"This chakra... feels a little familiar... are you from Kirigakure?"
Uchiha Minamoto said nothing. He stepped back twice, leaving Mei Terumi and Isobu room to talk.
"That's right."
Mei Terumi took a step forward, tilting her head up to study the colossal creature before her.
The terrifying pressure unique to a tailed beast made her heart flutter with unease.
But at the thought of Uchiha Minamoto standing nearby, Mei Terumi was no longer afraid of anything.
"Lord... Three-Tails, I am Kirigakure's Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi."
"Don't call me lord. I have my own name. Call me Isobu."
Isobu blinked his single eye, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"But... you're the Fifth? Did that kid Karatachi Yagura die?"
"No, Karatachi Yagura is still alive."
Mei Terumi answered truthfully.
"He joined Lord Minamoto's Great Love Group. He now goes by Pangolin and serves as the minister of the Great Love Group Kirigakure Branch."
At the name "Pangolin," Isobu swished all three of his enormous gray tails at once.
Perhaps it was just his imagination.
Isobu seemed to hear malice in that code name-and a certain sort of malice from Uchiha Minamoto, at that.
"I see."
Isobu looked at Mei Terumi.
"Did you come all this way just to tell me how Karatachi Yagura is doing?"
"Not just that. Karatachi Yagura asked me to give you a message."
Mei Terumi paused, then relayed Karatachi Yagura's words.
"He said, 'I'm sorry, Isobu. Thank you for staying with me all these years.'"
Isobu fell silent. His enormous single eye stared at Mei Terumi for a long while before he slowly spoke.
"...That brat. He was the one being controlled. What's he apologizing for?"
Isobu slowly sank into the water.
"Mei Terumi, tell him to let bygones be bygones. I've never hated him.
"Tell