8 Beggar Sect, is it? (1/2)
In the cutthroat world of cultivation, it was common sense for experts to selfishly desire other's belongings.
Hidden techniques, ancient artifacts, even spirit beasts. As long as it was a rarity, there would be someone who want to put their hands on them, no matter the cost.
Even if they had to kill other human beings.
As an expert who had survived those turmoils over the thousands of years, she was well aware of such danger. That was why, even though Kokuo hadn't explicitly told her to do it yet, she had instinctively hid the Tailed Beast's presence.
But now... someone had finally found out.
If this was her old self from back then, the first thing she would've done was...
'Kill him!'
Perhaps thinking along the same vein, Kokuo poured out its chakra. Thin red glow began to envelope her.
'Just a small kid, This One only need a single shot.'
'Eh, Venerable One, wait!'
Before Kokuo could materialize any chakra ball, she called it off at the last moment.
This wasn't the turbulent era prior to the Yang Dynasty. They couldn't just kill someone and be done with it without anyone else noticing. At the very least, the Inuzuka would be suspicious. They wouldn't be able to stay in their compound anymore unless they opt to kill the entire clan.
Actually, that was a possibility. But then, the village would also get involved. Should they kill the entire village as well? Hmm, this is getting out of hand...
While her thoughts were getting more and more muddled, she suddenly felt something soft and wet touching her skin.
Akamaru was rubbing his face on her legs, trying to get her attention.
”...”
She got struck with an inspiration.
While Kiba was still confused, she quickly grabbed the puppy, one hand circling around his waist while the other gripping his neck.
”If you tell anyone, I'll... I'll kill him!”
”...”
Kokuo didn't know what to say. Somehow the scale of the situation had plummeted from 'let's kill the entire village!' to 'get the dog!' in the blink of an eye...
Akamaru was his precious partner. Naturally, Kiba would be worried for his safety. But... the puppy was wagging his tail without a care in the world. Rather than being taken hostage, it looked more like he was merely playing.
There was just no tension in this scenario ah!
”...Why do you look disappointed? I'm serious!”
She was about to tighten the grip when she caught a glance at Akamaru staring back at her with his slit-eyes. His tongue was jutting out as he panted happily.
Then, he licked her face.
”...Uuu...”
...Can't.
She can't kill this precious little dumb thing...
Letting the dog go, she crumbled to her knees.
In the end, nothing else to do but to kowtow.
”...Please don't tell anyone...”
Watching a girl burying her face on the floor like her life was depending on it, Kiba didn't know whether he wanted to laugh or cry.
It's said that you'll grow calmer when other people around you are more agitated. At least, it rang true for his current situation.
”Alright, alright, I won't tell. Get up, stop kneeling.”
For now, let's just hear what she had to say.
---
The Inuzuka had excellent hearing. If they wanted her story to remain hidden, it would be best to talk elsewhere.
Thus, they arranged to meet at the usual creek around noon time.
”You... skipped class again, didn't you?”
”Heh, it doesn't matter. C'mon, spill the beans.”
Popping out of his hood, Akamaru barked, urging her as well.
”Fine... Venerable One, if you may?”
A mist of chakra flew out of her body, condensing into a form reminiscent of a horse with dolphin face and five flowing tails.
”The heck...!” Kiba almost screamed. Thankfully he managed to cover his mouth on time.
”You guessed it right, it's a spirit beast,” The girl nodded.
”...A what?”
”She spews out random things at times. You'll get used to it, human.”
A voice suddenly echoed in Kiba's mind, shocking him further. Somehow he could tell that this voice belonged to this white beast that had appeared out of nowhere.
Kokuo took a step closer to the boy, exuding a proud, majestic aura.
”This One is Kokuo, the great Five-Tails. This human female here is This One's Jinchuuriki.”
Five-Tails? Jinchuuriki?
The terms flew over Kiba's head, so he just sat there with mouth agape.
Hikari let out a dry cough.
”So, it's like this...”
She proceeded to detail the events starting from the time she woke up in Iwagakure, discovering Kokuo inside her soul, their following escapade, up to the way they reached this creek back when he'd found her.
For the reincarnation part... she decided to leave it out. It was such a heavy concept even for a long-lived expert like her. They shouldn't burden a nine-years-old brain with more baggage than he could process.
”Okay, so you got this... horse-thingy inside of you, and people from Iwagakure want it, so you have to keep it hidden or else they'll take it out and kill you?”
She nodded.
”Maaan, what a drag...”
Kiba slouched down, feeling that the world suddenly turned more complicated. In response, Akamaru licked his cheek to cheer him up.
”That's why, please don't tell anyone?”
”Haaah... truth be told, I was going to tell mom about it this morning.”
She gulped.
”But...?”
”But, Akamaru told me not to. So I didn't. You better thank him later!”
...Huh?
The puppy told him not to...?
”Besides, if you're hiding here, those Iwa ninja's plan will be wrecked, right? Heh, serves them right!”
”So...”
”Fine, fine, I'll keep it all a secret. But promise me that you won't get my family in danger!”
”Thank you!”
For now, she was relieved that everything had turned out well.
...Turned out... well...
Hmm, now that she had calmed down properly, a question suddenly popped up in her mind.
”Why were you in my room this morning?”
Kiba trembled slightly. Turning his face away, he began whistling an off-beat tune.
”...”
Being the recipient of Hikari and Kokuo's cold, accusing glare, he finally relented and told them the truth.
”I was going to play a prank on you, okay? Just that! Nothing else!”