Let's start with Orochimaru. First, he was killed by Tobi once, and later, when he came to cause trouble in Konoha, he was killed by Shinji again.
Even if Orochimaru could somehow resurrect himself, he would probably keep a low profile and dare not stir up any more trouble.
Besides, if it had been that woman Guren, she wouldn't have been able to create such a massive explosion.
Now let's look at the second possibility. Tobi had been staying close to Shinji all this time. Moreover, the Akatsuki organization didn't seem to have started their plans this early.
But the original story had long since fallen into complete disorder — Gaara had even settled down in the Hidden Mist Village — so anything was possible.
Judging purely from the explosion just now, it really did look exactly like Deidara's style.
And the strange shark‑like creature they had seen earlier was most likely a puppet created by Sasori.
Shinji's reasoning was very close to the truth. Still, he had no intention of getting involved.
But just as he was about to leave, he noticed that Moxi seemed rather unhappy.
"What's wrong?"
"This Tailed Beast… it never did anything wrong, did it?"
"Hmm?" Shinji was taken aback.
Moxi continued, "It did absolutely nothing at all. It just stayed quietly at the bottom of the lake. Why did it have to suffer so much pain?"
It was a perspective Shinji had never considered before. It seemed no one had ever stopped to think about how these Tailed Beasts felt.
And the truth was, after Yagura died, the Three‑Tails had resurrected and remained right here.
It never harmed anyone; in fact, it was so timid that it spent every day hiding and sleeping at the bottom of the lake.
It would only swim around the lake occasionally when it absolutely couldn't hold it in anymore.
Yet even that small amount of activity had been noticed. What had it ever done to deserve this?
Moxi understood that feeling better than anyone, which was why she couldn't help asking.
Shinji thought carefully for a moment, then offered one possible answer: "Probably because of fear and greed — two parts of human nature."
"People fear the terrifying power that Tailed Beasts possess, yet they are greedy and want that power for themselves. That's exactly why what you described happens."
"As long as they hold such immense power, there will always be people who try to fight for it, to seize it."
"They are truly innocent. But it is human beings themselves who cause all this suffering."
Moxi stared fixedly at the center of the lake, and asked one last question: "Why should they have to endure it?"
Shinji fell silent.
"I'm going to save it. I don't care what happens to the others, but at least this one doesn't deserve such an end."
Moxi turned and marched toward the water.
Shinji sighed helplessly. "What a troublemaker… I'm starting to regret more and more that I ever saved you."
Then he softened slightly. "But… fine. I'll let you have your way this once."
In truth, every Cursed Spirit was born from a deep obsession.
For example, Hanami — the Special‑Grade Cursed Spirit born from humanity's fear of forests — began fighting against humans simply because he could not tolerate the destruction of nature. There were countless examples just like that.
So it wasn't hard to understand why Moxi was furious that the Three‑Tails had been attacked for no reason.
Shinji could have easily forced her to stop, or even sealed her back inside his mental space.
But if he did that, she would surely hate him, and the good relationship they had built would shatter instantly.
In the future, if he wanted to use her power, he would have to control her with split attention — and she certainly wouldn't cooperate willingly. That was not an outcome he wanted.
Besides, stopping Akatsuki from collecting Tailed Beasts wasn't a bad thing. It would save everyone from being manipulated and played for fools by Black Zetsu.
Even without what happened today, he would have had to confront Tobi sooner or later.
Too many tragedies had already happened; there was no need to let that number double.
"Now what do you think you're doing?"
"Please. Do you even think you could exist without me? If I refuse to cooperate, how far do you think you'll get?"
Shinji shut her down instantly with one sentence.
"Tch. Don't think this makes me grateful to you. I hate humans the most — especially you awful men!"
"Haha. Sexism, is it? You really think I won't discipline you for that?"
"What nonsense are you talking about now…?"
"Nothing. But considering how willful you've been today, your promise of a 'playmate big sister' is cancelled. And wait — what did you just say? 'This old lady'? Once this is over, you're grounded for at least three days!"
"…"
Moxi was lost for words. She looked at Shinji with an expression that clearly said 'Are you even a human being?'. She took a deep breath.
"Fine. You win. But one day, you're going to be begging this lady for help — just you wait."
"Relax. I will never beg you for anything. Unless… you never want to come out again, or ever feel the warm embrace of that gentle big sister again."
Moxi's weak spot was hit dead‑on. She instantly deflated. She glared at him bitterly, then sped up.
Shinji simply stood right on her back, letting her carry him swiftly across the lake surface.
"Bastard! Get off me!" Moxi was furious.
"Quiet. Do you still want my cooperation or not?"
Moxi — who had suddenly become a water‑skimming mount — thought of something, and her face turned bright red. But she didn't argue anymore. She just accepted it silently.
At the same time, somewhere in the lake, a black sphere quietly transformed back into sand iron. Inside lay Sasori and the Third Kazekage puppet.
As for The Shark… it had been blown to pieces during the first wave of the explosion.
But it had bought Sasori just enough time to control the Third Kazekage puppet and release a defensive layer of sand iron, wrapping himself safely inside it.
He was lucky enough to have moved away from the absolute center of the blast. Combined with the cushioning effect of the water and the sand iron, he had barely survived. If not for that, he might not have made it.
"That bastard Deidara… did he actually try to kill me?!"
Sasori, who had long ago cast away most human emotions, felt true anger for the first time in ages!
If Deidara couldn't give him a reasonable explanation very soon, he would kill him — even if their leader forbade it.
Propelled by the Third Kazekage puppet, Sasori quickly reached the surface. When he saw the Three‑Tails floating upside down, unconscious from the blast, his rage subsided slightly.
At least half the mission was done. All that was left now was to transport it back.
Just then, Deidara — who had been circling in the air searching for him — spotted Sasori and flew down excitedly.
"Hahaha! Sasori‑san! Did you see that?! That is true art!"
Hearing this, Sasori's anger flared up again. He almost attacked right then and there.
"Didn't I tell you to wait and detonate later?! Do you realize you nearly killed me too?!"
"Huh?"
Deidara looked utterly confused. "Didn't you tell me to detonate quickly? Did I hear you wrong?"
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