What Gratitude?

"Enough, all of you, quiet down!"

Manji raised his hand slightly.

At these words, Kurama and Shukaku immediately fell silent.

Manji strolled over to a wooden chair and sat down, his azure robes fluttering with the movement as his gaze swept across the nine tailed beasts of various forms before him.

After decades of growth, these tailed beasts had grown to be roughly the size of the giant toads of Mount Myōboku.

Manji's initially stern expression gradually softened, and he spoke in a calm tone: "How many years have you been with me?"

As soon as he asked, the noisy plaza went deathly quiet. The nine tailed beasts fell into deep thought, each tilting their heads and counting on their claws, tentacles, or tails.

Shukaku scratched circles in the sand, Kurama flicked his tails while counting his fur, and Isobu submerged himself in the water, blowing bubbles—the scene was quite comical.

A moment later, the two-tailed Matatabi flicked her flaming tails and spoke first.

"Teacher, we have been with you for exactly twenty-six years!" Matatabi said.

Manji smiled upon hearing this.

"Twenty-six years, how time flies. In all these years with me, how much have you learned?" Manji asked again.

"Me, me! Let me!"

The eight-tailed Gyūki immediately surged forward, waving his octopus tentacles, his tone filled with respect: "We have learned so much! You taught us to read and write, taught us the great principles of distinguishing right from wrong, and taught us not to act recklessly with our power, but to understand restraint and respect!"

"Mm, me too!"

Kurama nodded heavily from the side, his fluffy tails resting docilely in front of him. The usual arrogance had vanished without a trace, leaving only pure respect in his eyes; though he didn't speak, his gaze said it all.

"And cooking!"

"The grilled meat you taught us to make, I can make it even better than Gamamaru now!" The four-tailed Son Gokū hugged his wine gourd, grinning brightly.

"You also taught me how to precisely control Water Release, so I don't flood half of Mount Myōboku every time I get excited like I used to." The three-tailed Isobu poked his head out of the water, adding in a muffled voice.

"You taught us how to master our own power!"

"We used to lose control whenever we lost our tempers, but now, even when we are angry, we can still maintain our composure," said the seven-tailed Chōmei.

The six-tailed Saiken and the five-tailed Kokuō also nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with gratitude.

Manji listened quietly and nodded slowly.

After a moment of contemplation, his tone shifted, and his expression turned serious as he spoke each word clearly:

"You have learned well, and you have grown up. Now, it is time for you to leave."

"What?!"

The words struck like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky. The expressions of the nine tailed beasts changed instantly; their joy and pride vanished, replaced by utter shock and confusion.

Shukaku and Kurama exchanged glances, instantly panicking!

Thinking that their previous fighting had angered their teacher, they scrambled to throw themselves in front of Manji.

"Teacher! I was wrong!"

Shukaku's sand slumped, and he rubbed against Manji's chair, looking aggrieved.

"I shouldn't have fought with Kurama, I won't ever do it again! Please, don't send us away, okay?" Shukaku pleaded.

Kurama also set aside his pride for once, his tails tightly coiled together, his voice carrying a trace of hidden panic: "Teacher, it is my fault. I shouldn't have mocked Shukaku, and I shouldn't have started a dispute with him."

"We won't cause trouble anymore, please don't make us leave, will you?"

The other tailed beasts crowded around, pleading in a cacophony of voices.

Gyūki waved his tentacles in support: "Teacher, we can't bear to leave you! Mount Myōboku is our home!"

Son Gokū tossed his wine gourd aside, scratching his head in distress: "That's right, Teacher, we still want to follow you and learn more!"

Kokuō's eyes even turned red, looking as if he were about to cry.

"You all..."

Manji looked at their panicked expressions and shook his head gently: "Don't panic, it is not because of your fighting."

Manji paused, recalling the promise he had made to Hagoromo years ago, and explained slowly:

"I once made a promise to someone. You were originally one chakra, and it was he who divided you into nine parts. He hoped that you would walk out of Mount Myōboku, understand humans, integrate with them, and if you are willing in the future, help them."

The nine tailed beasts gradually quieted down, their eyes turning dazed.

Manji had indeed mentioned these things to them decades ago, but back then they were merely tiny balls of fluff, and their memories had long since blurred. Hearing it all again now, a complex mix of emotions stirred within them.

"Of course," Manji's tone softened considerably. "I will not force you."

"You have the freedom to choose. You may choose not to help humanity, but do not use your power to commit evil or bully the weak."

The atmosphere in the plaza turned sorrowful in an instant; the Tailed Beasts hung their heads one by one, remaining silent.

"Teacher, will... will we ever be able to see you again?"

