In most cases, the Fur Race places great importance on kinship. Due to their small numbers, they need to help each other, which is true for Zou, and even more so when they encounter fellow tribesmen overseas.
Whether it was Setsuna taking some crops from them or Inuarashi dividing the Life Card, they didn't hesitate. This is aid among kin.
Similarly, they place great value on gratitude. Repaying kindness is a characteristic of theirs, even if the cost of doing so is high.
Kozuki Oden was kind to Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, and the Hundred Beasts Pirates were kind to Setsuna. Under this premise, it's understandable that they chose different factions.
But Nekomamushi and Inuarashi aren't the same. Inuarashi can think rationally, while the impulsive Nekomamushi directly mixed his blind worship of Oden with other personal feelings.
When handling issues, Setsuna and Inuarashi focus on kinship, but Nekomamushi is different. The influence of Oden is too great, leading him to focus on the conflict between the Hundred Beasts Pirates and the Kozuki Family.
Although it hasn't erupted yet, issues like the ownership of Peach Blossom Spring Farm are objectively present. In Nekomamushi's view, this is the Hundred Beasts Pirates' forceful seizure.
From his perspective, this view is not wrong. It can only be said that each serves their own master.
Moreover, the Hundred Beasts Pirates are ultimately pirates, and no matter how many more rules they have compared to ordinary pirate crews, it doesn't change this fact.
Although the Hundred Beasts mostly operate using soft power, it doesn't mean they completely abandoned force. Previously, at the Udon Repair Factory, there was a hint of forced demolition.
Although those were orchestrated by Kurozumi Orochi, saying that the Hundred Beasts took no action at all is also incorrect. Without Kaidou backing him, those daimyo would surely oppose Kurozumi Orochi's behaviors.
Even though the Hundred Beasts didn't continue to persecute those residents as Orochi wished and placed them properly instead, balancing out the merits with the demerits doesn't mean the "faults" disappear.
Peach Blossom Spring Farm can be said to be the only farm acquired as compensation. This occurred because Kinemon violated the rules set by the Hundred Beasts Pirates, so it was the price paid.
Using the rights to Peach Blossom Spring Farm to offset Kinemon's mining punishment, apart from the fact that Oden Castle could no longer use the crops inside unconditionally, nothing else changed much.
In Setsuna's eyes, Kinemon wasn't a victim but a criminal paying for his own misdeeds. However, she didn't impose this emotion on Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, recognizing that there's a big difference between individuals.
And since meeting during the day, due to identity issues, Nekomamushi had a minor conflict with her. Just now, she kindly offered to send them off and even paid out of her pocket to give them quite a few things, yet Nekomamushi was being stubborn with her.
"Do you think you're not in the wrong?"
"I've already said this place was taken by you guys."
"Fine, Inuarashi, put the things down. I've changed my mind." Seeing Nekomamushi's attitude, it seemed like these things were owed to them. Letting them take the things would equate to admitting her own fault.
Since Nekomamushi was so clear-cut, she didn't need to extend her kindness. Letting them leave here was the last display of kinship.
The crime of theft, though not as severe as prison-breaking, wouldn't be too much to cast them into a few days of mining.
As she said this, she planned to take back the items handed to Inuarashi and gestured for them to leave hastily, but Nekomamushi seemed not inclined to leave just like that, as their purpose for coming hadn't yet been achieved.
"Inuarashi, you go first. I'll hold her off for a while."
"This... isn't very good, is it?"
"Lady Toki is still sick." Despite his rationality, the mention of Kozuki Toki swayed Inuarashi. Looking at the lush green vegetables in his hands, he wavered internally.
Nekomamushi's actions eventually broke Setsuna's bottom line. Once or twice was bearable, but not thrice. She had already tolerated them twice, and couldn't hold back anymore this time.
"I said put the things down, can't you hear?!"
With a forceful kick, she nearly sprang from the spot, her claws crackling with electricity reaching out for the items in Inuarashi's hands. Nekomamushi wanted to intervene, but having not seen each other for seven years, he misjudged Setsuna's strength and couldn't even touch a hair.
The wolf claws swiped through the air, tearing apart the straw-woven basket, scattering fresh fruits and vegetables all over the ground, rolling down the slope into the distance.
"You keep saying we took your farm, but aren't you robbing my stuff now? You should go back and ask those people why this was given to us!"
With that, she kicked towards Nekomamushi. Having just barely managed to stand after being repeatedly rolled over and rubbed by Miltank, he was kicked straight out again.
The accumulated resentment erupted at this moment, and Setsuna's fist landed squarely on Nekomamushi's cat face.
"Condemn me, make me say the wrong thing, steal my stuff! I've put up with you for so long. Do you even know?!"
Sparks of electricity faintly flickered on her fist, showing that Setsuna was truly furious. Nekomamushi was dumbfounded. They had fought before, but back then, Setsuna was no match, so he hadn't taken her seriously over the years.
Setsuna, unseen for years, had grown so much stronger than before. Just recovering from the pain caused by Miltank, he was directly hit by Setsuna in the eye, leaving a big black bruise.
But as she was about to balance it out by giving the other eye a matching bruise, Inuarashi intervened and blocked her attack.
"Setsuna, Nekomamushi misspoke. Show me some face and let's drop it. We were wrong."
His arms felt slightly numb, not from electrical shocks but due to the difference in strength. It seemed Setsuna's growth in these years had far exceeded their expectations.
"Show you face... then where does my face go?"
Even though Inuarashi blocked Setsuna's attack, Setsuna had no intention to stop. Nekomamushi had repeatedly provoked her, and if it weren't for her nostalgia, they should have fought long ago.
She flung aside Inuarashi and continued hitting Nekomamushi.
After several attacks, although Setsuna's strikes were much lighter, she still didn't stop. Seeing this, Inuarashi also joined the fight against Setsuna.
The relationship between him and Nekomamushi was better. The situation escalated largely due to Nekomamushi's impulsivity. Letting him suffer a bit wasn't unreasonable, but continuing further was too much for Inuarashi to watch.
"Setsuna, isn't this enough?"
Though she had given Nekomamushi a good beating, she didn't intend to kill or anything. She just hadn't finished venting. At this point, it was about enough.
"Nekomamushi, apologize to me. If you admit you were wrong this time, I'll let it go."