Makoto saw this and couldn't help but be overjoyed, "So, Senior Tobi really is that kind of person. Haha, I finally beat him for once."
However, the members of Akatsuki looked at Makoto with a pitiful gaze. Yahiko said awkwardly, "Actually, Tobi has a girlfriend, and the kind who's always clinging to him. Last time even Konan saw them."
The Akatsuki members all nodded. Last time Obito had brought Rin to the Akatsuki base, the two of them had been cuddling in a room together, and were caught in the act by Konan. Later Konan couldn't help gossiping, and soon the whole group knew about it.
Makoto froze on the spot.
So in the end, was he still the loser?
Could it be… the experiences Senior Tobi taught him weren't wrong after all? Maybe tonight, he should be bold and give it a try?
———
Tobi's frantic escape wasn't only because his sore spot had been exposed, leaving him unable to argue back and forced to run.
There was another hidden reason, he was actually going to do something serious.
At this moment, he was already in a deserted place. He raised his hand and erased himself from the layer of reality. The next second, he appeared at the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Water, at that place which had originally been just a pond, but kept being expanded, bigger and bigger, until it became a lake.
Looking at the neatly built gardens around it, looking at the clear surface of the water and the blooming, bright flowers floating on it, others might see a breathtakingly beautiful scene, but Tobi only saw how much manpower and resources it took to maintain all this.
If these resources were taken out, maybe half the livelihood problems of the Land of Water could be solved.
Tobi didn't disturb the servants working there in their daily routine. Instead, his body slowly sank into the ground and moved toward the depths of the lake.
Not long after, he arrived inside the lake. Using his increasingly powerful sensory ability, he sensed the location where the Three-Tails was sleeping.
He slowly approached.
The true form of the Three-Tails Isobu was a giant turtle, gentle in nature, fond of sleeping. If it hadn't been captured by the cursed Senju Hashirama, it might have slept from the past straight into the future.
Obito and Isobu could be said to be "old friends." No matter how many grudges there had once been, at least at this moment, he only wanted to have a proper reunion.
So, he opened up his mind and greeted Isobu on the level of consciousness.
Isobu felt its consciousness lightly brushed, without malice, and awoke.
Since the visitor wasn't hostile, and with such overwhelming spiritual power that left it deeply wary, it became extremely docile.
Isobu opened its eyes and looked at Tobi, "Human, why do you disturb my sleep? Do you also wish to capture me and stuff me into someone's body?"
Tobi scratched his head a little embarrassedly. Since he couldn't speak underwater, he chose to communicate with Isobu by spirit.
"Actually, that is indeed the idea."
"But… you won't really mind too much, will you?"
"After all, sleeping somewhere else is still sleeping, right?"
Isobu looked at Tobi strangely, "You humans truly are shameless. To obtain our power, you'll do anything."
"But… you didn't treat me as a dangerous existence, attacking at the first disagreement?"
"One thing you said is right. As long as a Jinchuriki doesn't come disturb me, I truly don't care much about changing sleeping places. However, human bodies are too fragile, most can't contain me. By then, it would only cause many troubles."
Tobi suddenly felt some emotion, "If I'd known you were so easy to talk to, maybe some things could've been solved another way…"
"Forget it. It's already past. Talking about it now has no meaning. I've found you a new home. That person has the ability to contain you. What's more… when you wake, he can even chat with you. I think you'll find him quite to your liking."
Isobu looked even more puzzled, "I don't recall ever meeting you. What happened between us? And why do you know my personality, even certain someone who suits my taste? Who exactly are you?"
Tobi thought for a moment and said, "Who I am isn't important. What's important is, I've met the Sage of Six Paths, and in the end earned his approval. I promise I won't harm you."
"You tailed beasts, being relatively pure, should be able to feel that my words are sincere. So, are you willing to come with me?"
The Three-Tails indeed felt that Tobi's words were true. Which meant that Tobi had truly met the Sage of Six Paths, and even gained his recognition.
That alone was enough. It nodded, "Human, for Father's sake, I'm willing to go with you. Even if you intend to harm me, it's fine, because surely Father has arranged this."
Tobi sighed. Tailed beasts really were pure and loyal creatures. Many times, without suspicion or misunderstanding, they were actually quite easy to communicate with.
But communicating required the premise of powerful enough spirit to connect directly with the tailed beast's consciousness, and a deep understanding of them, plus knowing the Sage of Six Paths.
For ordinary people, just seeing the Three-Tails' somewhat ferocious form, there was no so-called communication. Either they'd run away, or crumble under the immense pressure and attack recklessly. Then, disaster would brew.
Thinking of this, Tobi curiously asked, "By the way, Isobu, if you encountered an attack from humans, would you fight back with all your strength?"
Isobu didn't question how Tobi knew its name. After all, if he even knew its creator, the Sage of Six Paths, then knowing its name was perfectly normal.
It thought for a while and said, "Normally I'd just sleep. If I'm woken by a human attack, of course I'd get angry and fight back."
"But fighting on and on is honestly meaningless. If I feel it's troublesome, then I won't resist. After all, I won't die. Rather than keep fighting, it's better to play dead and sleep."
Tobi suddenly understood. No wonder back then when he and Senior Deidara captured the Three-Tails it was so easy. It wasn't that the Three-Tails was weak, but once its grogginess passed, it simply stopped resisting and turned into a motionless turtle.
He said, "Then Isobu, stay here and sleep a while longer. Once I've made arrangements, I'll have you moved. Anyway, what I'll do won't give you any morning temper."
The Three-Tails didn't answer, only closed its eyes again, showing its thought through action.
Seeing this, Tobi still politely said, "Good night."
Then, he brushed his body and erased himself from the lake once more.
———
Elsewhere, Terumi Mei, who had gone out shopping for groceries, returned with a huge pile of vegetables.
The moment she entered the house, she froze. The home, already cleaned spotless and neat, now carried the faint taste of once living with her father.
She was just about to praise a certain diligent, thrifty, and handsome young man, when she saw Kakashi, finally free, lazily sitting on a chair, holding a book in his hand and reading.
An orange book. On the cover, a man and woman holding hands as they ran together. The title read… Icha Icha Paradise.
She couldn't help but let her imagination run wild. Could it be, her earlier act of pretending to be weak really had some effect, already stirring Kakashi's heart, which was why he needed to read this kind of erotic book?
Maybe… she should try again?
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