Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki Chapter 383: Ray?

Near Turtle Island...

"This isn't fair! How can you appear at the sa ti as Chōi?"

"How am I even supposed to fight like this?!"

Yugito, cloaked in Tailed Beast chakra, stared in disbelief at the scene before her.

Kazuyama Gekkō stood with his arms crossed, and behind him lood the form of the Seven-Tails, Chōi, composed entirely of chakra.

It was the synchronized form of the Tailed Beast—

A technique that allowed both the Jinchūriki and the Tailed Beast to appear simultaneously, maximizing their combat power as a pair.

"Hmph, there's no such thing as absolute fairness in battle."

"Weren't you the one who wanted to spar with ? What now? I show my real strength and you're scared?"

"Yugito, looks like you're done for. Tsk tsk."

Kazuyama grinned wickedly, eyes full of mockery. Wasn't this how a teacher was supposed to educate a student?

After all, true education ant teaching them obedience from the core. And this little one—still just a kid—was already showing off just because she had mastered Tailed Beast power?

How could he not give her a proper lesson?

Yugito's fists tightened. His words struck a nerve.

She was already proud as a Jinchūriki, and things had been going smoothly for her lately. Her arrogance had peaked.

"Hmph! I'm not backing down!"

With that, she shot toward Kazuyama like an arrow from a bow.

But he didn't budge. Instead, Chōi let out a strange laugh and flapped his massive wings, stirring up crashing waves.

Yugito darted through the incoming waves with agility, then unleashed Mouse Hairball—dozens of blue fireballs tore through the water, heading straight for Kazuyama.

Kazuyama nodded slightly as he watched.

She hadn't been fooled by Chōi's presence and went straight for the Jinchūriki—smart move.

Too bad he wasn't just standing there for show.

Chakra surged from his body, and crystals began to form around him, enclosing him completely.

Unless you looked closely, the transparent crystals were nearly invisible.

Yugito's blue fireballs punched through the seawater but fizzled out the instant they struck the crystals ford by Crystal Release.

Chōi lashed his tail at Yugito. She used the impact to spring upward, twisting mid-air to add force to her attack, and aid a kick at him.

Unfortunately, Chōi wasn't in a physical form—he was a mass of chakra. Physical attacks were useless.

Her kick passed through harmlessly. Instead, Chōi seized the chance to coil his tail around her and slam her toward the sea.

Sensing the danger, the cloak of Tailed Beast chakra around her burst outward—

A sign of the chakra surging out in response.

...

Slamming into the sea, Yugito felt her senses reel.

Before she could react, Chōi's massive body dove into the water after her.

His sharp, powerful horns ramd straight into her.

"Ahahahaha! Matatabi, co out and play with !"

With a strange cry from Chōi, Yugito was suddenly flung from the sea into the sky.

"Hey, Chōi, that's enough."

"You wanna get smacked? How dare you bring out Matatabi?"

Chōi froze on the spot at those words.

It was incredibly awkward—he hated to admit it, but he really couldn't beat Matatabi. And in his current state, just a chakra construct with no physical body, he stood even less of a chance. Especially since Matatabi's flas were terrifying enough to ignite chakra itself.

"Fine, fine."

"I'm done playing anyway."

Chōi retreated to Kazuyama's side, shooting a look at Yugito and pouting a bit. He wasn't satisfied—it still felt like the fun ended too soon.

"Damn it, what the hell kind of ability is that?"

"Why did Matatabi tell there's no way the two of us could pull this off?!"

Yugito dismissed the Tailed Beast cloak around her, clearly on the verge of snapping.

She had just asked Matatabi about it, and Matatabi had looked at Chōi and Kazuyama with disbelief before giving her a helpless answer.

"Yugito, this isn't sothing we're capable of."

"I don't know how they managed it either."

That answer stunned her completely.

She'd thought she'd made significant progress, thought she'd finally caught up to Kazuyama. But now it was obvious—she hadn't closed the gap at all. In fact, it was only widening. It wasn't just raw strength; their synchronization with their Tailed Beasts was on an entirely different level.

[Ding! Host, you really are ruthless—even to your own disciples. Two heavy blows in such a short ti. Tsk, tsk.]

[Ding! Reward: Tailed Beast Ball Optimization 10%. Current progress: 60%! New ability unlocked—Tailed Beast Ball Beam!]

[Ding! Due to the overwhelming power of the Tailed Beast Ball, a single shot can maintain beam form for five seconds. After use, it enters a cooldown state for two hours.]

Kazuyama was left speechless. This Tailed Beast Ball stuff was getting out of hand.

What used to be a ball—no, what used to at least resemble a ball—was now a full-on beam. How did it even qualify as a "ball" anymore?

"Hey! Are you even listening?!"

"Damn sensei! You're driving crazy!"

Yugito, fuming as Kazuyama stood there lost in thought, couldn't hold back anymore.

Startled by her yell, Kazuyama snapped back to reality and gave an awkward smile as he faced the furious girl in front of him.

"Yugito, just because an ability exists doesn't an it's suited for you."

"Besides, look at you now—aren't you doing great?"

"No one your age can match you. Relax, I'm your sensei, not soone who'd ever give up on you."

"Let's head back. Turtle Island's going to be my sensei's territory soon—he's already started buying research equipnt."

Getting research equipnt through regular channels wasn't easy, but the black market made it a breeze.

There were plenty of people across the shinobi world eager to conduct their own experints.

Orochimaru had already used the black market to secure everything he needed.

He was now building a lab in a hidden spot in the Land of Waterfalls.

As for that hiding spot, Kazuyama had only one thing to say:

"What kind of ridiculous place is that? They dug a hole behind a waterfall. Aren't they worried about the humidity and bugs?"

But Orochimaru had shut him down with a single sentence.

"I'm a researcher. The quieter the place, the better."

"Besides, don't you know? Snakes love dark, damp places."

What could he even say to that?

What could Kazuyama possibly say?

It was Orochimaru—of course he was a snake.

But then why, as the heir to Ryūchi Cave, did Kazuyama hate damp, dark places so much?

It was maddening.

With things settled with Orochimaru and Takigakure, Kazuyama had to return to the battlefield in the Land of Grass.

He'd been gone far too long already.

But the mont he landed—sothing happened.

Sothing big.

Why the hell was the whole area packed with people?

And why were they all staring at him???