Seeing the enormous creature before her, Tsunade instinctively entered a state of high alert. In her mind, she questioned what kind of monster stood before her—and why she was here in the first place.
"Don't be nervous."
Along with the deep, mellow voice, a wave of warmth spread across her shoulder. That hand had rested on her shoulder countless times. Tsunade instantly recognized it.
"Tōshirō?"
"Yeah." Tōshirō replied and walked in front of her, gently taking her hand to help calm her. "This is my mental world. You don't need to be so tense."
The situation was just too sudden, and Tsunade's mind momentarily stalled. She pointed at the massive creature in front of her, eyes wide. "Then what is that monster?"
Monster?
The Five-Tails took offense to that comment. From beneath its half-lowered eyelids, it released a wave of discontent.
Tōshirō noticed the displeasure in the Five-Tails' eyes and quickly spoke up on Tsunade's behalf. "Don't mind her. She's just unfamiliar with you, that's all."
"Hmph."
As she watched the two—one man and one beast—talking, something clicked in Tsunade's mind. She counted the tails on the creature in front of her. There were exactly five. She gasped in surprise: "Tōshirō, don't tell me this guy is… the Five-Tails inside you?"
"Oh my, my dear Tsunade is truly clever," Tōshirō praised sincerely. "You guessed it in one shot."
Before Tsunade could ask anything further, the Five-Tails couldn't hold back and spoke up first: "Tōshirō, why the heck did you bring this little girl in here on purpose?"
Tōshirō smiled. "Nothing major. I just wanted you two to get to know each other."
There were two reasons he wanted to introduce the Five-Tails:
First, to deepen his bond with it.
Second, to lay the groundwork for Tsunade to later understand that someone wanted to kill him. Tōshirō wasn't foolish enough to keep everything secret—he intended to fully utilize his advantage of foresight.
The Five-Tails slowly lifted its half-closed eyes and let out a proud snort. "I don't need to get to know anyone."
Tsunade was still trying to make sense of it all. "Tōshirō, what is actually going on here?"
"I told you, I want you two to get acquainted."
"You want me to meet a tailed beast?"
Tsunade's mind was struggling to keep up.
"Tailed beasts aren't as evil as the world makes them out to be, you know?" Tōshirō said with emotion. "They're just like us humans—they have feelings too: joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness."
"Hmph, such unnecessary nonsense," the Five-Tails muttered gruffly, clearly not the friendly type.
Looking at the defiant expression on the Five-Tails' face, Tsunade grew concerned. "Hey, Tōshirō, isn't it dangerous to just leave it like this? Won't it affect you?"
Tsunade didn't realize that, under normal circumstances, tailed beasts are sealed in cages. She was simply speaking out of instinct.
Tōshirō gave a wry smile. "Depends on its mood. If it's unhappy with me, it can take control of my body and transform into its tailed beast form."
"W-what?!"
Tsunade's eyes widened in shock. "Aren't Jinchūriki supposed to have a seal on them to prevent the tailed beast's power from running wild? Why aren't you sealed? Don't tell me the Five-Tails broke free from the seal?"
That was her first assumption. But on second thought, that didn't seem right. If the seal had really been broken, how could Tōshirō still be so relaxed—bringing her into his mind and even making introductions?
Her head was spinning, completely lost in confusion.
Tōshirō scratched his cheek awkwardly and said, "How should I put this… I guess I was the one who released it."
Tōshirō's answer completely exceeded Tsunade's understanding. She was stunned, staring blankly for a long while before she finally responded: "Released it? Are you crazy? When did this happen? Why would you release it?!"
A barrage of questions came from Tsunade, and Tōshirō didn't know where to begin.
At that moment, the Five-Tails—never one to let things calm down—chimed in gleefully to stir the pot:"Let me answer that. This kid released me just a few days after I wrecked the village."
Shocking!
Incomprehensible!Unbelievable!A storm of emotions surged through Tsunade—she just couldn't understand Tōshirō.
"This… this is just too crazy."
Although she hadn't faced the Five-Tails' power directly, the aftermath of its destruction was seared into her memory.
Even as Tōshirō's closest and most intimate partner, she couldn't comprehend why he would do something so reckless.
"Why would you do that?"
Tsunade questioned him again, determined to get a real answer this time—she couldn't put her heart at ease otherwise.
Tōshirō carefully considered the question, then repeated almost word-for-word what he had previously told Mito, hoping it would help Tsunade accept it more easily.
After listening to Tōshirō's logical and well-reasoned explanation, Tsunade moved her lips, but still couldn't fully wrap her head around it. "Even so, it's just too insane."
Tōshirō smiled. "Actually, Grandma Mito knows about this too."
Tsunade froze. "Grandma Mito knows too?"
"Yep. I was really shocked when she found out back then. Good thing she's such an understanding elder."
Tōshirō recounted it with a hint of lingering fear.
Tsunade scolded him, "It's because you always act on your own. Something this serious—you didn't even think to talk it over with anyone? Not with Teacher Hiruzen, not with Grandma Mito, not with me…"
Tōshirō gave a wry smile. "If I had said anything, none of you would've agreed, right?"
Tsunade went silent.
That was true.
If Tōshirō had told them, every single one of them—including herself—would have been completely opposed to such a crazy decision, possibly even issuing stern warnings.
"Alright, look at me—I'm perfectly fine, right? And I've even gained a unique kind of friendship in this world—one with a tailed beast."
Tōshirō spun around cheerfully as he said this, trying to show he was in perfect condition.
Just as he finished speaking, the Five-Tails interrupted snidely:"Stop flattering yourself. I just figured since I had to stay in a Jinchūriki's body anyway, I might as well pick someone calmer and easier to look at. Don't get cocky and think you're something special."
"Oh come on, Little Five, you're still as tsundere as ever," Tōshirō said in an oily tone. "I'm telling you, just give in already. I promise you a life of good food and drinks."
The Five-Tails shot him down bluntly:"Get lost. If you want my full recognition, beat me fair and square. Otherwise, forget it."
Tōshirō clicked his tongue. "So troublesome…"
This banter between man and beast completely shattered Tsunade's worldview. Her mouth twitched as she pointed at the massive Five-Tails. "What… what did you just call it?"
"Little Five."
Tōshirō answered casually, "Why? Is something wrong with that?"
Wrong? It was completely wrong!!
Tsunade sighed like she had been defeated by him. "Honestly, I always thought I understood you. But today… I think I really don't."
Tōshirō smiled at her. "It's fine. We still have a long life ahead of us—plenty of time to understand each other."
The Five-Tails was silently roasting him inside.This bastard could turn anything into a romantic moment.
Ugh. So sweet it's nauseating.
"You're always so ridiculous," Tsunade muttered. "Fine. Since it's your request, I'll give you some face." She then turned her gaze to the Five-Tails, and with an aura that didn't belong to the beast, shouted boldly, "Hey, Five-Tails, you'd better remember this—my name is—"
The Five-Tails cut her off: "No need to introduce yourself. I already know."
Tsunade was stunned.
"Every time you're getting cozy with this brat, whispering all those embarrassing sweet nothings, I can see and hear it all from inside him." The Five-Tails' tone turned mocking. "If I remember correctly, your name's Tsunade, right?"
Tsunade: ???
(End of Chapter)
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