The black sea trembled around Arthev, its inky surface rippling as if stirred by an unseen force. Shukaku's cryptic words from moments ago echoed in his mind—"That tree spirit's got secrets—big ones." The One-Tailed Beast's massive, sandy form sprawled atop the water, radiating smug confidence like a desert tyrant lounging on a throne of dunes. Its amber eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and pride, tracking Arthev's every move. Arthev stood ankle-deep in the void, arms crossed, his mind a storm of calculations despite the calm mask he wore. The revelation of Shukaku's presence, the red soul ring masked as purple, the tie to his tree martial spirit—it was a lot, but that final warning about his spirit's deeper secrets had hooked his curiosity.
"More surprises, you said?" Arthev prompted, his voice dry but edged with a challenge, picking up exactly where Shukaku's ominous hint had left off. He tilted his head, meeting the tanuki's gaze.
"You mentioned my tree spirit's roots and surprises waiting in the pot. Care to elaborate, or are you just going to splash around and call it a day?"
Shukaku cackled, a rough, grating sound that rolled through the watery void like a sandstorm, sending waves crashing against Arthev's legs.
"Oh, Stunned Face, you're in for a treat," it said, its jagged grin widening. "You're not just some kid with a stick anymore. You've got *me*—and that means power. *Real* power. Let's break it down, huh? Grab a seat, this'll take a minute."
Arthev's smirk flickered, faint but present. "A seat? In my own subconscious? You're really leaning into the landlord vibe, tanuki." He shifted his stance, planting his feet firmly in the shallow water. "Fine. I'm listening. Lay it out."
Shukaku's tail swished, sending a spray of water and sand arcing through the air. It raised a massive claw, ticking off points with exaggerated flair. "First off, sand manipulation. You've got my knack for it now—move it, shape it, crush stuff with it. Think walls, spears, or just burying some poor sap up to their neck. Comes with the package, no extra charge."
It grinned, baring rows of jagged teeth. "Second, you get the tailed beast cloak."
Arthev's mind flashed to memories from his past life—Naruto Uzumaki wreathed in a fiery orange aura, the Nine-Tails' chakra surging around him like a living flame. "A cloak," he murmured, his voice low. "Like the tailed beast chakra in… another story I know. A layer of your soul power, amplifying everything—strength, speed, durability."
Shukaku's eyes narrowed, catching the pause but not pressing. "Yeah, something like that. Picture a nice, cozy blanket—except it's made of my soul power, turns you into a walking sandstorm, and makes you hit harder than a pissed-off spirit beast. Boosts your soul power output, too. And third?" Its eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Beast possession. I can lend you my strength directly—think of me riding shotgun in your body, smashing anything dumb enough to get in the way. Full-on tailed beast mode, kid. You'll be a nightmare."
Arthev's brow furrowed as he processed the list, his logical mind dissecting each ability. Sand manipulation was tactical—offensive and defensive. The cloak, would be a game-changer, likely with regenerative properties if Shukaku's resilience was any indication. Possession, though, was a wildcard—handing the reins to a tailed beast sounded like a last resort.
"That's a lot for a 'simple' level 10 breakthrough," he said, his tone measured. "Sand, cloak, possession. You're not exactly subtle, are you?"
"Subtle?" Shukaku snorted, its tail slamming into the water with a splash that sent waves rolling. "Kid, I'm a sandstorm with a personality. Subtle's for suckers."
Arthev's lips twitched, but his mind snagged on the soul ring. "Hold on. That red soul ring you gave me—the one you masked as purple. If you're behind it, just how strong *are* you? I know you're a tailed beast, but in this world's terms, where do you stand?"
Shukaku's grin widened, a glint of pride flashing in its amber eyes. "Good catch, Stunned Face. Yeah, that red ring? My doing. As for me? I'm a force of nature—best at chaos, destruction, and making mountains cry uncle. In this world's terms, my soul power's sitting pretty at level 94. Titled Douluo territory. Not too shabby, right?"
Arthev's calm faltered, his eyes widening a fraction before he schooled his expression. "Level 94?" he repeated, his voice low. His mind conjured images of tailed beast bombs flattening landscapes, sand tsunamis swallowing armies. "You could go toe-to-toe with a Titled Douluo. Probably level a mountain with one shot. That… tracks."
"Damn right!" Shukaku puffed out its chest, sand swirling around it like a mini-tornado. "I'm a walking disaster, kid. And now you've got a piece of that. Makes sense your tree spirit picked me to kick things off—I'm the fun one."
Arthev rubbed his chin, muttering, "Fun. If 'fun' means dodging bounty hunters when word gets out." Louder, he said, "So that's why the red ring. Your power's too much for a normal first ring. Good thing we masked it as purple—I'd rather not advertise 'tailed beast host' to every soul master with a grudge."
"Smart thinking," Shukaku chuckled, its tail flicking lazily. "A red ring's like waving a flag that says, 'Come kill me!' Purple's flashy, but it won't have every Douluo sniffing around. You're welcome for the camouflage."
Arthev nodded, but his curiosity wasn't sated. "You said there's more. What else did this breakthrough do? You're holding something back—I can tell."
Shukaku's grin turned feral, its eyes glinting with delight. "Oh, you're gonna love this, Stunned Face. Check your eyes. That breakthrough didn't just bump your soul power—it upgraded your little spinny trick."
