The Story of the Elephant and the Little White Cat

Chapter 8: The Story of the Elephant and the Little White Cat [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

Appearing once more in the sealed space where the Two-Tails resided.

He looked at the colossal beast, as large as a mountain, lying on the ground with its eyes half-closed, resting.

Having entered this space many times now, Toneri actually felt a bit sorry for the Two-Tails.

This sealed space, devoid of any scenery, with no privacy, and no entertainment.

At least, Toneri had a sachet to play with.

The most common state he'd seen the Two-Tails in was lying on the ground in a fenced-off cage, sleeping with its eyes half-closed.

In reality, how could there be so much sleep to be had?

Although the Two-Tails was a cat and might be relatively lazier, it couldn't possibly spend all its time lying on the ground sleeping.

It was merely out of helplessness.

And this helplessness had continued for who knows how many years for the Two-Tails.

Ever since it was sealed within a Jinchūriki, it had been imprisoned in such a dark and lightless sealed space, changing countless Jinchūriki.

Its only conversational partner was the Jinchūriki.

But as long as they knew what kind of existence the Two-Tails was, the Jinchūriki would definitely not be willing to interact with it proactively. They wouldn't even need to talk; they'd be too busy trying to escape.

Even if a few people could suppress the fear in their hearts and attempt to communicate with the Two-Tails, it would be for the power it held.

Towards these people, the Two-Tails would usually only pay attention when it was in a good mood, and ignore them completely when it was not.

This was also why, among the Two-Tails' later Jinchūriki, only Yugito could get along with it amicably.

It was because she was only two years old when she became a Jinchūriki, had no concept of the Two-Tails' existence, didn't understand it, and therefore wasn't afraid.

Ignorance breeds fearlessness.

The current Toneri also didn't feel much fear towards the Two-Tails.

Although he had been scared when he first met the Two-Tails, after a few days of interaction, Toneri realized that the Two-Tails wasn't actually that terrifying. Many people simply subjectively believed Tailed Beasts to be terrifying existences and were unwilling to interact with them much.

If you haven't even tried to understand it, yet you already find it terrifying and difficult to communicate with, how could you possibly have an equal exchange with it?

How would you know its depths?

How would you let it know your strengths?

How... cough cough...

As if sensing the pity and commiseration in Toneri's eyes, The Two-Tails slowly opened its eyes.

"Little one, what's with that look in your eyes?! Are you pitying me?" the Two-Tails grumbled, its voice carrying little anger, but rather a sense of fatigue.

These past few days, this little fellow had been running into the sealed space whenever he had free time.

And he'd been buzzing in its ears—

Non-stop, talking about things it found very interesting.

Though some of those things were indeed quite interesting.

Cough cough—

From its initial death glare challenge, to later trying to possess Toneri's body with its energy, none of it had succeeded.

After a few more attempts, none had any effect.

The willpower of this current Jinchūriki was stronger than it had anticipated.

He had even slowly found a way to counter it!

During the last attempt, this little guy named Toneri had only lost consciousness for less than a second before instantly recovering.

And then he'd happily continued telling it those so-called jokes...

This was the first time the Two-Tails felt that having an unstable seal was a bad thing!

The other party could enter and exit freely.

Coming and going as he pleased...

If only its injuries hadn't healed yet...

"Oh my, beautiful lady, please don't mind me. My look just now didn't mean anything else. I just feel it's a bit pitiful that you've always been confined in this fence, sealed in this dark and lightless space.

After all, the world outside is so beautiful..."

Toneri waved his hand at the Two-Tails, putting on an expression that said, "Don't get agitated, let's talk calmly."

Two-Tails: "..."

Speechless.

This kid's mouth was incredibly sharp. It had already given up trying to argue with him.

"Since you think I'm pitiful and shouldn't be confined in this fence, then just tear off the seal in the middle of the gate," the Two-Tails said weakly, lying on the ground.

