Chapter 48: Six-Tails Jinchuriki Utakata  

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As Sasuke's hand ignited with blue-black flames, the six-tailed beast within Utakata stirred. "It's the two-tailed beast," the Six-Tails murmured.

Utakata looked at Sasuke in surprise, his eyes widening. "You're a Jinchuriki too!?"

There was a deep sense of relief and astonishment in Utakata's voice. When two Jinchuriki meet, there's an unspoken bond, a shared understanding of their burdens.

Sasuke nodded, acknowledging the connection. His own status as a Jinchuriki made Utakata feel an unexpected kinship toward him.

"Take me away from the Hidden Mist Village," Sasuke requested, his voice steady but tinged with urgency.

Confusion clouded Utakata's eyes. He had never left the Hidden Mist since childhood. "Where would we go after leaving the village?" he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

"The world is vast, Utakata. There's more to life than just the Hidden Mist Village," Sasuke replied, his gaze firm.

Utakata nodded slowly, processing Sasuke's words. He blew a large bubble that enveloped both of them, lifting them into the air as they drifted toward the mainland.

As they floated away, Sasuke glanced at Utakata, his eyes reflecting a mix of helplessness, sorrow, and confusion.

It was a look familiar to most Jinchuriki, except for perhaps Killer Bee, who had found acceptance in his village.

The rest, however, had been shunned, abused, and burdened with the villagers' scorn.

Sasuke was determined to recruit Utakata. As the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata had a strong affinity with his tailed beast.

In his half-transformed state, Utakata had even managed to defeat two of Pain's Six Paths—the Human Path and the Hungry Ghost Path—proving his formidable strength.

Such a feat was rare in the ninja world.

Sasuke knew that recruiting a Jinchuriki was not difficult; all it took was reaching out to their hearts and offering the "love" they had long been deprived of.

After leaving the Hidden Mist Village, they landed in a forest. Sasuke recognized it from his memories as part of the Land of Fire.

"I don't even know your name," Sasuke said, turning to Utakata.

"Utakata. And you?" he replied.

"Sasuke."

Sasuke extended an invitation to Utakata to join his cause, but Utakata hesitated. He looked at Sasuke with lingering doubt.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "But I prefer to be free, like a bird."

Without another word, Utakata turned and left, his bubble carrying him away.

In the peaceful Land of Fire, Utakata lay within his bubble, breathing in the fresh forest air, listening to the babbling stream, and watching birds soar in the sky.

"Why didn't I go with Sasuke?" Utakata suddenly wondered, his stomach growling in hunger. Having been confined his entire life, Utakata lacked the skills to survive in the wild.

But even this hunger was better than enduring the disdain of the Hidden Mist villagers and being accused of crimes he hadn't committed.

At that moment, he heard the unmistakable sound of weapons slicing through the air. Shurikens, laced with explosive tags, came hurtling toward him.

Utakata cursed inwardly. "Even after leaving the village, you won't let me go?"

"Of all the rogue ninjas from Hidden Mist, why only chase after me?" he thought bitterly.

The leader of the Hidden Mist's pursuit team snarled, "You're the Six-Tails Jinchuriki! You can die, but we'll take the Six-Tails!"

Utakata had no choice but to defend himself. He took out his bubble blower, releasing a barrage of shimmering bubbles that shielded him as he tried to escape. But the pursuit team was relentless.

"I don't want to kill anymore!" Utakata pleaded, his voice trembling.

The Six-Tails inside him responded sternly, "But if you don't, they will kill you! Mercy will only be your undoing!"

As the chasing ninja team prepared to launch their ninjutsu, a shuriken grazed Utakata's shoulder, poisoning him. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he struggled to stay conscious.

"Water Style—Water Dragon Jutsu!"

"Water Style—Water Severing Wave!"

A torrent of water-based attacks surged toward Utakata, who, in desperation, blew out a field of bubbles.

The bubbles, now infused with the Six-Tails' power, turned pitch black with sulfuric acid, dissolving the incoming attacks and enveloping the pursuers.

Within moments, the Hidden Mist ninja team was reduced to nothing, their bodies dissolved by the potent acid.

Utakata had wiped out the entire pursuit team, a sign that his conflict with the Hidden Mist Village had reached a point of no return.

But the poison coursing through his veins sapped his strength. His vision blurred as he collapsed to the ground, the last thing he saw being a flash of yellow hair...

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''Three Days Later''

When Utakata finally regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a soft bed. A faint, pleasant fragrance lingered in the air, something he couldn't quite place but found comforting.

As the door creaked open, sunlight spilled into the room, illuminating the figure of a girl standing in the doorway. Her beautiful face and bright smile made Utakata's heart race.

"I'm glad you're awake!" the girl said cheerfully, her voice filled with warmth.

Utakata struggled to find the words. "I..."

His stomach interrupted him with a loud growl. The girl chuckled, "You must be hungry. I'll make you something to eat!"

A short while later, she returned with a steaming bowl of noodles. It was a simple dish, but to Utakata, it was the most delicious meal he'd ever had.

As he ate ravenously, the girl smiled and said, "Don't worry, there's plenty more."

She crouched beside him, watching him eat with a gentle smile on her face. Utakata couldn't help but notice how pretty she was.

After finishing his meal, the girl reached for the bowl, but as she stood up, she slipped and fell against Utakata. His face flushed with embarrassment as he found himself inches away from her.

Having been isolated in Kirigakure, Utakata had never experienced such close contact. The girl rubbed her ankle, then looked up at him, noticing his red face.

A mischievous smile played on her lips. "Why are you blushing? Could it be...you're still a pure virgin?"

Utakata turned his head away, too embarrassed to meet her gaze.

"You haven't told me your name yet," she said, breaking the silence.

As she started to leave with the bowl, Utakata's soft voice called after her, "Utakata."

The girl paused at the door, smiling brightly. "I'm Sakura," she replied before leaving the room.

(Note: Not same Sakura as Sakura Haruno)

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