Arthev frowned, then felt it—a subtle weight behind his eyes, a shift in his vision. He activated his Shinragan, and the world snapped into sharp relief. Crimson flared in his irises, fiercer than ever, with three tomoe circling his pupils, each spinning with a hypnotic rhythm. An ethereal silver-white hue framed the crimson, shimmering like moonlight. His soul power surged, a torrent rushing through his veins, pushing past level 10, past 11, past 12, until it stabilized at… "Level 14?" he breathed, stunned despite himself.
Shukaku preened, its tail swishing. "Yup! An upgrade to your eye, courtesy of me waking up. And your soul power? Shot up to 14. You're welcome, kid. I'm the best houseguest ever."
Arthev stared at his reflection in the black sea, the triple tomoe glinting like stars. "Three tomoe… and level 14. That's a leap."
He glanced at Shukaku, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You're full of surprises, tanuki. Guess I owe you one."
"Owe me?" Shukaku snorted, rolling onto its side with a splash. "Just don't bore me, Stunned Face. I'm stuck in here—least you can do is give me a good show."
Arthev nodded, focusing inward to test the Three Tomoe Shinragan. "Let's see what this can do."
He turned his gaze to the sea, letting the enhanced perception take over. The world sharpened—every ripple, every shift in the water's surface slowed to a crawl. He could predict the flow of currents, sense eddies beneath, even feel Shukaku's soul power pulsing in the air. *Enhanced perception,* he noted. *Tracks movement, reads intent. Far beyond two tomoe.*
He shifted, channeling soul power into his body. Vines and roots sprouted from his arms and torso, twisting and merging into a humanoid shape. The wood peeled away from him, forming a Wood Clone that stood beside him, its own three-tomoe eyes mirroring his. The process was seamless, like an extension of his own flesh, born directly from the body. Arthev sent the clone sprinting across the water, tracking its movements with his Shinragan. Every step, every twitch, unfolded in perfect clarity—he could've countered it blindfolded. Combat prediction's tighter, he thought. And… He focused, weaving a genjutsu that made the clone stumble, its soul power disrupted. *Genjutsu's stronger. I can paralyze weaker foes now.*
The clone recovered, and Arthev tested further, locking eyes to project an illusion—the sea rising to swallow it. The clone froze, reacting to the false threat. Illusion projection's improved, he noted. I can manipulate perceptions, not just confuse.He mimicked the clone's footwork, copying its movements with eerie precision. *Copying's sharper. I could replicate any movement after seeing it once.*
Satisfied, Arthev dismissed the clone, reabsorbing its memories—a splash of water, the disorientation of genjutsu. "Cheat code's one way to put it," he said dryly, glancing at Shukaku. "Perception, prediction, genjutsu, copying—all upgraded. This could've made that drake fight a joke."
"Drake?" Shukaku perked up, ears twitching. "You've been scrapping already? Spill, kid! What'd you fight? I want front-row seats next time!"
Arthev's smirk widened. "A shadow drake, must be above 800 years soul beast. Fast, tough, liked to hide in the dark. I used wood release to pin it, Shinragan to track it. Finished it with a soul skill through the heart. Messy, but effective."
Shukaku whistled, sand swirling in excitement. "Not bad, Stunned Face! A 800 years old drake? Next time, call me—I'll bring the popcorn."
"Popcorn, huh?" Arthev chuckled, deactivating his Shinragan. The crimson faded, leaving his dark eyes. "Next time, you'll get a seat. For now—" He paused, feeling a tug, a ripple in the mental scape. The sea darkened, and Shukaku's grin
faltered, its eyes darting to something behind Arthev.
Arthev turned, his hand twitching toward a nonexistent weapon. The void was empty, but the air felt heavier, as if something vast was stirring. "What was that?" he asked, his voice low, wary.
Shukaku's grin returned, but it was tighter. "Nothing… yet," it said, its tone vague. "Just a ripple, Stunned Face. Your tree spirit's got layers, and some are waking up. Don't worry about it—focus on not getting squashed."
Arthev's eyes narrowed, his mind flashing to his past life—the Ten-Tails, a monstrous tree-like entity tied to the tailed beasts.
'If Shukaku's the One-Tail, and my spirit's tied to a tree… could it be the Ten-Tails?' The thought sent a chill through him. It made too much sense—his wood release, Shukaku's presence, the cryptic hints.
"Layers, huh?" he said, his voice low. "You're not inspiring confidence, tanuki. If there's something else coming, give me a hint."
Shukaku chuckled, but there was caution in its eyes. "Relax, kid. Your tree's roots go deeper than you think, and I'm just the first branch. Keep climbing those soul master levels, and you'll see. For now, play with your new toys—sand, cloak, eyes. You've got enough to keep you busy."
Arthev held Shukaku's gaze, searching for more, but the tanuki gave nothing away. He nodded, stepping back. "Fine. I'll figure it out. But if something jumps out, I'm blaming you."
"Fair enough!" Shukaku laughed, its tail swishing as the void blurred, fading into light. "Go raise some hell, Stunned Face. I'll be watching."
As the mental scape dissolved, Arthev's mind lingered on that ripple, the weight of something unseen pressing against his soul. Shukaku, the Three Tomoe Shinragan, the masked red soul ring—it was just the beginning. If his tree spirit was tied to something as vast as the Ten-Tails, he'd face it head-on. He always did.