Deidara's expression darkened as he cut off contact with Pain.
He wanted to rescue Sasori, but his leader forbade it.
He wanted to stay behind, but that too was denied.
It was as if they were certain he would only mess things up if he stayed.
Protection?
I don't need protection!
The worst that can happen is I die here.
Pain probably knew exactly how Deidara thought and what he was capable of doing — which was precisely why he had ordered him to leave first.
With Pain's authority backing the stranger, Deidara finally stopped threatening the mysterious man standing before him.
"I want to know what your plan is. How do you intend to save Sasori‑san?"
"Classified information."
"…"
Deidara's anger flared. "Don't give me that crap!"
Tobi felt helpless. He hadn't actually figured out how to rescue Sasori yet — and even if he had, he certainly couldn't tell Deidara.
He had taken a huge risk just to come and pull Deidara away from the fight.
Besides, the battle was already over. He needed to get back there immediately.
"Stop being difficult! I'm telling you for the last time — I will get him out. Now go!"
With Tobi being so firm, Deidara finally left, seething with resentment. He took with him the emergency supply of explosive clay he had just made.
As for whether or not he had mixed anything… yellowish… into it? No one could say for sure.
Heaven knows…
Tobi had never imagined things would turn out this way. That they would meet here, and that both sides would be "fighting over" the Three‑Tails.
They were all supposed to be "on the same side" — how could they end up fighting each other?
Several times earlier, he had wanted to step in, but there had been no good opportunity.
Fortunately, Shinji didn't seem intent on killing anyone — he had even let Deidara go.
That meant there was still room for him to work things out.
That was exactly why he had rushed out to stop Deidara from going back — and had even gone so far as to contact Nagato urgently just to make it happen.
As for the ring he was wearing… he had found it on Orochimaru's body after killing him.
He still didn't understand why Orochimaru had carried it around, even after defecting from the organization.
He waited a while longer, and only when he was absolutely certain Deidara wasn't coming back did he hurry back toward the lake.
Still need to figure out how to save Sasori… what a pain!
"Hey! Big guy! Wake up!"
Moxi had shifted into her Tailed Beast‑like form. She hopped right onto the Three‑Tails' massive head and started talking to it.
"Come on, stop pretending. I know you're awake."
The Three‑Tails snapped its eyes wide open.
It had been knocked unconscious by that blast earlier, but it was still a Tailed Beast. And since no one had paid it any attention for ages, it had naturally woken up a while ago.
In fact, it had been lying there awake, pretending to be out cold… waiting to surprise whoever came near.
But the moment it saw Moxi — and especially when it heard her voice — it immediately remembered the figure that had warned it earlier to be careful.
And strangely enough… it felt a sense of closeness toward her.
That was very weird.
Even between Tailed Beasts themselves, such feelings didn't exist.
BOOM!
Using the power of its massive tail, the Three‑Tails rolled over violently, sending huge waves of water surging all the way to the shore.
"Who are you?!"
It stared at Moxi with its one large, swollen eye, unblinking.
Moxi planted her hands firmly on her hips. "Listen well — my name is Moxi. You're huge, but it's all for nothing. You didn't even notice enemies coming right to your doorstep!"
"They attacked me out of nowhere! Humans have no honor!"
The Three‑Tails was furious and felt deeply wronged.
"Oh please! Who's going to announce 'I'm going to attack you now' before they strike? You need to stay alert yourself!"
Moxi rolled her eyes.
The Three‑Tails felt even more depressed. It often slept for days at a time — sometimes even for a whole month.
How could it stay alert all the time without ever sleeping?
Sensing its frustration, Moxi leaped right onto its head and patted it firmly.
"Relax. From now on, I've got your back. If anyone bullies you again, just tell them my name."
The Three‑Tails froze instantly. A strange, warm feeling spread through its chest.
It remembered the last person who had said something similar to it… the Sage of Six Paths.
"Hmph. You're so tiny — how could you ever protect me?"
"Didn't you see? I just beat up those two guys who were bullying you! If it wasn't for me, you'd probably be chopped up and thrown into a soup pot by now!"
"Nonsense! I was just… pretending to be unconscious!"
"Stubborn big guy. You're not cute at all. Fine, I'm leaving."
Moxi patted its hard, armored head in annoyance and jumped straight down.
"Where are you going?!"
"Somewhere I need to be. Obviously you don't need my protection anyway."
The Three‑Tails hesitated, then asked: "Why… why are you helping me? Aren't you afraid of me?"
"Huh? I just felt sorry for you and decided to help. You're just a giant turtle — what's there to be scared of? If anything, you should be afraid of me."
The Three‑Tails had thought she might have some hidden motive, or that she wanted something from it… but never in a million years had it expected this answer.
She felt sorry for me?
This was the first time anyone had ever spoken to it like this — treating it as an equal, not as a monster or a weapon.
And it could tell… she meant it. She wasn't lying.
It was a strange feeling, hard to explain, but it knew it was true.
"Wait…!"
"Hm? What now? Can't bear to say goodbye to your big sister? Hahaha."
Moxi looked like a tiny insect standing before the Three‑Tails, yet she boldly called herself "Big Sister."
But the Three‑Tails suddenly shifted awkwardly, then nodded its massive head gently.
"…Could you stay? You're the first person in all this time to truly treat me as an equal."
Even Yagura — the Perfect Jinchuriki — had only tried to communicate with it because he wanted to use its power. That was completely different.
"I'm not actually human, you know. I'm a Cursed Spirit. Right now, I'm living inside some idiot's body. I can't stay here forever. But… if I get the chance, I'll come back to visit. Oh, and by the way — this place isn't safe anymore. I think you should find a new home."
The Three‑Tails had lived hidden at the bottom of the lake for so long that it didn't really understand the difference between humans and Cursed Spirits.
But it understood clearly enough — she was leaving.
It felt a sudden, heavy sense of loss.
"It's useless. If humans found me once… they'll find me again, no matter where I go."
"Then fight back! If anyone bothers you, just beat them up!"
"I… I can't beat them…"
The Three‑Tails admitted it, feeling wronged and helpless.
That was the truth. Tailed Beasts were powerful, but they had always been nothing more than tools and weapons for the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Because the Kage of each village were even stronger — strong enough to capture them and seal them inside human hosts.
Once they were found… there was almost no escape.
____________________
For more advance chapters visit my patreon
patreon.com/kane45
Tier: 10$ Casual Reader - +20 Advance Chapter
20$ Intermediate Reader - +40 Advance Chapter
40$ Expert Reader - +80 Advance Chapter
Update: "Monday to Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day"
"Saturday and Sunday - Off"