The rainy night air carried a tension like electric currents.
Shiroishi watched the egg emitting purple light, clearly sensing the rhythm of life within it.
Crack
A soft sound came from the eggshell's surface.
Cracks spread rapidly like a spiderweb.
Each fracture carried a faint yet powerful pulse.
The next moment, the eggshell completely shattered, releasing a mist-like energy.
From within the glow, a small figure gradually emerged.
Its appearance was completely different from any Ninja Beast seen before - humanoid in shape with a somewhat rounded body covered in fine metallic scales.
It had a disproportionately large head with three tubular Poison Needles extending from the top,
the central one noticeably thicker and sharper than the other two, emitting a cold metallic gleam.
Shiroishi's pupils slightly contracted.
The structure of the Chakra Wave was extremely complex, carrying both the corrosive aura of the Poison Attribute and a strange, hidden draconic power.
A needle-type Ninja Beast, currently with the Poison Attribute.
[Host compatibility confirmed - Shiroishi (Poipole)]
[Skill activated: Poison Jab]
Poipole? And... a Shiny Form?
The little creature's entire body was silver-white, its scales reflecting soft light under the illumination,
appearing more cold and mysterious compared to the original purple coloration.
The silver color replaced the poisonous hue without diminishing the dangerous power within its body,
instead making it appear even more enigmatic.
A Shiny Form Ultra Beast.
Could this color variation be due to absorbing White Zetsu?
Before Shiroishi could ponder further, the little creature before him let out a cheerful cry.
"Eee-eee!"
The voice carried innocence and liveliness,
It shook its large head, the three Poison Needles trembling along,
then without hesitation, puffed up its head and dove straight into Shiroishi's embrace.
Shiroishi was momentarily stunned, then couldn't help but laugh.
The slight impact was painless yet carried obvious affection.
The little creature looked up at him, its eyes reflecting light as if confirming Shiroishi was its Breeder.
Eevee nearby saw everything clearly.
It gently swished its tail, gracefully stepping back two paces,
politely making space for the new companion,
even specifically lowering its head to nod at Poipole as a welcoming gesture.
Jiraiya watched this scene from the side and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
"Your Eevee... this isn't just ordinary obedience, this is being almost too understanding."
He scratched his chin, marveling that even its emotional intelligence was so high - practically more sensible than many humans.
Shiroishi chuckled lightly without responding.
Although Jiraiya was already accustomed to the high intelligence of such Ninja Beasts, Eevee's recent behavior wasn't just about intelligence - its emotional intelligence was remarkably outstanding too.
He turned to look at his Mudkip still resting on his shoulder.
The latter was squinting its eyes, completely spaced out.
"Hey."
Jiraiya reached out and patted its head.
Mudkip tilted its head,
its vacant large eyes seeming to ponder what Jiraiya wanted to convey.
After three seconds of silence, it made a pfft sound, puffing its cheeks,
and shot a Water Gun without any warning.
Splash!
The water stream hit Jiraiya square in the face, drenching him from head to toe.
Shiroishi: "..."
Eevee: "Eev!" (Trying not to laugh)
Poipole let out a series of giggles, the three Poison Needles on its head trembling excitedly.
Jiraiya froze for half a second.
Rainwater mixed with Water Gun dripped down his hair as he wiped his face and sighed.
"Ah."
After speaking, he glared at Mudkip, who still looked utterly confused, unable to comprehend what Jiraiya meant.
"Indeed, not every one of them has high emotional intelligence."
The sound of rain persisted, but the damp chill had mostly dissipated. Shiroishi lowered his head to look at the Poipole curled in his arms—the small silver creature nestled obediently in the crook of his arm, its body radiating faint warmth.
Shiroishi murmured softly:
"Welcome... my second partner."
Eevee gently rubbed against his leg.
"What kind of ability does this little one lean toward?"
Jiraiya observed the small silver-scaled Ninja Beast with keen interest.
Shiroishi extended his hand, palm glowing faintly. As Chakra circulated, a dark purple hue gradually coated the surface of his fingers. The aura was cold and gloomy, like fine poisonous mist dispersing in the air.
"It should be poison."
Shiroishi answered quietly, his tone certain.
"Poipole is born with an extremely strong affinity for toxins."
Jiraiya stepped closer, carefully examining the purple Chakra. Sensing the faint, numbing presence in the air, he frowned slightly.
"This poison is no ordinary matter."
Shiroishi slowly withdrew his hand, explaining with focused intensity:
"Its toxin structure is dynamic, changing with the environment and diet. Depending on what it eats—even just absorbing different nectars or plant juices—the toxicity in its body undergoes subtle adjustments."
"Sometimes it leans toward paralysis, sometimes corrosion, and it can also suppress Chakra."
"So... it's essentially adjustable poison."
Jiraiya pinched his chin and muttered, "What a troublesome innate gift."
"Exactly," Shiroishi smiled weakly, "I just tried to channel that Poison Chakra to test its properties. But... I can only borrow it briefly. Prolonged use would exhaust my body."
His complexion had noticeably paled by now. The purple tint receded from his fingertips, leaving the blood beneath his skin looking faint.
Jiraiya watched him and sighed softly.
"Your innate Kekkei Genkai is too powerful, so the side effects are naturally severe."
Shiroishi's Chakra consumption appeared even more intense than Nagato's.
Jiraiya said gravely, "This kind of offensive technique can probably only be used for a single decisive strike at critical moments."
Shiroishi smiled faintly, his expression still calm.
"I know, Master Jiraiya. Having such power is worth it, and I want to become as strong as possible."
His tone was light but carried a trace of undeniable exhaustion.
The silver Poipole gently tugged at his sleeve, its large eyes full of concern, as if sensing his weakness.
Seeing this, Jiraiya cleared his throat twice: "Provided you both survive, really."
As Shiroishi looked up to respond, a sudden "Splash!" sounded.
Mudkip had somehow hopped nearby, puffed its cheeks, and shot a clear Water Gun directly at Jiraiya's head.
Soaked for the second time, Jiraiya stood frozen with silver hair plastered to his forehead.
"Hey you, did you do that on purpose?"
Mudkip blinked innocently, then patted its tail fin with a clueless expression.
Shiroishi couldn't help but laugh. "It seems to care about you a lot, Teacher."
"Care my foot!"
Jiraiya wiped his face with a bitter smile. "This guy should learn how to properly show gratitude from Eevee before trying again..."