Ninja World: I, Kisame Hoshigaki, am no longer human!

"I don't quite understand why Kisame suddenly asked this," Katsuyu recalled.

"Indeed, most Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts are hostile to each other. However, as long as the Jinchuriki is strong enough and understands the Tailed Beast within him, the two can live in harmony and jointly control the human or Tailed Beast's body, thus unleashing a power greater than the sum of its parts. Such a person is called a perfect Jinchuriki."

Kisame said this while gazing at the live slug.

"Lord Kisame, what... do you want to say?" Katsuyu was startled, vaguely realizing the meaning behind Kisame's words.

"It's exactly what you think."

Kisame smiled slightly and proposed a bold idea to Katsuyu: "Since tailed beasts can have jinchūriki, why don't you consider finding a perfect jinchūriki for yourself? That way, you can reside in the body of a human ninja, share their body and chakra, and thus gain freedom."

He wasn't just daydreaming.

The essence of tailed beasts is chakra, while the majority of a slug's body is also formed from natural energy; there is no fundamental difference between the two.

In the original timeline, the most typical example of a perfect Jinchūriki was Killer Bee, who became close friends with the Eight-Tails within him. The two lived in harmony, shared a common sense, and could seamlessly switch between human and Eight-Tails forms.

Of all the tailed beasts, the Eight-Tails is probably the freest and happiest. It doesn't have to be sealed in a dark and sunless jar, and it can share life with Killer Bee and travel all over the ninja world.

Therefore, Kisame believed that live slugs could do the same.

It has to be said that Kisame's words stirred the slug's heart. After all, it had lived in Shikkotsu Forest for thousands of years; it would be a lie to say that it didn't yearn for freedom, or for the kaleidoscopic and beautiful human world outside.

But the biggest problem is—

"But who can become my jinchūriki?" the slug murmured.

Its power, like its mountain-like body, was simply immense. As a transcendent being that had lived on this planet for thousands of years, long before the Kaguya era, the amount of chakra within the Slug Sage was in no way inferior to that of the Nine-Tails at its peak.

The Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki is Naruto Uzumaki, who is the reincarnation of Ashura's chakra and possesses a naturally born Sage Body.

Similarly, the jinchūriki of the live slug must also be a sage body to withstand its enormous chakra, otherwise it would probably be burst apart.

Such people are extremely rare, even in the entire ninja world.

Kisame could have been one; his body wasn't just a Sage Body, it surpassed it, perfectly capable of containing the chakra of a live slug. Unfortunately, he had already abandoned his human body and transformed into a Kun. With his current human body and shadow clone, it's impossible for him to become a live slug jinchūriki.

Aside from Kisame, Nagato would be the most suitable candidate. However, Nagato and the Ryuchi Cave behind him are Kisame and Katsuyu's greatest enemies, making him even less likely to fit the bill.

In this way, it seems that only one candidate remains.

Tsunade.

At that moment, both Kisame and Katsuyu simultaneously recalled the blonde woman with twin ponytails and a voluptuous figure as she walked.

If it were Tsunade from the past or the original timeline, she definitely wouldn't be qualified to become a Living Slug Jinchuriki. But the current Tsunade, after transplanting Hashirama's cells and successfully learning the Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode, has undergone a primal mutation in her bloodline, making her infinitely close to Hashirama Senju's Sage Body.

Her body could probably fit the entire body of a live slug.

Moreover, Tsunade had already signed a summoning contract with Katsuyu. Through years of daily interaction and fighting side by side, they had become very familiar with each other's personalities and got along very well.

In this case, Tsunade has a high probability of becoming a "perfect Jinchūriki". Once her own power is combined with the chakra of the live slug, her strength will inevitably increase dramatically again.

At that time, even Kisame might not be able to outdo her anymore.

Kisame and Katsuyu discussed the possibility of Tsunade being chosen.

"No, the risk is still too great. Besides, even if there were no risk, I don't want to put Lady Tsunade in a difficult position."

The live slug finally said the same thing.

To let a live slug enter your body, to share a body with it, and even to share your future life.

Such a thing is ultimately too bizarre. Even if Tsunade and Katsuyu have a good relationship, it's unlikely that she could make a decision and accept it readily in a short time.

"No rush, we can take our time. It was just a sudden thought of mine, something I mentioned casually."

Kisame smiled and comforted the live slug.

In fact, if he had done his best, persuading Tsunade while developing sealing techniques with the slugs, and if all else failed, he could have asked Orochimaru to help with the research, he would most likely have been able to make this happen.

At that time, the live slug can break free from the cage of Shikkotsu Forest and regain its freedom. Moreover, Kirigakure will gain another powerful fighter who is no less than Kisame.

The problem is that the live slug is the "woman" that Kisame has his eye on, the soulmate he has vowed to pursue and spend his life with.

To be objective, Tsunade and Kisame were at least sworn enemies, even if they weren't exactly irreconcilable.

If that woman really becomes a live slug jinchūriki, sharing a body and life with the live slug, wouldn't that mean that Kisame's object of affection becomes Tsunade?

He would never do something that would dig a hole for himself.

Tsunade is the most difficult type of woman to deal with. Although she has the beauty and figure that all men would covet, she is extremely strong-willed and independent, which makes people hesitant to approach her. If you try to force your way in, the most likely result is that you will be beaten half to death by her, just like Jiraiya.

That's why she became an older single woman.

