Chapter 318 - Cap 296: Be strong Brother

A deep silence invaded the place while the Kage or their representatives finished listening to Kurama's story.

"Are you saying that we will now face a beast capable of bringing about the end of the world? - asked A as his expression changed to a serious one. He would not lie, he was terrified at the news of such a beast, although now that explained why Akatsuki was looking for the Bijuu.

"Now I feel much worse for not helping Han-san and Roshi-san," murmured Onoki's secretary as he sighed regretfully.

Ao was only silent because he also felt bad that he couldn't help his Jinchuriki.

Kurama shook his head when he saw the situation. What was done and there was no way to change it no matter how much they were now regretting it.

"What do you think will happen now that the Jubi has returned?" - Kakashi asked seriously.

"I do not doubt that Madara will try to become its Jinchuriki" - answered Kurama seriously as the expression of all present changed to one of absolute terror. If Madara was already dangerous, they did not want to imagine what it would be like with the Beast of the Apocalypse sealed inside him.

"That's bad news," said A as a cold sweat ran down his back. "We have to stop it at any cost!"

The other Kages nodded at these words because they didn't want to see this happen for anything in the world.

"Anyway, now we only have to fight," said Kurama seriously. "Go back to your bases and announce that we will soon enter the battlefield with our lives at stake, everyone who does not dare to fight should leave immediately because if they escape on the battlefield, it will only lower our morale".

The Kage nodded when they heard this because they were thinking the same thing. It was better to get rid of the weakest links as soon as possible so that they would not affect the overall performance of the Allied army.

Kurama watched in silence as the leaders of the large villages retreated, leaving him alone with Gaara.

"Do you need anything, brother?" - asked Kurama as he raised an eyebrow.

"He doesn't, but I do," said Shukaku as he appeared beside the redhead.

". . ." - Kurama gave Gaara a look, then Shukaku before nodding.

"Don't get into trouble, Shukaku," said Gaara before he left.

"Tch, how can you talk like that to the great Ore-sama" - murmured Shukaku while he clicked his tongue in irritation - "Treating me like a child or a pet...".

"At least you can see that your relationship with your 'jailer' has evolved positively," said Kurama with a smile.

"He's not my jailer... he's my friend" - answered Shukaku in a low voice, only to sigh with regret - "Anyway, we'd better go to a quieter side because we have a lot to talk about"

Kurama nodded when he heard this, so he took Shukaku and sat him on his shoulder, only to disappear in a red flash.

When they reappeared, Shukaku realized that they were in one of the mountains near the base of operations - "I continue to be surprised at how useful this Human Jutsu is... and at the same time I have to say that I am jealous of your new abilities... multiplying, teleporting, are abilities that many of us would kill to have".

Kurama said nothing in response, he just looked up at the dark sky full of stars.

"OK, let's get straight to the point," said Shukaku as he jumped off the redhead's shoulder, "Tell me, brother... Have you come to a decision yet?"

"What do you mean? - asked Kurama with a scowl.

"Don't play the fool with me, you know very well what I am talking about," said Shukaku seriously.

". . ." - Kurama's expression changed from a pale one to one of absolute seriousness as a deep silence invaded the place.

"I see that you have tried to postpone your decision as long as possible..." - sighed Shukaku as he shook his head - "And you call me an idiot..."

Kurama could only sigh in response to the words of his younger brother - "You are right, I have not wanted to reach an answer because I am afraid..."

"That is the worst consequence that human emotions have on us, the Bijuu" - responded Shukaku with a scowl - "I know that Tousan created us with this capacity so that we could empathize with humans, but this is a curse for us who are immortal, more so for you who are half Ningen (Human)"

". . ." - Kurama was silent when he heard this. A small part of him was telling him not to go on, to go away as soon as possible because if he continued on this path, it would be a weight he would be carrying for all eternity, but at the same time his heart was telling him to continue, to see the end of the road to conclude this long journey.

"If I am suffering from the possible loss of my new best friend, I don't want to imagine what you must be going through," said Shukaku as he looked at his brother with concern. "You could even say that I am the father of that ginger idiot, after all, it was my skills that protected him all these years along with the will of his real mother"

"I see that your relationship with Gaara is much deeper than I thought," responded Kurama with a smile.

"Don't tell Gaara, but a fragment of his mother's soul is inside the seal, watching over his safety and smiling at how he has changed for the better," replied Shukaku as he shook his head.

"That's something he should know," said Kurama earnestly. "As far as I know, Gaara has never been able to meet his mother"

"I know, but there's a problem," Shukaku said seriously, "Her soul is too weak because of that horrible seal they used to lock me up inside Gaara when he was still developing inside her"

Kurama frowned when he heard this, though inside he was grateful that the subject had changed so dramatically. He would admit it, he was being cowardly, but he would accept the insult with open arms as long as he could have a little more time to think about a possible solution.

"Do you think you can help her?" - asked Shukaku as he looked at his older brother.

"I suppose I could try, although to do, so I would need a way to get Gaara's mother's soul out of the seal," replied Kurama as he pondered a possible solution, only to frown in annoyance because there was no clear way to do so. He could use the [Shinigami no Kamen], but that would only end up with the woman's soul in the Shinigami's stomach.

"OK, I think that's enough for now," said Shukaku as he shook his head. "If you can, I ask you to help her... she needs to spend time with her children... by the way, I recommend you think about what we talked about, after all, immortality is not a blessing, but a curse"

That said, Shukaku disappeared in a smokescreen, leaving Kurama completely static. It seemed that Shukaku had changed the subject because he had noticed that he was not ready for the answer.

Kurama was silent for a few seconds before he let out a heavy sigh. He could feel a huge weight falling on his shoulders as he looked in the direction of the tent where all the girls of his clan should be - "Maybe... maybe I should think things over, more so now that we are about to fight the Jubi...

Kurama started to think for a few seconds before shaking his head - "No... I better do it later... now I have to concentrate on much more important matters..."

* * * * *

Obito was on the floor breathing heavily while watching the fully revived Madara.

"This is perfect... my body feels as it should, without any discomfort in my movements" - Madara murmured as he burst out laughing - "Good job, Uchiha Obito-kun..."

". . ." - Obito was only silent because he sincerely could not do anything to resist the exhaustion he was feeling at the moment.

"Well, I think it's time for us to start..." - said Madara seriously as he walked in the direction of the huge sleeping beast.

Obito just watched in silence with his Rinnegan as Madara tore off a part of the flesh from his side, only to put a fragment of the Jubi's body in its place.

This was the method Zetsu had told him, transplanting some of the Jubi's flesh into his body to increase its compatibility as Jinchuriki.

Madara slowly felt his heart begin to pound, only to feel his eyes begin to grow heavy.

"Perfect... now we just have to wait for his body to adapt to the Jubi chakra, so we can start the sealing process" - said Zetsu with a huge smile - "With that, our plan will enter its final phase..."