"Does this girl really not treat herself like a person?"
"So many hidden injuries? I wonder how she trained."
"That's not how you practice swordsmanship, is it? I doubt she even has a teacher. Poor thing."
While treating Tie Kui, Senju Fujima discovered that she had many hidden injuries. They had accumulated over time, and he couldn't help sighing as a faint, inexplicable look of concern passed through his eyes.
She was only eleven or twelve, yet she was pushing herself so hard. So many hidden injuries meant she'd been training incorrectly all along; otherwise, she wouldn't have accumulated so many.
"When did I become so sentimental?"
"She's just my little sidekick."
"But as my little sidekick, she can't be too weak."
"Otherwise, she won't be able to fight by my side in the future. You'll have to work harder!"
He reached out and gently stroked Tie Kui's hair. The corners of Senju Fujima's mouth lifted slightly, and then he got up and walked out.
"Hmph. Your father's a gambling addict, and you're a pervert. I've figured you out."
Just then, Kurama, who had been tucked inside Senju Fujima's clothes the whole time, poked his head out and said as he looked at him.
"What?"
"Kurama, what are you talking about?"
"I know my father's a gambling addict, but when did I become a pervert?"
"I didn't do anything. Don't you dare accuse me."
Senju Fujima saw Kurama suddenly pop out and heard what he said. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he grabbed the Nine-Tails and protested a little guiltily.
"Yeah, I saw you just now. You secretly stroked her hair."
"And when you were in the water, I knew what you were thinking. You didn't block your thoughts, so I heard everything."
"You said she was 'well-endowed,' though I don't understand what that means."
"But you must have been thinking something filthy."
"So how are you not a pervert?"
"And then there's Shizuka Uchiha. Ugh...!"
"Just thinking about her gives me the creeps. One word: disgusting."
"No, that's two words."
Kurama looked at Senju Fujima, turned his head, and curled his lip.
"You, you...!"
Hearing Kurama say that, Senju Fujima didn't know how to explain himself. No matter what he said, it seemed like he'd be in the wrong.
"What do you mean, 'you'?"
"Humans are disgusting. They're filthy."
"We Tailed Beasts are better. We do nothing but eat and sleep."
"We don't have all your troubles."
Kurama crossed his forepaws over his chest and looked at Senju Fujima disdainfully.
"Do you know what does nothing but eat and sleep?"
"Pigs! That's pigs! Hahaha...!"
Hearing Kurama say that, Senju Fujima found it hilarious. Whenever he heard about a creature that did nothing but eat and sleep, the image of a pig immediately popped into his head. The association was too deeply rooted to change, and he couldn't help laughing.
"What? You dare compare us great Tailed Beasts to livestock?"
"I'll kill you! Take this...!"
The Nine-Tails and Senju Fujima immediately started tussling.
After who knew how long, Senju Fujima was covered in scratches, but he was in high spirits. He lay on the grass beside the Nine-Tails, gazing up at the darkening sky.
"Kurama, what's your dream?"
Lying on the grass, the scratches on his face healed in an instant. Senju Fujima rested his hands behind his head, crossed his legs, and gazed up at the moon as he asked casually.
"A dream?"
"I don't have one. As long as you humans leave me alone, I'll be grateful."
"But, as you've seen, you sealed me."
Kurama copied Senju Fujima's pose, crossing his legs with a blade of grass hanging from his mouth. His gaze grew distant, as if he were lost in thought.
"Is that so?"
"You're too powerful. Your very existence is a threat."
"So there will always be people trying everything they can to capture and seal you."
"In the future, I'll research how to turn your souls into human forms."
"When I used to dream, I saw lots of monsters who could transform into human form once they reached a certain level of power."
"I think you can do it too."
"As long as you can take human form and conceal your presence, no one will realize you're a Tailed Beast."
"Then no one will bother you anymore."
Senju Fujima turned to look at the comical Nine-Tails beside him and smiled faintly.
"Turn into human form?"
"Like you Jinchūriki?"
"Except I'd be the one controlling my own body?"
"That sounds interesting."
"But our bodies are made of chakra, so taking human form would be very difficult."
"An ordinary body couldn't withstand our power."
"Only a body like yours could work, right?"
"But there are only two bodies like yours in the entire Ninja World."
"Even Madara Uchiha couldn't withstand my immense chakra."
"Unless he had the blood of your Senju Clan, but how likely is that?"
The Nine-Tails turned to face Senju Fujima. The two exchanged clear-eyed looks, and Kurama shook his head.
"My body might work."
"But I'll have to look into it. Cloning a body shouldn't be a problem."
"Then I can use my cells to clone a body for you and transfer your soul into it."
"Then you'll be able to live normally, just like us."
"Don't worry!"
"I'll figure something out."
Senju Fujima smiled faintly. Now that he had Orochimaru's Father, he was sure he could develop a clone body eventually.
And since he himself was immortal, the clone should be able to achieve the same thing without affecting the Nine-Tails' ability to fight.
"We'll see."
The Nine-Tails smiled faintly, then gazed up at the sky and said no more.
Before they knew it, the human and the beast had fallen asleep on the grass.
"Hm?"
"Where am I?"
"Where is he?"
Tie Kui woke from her faint. She saw that she was tucked under a blanket and lying in bed, and she felt puzzled.
"My injuries?"
"I feel like all my hidden injuries have healed?"
"How?"
"Was it him? Why is he so nice to me?"
Tie Kui shook her head, climbed out of bed, and headed for the door.
"Creak...!"
When Tie Kui opened the door, she saw Senju Fujima and a fox sleeping on the ground, and she was slightly startled.
"Did he give me the house and keep watch outside?"
"This man is so strange."
Seeing Senju Fujima lying on the ground, Tie Kui shook her head.
"Hm?"
"Oh...!"
Senju Fujima heard Tie Kui open the door and woke with a start. He sat up and stretched.
Before you continue