Not to mention, Tsunade and Kisame had a lot of personal grudges. Every time they met, they would either argue or get physical, and Kisame almost always came out on top, which made Tsunade hate him to the core.

Under such circumstances, if Tsunade were asked to lend her body to a slug so it could date Kisame or even do something more indescribable, she would absolutely fly into a rage and would never agree to it.

Considering all of the above, Kisame thought it over and decided against it. He wouldn't even mention the matter of finding a Jinchuriki for the live slug in front of Tsunade.

Ten minutes later.

Kisame bid farewell to the live slug and used the teleportation array in Shikkotsu Forest to return to Kirigakure.

Instead of going home immediately, he opened the Chest of Bliss and released Garuda and her children.

"Where is this? And who... are you?"

Karura looked around, then looked up at the tall Kisame, realizing that he was the one who had appeared at the Loulan ruins earlier and sucked her into the mysterious space.

The man before her had now shed his disguise, revealing his true self in a sharp blue suit.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Kisame Hoshigaki, the Fifth Mizukage. The village in front of you is naturally Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village)."

Kisame smiled slightly and introduced himself.

"!"

Upon hearing this, Galuro was immediately shocked, his indigo eyes widening in astonishment.

"I regret to inform you that your plan to find the Loulan Dragon Vein and use its power to take revenge on Nagato and Amegakure has failed."

As Karura was shocked by Kisame's identity, he continued, "As you know, Yura is an undercover agent from Amegakure. He told Nagato about your plan. A great battle took place in the main hall at the bottom of that underground passage. In the end, the dragon broke the seal and escaped, becoming ownerless. Maki and the others were all killed by the enemy, with none surviving. Even I had a shadow clone killed by Nagato, and I managed to escape with you and your children."

After hearing Kisame's words, Karura took a long time to come to her senses.

She tightly embraced Temari and Kankuro with both arms, and hesitantly asked Kisame, "What... do you want?"

"take it easy."

Kisame spread his hands and truthfully stated his thoughts, "I just see that you are an orphan and a widow, helpless in this world, so I plan to take you in. It's up to you whether you're willing or not."

Upon hearing this, Karura remained silent for a long while, then took one last look at her two crying, hungry children, touched her protruding belly, and let out a long sigh.

Where else could she go?

212. Returning to the Village

Thinking about this...

Karura accepted her and her children's fate. After all, as the last exiles of Sunagakure, surviving was already quite an achievement.

If the mother and her two children had been captured by the Rain Village or were left to wander the streets, their situation would have been far more miserable than it is now.

"Lord Kisame, thank you for taking me in. I will train these three children to become excellent ninjas, so that they can serve you when they grow up."

She voluntarily swore allegiance to Kisame.

"very good."

Kisame nodded in satisfaction, appreciating Karura's attitude, and promised, "Don't worry, you and your child will live a peaceful and happy life in Kirigakure. Now, come with me."

After saying this, he walked over to Karura, stretched out his arms, picked up Temari and Kankuro respectively, and then turned and walked towards Kirigakure.

Considering that Karura was a heavily pregnant woman, Kisame walked slowly to make sure she could keep up with him, and occasionally reminded her to watch her step.

A warm feeling welled up in Garuda's heart.

Although she had only known Kisame for a short time, the little details he showed in his speech and actions made her feel that he was a warm, considerate man who thought of others.

"Um... Lord Kisame, have you seen Queen Sara of Loulan underground? Did she... also die there?"

During their walk, Karura suddenly spoke up and asked Kisame a question.

The ninjas of Sunagakure kidnapped Sara in their attempt to seize the Dragon Vein, ultimately dragging the Queen of Loulan into the conflict and causing her death.

Although Karura didn't order or direct this incident, she was, after all, the widow of the Fourth Kazekage. If she had stopped Maki and the others earlier, she could have done so, but she didn't.

The thought filled Gallo with regret and guilt.

"I almost forgot if you hadn't mentioned it."

Upon hearing this, Kisame stopped and put the two children down from his arms.

Then, he opened the Chest of Elysium again and released Sarah.

"Ugh...am I...dead?"

Sarah lay on the ground, her long red hair disheveled, and she opened her eyes groggily.

She recalled how, under pressure from the Sand Village ninja, she had opened the seal on the underground dragon vein for them. However, she was unable to control the rampaging power of the dragon vein and collapsed to the ground, falling into a semi-conscious state.

Her last memory was of the dragon vein erupting with a dazzling pillar of light that devoured everything underground, and she... it seemed that someone used a thread to entangle her and drag her away from the range of the pillar of light, which is why she survived.

Just then, a large hand reached out in front of Sara. It was Kisame who bent down and pulled her up from the ground.

"I told you, I'm here to help you. Now you should believe me, right?" Kisame said to her with a smile.

"You saved me? You are... the person who appeared in the park!"

Sara stared at Kisame. Although his appearance was different from before, his tall and burly figure and his voice remained unchanged.

Then she saw Karura standing to the side, and her brows furrowed immediately, radiating intense hostility.

“I’m sorry, Queen of Loulan. I apologize to you again…” Galuro, supporting her large belly, bent down with difficulty and bowed to Sara.

“What exactly is going on?” Sarah asked coldly.

"Let me speak."

Kisame walked over, helped Karura up, and recounted the events that had transpired in the underground palace. The vanished dragon veins, Team 7 from the future, the massive multi-party battle—Sarah listened, dumbfounded.

"Thank... thank you for saving me." Finally, she came to her senses and thanked Kisame.