The Reed Hideout.
"Kumogakure has fallen. Raikage A is dead, and so is Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki."
Shinji looked at Yugito, who sat on the sofa.
She stared back at him with hatred.
"I know what you're thinking. I destroyed your home and killed your comrades, so you hate me."
"But..."
Shinji glanced at her abdomen. "Do you really think they saw you as one of them? What about the cold looks you got as a child? You thought being a Jinchūriki meant you'd been entrusted with some great duty, so you trained hard to earn the villagers' approval. But when war came, they'd release you like a beast to fight their enemies. Even if you appeared in the village in your Tailed Beast form, no one would be proud of you!"
"They'd only see a Monster!"
"In the end, you were just a tool. A weapon of war. They'd placate you when they needed you and abandon you when they didn't. They might even kill you."
Yugito turned her head away with a disdainful look.
Shinji nearly lost his patience.
What's going on?
Why can't I ever get the hang of talking people around?
He sighed inwardly.
Still, Shinji decided to try one last time.
He said earnestly, "Do you know who Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is? Let me tell you his story..."
Some time later.
Shinji took a sip of tea and cleared his throat.
At last, something seemed to stir in Yugito's eyes. "Y-you've only given me one example. I know about the Nine-Tails' Attack, but ordinary people didn't know the truth!"
"Everything you said happened to Naruto Uzumaki because Konoha didn't have a good leader. It doesn't prove anything!"
"Oh... doesn't it?" Shinji chuckled. "Then let me tell you another story. Do you know who Sunagakure's