Anko carefully studied the scroll a few more times. After seeing Kaede's approving nod, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began cultivating the technique written on the scroll.
Kaede activated his Time Domain with a thought, expanding it to encompass the surrounding area and accelerating time to ten times normal speed.
The technique created by Tobirama Senju focused on first perceiving the presence of dark mental energy to manifest the semi-illusory Zero-Tails. That form could then be solidified using the dark energy, during which it would produce seeds capable of parasitizing other ninja and absorbing the darkness within their hearts.
As Kaede observed Anko sitting cross-legged in meditation, he murmured softly. When his Rinnegan detected the dark jutsu pattern forming on her, he extended a thread of chakra and intertwined it with the technique, then spoke silently in his mind:
"Fox, I need your help."
"Help with what? I'm busy!"
"Just a small favor, release some of your negative emotions."
"Oh, that's all…"
Realizing it wasn't interrupting its 'TV time', the Nine-Tails responded quickly, sending over a wave of dark mental energy and negative emotions.
Without the barrier of a sealing technique, the Nine-Tails' negativity was potent enough to instantly corrupt even a Jonin. But to Kaede, it only caused a mild disturbance, just a momentary restlessness, a fleeting desire to do certain things to the meditating Anko.
"Why are these amplified emotions all lustful…? Damn fox…"
Kaede raised an eyebrow and muttered in irritation, but still skillfully intertwined the negative emotions with Anko's jutsu.
Buzz!!
Dark energy surged in the air, quickly taking the form of a large, reddish-brown serpent. Its face was a pale white mask inscribed with "Zero".
Under the combined influence of Kaede and the Nine-Tails, the Zero-Tails rapidly solidified.
Whoosh!
As the Zero-Tails fully took form, black chains extended from Anko's body, wrapping tightly around its form and dragging it inward.
This step was Kaede's modification to Tobirama's technique. Instead of immersing oneself into the darkness, it was now drawing the darkness into oneself. Though seemingly minor, it represented a fundamentally different model, closer to the structure of a Jinchuriki.
The Zero-Tails let out a screech and began struggling.
Kaede, expressionless, glanced at it, and with a flicker of his Rinnegan's power, he forcibly subdued the creature. It froze in place, unable to move, as Anko's chakra chains steadily dragged it into her body.
Buzz!!
The moment she absorbed the Zero-Tails's power, Anko's chakra spiked wildly, turning dark and scorching. The ground beneath her cracked under the sheer pressure, fissures spreading outward like a spiderweb.
Anko's eyes suddenly flew open.
The Zero-Tails's chakra surged outward, materializing around her in a form resembling full Tailed Beast Transformation, glaring directly at Kaede.
Kaede remained calm. A flash of Rinnegan power immobilized the Zero-Tails once more.
He looked toward the figure within and said calmly, "Don't be consumed by the darkness. Don't let your negative emotions take control. Control its power."
From within the Zero-Tails's body, Anko's confused voice echoed.
"Orochimaru-sensei… why did you abandon me…"
"Kurenai… Rin… why are you all chasing after Kaede… Rin… actually, I like Kaede too… what am I supposed to do… I want… I want Kaede for myself… I want him to be mine…"
The first half was somewhat normal, but the second part made Kaede slap his own forehead. Even though he had anticipated this, he still felt helpless as he stared at her.
Anko suddenly snapped out of her trance.
"Ah… ah… what did I just say…?! Aaaahhh!!"
"Zero-Tails!!"
Flustered and ashamed, Anko avoided looking at Kaede. Her emotions surged violently, flooding into the Zero-Tails.
Crack! Crack! Crack!!
Whether due to the intensity of her emotions or something deeper, the backlash instantly shattered the Zero-Tails's dark mental energy. Only its chakra remained, flowing back into her body and eventually dispersing into a faint dark aura around her.
Anko regretted everything.
She felt she never should have practiced this forbidden technique.
Even though she could tell she had succeeded, her chakra had multiplied dramatically, she still deeply regretted it.
She froze.
Not daring to raise her head.
But in that awkward silence, Kaede walked over, placed a hand on her shoulder, and said, "It's done. You've mastered the technique. You're now the Jinchuriki of the Zero-Tails. Don't worry about what just happened, everyone has a dark side."
Anko still kept her head down.
Only after Kaede's presence faded did she slowly raise her head. She looked around, and then slammed her forehead into the ground, shattering the surface, and began pounding the floor.
"Aaaaaaaagh!"
Thankfully, it was only Kaede who had witnessed her inner thoughts, not Kurenai or the others. So after a bit of internal screaming, Anko chose to accept her fate.
Others might have avoided Kaede afterward, but Anko was different.
In the days that followed,
Kurenai and Rin both noticed that Anko's behavior toward Kaede had changed. Occasionally, she even made bold, daring moves. The atmosphere between them grew increasingly… weird.
Kaede didn't pay much attention to it. Over the next few days, he continued helping Anko master control over the Zero-Tails's power.
It took her nearly half a month to fully master it. Since the Zero-Tails was born from the darkness of both Kaede and the Nine-Tails, the chakra it provided was almost on par with an actual Tailed Beast.
Anko's strength was elevated to Kage-level.
For someone just fifteen years old, that wasn't overly excessive.
With her new power, Kaede officially appointed Anko as the Captain of Hokage Guard Unit Two.
Kurenai, who had become the Jinchuriki of the Seven-Tails, had taken over Unit Six half a month earlier. And Guy, who had opened the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates at just under eighteen, was made Captain of Unit Nine.
And with that,
All nine captains of the Hokage Guard were finally in place!
Aside from Unit Seven and Eight, whose captains were slightly weaker, the other seven captains had all reached Kage-level. Among them, Unit One's Commander, Kakashi, had already surpassed Kage-level!
=============
Konoha.
Basement Level, Hokage Building.
In the dim underground chamber, Kakashi Hatake stood at the center, wearing a black-and-white captain's cloak marked with the number "1".
Before him stood five other Hokage Guard captains:
Unit Three: Uchiha Shisui
Unit Four: Nohara Rin
Unit Five: Konan
Unit Six: Yuhi Kurenai
Unit Nine: Might Guy
In the back, dozens of black-cloaked ninjas knelt quietly, awaiting orders.
Whoosh!
A shadow flickered to the far left of the formation.
"Sorry, I'm late."
Anko, clad in the cloak of Unit Two's captain, appeared.
Kakashi glanced at her, then looked toward the assembled crowd.
"Everyone's here."
"I'll repeat the mission: The Hokage Guard is to travel to the Land of Wind and deliver Konoha's final ultimatum to Sunagakure. Before our main forces arrive, we are to eliminate all enemy resistance."
He tilted his head slightly and added:
"No one's scared, right?"
Anko, Shisui, Rin, Konan, and Kurenai all looked at Kakashi with unwavering, deep gazes.
"Youth never fears,"
Might Guy grinned, flashing his gleaming white teeth in the silence.
Kakashi slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the scarlet glow of the Sharingan appeared, three tomoe spinning slowly as he addressed everyone.
"The path to unifying the Shinobi World will be steep."
"It starts with the Land of Wind. Perhaps the Fourth Great Ninja War is inevitable. Maybe… this is already the beginning of that war. But remember this, "
He took a deep breath. The tomoe in his eyes spun into the Mangekyo Sharingan – Kamui, as his gaze sharpened.
"The Will of Fire will spread to every corner of the ninja world."
"Before us, there will be no equal, no enemies remain."
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria