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The sound of approaching footsteps grew steadily louder. Isobu stared at the few remaining dried fish snacks scattered on the plate, a pang of guilt washing over him though he tried to shove the feeling away.
With a quick motion, the Three-Tails retracted fully into his shell, shut his eyes, and pretended to know nothing. No fish? Never seen any fish.
Neji and Izumi’s eyes both drifted to the table. Izumi covered her mouth with a chuckle.
"Hmm? That’s odd. I could’ve sworn I had a full bag of fish snacks here."
Neji smirked. "Probably just so giant rat loose in the base... because it definitely couldn’t be Isobu sneaking bites, right?"
Their back-and-forth made Isobu’s eye twitch inside his shell. ’Giant rat? You’re the giant rats, you conniving humans!’
No matter what, he wasn’t going to admit it. He didn’t eat the fish. He didn’t know anything.
Just as he was repeating that to himself, his body suddenly lifted off the ground soone had picked him up. He could feel it. The strong, dangerous presence left no doubt: it was that human.
"Hey, Izumi," Neji said casually, "why do I see crumbs stuck to the corner of Isobu’s mouth?"
"Really? You’re not kidding?"
Isobu’s heart skipped. Impossible. He was sure he’d cleaned up. ’No way there were crumbs!’
"Oh, yep. Definitely there."
His eye snapped open. "No! I cleaned perfectly! There’s nothing there!"
Neji and Izumi just grinned at him like they’d set a trap from the start. Isobu froze.
"You... you set up!"
Neji finally burst into laughter. "Guess even tailed beasts can’t resist temptation. I thought you were supposed to have more willpower."
Izumi giggled too. "You’re actually pretty adorable. I used to think all tailed beasts were terrifying, but... you’re not what I expected."
Isobu’s tail drooped, his entire shell sagging. This world was so unfair to him. Humans were way too sly.
The laughter faded, and Neji tapped on Isobu’s shell, earning a glare. "What now, human?"
Neji’s smile thinned into sothing more serious. "Ti we had a real talk, Isobu."
"What’s there to talk about? You humans see us tailed beasts as dangerous weapons to seal away. And you’re strong enough to crush and rip out my power without even asking."
It was half complaint, half weary truth. Isobu had no illusions about humans.
Neji shrugged. "And maybe because of that, it ans more if I say this. People fear you because you’re strong enough to level entire cities. Every move you make could an disaster for them. But right now? You can’t avoid humans anymore. So why not try living alongside them? You can’t change that you’re stuck here but you can make it more comfortable for yourself."
The words made Isobu fall silent. He was intelligent, smarter than many humans, and he had his pride. But...
Neji pulled out a huge bag of dried fish.
Izumi placed down a pouch of jerky.
And then fresh, steaming grilled at was set before him.
...He might need to rethink things.
"I get it," he muttered. "I’ll do what I can... as long as it’s within my ability."
Neji and Izumi exchanged a knowing glance, smiling as they set the food right next to him.
Isobu didn’t hesitate he dove right in. ’The at... the flavor... Irresistible!’
---
Watching the tailed beast devour his al, Neji couldn’t help but feel a little pity. Who knew how long it had been since Isobu had eaten like this?
"Anyway," Neji said, turning to Izumi, "good work today. From here on, I’ll need you to keep an eye on the base’s situation and on Sasori."
"All the puppets’ control is in your hands now, too. We’ve got nearly everything we need ready. The rest depends on Akatsuki’s next move."
Izumi nodded firmly, though her eyes carried a different sort of anticipation. Tonight... she’d been planning for this since that night years ago, when she got her tattoo. And she already had her kimono ready.
It was ti.
---
Land of Rivers – Forr Battlefield
Beneath the cracked earth, sothing shifted. With a burst of soil, a figure erged Deidara, missing one arm. He scanned the empty area. No enemies in sight.
"Looks like only up to the elbow was blown off... I’d better find my hand and the ring."
His clay clone’s self-destruction had been just a decoy. The real Deidara began searching.
anwhile, on a cliff overlooking the battleground, Zetsu and Tobi were investigating the remains of broken weapons, shattered terrain. But no sign of Sasori.
Zetsu frowned. ’Where is he?’
"Found it, Zetsu-san! Look at Sasori’s ring!" Tobi waved the [Jade] ring with childish excitent.
Zetsu’s tone stayed grim. "If the ring’s here, Sasori’s probably gone. Still... without a body, we can’t be sure. I’ll check later."
Tobi twirled the ring without concern. "Let’s go find Deidara!"
Before long, they spotted his severed arm. As Tobi made so tactless remark about his "death," Deidara appeared in person, imdiately grabbing Tobi by the throat.
Zetsu cut in. "What about the Jinchūriki? And Sasori do you know what happened to him?"
"I already did my part," Deidara muttered. "As for Sasori... no clue. But whoever he was fighting didn’t lose anyone and then they ca after ."
Zetsu’s frown deepened. Tobi tossed in another jab, earning more scuffling between the two.
"Anyway, we’ve got the ring. That’s what matters," Zetsu decided. "But I’ve got a bad feeling... that other group didn’t show up this ti, which ans they probably ran into Sasori. I need to inform Nagato."
Tobi’s voice turned teasing. "Hey, Deidara-senpai... want to carry you? You’ve only got one arm now, you know."
"Drop dead! I’m not that helpless!"
"Ahhh—my neck, my neck!"
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