Kokuō, always the most sensitive, crept cautiously toward Manji, her voice thick with tears.

"Of course you can."

Manji stood up and gently stroked the top of Kokuō's head. The warmth of his touch made her lean into him involuntarily.

Manji looked at all the Tailed Beasts, his tone gentle. "You are all my fine disciples, each one of you exceptional. While Mount Myōboku is a good place, the world is vast, and you deserve to see its wonders. As for whether or not to help humans, do not feel pressured. Just follow your own hearts."

These words only deepened the sorrowful mood.

Kurama turned his face away. He had never been good with words, but the reluctance to part surged within him, and his eyes grew red before he knew it, crystalline tears welling up.

"Hey, Kurama, why are you crying?"

Shukaku caught the anomaly at a glance and asked instinctively.

"You bastard!"

"Who's crying! It's just that you're too close, and your damn sand got into my eyes!"

Kurama bristled instantly, whipping his head around to roar at Shukaku.

As soon as these words were out, the sorrowful atmosphere was shattered. The other Tailed Beasts wanted to laugh, but their tears flowed uncontrollably nonetheless.

Son Gokū wiped his eyes and said in a strained voice, "Damn it! Shukaku, it must be your sand! It got into all of our eyes!"

"Exactly! I can barely open my eyes!"

Saiken chimed in while sobbing, clearly unwilling to admit his own reluctance to part, choosing instead to pin the blame on Shukaku.

Shukaku was left bewildered. He looked down at the sand on his own body, then at his weeping companions, and began to hop in frustration. "Nonsense! My sand isn't that powerful! You're all just crying because you want to!"

Despite his words, his own eyes were gradually turning red.

Manji watched this scene of weeping and bickering, a sense of reluctance rising in his own heart.

After twenty-six years of living side by side, these little ones had become like his own children. How could he not feel moved now that he had to send them away?

Gamamaru squatted to the side, secretly wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, and feigned a heroic tone. "Don't you worry! If you ever get bullied out there, just report my name, Gamamaru! I guarantee no one will dare touch a single hair on your heads!"

"Waaah... Gamamaru..."

Isobu sobbed, "Back when I was at Mount Myōboku, it was precisely because I reported your name that those old toads beat me even harder..."

Gamamaru: "..."

Gamamaru's face froze instantly. He scratched his head in embarrassment, stiffened his neck, and argued, "Th-that was in the past! Give it a few hundred years and then report it! Once the old-timers at Mount Myōboku retire, it'll be my turn to be the boss! I'll make sure to cover you then!"

The Tailed Beasts were amused into laughter, and the sorrowful atmosphere faded significantly.

Manji looked at them, sighed softly, and then smiled. "Alright, all good things must come to an end, and we shall meet again. Once you are out there, take good care of yourselves."

"Waaah, Teacher! We will definitely repay your kindness in raising us!"

Matatabi said through her tears, her gaze resolute.

Hearing this, Manji's expression grew complex.

He knew these Tailed Beasts too well; they were overflowing with a sense of justice and could not tolerate even a grain of sand in their eyes. Yet, human society was incredibly complex—never black and white, but a vast gray area.

With their temperaments, they would inevitably intervene when they saw injustice, leading to no end of trouble as they sought to settle scores.

"Don't talk about repaying kindness. In the future, if you cause trouble, just make sure not to mention your teacher, and that will be enough."

Manji spoke in a deep tone.

Seeing the atmosphere threaten to turn heavy again, he added half-jokingly, "I'm afraid if you mention me, no one will dare to trouble you."

"Huh?"

The Tailed Beasts were stunned for a moment before they realized his meaning, bursting into laughter. With tears still hanging on their faces, they looked both ridiculous and endearing.

Manji looked at them and smiled slightly. "I am usually at Mount Myōboku. If you encounter something you cannot solve, you may also seek out my other disciple. His name is Hagoromo—the one who split you into nine parts—and he will help you."

The nine Tailed Beasts immediately stopped laughing and nodded heavily, their eyes filled with solemnity.

Manji taught them the method for the Tailed Beast Bomb to use for self-defense, then sent them off one by one to various parts of the world to begin their new lives.

What shocked Manji was that his own faith had actually become prevalent across this land.

This was something Manji had not expected.

He never imagined that his actions back then would cause such a massive ripple.

He had inadvertently turned his small shrine into the world's number one religion.

This was all thanks to the foundation laid by Kaguya, as well as Hagoromo's tireless preaching throughout the Ninja World over these years.

At this rate, the Sage of Six Paths won't be Hagoromo, it will be me...

Manji couldn't help but sigh.