Unlike the two immature loudmouths, Ichibi and Kurama, Killer Bee is the embodiment of discipline and control. He's the ideal jinchūriki—strong, level-headed, and second only to the Raikage in Yunokagure when it comes to raw power.
The Fourth Raikage, A, didn't understand the mechanics of this so-called "Answering Space," especially how it forcibly separated jinchūriki from their tailed beasts. But one thing was certain: if Gyūki and Bee were split, the combat capability of Cloud Village would take a nosedive.
Fortunately, what happened next made his heart settle.
Killer Bee's chakra surged and changed. His usual demeanor shifted. His eyes turned upward—first going stark white, then pitch-black as if dipped in ink.
"Gyūki...?" Kurama muttered, narrowing his gaze.
The Nine-Tails could immediately sense the Eight-Tails' presence, his massive chakra signature like thunder rumbling from across the battlefield. Kurama's fur bristled as his eyes flicked toward the Purple Team's side.
"Oi, runt. Rest if you're tired. Don't overdo it," Kurama said lazily. Though the words were aimed at Gaara, the true recipient was Shukaku, the One-Tail sealed inside him.
Predictably, Shukaku snapped back with indignation. "You damn fox! Even if this kid beats me for a whole year, it won't leave a scratch!"
Kurama bared his fangs in a smirk. Loud as ever, that sand raccoon. But deep down, he could tell—Shukaku was close to breaking. The embarrassment of being manhandled in public wasn't just humiliating; it was soul-crushing.
Once upon a time, Kurama would've gloated. Now? He was just grateful. Grateful he'd been "tamed" earlier.
From the center of the room, the mighty Eight-Tails—Gyūki—took a moment to assess the space. His massive chakra was calm but commanding. His gaze flicked to each of the tailed beasts, then landed on Shukaku, who was still being pinned.
Despite being pounded, Shukaku was still ranting, unaffected physically, but clearly ruffled emotionally.
"This space… it's special," Gyūki said calmly. "You'll figure it out soon. I came out for one reason: don't act recklessly here."
Before either Kurama or Shukaku could interject with the usual bravado, Gyūki's tone dropped. A low rumble of warning followed.
"Look at the man in the center," Gyūki said. "His eyes. Those eyes. This dimension holds the power to destroy even us."
Kirabi's chakra receded, his body shifting back to normal as he regained control.
"Those eyes…" Kurama's voice dropped.
Shukaku, dizzy from all the sand-filled beatdowns, couldn't focus, but Kurama had locked onto the target: Nagato.
The Rinnegan.
Kurama's expression twisted in recognition. Those are the Sage's eyes…
The Nine-Tails immediately retracted into Naruto's consciousness, resting atop his host's head like a cat pretending to sleep. But there was no peace in him—just wariness.
So that's why Gyūki spoke up. Kurama had scoffed at first. But now?
Here, in this strange space, something could obliterate them. Truly erase their existence.
Normally, tailed beasts—being masses of chakra—could not die. Even if scattered, their essence would reform over time, like the eternal tides. But this…
This was different.
And the Rinnegan—those eyes of divine judgment—belonged to Nagato.
Kurama narrowed his gaze further. No wonder he could extract me without killing Naruto. No wonder…
If he truly possesses the Sage's power… then anything is possible.
The Nine-Tails laid still, watching Shukaku's reaction with a mix of schadenfreude and dread.
---
Meanwhile, Nagato looked down at the small card in his hand. His brows furrowed.
This exam space had been erratic so far—erratic, yet strangely forgiving. No punishments?
Could it be that this was a bonus round?
Suppressing his doubts, he looked up at the crowd still caught in stunned silence, and read aloud:
> "Red Team, please answer: Who is the Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly. All eyes swung toward the Yellow Team—Sand Village's contingent.
Already...?
It hadn't been long since the Fourth Kazekage died. Was this how fast Sand was moving?
"Wait, wait, don't tell me… is the exam space choosing the next Kazekage for them?" someone muttered.
"This is wild. We don't even know if they've had time to nominate anyone!"
"Weren't there rumors the Fourth didn't even have a named successor?"
"Heh… this could get real messy."
A murmur of schadenfreude ran through the crowd. In the shinobi world, news traveled fast—especially from the Answering Space. Entire economies shifted to accommodate the chaos, especially the casinos.
---
In one such gambling den…
"New question! Place your bets!" The casino owner stood on a tall platform, shouting to the bustling crowd below.
Seven tables stood beneath him, each draped in cloth of different colors, representing the answer teams.
"Place your chips! Red team answers! Seven-to-one odds they fail! Yellow team is even money—double if they win. Let's go, let's go!"
Wagers were flung like shuriken. Purses dropped, scribes scribbled, records kept. Yellow cloth took most of the weight, but a few gutsy gamblers spread out.
Eyes locked on the main viewing scroll.
---
Elsewhere, in Konoha, the atmosphere wasn't so jovial.
The two elder advisors of the Hokage, along with Danzo, exchanged glances.
They knew this game.
When Minato Namikaze died, they'd orchestrated the transition like puppet masters. Now, with the Fourth Kazekage gone—and no sign of Sarutobi Hiruzen—it looked like another regime change was on the horizon.
Danzo's thoughts raced.
Tsunade? She's unstable. Easy to disqualify.
Jiraiya? Irresponsible. Ill-suited.
That left… him.
This exam space—this divine intervention—was Danzo's chance.
A Hokage born from wartime. Not out of popularity, but necessity.
Thank you, Answering Space…
Danzo felt the opportunity coursing through him.
It was time to move.
To appease public opinion. To show decisive leadership. To take control.
He turned to a nervous Root member behind him.
"You," he snapped. "Answer: Who is the Fifth Kazekage of Sunagakure?"
The Root agent froze. Beads of sweat rolled down his face. He'd already sensed Danzo's decision—he would not live long, regardless of the outcome.
Trembling, he stepped forward.
"If… if I may speak, Danzo-sama said—" he gulped, heart pounding, "—that the answer is… Sunagakure's… Chiyo-sama!"
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