The Genjutsu Devil of Konoha

"YOU BRAT, WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!"

Shukaku roared, to which the boy said nothing.

"It's a simple seal—meant to cut your connection with your Jinchūriki."

Seijuro walked to the old man, gently removing a seal from the old man's body.

This seal contained a lot of Shukaku's chakra... Seven-Tails' worth.

Seijuro's brow furrowed. This chakra was equal to the amount he took from the Seven-Tails. Hm. Did each Tailed Beast have an equal amount of chakra?

Though Kurama was called the strongest... did that mean the Nine-Tails received more chakra than the other Bijū?

That would make some sense. It was considered the most powerful Bijū.

So... by this logic, the tail count of a Bijū didn't matter much—up until maybe the Seven-Tails.

Seijuro didn't have chakra from the Eight-Tails yet, but the Seven-Tails and Shukaku's chakra seemed about the same, with no actual major difference between them.

Seijuro watched as the Bijū tried to use its sand to kill him.

"Don't even try. Inside this field... your magnetism is useless."

The boy then raised his sword—it was time to act like he was going to murder the Bijū...

'The Suna-nin should be close by,' he thought to himself. There was no way Suna would let their Jinchūriki get captured... or worse, killed.

And just like he predicted—like a moth to a flame—

"YOU WON'T LAY A HAND ON HIM!"

Several Suna-nin burst forward like a tide of rage and desperation, hurling kunai and chakra-infused jutsu to bar his way.

Seijuro simply Shunshined away.

Fortunately, several Konoha shinobi swooped in, intercepting the ambushers mid-attack. Explosions rang out. Kunai clashed in flurries of steel. Chakra lit the night like dying stars.

Yet, in the chaos, Suna made their move. A small squad grabbed the unconscious Bunpuku, dragging him toward a retreat route.

Seijuro tried to break through. He even placed a seal on the ground to lock their footing—but no good. One of the Suna Jōnin dispelled it mid-run.

They were fast. Coordinated. Desperate.

And just like that—

They got away.

The boy stood there, motionless. Fists clenched. Lightning chakra still flickering on his blade. Eyes sharp... but empty.

He had them.

He had them.

But they slipped away anyway.

LATER THAT NIGHT – KONOHAGAKURE CAMP, MEDICAL TENT

After getting examined by a medic ninja, who told him he had no chakra left—we're talking empty as shit, as if the soul had been sucked out of him...

Oh well.

He'd be fine after a few days of rest.

Tsunade glanced up from a pile of reports, raising a brow when she saw the faint, crackling remnants of chakra exhaustion trailing behind him.

"You're back. Good. Casualties?"

Seijuro gave a short nod.

"Less than expected."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Then why do you look like a kicked puppy?"

A pause. He stepped forward. Hands to his side. Back straight.

"I failed."

He said it plainly. "I wasn't able to capture the One-Tail's Jinchūriki. Suna managed to escape with him."

Tsunade blinked... then promptly smacked the back of his head.

BOP!

"OW—HEY?!"

"You idiot." Tsunade laughed, folding her arms. "You rendered a Tailed Beast unusable. Do you even understand how ridiculous that is?"

"I mean... maybe?" he muttered, rubbing his head.

She sighed, a fond grin on her face. "You prodigies and your messed-up definition of 'failure.' You know most shinobi would be happy just surviving that."

Seijuro shrugged. "I thought the goal was capture. Anything less felt... insufficient."

"Say some stupid shit again and I will beat your ass." Her voice was quite dangerous, and for the safety of his own life, he'd rather not put himself in danger.

"Yeah..." he replied calmly.

"Good," she said as she began writing down her notes.

"Anyway, for report purposes, what's the name of the seal you used?" she asked, looking at him.

"Fujōin: Kyūketsu Unpō," he replied, tone low but respectful.

"Right, that. How many more of those do you have?"

"None."

Tsunade's smile faded. "None?"

"It takes too long to prepare. And since I already used it on Bunpuku, odds are it won't work again. He knows how it operates now. He'll resist."

Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose. "So... let me get this straight. You used your only suppression seal—the one that isolates Jinchūriki from their Tailed Beast. A seal that you made, in less than a week mind you, and were able to negate the beast's Magnet Release... all while working on your Kenjutsu?"

He nodded. "Essentially."

Tsunade stared at him, then turned away, grumbling, "I swear, you little genius types are gonna give me a stroke before I hit fifty..."

"Hm, you aren't fifty."

BANG

That was the sound of her fist landing against his skull. While yes, he could have kept his mouth shut and avoided this... something about her brash nature seemed familiar, and he just felt the need to tease her more.

He had no idea why though.

"Brat, I am in my twenties," she said, annoyed.

"Oh, and one more thing," she added casually, glancing at him.

"Yes?"

"You're not going on the next mission until your chakra core stabilizes. That much drain would've killed a normal shinobi."

"...Fair."

"Good. Now go get some rest, Seijuro," she said, her tone firm but amused. "You earned it."

That was good.

Meanwhile in Suna.

"FUCK THAT KID."

Maybe Shukaku was pissed.

Oh well.

Nothing he could do about it.