It needed to lick its own wounds every day, and on top of that, it had to listen to this brat's endless chatter. It really didn't have the energy to get angry.

"That won't do, Big Beauty. Don't think I don't know, this seal is the most crucial thing. Without it, you'll break free from my body's restraint, and then I'll be the one suffering."

Toneri waved his hand again and found a relatively clean spot on the ground to sit cross-legged.

He was so used to it here that his butt was practically imprinted on the ground.

A butt print.

"Today, I'll tell you a story about an elephant and a little white cat!"

Toneri coughed lightly, clearing his throat.

Whether the Two-Tails paid attention to him or not was not something he cared about.

"Once upon a time—there was an elephant walking in the forest.

Because the elephant had an urgent need, he couldn't help but poop in the forest.

But after he finished pooping, he realized he hadn't brought any toilet paper!

Just then, a little white cat strolled by, exuding an air of noble aloofness. You could tell at a glance it was a... Persian cat!"

Although the Two-Tails remained silent, it heard a term it had never heard before.

"What is a Persian cat?"

"It's a type of cat, but these cats are a bit special. Some of them have different eye colors.

Hey, don't interrupt me, listen to me finish first!!"

"..."

For some reason, the Two-Tails had a vague, bad feeling.

Different eye colors?

Its own eyes were different colors because they could see into the Yin and Yang realms.

Was he hinting at it?

Unconsciously, the Two-Tails, lying listlessly on the ground, quietly pricked up its ears, wanting to hear what Toneri really wanted to say.

"So, the elephant asked, 'Hey, little white cat, do you shed?'

The little cat raised its head with extreme haughtiness, 'You shed, your whole family sheds!'

The elephant wasn't angry at being told off by the cat; what a good temper!

Then... the little white cat turned into a little orange cat..."

The Two-Tails was stunned and spoke again, "Why?!"

This time, Toneri didn't blame the Two-Tails for asking. He looked at the Two-Tails as if it were an idiot.

"Isn't it obvious? Because the elephant had no toilet paper, and the little white cat was just the right color for toilet paper!

And it didn't shed, and it was soft, and it smelled nice..."

Two-Tails: "..."

The Two-Tails stared at Toneri with wide eyes, an expression of disbelief.

So...

Everything was implied!

"I'm not done yet, don't interrupt me again!

Once again, the elephant was eating in the forest. After enjoying his meal, he realized he had forgotten his toilet paper again. He was covered in food and it wouldn't be appropriate or polite to see his friends like this, so he looked around for something.

Persistence pays off! He soon spotted a little squirrel walking by!

The elephant asked, 'Little squirrel, do you shed?'

The little squirrel looked at the elephant, hesitated and was silent for a moment, then shook its head and said, 'No, I don't shed.'

So, the elephant was very happy and picked up the little squirrel to wipe his mouth.

He felt the squirrel's fur was really soft, just a little bit smelly.

Little did he know that as soon as he put the squirrel down, he heard the squirrel say expressionlessly, 'I was the little white cat from yesterday!'

Hahahaha—I'm dying of laughter!

Hahahaha—So funny!!

Big Beauty, isn't this hilarious?

Little white cat, little squirrel, hahahaha—"

The Two-Tails' expression was solemn: "..."

After finishing the story, Toneri clutched his stomach and rolled madly on the ground.

But the Two-Tails slowly stood up, and the temperature in the entire space began to rise!

Toneri finally noticed the Two-Tails' abnormal state and his movements instantly froze.

Ryo's two eyes blinked as they looked at Two-Tails.

Two-Tails stared back at Toneri.

"I'll come find you later! Gotta go!"

With that, Toneri vanished from the sealed space.

Two-Tails remained frozen for a long time before reluctantly lying back down on the ground.

However, its expression wasn't as angry as it had seemed, and there was even a faint, almost imperceptible smile on its face.

Perhaps... it found the joke amusing too.

"This little guy..."

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