries, Taiyi and Huangtu exchanged a glance, and in a flash, they disappeared from the main hall, leaving behind only Maitreya, the female official, and a nine-tailed fox spirit sitting in place, seemingly lazy, but with its golden vertical pupils gleaming with sharp light.