This puppeteer is a bit... well...

Chapter 27 The Bet with Shukaku

The words were still spoken by the old monk, but both his tone and voice had changed.

The old monk's voice was humble and calm, while this voice was sharp and arrogant.

It is a Shukaku, sealed inside the old monk's body.

In other words, the old monk in front of you is a Jinchūriki of the One-Tailed Beast.

Furthermore, judging from the fact that the One-Tailed Beast occupied the old monk's body and spoke without going berserk, this guy is also a perfect Jinchūriki.

Unfortunately, outsiders are unaware of this.

All they knew was that Shukaku was sealed inside the old monk's body, and that they often heard the old monk make Shukaku's voice. They assumed he was possessed by Shukaku and imprisoned him as a monster.

To put it bluntly, it's just a vulgar view.

Hearing Shukaku's words, Ryuji couldn't help but sigh, "What does it matter? You don't need to eat anything anyway, so what's wrong with using up some leftovers?"

"This has nothing to do with whether it's needed or not; it's a matter of respect."

"If you don't want to eat it, then don't. I'll take the rest with me."

At this point, Long Er changed the subject and said, "Old monk, I have now become a high-ranking member of Sunagakure and have a lot of influence. When I return from my mission, I will have them release you."

"Tch, you humans are really that kind?"

The old monk couldn't help but sneer, but the next second, his expression returned to calm.

It's obvious that the previous words were spoken by Shukaku.

"Let's forget about it. This old monk is doing quite well here."

"But here, you have no freedom at all."

"Freedom in the heart is freedom everywhere."

"Stop, stop, stop..." Long Er made a pause gesture. "Don't talk to me about Buddhist principles. I don't understand them at all. I only believe what I see, hear, and feel."

"Yes, people only believe what they see, hear, and feel," the old monk sighed deeply. "The villagers all see me as a monster, even if I am not, they still think so."

"So you care about what other people think?"

"Yes," the old monk nodded. "If I go out, they will be afraid and terrified, but if I stay in prison, they will feel at ease."

Ryuji didn't say anything.

He squatted down and looked directly at the old monk.

The old monk met his gaze calmly.

After a while, Long Er sighed, "They never care about your feelings, but you always think of them. Old monk, you are a good person."

"Amitabha!"

The old monk chanted a Buddhist prayer and picked up his chopsticks to eat and drink.

Long Er's eyes widened, and his spirit entered the sealed space within the old monk's body... Under the full moon, in the vast desert, a huge raccoon monster with violet patterns all over its body stood between heaven and earth.

"Hey, little raccoon!"

Ryuji greeted him with a smile.

The raccoon, who was gazing up at the moon, glanced sideways at the sound, then looked back up at the sky.

"Don't you get bored staring at this lousy moon all day?"

"Tch, if it weren't for you humans, would I be so bored as to stare at the moon all day?"

Long Er touched the tip of his nose and said, "It was the person who sealed you, not one of us humans."

"It's all the same," the raccoon mocked. "After the old monk dies, you'll be the next one to seal me away."

"Probably!"

Ryuji said somewhat uncertainly.

In the original story, it was Chiyo who sealed it, but the situation in Sunagakure is somewhat different now.

With its own leadership, Sunagakure will surely flourish, with outstanding young talents emerging one after another, and the elderly will no longer have to continue working at their advanced age.

"However, I will give you your freedom."

"Tch, a bet's a bet. I promised to give you chakra, and I won't go back on my word. Don't try to flatter me with self-contradictory statements; it's an insult to my intelligence."

At only seven years old, Ryuji was already a renowned puppet designer in Sunagakure.

His theories and design concepts have greatly benefited the puppeteers throughout the village.

Given his immense contributions and Ryuji's precocious talent, the village nurtured him more than anyone else in history.

They provided almost any research material one could need.

Even when Ryuji expressed his desire to study the tailed beast chakra, the Third Kazekage, after considering it for a month, personally took him to see the old monk.

After a brief conversation, the Third Kazekage, carrying Ryuji's spirit, arrived at this sealed space and met Shukaku for the first time.

At that time, Shukaku did not agree with Bunfuku and was filled with hatred for humans.

Not only did they refuse to give the child chakra, they also viciously threatened to eat him.

But the child didn't care. Instead, he responded with jokes and provocations, and finally made a bet.

[Those who hate humanity will inevitably identify with humanity and with their host.]

I hate humanity, and I will always hate humanity.

The two made this bet.

If the child loses, let it be killed. If Shukaku loses, promise to provide chakra assistance to the other party when needed.

Then, Shukaku lost.

It identified with Fenfu and felt that he was the person the Sage of Six Paths had described.

Although the other party denied it, it still acknowledged the old monk.

So, it became Long Er's power bank.

The chakra needed for all kinds of weapons and puppets comes from Shukaku.

Otherwise, with his standard Chunin-level chakra reserves, he wouldn't even have enough chakra to provide for Gin.

"I'm telling the truth." Ryuji shook his head slightly. "Tailed beasts are regarded as strategic weapons because they possess enormous amounts of chakra, and I can't change that perception."

"That settles it."

"But what if immense chakra is no longer exclusive to tailed beasts?"

"Are you referring to those rare items in the world?"

Indeed, there are chakras in this world that are comparable to or even surpass those of our tailed beasts, but they are rarer and more difficult to control than those tailed beasts.

"At that point, you'll still turn around and target the Tailed Beasts."

"I'm not referring to those things."

"What do you mean?"

"Chakra generator..." Ryuji looked up at Shukaku, "By studying the nature of chakra, we can create a device to produce chakra. Once we can develop this thing, you tailed beasts will no longer be unique."

Shukaku stared silently at Ryuji, then suddenly chuckled.

"I thought you were going to say something more, but that's all?"

"You think I can't make this thing?"

"If what you mean by a chakra generator is the creation of chakra from nothing, then that's what I think."

"Shall we make a bet?"

Shukaku felt a sudden jolt of fear, a sense of foreboding washing over it. It felt as if this scene was all too familiar.

"What are we betting on?"

"I'm betting on whether I can create a chakra generator."

"What's the stake?"

"If I can't develop a chakra generator within twenty years, I'll release you before I die."

"So, you figured it out?"

"After I figure it out, you'll follow me until I die and then I'll set you free."

(End of this chapter)