Chapter 70 - 63 (1/2)

Three days had passed since then. Out of all of them, only Hikaru was promoted to Chunin on the side of Konoha. While Gaara had been promoted to Chunin by his father while his siblings stayed as Genins. The Raikage didn't promote Airi because he didn't see her being that useful earlier in the battlefield. It was more like she was being protected, which seemed kind of pathetic in front of the Raikage.

The Raikage left the village along with his shinobis but the Kazekage seems to have some other business with the Hokage.

The other genins were quite bitter after they lost the chance to become a chunin but they still threw a party for Hikaru's promotion.

After that party, Hikaru and Azumi had a talk with each other.

(Flashback, Two Days Ago)

Under the light of the moon, Hikaru and Azumi sat on top of the rooftop of their house.

Hikaru wore normal black pants and a black T-shirt. His long wavy black hair spread out as the wind hit his face. While Azumi wore her orange night-gown.

”Darling, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have used the kyuubi's power. I almost lost control of it.” Azumi apologized to Hikaru with her head down.

Hikaru just smiled and patted her head before saying, ”It doesn't matter anymore. The reason your father sealed the kyuubi inside you was for you to use its power. You don't have to apologize. Maybe one day, you'll be able to control the kyuubi's power to its fullest.”

”Un!” Azumi nodded her head cutely, happy that Hikaru isn't angry at her.

Hikaru then looked above the night sky, then said, ”Do you want to know how the tailed beasts were captured so easily by the Shodaime despite their immeasurable strength?”

”Hmm? Wasn't that because the Shodaime was too strong for them?” Azumi asked, a little bit confused.

”Indeed, the Shodaime was a very strong shinobi but that's just partly the reason he was able to capture them. The tailed beasts, unlike humans, don't know how to use their chakra efficiently. We humans can mold our chakra and turn them into what we call 'jutsu'. Intelligence living beings like humans is the only race in this world that can use chakra this way. But tailed beasts aren't exactly living beings. They are created purely from chakra. That's why they cannot use jutsus. But they have the bijuudama, which is a very powerful technique that can obliterate a country if they have enough time to prepare. But it takes too long to cast, that's why humans can take advantage of that time and seal them.”

”The tailed beast inside you is the strongest out of all the others. But it was still captured and sealed by the Shodaime and the Yondaime. Imagine a tailed beast that can use techniques like us humans, if a thing like that really exists, then it would be unstoppable. What I am saying is, humans are the only beings that can truly use the tailed beasts' true power and potential. But that is if the tailed beasts agree to partner with them.” Hikaru explained. This is just his own theory, a tailed beast theory! Ahem.

”Wah! If that's true, then one day, I can use the kyuubi's power freely?!” Azumi asked, amazed at that fact.

”Yes, but you have to earn its trust.” Hikaru looked at her and smiled. But he knew, even when that time comes, he won't be there to see it.

”Yosh, I have a new goal! To earn the kyuubi's trust! This will be a huge step towards being the Hokage! Believe it!” Azumi shouted up in the air as she stood up and pumped her fist up.

”Hah hah hah hah, of course.” Hikaru laughed at her childish antics.

(Flashback End)

A few days after that, the slaves that Hikaru's clones had saved finally arrived in Konoha along with the last remaining clone of Hikaru. After they left the ship to go on the land, they had to walk all the way to Konoha. There were hundreds of them, so it was hard. Most of them were children and there were few a.d.u.l.ts. If it was only the clone, he could've arrived in Konoha in less than a day. But these people aren't like Hikaru, they are just normal human beings. They don't even know how to use chakra, so it was hard for the clone after a while

The clone had to rob a few bandit camps to gather money for their own survival needs, resulting in them taking more people because there was also people being used as slaves or s.e.x slaves in those bandit camps. They now have around 500+ people. Hikaru's clone had to suffer continued stress because it was hard leading that many people. Along the way, they had to rob more bandit camps, and they would sometimes encounter jounin level shinobis. But they were easily taken care of by Hikaru's clone. They now have 600+ people, which put a huge burden upon the clone. He had to take care of their basic needs, food, clothes, shelter and many, many more. By the time they reached Konoha, all the money that was stolen from the paradise island and the bandit camps were already gone. Not a single ryo was left.

Hikaru met with the clone in front of the village gates after sensing hundreds of small chakra sources coming towards the village.

The guards were tense, there were too many people. They decided not drop their guard, they may be enemies.