Naruto: Reborn as Yagura Karatachi

Yagura tried once more to meet with Chiyo.

But Chiyo, still bitter over Sasori's total defection, didn't appreciate the effort. She stayed in Kirigakure only a few days before returning to Sunagakure in a huff.

Not long after, a formal diplomatic letter arrived from Sunagakure's Kazekage, Rasa.

In just a few days around the New Year, entering the 48th Year of Konohagakure, Kirigakure and Sunagakure rapidly exchanged envoys and finalized a new diplomatic agreement.

Yagura's blend of pressure and persuasion had successfully forced Sunagakure to switch allies.

In Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen received the intel. Sunagakure's actions were making one thing abundantly clear—Konoha was about to lose its only remaining ally.

Despite being overwhelmed fending off political rivals and preparing to transfer power to Namikaze Minato, Sarutobi still had to take time to confront Sunagakure about the situation.

He raged at them for their fickle, opportunistic diplomacy.

Rasa, for his part, didn't cut off the path entirely. His reply mixed truth with falsehood, giving Hiruzen a half-genuine explanation.

The gist was: We at Sunagakure never intended to betray Konoha. Our alliance has always been strong. But given our current difficulties, and the outside pressure bearing down on us, we've had no choice but to compromise. We hope the Hokage can understand.

Hiruzen knew the deal was done. He had no choice but to shelve that side issue.

At this point, he had only one main task: to hand over the village to Minato—his successor, from his own political lineage—safely and securely.

...

January 15th, Year 48 of Konoha

Konoha officially held its succession ceremony. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stepped down, taking responsibility for serious failures during the Third Great Ninja War. Namikaze Minato succeeded him as the Fourth Hokage.

The people of Konoha erupted in celebration at the rise of this war hero.

After four long years of hardship during the war, the village had sunk into gloom. This moment felt like salvation—Konoha's shining light returning.

Whether sparked by genuine emotion or amplified by official propaganda, the public truly believed that the genius Minato would restore Konoha's greatness.

That day, Minato received the two biggest pieces of good news in his life.

His wife, Uzumaki Kushina, was confirmed to be one month pregnant after a checkup at Konoha Hospital.

...

January 16th, Sunagakure

The third son of the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was born.

His mother, Karura, died during a difficult labor.

The boy was named Gaara.

On Chiyo's suggestion, given Gaara's impressive bloodline and latent talent, he was chosen to become Sunagakure's next Jinchūriki for the One-Tail.

The previous host, Bunpuku, had perished during a rampage, and Shukaku had "died" alongside him.

Under Rasa's supervision, and without needing another chaotic sealing battle, Chiyo easily sealed the just-revived, still-weak Shukaku into the infant Gaara.

...

Kirigakure

Yagura had just received the news about Uzumaki Naruto and Gaara in quick succession.

Busy as he was, it finally reminded him—Kirigakure still had an unresolved tailed beast.

He temporarily set aside military and administrative affairs and headed personally to the sealing site of the Six-Tails, Saiken.

He ordered the sealing and combat squads stationed there to begin preparations for Jinchūriki containment.

Then, he summoned the designated Six-Tails host—Chūnin Utakata—to get ready.

In the original timeline, Utakata had an unreliable mentor who left him with childhood trauma. But in Yagura's first year in office, that teacher had been removed.

Yagura had enrolled Utakata in the Ninja Academy, letting him grow up like any normal child.

And it worked. The fact that Utakata had been chosen as a potential Jinchūriki at such a young age proved his exceptional talent.

He graduated early in his third year, became a Genin, and then passed the Chūnin Exams with ease.

Qualified in skill and sound in mind—he was now ready to become a Jinchūriki.

...

Three Days Later

The sealing site of the Six-Tails was a damp, shadowy cave deep underground.

Each Tailed Beast had its preferred habitat—Shukaku liked deserts, Isobu the ocean.

Leading the way, Yagura glanced back. "Nervous?"

Utakata, brown-haired with long bangs covering his left eye, wore a sky-blue haori. His hairstyle was similar to Sasuke's in Boruto.

He shook his head. "No."

