Tie Kui's Past, Gyuki Appears

Senju Fujima suddenly remembered that when he had first met Tie Kui, she seemed to have been hostile toward him. Puzzled, he asked,

"It's because of the despicable Uchiha Clan in your village."

"The Uchiha Clan ruined my mother's life, and now you've established a village."

"Did you think that meant I wouldn't hate all of Konoha?"

"Now the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan have joined forces. No one can stand against you."

"But we'll remember everything you've done to us. We'll never forget."

When Tie Kui heard Senju Fujima ask about it, she glared at him and scolded him angrily.

"Huh?"

"The Uchiha Clan ruined your mother's life?"

"What happened?"

"Can you tell me about it? I have some influence in the village. Maybe I can help!"

Senju Fujima frowned as he listened. So Tie Kui had a grudge against the Uchiha Clan, but now the Uchiha and Senju Clans had founded Konoha.

She had transferred her old hatred of the Uchiha Clan to all of Konoha. Puzzled, he asked,

"My mother's name is Tie Lan. She was originally the eldest daughter of the Tie family in the Land of Iron."

"But the Uchiha Clan later took a job, accepted payment, and wiped out our Tie Clan."

"My mother was only sixteen at the time. She was out on a spring outing beyond the Land of Iron. When she returned, all she found were corpses."

"My mother wept bitterly. Her entire family had been slaughtered, and she was the only one left."

"Later, a man from the Uchiha Clan who was cleaning up after the massacre saw my mother and abducted her."

"That's how I came to be. But he died in battle."

"So my mother took me and slipped back into the Land of Iron, where we lived under assumed names."

"Three years ago, my mother passed away too, leaving me all alone in the world."

"I'll never forgive the Uchiha Clan."

"Waaah...!"

Tie Kui suddenly remembered the past, and tears streamed down her face. Thinking of her poor mother, whom she hadn't been able to protect, filled her with grief.

"Huh?"

"That really happened?"

"It's a bit melodramatic, but things like that happened all the time during the Warring States period."

"Before war, without power, everything else is meaningless."

"Sigh...!"

Seeing Tie Kui's tear-streaked face, Senju Fujima sighed and murmured to himself.

"I'm sorry for what you went through, but that's how things were during the Warring States period."

"It was either you killed me or I killed you. Either you died or I did."

"Look at the whole Ninja World. Which clan doesn't have a blood feud?"

"But there's no changing it now. It's already history."

"If you want to change things, you have to change the present, not the past."

Seeing how pitiful Tie Kui looked, Senju Fujima moved closer and offered her his shoulder. He spoke softly beside her ear.

"Does being strong mean you can do whatever you want?"

"Do the weak deserve to die?"

"Even ants struggle to survive. Why couldn't they just stop fighting?"

Tie Kui kept sobbing. With tear-blurred eyes, she looked at Senju Fujima and asked,

"That's right. The strong can do whatever they want."

"That's true in any world."

"Only by becoming strong yourself can you stand against the strength of others."

"If they're strong and you're weak, all you can do is take a beating."

"That's reality. Being human means having interests at stake."

"Some people want money, some want power, and others want happiness."

"But to get what they want, they have to keep fighting until they become the strongest."

"But I'm changing the whole world. Everything will eventually give way to peace."

"I'd like to wake up comfortably every day, eat, stroll around, travel, and sleep."

"Maybe you'll live to see that day."

Senju Fujima looked at Tie Kui earnestly and spoke with feeling.

"Could a world like that really exist?"

"Living in this world is so exhausting. So exhausting."

"Sometimes, I really wish I could just die."

Tie Kui gazed out at the endless sea and spoke softly.

"What are you thinking?"

"Things will get better from now on."

"You could still marry a man you love and live a happy life."

"Your life is just beginning. You can't give up so easily."

Hearing Tie Kui's words, Senju Fujima smiled gently and patted her shoulder.

"Someone I love? A happy life?"

Tie Kui glanced at Senju Fujima beside her, then shook her head with a bitter smile. A trace of helplessness flashed in her eyes.

"Don't overthink it."

"Let's soak in a hot spring in the Land of Hot Water later. It'll help you relax. My treat."

Senju Fujima smiled at Tie Kui.

"But sharing a room might be cheaper. How about we bathe in the same bath?"

Senju Fujima then teased Tie Kui.

"Get lost."

"Who wants to bathe with you?"

"Shameless."

Tie Kui's face instantly turned red at Senju Fujima's suggestion. She quickly retorted in embarrassment and anger.

"Heh. Good, you're feeling better."

"Let's go!"

"We're almost there. We'll find somewhere to soak in a hot spring when we land."

Seeing Tie Kui had perked up a little, Senju Fujima shrugged, then guided the Wooden Bird downward. When they were close to the ground, he jumped off.

"Hmph, men."

Tie Kui watched Senju Fujima jump down. A strange light flickered in her eyes, though she only gave a cold snort before jumping down after him.

The two of them then went into a hot spring bathhouse and headed straight for the baths.

"Ah...!"

"A bath feels so good!"

"It's the best way to ease your fatigue."

Senju Fujima floated on the water, enjoying the soothing hot spring. It felt absolutely wonderful.

Meanwhile, Hashirama Senju had also received reports from the Anbu that a Tailed Beast had been spotted. He and Hashirama left one person behind to guard Konoha, while the other set off to capture the Tailed Beast.

"Roar...!"

"Get the hell away from me!"

A group of Konoha Ninja had surrounded Gyuki. They had been scouting it, but Gyuki spotted them and flew into a rage, knocking them all away.

"Argh...!"

Several Anbu were sent flying by Gyuki. They hit the ground coughing blood, unable to fight any longer.

"You're all going to die!"

"Tailed Beast Bomb!"

Gyuki instantly formed a Tailed Beast Bomb and hurled it straight at the Anbu.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

The Tailed Beast Bomb quickly surged toward the Anbu with unstoppable force.