"It really is a female cat, but she looks so different from the little kitties we usually see."
"Well, she's not an ordinary creature to begin with. Didn't Byakuya-oniichan mention she's some kind of beast?"
Kurona and Nashiro had gathered around to look.
"A Tailed Beast! She's a Tailed Beast! Stop forgetting already, little missy!" Shukaku immediately corrected them.
"Oh right, right. A Tailed Beast." Nashiro nodded.
"This is the Two-Tails Matatabi. She's a Tailed Beast just like Shukaku," Amaha Byakuya introduced.
"Just like her name suggests, Two-Tails Matatabi really does have two tails," Rize Kamishiro mused.
Only then did Mayu finally release Matatabi's tail.
Matatabi immediately escaped to the top of Byakuya's head as if seeking liberation—though it was rather pointless. It was simply an instinctive desire to hide somewhere as high as possible.
Having Matatabi perched on his head didn't bother Byakuya.
However, before long, he lifted Matatabi down from his head while also placing Shukaku from his shoulder onto the sofa. "You two keep them company for a while."
With that, he went off to attend to his own matters.
"Wait... No!" Shukaku wailed.
Matatabi also looked troubled, though she remained far more composed than Shukaku.
From then on, Shukaku and Matatabi could only silently endure being fussed over by Kurona and the others.
At least Rize showed some restraint—she didn't do anything to either of them.
...
By the time Byakuya finished his work and returned, he found that Matatabi had been forced into doll-like decorations, complete with a bow tied around her neck.
This obviously wasn't voluntary, so it could only have been coerced...
Shukaku, while not forced into strange outfits, had been held down by Mayu and Chika and given a full makeover—foundation, drawn eyebrows, and even lipstick. He looked even more pitiful than Matatabi.
Matatabi was at least a female cat to begin with, so makeup wasn't too out of place. But Shukaku made up like this was just...
"I know I told you to play with them, but try not to go too far." Even Byakuya couldn't help but speak up for Shukaku and Matatabi now.
Meanwhile, both Tailed Beasts wore expressionless faces—they had clearly gone numb.
"Okay, Byakuya-oniichan. We won't do this again," Nashiro nodded obediently.
"I understand too." Kurona also nodded dutifully.
It was Kurona and Nashiro who had dressed up Matatabi like this.
"Oniichan, I'm sorry..." Mayu lowered her head in apology.
"I was wrong, I was wrong." Chika also hung her head, her voice meek.
Only Rize hadn't done anything to Shukaku or Matatabi, so she didn't need to make any gesture of apology.
"Why are you apologizing to me? I'm not angry. I'm just saying you should know where to draw the line when playing with Shukaku and Matatabi."
Byakuya smiled helplessly.
With his help, Shukaku and Matatabi were finally freed from their ordeal.
...
The following day.
Byakuya prepared to challenge the Three-Tails Isobu.
First, he purchased the challenge scroll from the System Shop.
[Ding! Host has purchased "Tailed Beast Challenge Scroll (Three-Tails Isobu)." 600 Fusion Points consumed. Current remaining Fusion Points: 5,320!]
With the challenge scroll in hand, Byakuya spoke to Akira Mado and Eto Yoshimura, who were also in the office: "We can head out now."
He took each of their hands and led them through the spatial portal that opened before them, entering the Kamui Dimension.
The moment they transferred into the Kamui Dimension, he activated the Tailed Beast Challenge Scroll.
As chakra flowed into the scroll and it vanished, the Three-Tails Isobu was successfully summoned.
[Three-Tails Isobu has appeared in Los Angeles. Please proceed to challenge it immediately!]
Los Angeles... America again.
Seeing the system notification appear before him, Byakuya immediately set out, transferring from the Kamui Dimension to Los Angeles.
The Three-Tails Isobu was a turtle-shaped Tailed Beast that excelled at aquatic combat.
Therefore, Byakuya predicted that Isobu would most likely appear in the ocean, a lake, or somewhere along the beach. He first brought Akira and Eto near a beach with the highest foot traffic.
This time he didn't leave Shukaku and Matatabi inside the Kamui Dimension, instead bringing them along to find the Three-Tails.
"That direction! There's a familiar chakra signature over there—it should be Isobu." Shukaku spoke up.
"Mm, I sensed it too." Byakuya nodded.
"Honestly, if I'd known we were going to the beach, I would have prepared a swimsuit first." Eto's voice carried a note of regret.
"We're here on business right now. There'll be plenty of time to take you to the beach later," Byakuya replied casually.
"Great! Then it's a promise. Don't forget~" Eto immediately seized on his words.
"..."
Byakuya felt like he'd just walked right into Eto's trap.
"Little Akira absolutely has to come too. When we have some free time, let's go pick out swimsuits together," Eto suggested with a smile.
"Little Akira...?"
Byakuya was suddenly curious. When had Akira and Eto gotten so close?
Could it be because of what he'd mentioned to Eto about potentially resurrecting Kasuka Mado? Had Eto already told Akira, and their previously strained and awkward relationship had thawed as a result?
"Mm..." Akira naturally didn't refuse.
While they chatted happily, screams suddenly erupted from the crowd on the beach.
Masses of people fled from the beach, their faces filled with terror—which already said everything about the situation.
"It's here after all. Wait here for a moment."
Leaving those words behind, Byakuya's figure vanished instantly.
Shukaku and Matatabi, who had been on his shoulders, fell into Akira's and Eto's hands respectively.
"He went off by himself." Eto gazed into the distance, where she could see Byakuya's figure had already appeared far away.
"Well, we can't really help him in situations like this anyway." Akira's expression remained calm.
Meanwhile...
The Three-Tails Isobu's massive form was rising from the ocean surface. Its entire body was covered in thick armor studded with spikes, and true to its name, it had three tails.
Only its left eye was open; its right eye remained closed for some unknown reason. Its whiskers were almost as abundant as hair.
The sudden appearance of such an enormous creature on the ocean surface naturally sent the tourists fleeing in panic...
...
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