"Haha, of course. I've been with Chōmei for several years now."
"Our relationship is very harmonious. The term 'Perfect Jinchūriki' suits me well."
Matatabi looked at Gekko Chizan, who was cloaked in a Tailed Beast shroud with a tail extending behind him, and couldn't help but nod.
Using the Tailed Beast's chakra so freely must mean he had reached a cooperative relationship—or even something deeper—with the Beast inside him.
"By the way, where are we?"
"Out at sea. As for what's beneath our feet, it's an Island Turtle."
"Island Turtle? Like a giant turtle?"
"Yeah. It's a giant turtle raised by Kumogakure. But from now on, it's mine."
Matatabi shook her head, her tone filled with helplessness.
"Did you go to Kumogakure just to rob them?"
"Not only did you steal my Jinchūriki, but you even stole such a huge turtle."
"You humans can be pretty bad, you know. In that sense, you're a bit like Chōmei."
"Back in the day, Chōmei always used his scale powder to play tricks."
Oh? Gekko Chizan perked up.
Now that was some dirt on Chōmei. Who would've thought that big bug actually had a mischievous side?
Tsk tsk, truly destined—both the Jinchūriki and the Tailed Beasts are rotten to the core.
"Hey hey! Matatabi, how can you just say stuff like that?"
"Chizan, I'm telling you, I absolutely didn't!"
"No, I have to do it! I need to explain it to her clearly!"
That got Chōmei flustered. Being exposed like that—where was his dignity as the great Chōmei?
"Alright, calm down. I don't mind. Take a break, Chōmei."
"No! I mind! Let me!"
Unable to argue with Chōmei, Gekko Chizan could only nod helplessly. After all, not every meeting between Tailed Beasts ended in a fight.
Especially with Matatabi—she was inherently gentle. So Chizan agreed to let Chōmei speak.
"Matatabi, Chōmei wants to talk to you."
The Tailed Beast cloak vanished instantly. In the next moment, two massive wings grew from Chizan's back and wrapped around him.
Then, Chōmei appeared in a flash.
"Yo! Matatabi!"
"...."
That single sentence left both Matatabi and Gekko Chizan speechless.
"I give up. Chōmei, I really do!"
"How did you turn into this so suddenly? If I knew you'd act like this, I never would've let you out!"
Face? Chōmei had completely thrown his away!
"Chōmei, can we be a bit more normal?"
"Sigh..."
Matatabi looked at Chōmei, who was now floating and circling around her, and she began to feel uncomfortable all over.
"Hahaha, it's been a long time, you know?"
"If it were anyone else but you, I would've already greeted them with a Tailed Beast Bomb."
"Especially Gyūki—that guy sprays ink every day. It's so annoying."
Chōmei wasn't embarrassed at all. In fact, he was incredibly cheerful.
"Chōmei, are you really with that kid now?"
"Is your relationship really the way he described it?"
Seeing an old friend made Matatabi feel more at ease, but she still had some doubts about what Gekko Chizan had said.
After all, the relationship between humans and Tailed Beasts had always been extremely tense over the years.
She had to stay skeptical.
"That kid Chizan wasn't lying. He and I are truly friends."
"Matatabi, I'm telling you—if it weren't for that kid back then, I'd still be stuck in a pitch-black cave."
"These past years with Chizan around, I've actually been pretty happy."
Hearing Chōmei's cheerful words, Matatabi nodded. Since Chōmei had said so himself, that proved Gekko Chizan hadn't lied.
Then, Matatabi showed a hint of envy on her face.
"Who would've thought that among the nine of us, you'd be the first one to gain that old Sage's so-called friendship."
"I'm really surprised. I always thought I'd be the first."
Matatabi sighed helplessly. Among the nine Tailed Beasts, she considered herself the most even-tempered.
Though Chōmei wasn't particularly aggressive, he definitely had plenty of mischievous thoughts. Yet he was the first one to gain a friend.
"Hahaha, of course it's me. If it were Shukaku or Kurama and the others, forget it—they'd never manage it in their lifetimes."
"Their tempers are all worse than mine."
That made Matatabi nod repeatedly.
Whether it was Shukaku or Kurama, both had especially nasty tempers. Especially Kurama—though he was the strongest, he was also the most aggressive.
It was impossible to imagine him having a friend.
"Matatabi, let your Jinchūriki follow Chizan. Though Chizan is a bit wicked and cunning, he's definitely not a bad person."
"With him, your Jinchūriki will be safe—and has a bright future."
Chōmei hadn't forgotten his mission. He needed to persuade Matatabi to let go of her doubts.
They were all Jinchūriki. Winning over the Tailed Beast first was a good strategy.
Once Matatabi was on board, she could sweet-talk the Jinchūriki too. A two-pronged approach worked better.
"Wicked? I can see that—he's like you."
"Otherwise, he wouldn't have snatched my Jinchūriki from Kumogakure, and even made off with the Island Turtle."
"Alright, I'm going back. As for Yugito, let Gekko Chizan handle the persuasion."
Matatabi shook herself and began to dispel her transformation.
Chōmei nodded and said cheerfully,
"Alright then, I believe that little girl will make the right decision."
Then the two Tailed Beasts both released their transformations.
But there was a stark difference—Gekko Chizan landed steadily on the ground, while Yugito Nii fell into a deep sleep once more.
The difference between the two was obvious—one was a Perfect Jinchūriki, and the other was just a newbie who had barely become one. No comparison.
"She passed out?"
"Whatever. I'm a bit hungry. Let's go get some food first."
Gekko Chizan caught Yugito and gently laid her on the ground.
To ensure Yugito's safety while he went hunting, Gekko Chizan used Crystal Release to create ten clones. Leaving one clone behind, the rest—including his original body—charged into the forest.
Before long, he returned, bringing with him a water buffalo as big as a house.
"This big one should last us a few days."
Dismissing the clones, Gekko Chizan looked at the clearing and smiled faintly.
"House Creation Technique!"
The crystals condensed instantly, and soon a house made entirely of crystal stood on the open ground.
Looking at his handiwork, Gekko Chizan looked a little helpless.
"My Crystal Release is great in every way... except the color's kind of depressing."