For now, he had no choice but to find a safe place to store the Four-Tails.
Who knew if the Akatsuki would keep sending people to collect the Tailed Beasts?
Having the Tailed Beasts he worked so hard to collect snatched away would be a massive pain in the ass.
He directly controlled the Four-Tails, marching it toward the distant Five-Tails.
At the same time, he released the Stone Village shinobi who had been caught in his genjutsu.
Ōnoki watched in a daze as the man commanded the Four-Tails to leave.
Everything that happened today felt like a dream.
However, standing inside the incomparably massive crater reminded him that this was definitely no dream.
He felt a deep sense of loss. He had actually become someone else's subordinate, and the Stone Village had become someone else's vassal.
It felt as though the Stone Village would be entirely under their thumb from now on.
Did he dare resist?
He did not.
The opponent's large-scale destructive attack, along with the three Tailed Beasts he had just acquired, could easily obliterate the Stone Village.
They simply couldn't fight back.
One had to remember that during the attack on the Leaf Village years ago, a single Nine-Tails had caused catastrophic damage, resulting in countless shinobi casualties and the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife.
Although these three Tailed Beasts were individually weaker than the Nine-Tails, their combined threat to the Stone Village absolutely surpassed it.
Helpless, he let out a heavy sigh.
At that moment, Kitsuchi slowly opened his eyes. Upon waking, he was immediately alarmed.
He forced himself to stand up, searching for Kurotsuchi's silhouette, but she was nowhere to be seen.
All he could see were the Tailed Beasts moving away in the distance.
Panic set in.
"He actually took Kurotsuchi! I have to get her back."
He took a step forward but stumbled, crashing back to the ground.
It wasn't that his body was giving out; rather, the terrifying genjutsu had left him with lingering aftereffects, making his head spin.
Ōnoki spoke up with concern.
"Don't panic. Kurotsuchi is merely a hostage. Her life isn't in danger."
"Right now, Kurotsuchi isn't our most pressing issue. We need to figure out what to do about the village's future."
Kitsuchi felt utterly helpless.
His father had submitted to the enemy on behalf of the Stone Village. What future was there to speak of?
The air grew dead silent. Today had been a series of devastating blows.
This was the first time he had felt so powerless.
He had absolutely no ability to fight back.
Meanwhile, Ryōsuke controlled the Four-Tails and arrived at the Five-Tails' location.
The two Tailed Beasts stood side by side.
Haku and Fū stared at the massive beast with curiosity. It looked fierce, huge, and muscular, though not nearly as beautiful as the Five-Tails.
The Five-Tails was snow-white and comfortable to lie on.
On the other hand, this red Tailed Beast didn't look comfortable to rest on at all, and it was radiating waves of heat.
Haku observed closely, noticing that the Tailed Beast's eyes had taken on the ripple pattern of the Rinnegan.
"Lord God King, did you control this Tailed Beast because it refused to obey?"
Ryōsuke nodded.
"I did."
Seeing the Rinnegan pattern in the Four-Tails' eyes, the Five-Tails immediately understood what had happened.
The Four-Tails definitely hadn't wanted to submit and had been forcefully controlled.
The Four-Tails had a very impulsive temper, unlike itself.
But acting like that was just asking for trouble.
It didn't really want to see this guy continue to suffer; after all, they were of the same kind.
"Lord God King, please allow me to communicate with him. Perhaps I can convince him to submit."
Submitting to the one destined to guide the Tailed Beasts shouldn't be a problem.
Ryōsuke smiled.
"Of course."
In an instant, the Five-Tails projected its consciousness into the Four-Tails' mindscape.
Seeing the Five-Tails arrive, the Four-Tails immediately cursed.
"Did you actually submit to that despicable human who's controlling me?"
"You're a disgrace to all Tailed Beasts."
The Five-Tails looked at the furious Four-Tails. Its temper really hadn't changed.
"You brought this upon yourself. Can't you see those Rinnegan eyes?"
"Have you forgotten what the Sage of Six Paths told us?"
"In the future, someone will appear to guide us Tailed Beasts. This person is most likely him."
The Four-Tails suddenly remembered. It had been waiting for so long, locked inside human bodies for who knew how many years, that it had forgotten the Sage of Six Paths' words. Still, it looked doubtful.
"How do you know this is the person the Sage of Six Paths spoke of? What if you're wrong?"
The Five-Tails explained.
"How could it not be? This man possesses the Rinnegan."
"After all these years, we've never seen anyone else awaken the Rinnegan."
"The one capable of guiding us Tailed Beasts must be the strongest in this era."
"Do you really think another person with the Rinnegan will appear?"
The Four-Tails shut its mouth.
The Five-Tails was right. This man had the Rinnegan, which meant he was likely a powerhouse on the same level as the Sage of Six Paths.
In that case, he definitely had the strength to guide the Tailed Beasts.
Submitting to this man didn't seem so unacceptable after all.
Right now, the feeling of being controlled was even worse than being sealed inside a Jinchūriki. Its limbs wouldn't listen to its own commands, only to someone else's.
Seeing the Four-Tails fall silent, the Five-Tails continued.
"This man also promised to find us new Jinchūriki who suit our preferences, and to create seals that allow us to come and go freely."
"Of course, he also agreed that if he isn't the person the Sage of Six Paths spoke of, our agreement to submit will be voided."
The Four-Tails' eyes lit up upon hearing this. To be offered such excellent terms, with the option to back out later? Was there even a need to think about it?
"Fine, I'll submit too. Tell the guy outside for me."
The Five-Tails was pleased to see how quickly the guy changed his tune. It had been worried the Four-Tails would be too stubborn and continue to suffer.
Its consciousness returned directly to its physical body, and it looked at the God King.
"Lord God King, the Four-Tails is willing to submit."
Ryōsuke was naturally pleased.
"Excellent."
He focused his eyes, dispelling the Rinnegan genjutsu cast upon the Four-Tails.
The Rinnegan pattern in the Four-Tails' eyes gradually faded away.
Replaced by a clear gaze, the Four-Tails looked at Ryōsuke.
"My Lord, can you really find me a new Jinchūriki to my liking and create a seal that allows me to come and go freely?"
Ryōsuke nodded.
"Naturally."