Two slugs

Although Takara was eager to capture Utakata, he patiently waited to finish the adaptation process of his body and the digestion of Katsuyu's clone, so he limited himself to monitoring the jinchuriki and working on the puppets, taking advantage of being able to move again.

Several days later...

"I didn't expect the body adaptation to also help me gain so much flexibility," said Takara as he flexed his body in a way that a circus contortionist would envy.

The surface of his back also gained the same colored lines as Katsuyu.

"Besides adapting your body to natural energy, you've also gained flexibility, considerable resistance to acids, and a slight increase in natural regeneration, among other things," commented Katsuyu, seeing that there was nothing unexpected in the last few days.

"Resistance to acids will come in handy," nodded Takara.

"Will you need my help to deal with that man?" asked Katsuyu, referring to Utakata.

Takara took a moment to consider it.

Saiken is essentially a slug with six tails, capable of generating both sticky liquids and highly alkaline corrosive gases, capable even of damaging the skin of a tailed beast. The reason Utakata has a bubble-based style is precisely because of his chakra.

"I don't think it'll be necessary, but I'll call you if needed."

Katsuyu's clone nodded and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Takara glanced again at the images on the screen transmitted by his toxin.

"With my new acid resistance along with my bandages, his corrosive techniques aren't as dangerous, and due to his history, he has many flaws in his ninja training. Even after becoming 'free,' he spends most of his time acting like a vagabond. He hasn't trained even once since I started observing him."

Utakata is a rogue ninja from Kirigakure limited to water ninjutsu and soap bubble ninjutsu. Ironically, for the latter, he's heavily reliant on the special bubble blower he carries with him to successfully launch his bubble techniques.

Not only because it's forged from a special resistant material but also because his chakra control is rough. If he takes away that tool, the only water ninjutsu he'll be able to launch will be like the Furious Waves technique he would teach Hotaru in the future.

"How should I approach him?" Takara wondered.

He couldn't just do the trick with the door under his feet; Utakata has the Floating Bubble technique, and considering he was active during the Bloody Mist period, it's likely his reaction would be better.

The scarecrow and the fear toxin weren't viable either; the Bubble Dome technique could easily block its effect, and it might make Utakata think that Kirigakure's Anbu were after him, causing him to flee and hide once again.

Indeed, now that he thought about it, Utakata had a fifty-million-ryo bounty on his head. It's a pity he can't collect it without alerting Akatsuki, essentially telling them that a jinchuriki has fled.

"He's a jinchuriki, and I think he got along with his biju, so I can't put him to sleep with Lala's musical genjutsu," Takara reviewed his current puppet list. "I still haven't remade Toph, although I don't think I would use her in this situation. I need something to restrict his combat style..."

"He's mostly a ranged fighter, so Type Zero Yoriichi won't be effective. Not to mention that I haven't finished renovating it, and it's not ready yet."

"Should I make a Legolas to deal with his bubbles with the bow?"

The bow seemed so... unnecessary when he could make a puppet with a machine gun.

"No, it seems like I already have something I could use to counter him..." Takara realized that he didn't need to complicate things so much.

He could simply make more Haku puppets, bring in some people from the surrounding area to give them life energy, and once they were ready, he could use Ice Release to completely counter Utakata's combat style.

No matter if it's acid, sticky liquid, slime, or water, once frozen, they're just sitting targets to kick and break.

"I should consider creating a sealing formation using ice ninjutsu, so he can't enter the tailed beast cloak state and cause a commotion."

Takara knew that Utakata could use that cloak to deal with the Tsuchigumo clan's kinjutsu, so he couldn't allow him to reach that state.

He looked at the screen and sighed; it seems that the jinchuriki will be able to enjoy a few more days of carefree life.