With a cool, distant expression and a taller, lankier frame, he appeared more mature than Yagura, even though he was two years younger.

That mature face, paired with his demeanor, gave the illusion he was older than Yagura.

"Oh~?" Yagura stretched the sound, teasing, "It's a Tailed Beast, you know. Super scary. Raaawr~"

Utakata remained composed, eyes straight ahead, clearly not taking the scare seriously.

"With the Mizukage here, I'm not afraid."

Raised in the post-Blood Mist era, like many others in Kirigakure, Utakata held absolute trust and obedience toward Yagura.

He even raised his hand to shield Yagura from a dripping droplet overhead.

Yagura smiled, pleased. "Keep that up when you're bonding with Saiken."

As they chatted, Yagura led Utakata deeper into the cave, eventually handing him over to the sealing team.

Yagura himself moved into the inner sanctum—to meet the Six-Tails first, maybe lay some groundwork.

Knowing he'd be needed soon, little Isobu popped out on Yagura's shoulder, ready to assist.

"Hey, Isobu," Yagura asked, "what's your cute Saiken like? Are you two close?"

"Him? We get along alright. Better than I do with Shukaku. Just… don't let him hear this."

"Why not?"

Isobu usually called the other Tailed Beasts by name.

"Saiken hates being called cute. Can't stand it. And he doesn't want to be treated like a 'little' anything."

Isobu paused, hesitating. "Also…"

Yagura repeated, "Also?"

"If you listen closely, your voice and his… they sound the same."

...

They reached the wall separating them from the seal.

Yagura stopped, raised his torch, and peered inside.

And there it was—the Six-Tails.

A massive, pale lavender slug with seven circular mouth-like holes on its face, lying there, motionless in the damp stone chamber.

"Saiken," Isobu called, "wake up."

Hearing that familiar voice—and being called by name again—Saiken stirred from slumber, bleary-eyed.

"Isobu?"

Yagura stood by quietly as Isobu took the lead, listening to Saiken's voice—sure enough, it sounded eerily similar to his own.

It made him a little uncomfortable.

Thanks to their similar tastes and living nearby, Yagura and Saiken had a decent rapport, just like Isobu said.

After a quick exchange of greetings between slug and turtle...

Saiken's eyes narrowed at Yagura. His tone was wary. "Isobu, you've given in to the humans, just like Gyūki."

He could sense it.

Isobu didn't try to deny it. "It's not just me and Gyūki. Shukaku too."

Saiken looked genuinely startled. "Shukaku!?"

Isobu thwacked Yagura on the back of the head with his tail. Yagura winced and stepped forward.

"Okay, okay, my turn, right?"

What Yagura had to say to Saiken wasn't much different from what he told Isobu years ago.

He laid out a clear enemy—a greater outside threat—and proposed they form a unified front.

Since Isobu was already clearly aligned with this strange little human who shared his voice, Saiken didn't doubt the setup too much.

Otherwise, he'd have questioned whether Isobu had lost his mind.

He asked a few questions—things only someone with true inside knowledge could answer.

Yagura gave all the right responses.

Saiken believed him… mostly.

Before agreeing, though, he had one final question—one that clearly mattered to him.

"This human of mine… what kind of person is he?"

His soft, gooey body wobbled slightly, six tails swaying.

"If he's like you," he added with a grimace, "I don't think I'd like him much."

After being adored as Kirigakure's beloved Mizukage for so long, Yagura was genuinely taken aback at being told to his face he wasn't likable. Still, he smiled through it.

"Then what kind of human do you like?"

One tail curled up under his chin, and Yagura thought he saw a blush—on a slug's face.

Saiken's answer was shy but not too shy, blunt but not too blunt:

"Handsome ones. If he's not as dashing as the Sage of Six Paths, at least let him be easy on the eyes~"

First, Yagura thought seriously—Utakata should meet that standard.

Then came the urge to complain. For some reason, he suddenly imagined Saiken as a blue Pal.

Hearing such sappy words come out of a voice identical to his own…

Yagura had spoken plenty of ridiculous things himself, but this—this was different. It made him squirm.

Saiken felt the same way.

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

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