Chapter 32: Second Cheat Activated

Chapter 32: Second Cheat Activated

"Big Kitty! Guess what? I mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu today! We're one step closer to our goal!"

Tonari bolted straight to the barrier, practically bouncing with excitement.

On the other side of the seal, the Two-Tails watched the boy approach without fear. In fact, the more time they spent together, the closer Tonari seemed to get—both physically and emotionally.

Between them, the barrier was the only thing left standing. This final, symbolic divide still seemed insurmountable.

The past two weeks had brought remarkable growth for Tonari, just as the Two-Tails' injuries had nearly healed.

Despite being strong enough to break free, the Two-Tails hesitated. Why hadn't it already shattered the seal and escaped?

Perhaps Tonari's words about "freedom" stirred something deep within, kindling a flicker of hope.

Perhaps it was something else entirely.

Either way, the Two-Tails remained, watching its captor—no, its host—with a mixture of curiosity and resignation.

Besides, the Two-Tails reasoned, even if it managed to break the seal, it was in Konoha. The village's many powerful shinobi could simply re-imprison it.

It lazily flicked its tail, muttering under its breath, "And this ridiculous nickname… Big Kitty… it's actually starting to grow on me."

---

"Not bad," the Two-Tails finally said, its piercing gaze fixed on Tonari. "You've improved your physical endurance. You should be able to handle a portion of my chakra now."

The Two-Tails' deep voice resonated within the sealed chamber.

Tonari's tireless training had earned the bijuu's reluctant approval.

His decision to focus on taijutsu over ninjutsu was deliberate, rooted in practicality. Tonari vividly remembered his first encounter with the beast's chakra—its overwhelming force had nearly killed him.

Back then, he'd barely lasted a minute before he was forced to stop, his body on the verge of collapse.

His current training wasn't just about strengthening his body—it was about survival. He needed to endure the ferocity of the Two-Tails' chakra and harness it as his own.

"Come closer," the Two-Tails growled, extending its massive, clawed paw toward the barrier.

Tonari hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, his fingers brushing against the translucent seal.

The Two-Tails' paw stopped just shy of his own. A single movement, and it could crush the boy or release its wrath upon the village.

Instead, its voice softened—just barely.

"Feel my true power. Let's see how much you can take."

Tonari's eyes lit up with anticipation as he pressed his hand against the barrier.

In that instant, the Two-Tails' chakra surged forward, enveloping him in a brilliant blue aura streaked with black.

---

The world shifted.

Tonari found himself standing in an endless, desolate plain.

Before him loomed a colossal beast—its fur a mesmerizing blend of blue and black. Its mere presence seemed to distort the world, as if it were the axis upon which everything turned.

The Two-Tails raised its head and let out an earth-shattering roar. The skies above were cleaved in two—half shrouded in dark clouds, the other bathed in radiant sunlight.

The beast opened its massive jaws, and a swirling orb of black energy began to coalesce between its teeth.

With a deafening roar, the Two-Tails unleashed the attack. The energy ball struck the ground, triggering an explosion that tore the landscape apart. A yawning chasm split the earth in two, mirroring the divided sky.

Tonari stood in stunned silence, his senses overwhelmed.

This was power.

Raw. Unyielding. Absolute.

---

The vision faded as quickly as it had come, and Tonari found himself back in the familiar confines of the sealed chamber.

The Two-Tails, however, was visibly trembling, its fur bristling as it suppressed its laughter.

"What's so funny?" Tonari demanded, his tone betraying his unease.

The bijuu's gaze shifted to his hands, where a strange, semi-transparent aura had formed.

Encasing his hands were glowing, ethereal "paws," crafted entirely from chakra. The pale blue constructs resembled a cat's claws, with faint black streaks adding a menacing edge.

As if that weren't enough, Tonari reached up and felt…

Cat ears.

Two glowing chakra ears perched atop his head.

"No tails," he muttered, craning his neck to check. "At least there's that."

The Two-Tails couldn't hold it in anymore. It erupted into hysterical laughter, rolling onto its back and clutching its stomach.

"Hahaha! You… You look ridiculous! Hahaha!"

"...Not funny," Tonari grumbled, crossing his arms.

For the first time, he understood how the bijuu must've felt during his terrible joke-telling sessions.

"Enough!" he snapped, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.

---

Eventually, the Two-Tails composed itself, though its whiskers still twitched with mirth.

"Alright, listen," it began, its tone more serious. "This is the most chakra your body can handle right now. It's a start, but there's room for improvement. The longer you train, the more of my power you'll be able to wield."

Tonari nodded, his embarrassment fading as he examined his new form.

On his chest, a single black magatama floated, its inky depths pulsing faintly with energy.

"Not bad," he mused.

He flexed his legs experimentally, and then—

In a blur, he moved from one side of the chamber to the other.

"Woah," he whispered. "That speed…"

He turned back to the Two-Tails, a grin spreading across his face.

"Alright," he declared, his confidence surging. "Who's next?"

Today, he'd gained not one, but two cheats.

He felt invincible.

---

(End of Chapter)