Lin bit her lip and followed.
The two of them walked towards the iron door step by step. The closer they got, the more oppressive Lin could feel.
The oppressive feeling was as heavy as a mountain, weighing her down so much that she could hardly breathe.
Finally, the two stopped in front of the iron gate.
Behind the iron door, there was a deep breathing sound.
"Human..."
Three-Tails's voice came from behind the iron door, low and hoarse, as if it was squeezed out from deep in the throat.
"I'm going to kill you..."
Lin opened her mouth, but found that she could not speak.
The feeling of oppression was too strong.
It was like standing at the bottom of a deep sea, with endless darkness and pressure in all directions, making even breathing difficult.
"Don't be afraid."
Senju Chen's voice sounded next to Rin Nohara. It was very soft, but it was inexplicably reassuring.
Lin turned her head and saw Senju Chen standing beside her, with that gentle smile still on her face.
"It's just testing you." Senju Chen said, "Tailed Beast is like this, he likes to use his momentum to overwhelm people."
"But..." Lin bit her lip, "I... I don't know what to say..."
"Then let me do it."
Senju Chen took a step forward, stood in front of the iron gate, raised his head, and looked directly into those red eyes.
"Three-Tails Isobu." His voice was calm, "I am Senju Chen."
There was silence for a moment behind the iron gate.
Then, Three-Tails's voice sounded again, this time with a hint of ridicule.
"You guys, use us Tailed Beast as tools and distribute them to various villages. What do you want to do now?"
Senju Chen smiled.
"I'll..." Senju Chen paused, "I'll negotiate a deal with you."
Three-Tails was stunned for a moment.
"Deal?"
"Yes." Senju Chen nodded, "You should know that Rin Nohara is now your Jinchūriki. Whether you like it or not, the two of you are already tied together."
"So?" Three-Tails's voice turned cold, "You want me to be obedient? I'm dreaming!"
"I didn't tell you to obey." Senju Chen's tone remained calm, "I just want to tell you that she is not your enemy."
"Not an enemy?" Three-Tails sneered, "She is a human! All humans are my enemies!"
"You are wrong."
Senju Chen's voice suddenly became sharp.
"Humans have indeed done a lot of wrong things. But she is different. She has never thought of taking advantage of you, even... she has been afraid of hurting you."
Lin's body stiffened.
She didn't expect that Senju Chen would say that.
"Afraid of hurting me?" Three-Tails's voice was filled with a hint of sarcasm, "Would humans be afraid of hurting Tailed Beast? This is the funniest joke I've ever heard."
"You don't believe it?" Senju Chen turned his head and looked at Lin, "Lin, tell it."
Lin was stunned.
She looked into Senju Chen's gentle eyes, took a deep breath, and then turned to the iron door.
"Three-Tails..." Her voice was very soft, with a hint of trembling, "I... I know you hate me. I also know that it must be painful for you to be sealed in my body."
"But..." Lin bit her lip, "I never wanted to take advantage of you. I just... just wanted to get along with you."
Behind the iron gate, there was silence.
Three-Tails's breathing became heavier.
"Get along well?" Its voice was full of sarcasm, "You humans always say nice things. But in the end? Don't you use us as weapons?"
"I won't." Lin's voice suddenly became firm, "I swear, I will never use you as a weapon."
"Swear?" Three-Tails sneered, "Human oaths are worthless."
"Then what do you want?" Senju Chen suddenly spoke, his tone becoming colder, "You can't do anything if you stay in this seal forever?"
Three-Tails's breathing stopped for a moment.
"You..."
"I know what you are thinking." Senju Chen's voice was very calm, "You want to break through the seal and escape. But have you ever thought about what happens next even if you escape?"
"Then?" Three-Tails's voice was filled with anger, "Then I will be free!"
"Freedom?" Senju Chen smiled, a bit mockingly, "Where do you think you can escape to in your current state?"
"Konoha, Kirigakure, and even other villages are all staring at you. As soon as you show up, countless ninjas will immediately hunt you down. By then, can you still be free?"
Three-Tails was silent.
It knows that what Senju Chen said is true.
"But if you are willing to cooperate with Lin..." Senju Chen's tone suddenly became gentle, "You can gain freedom in another way."
"In what way?"
"She can take you to see the world." Senju Chen said, "Not as a weapon, but as a companion. You can see the sea, forests, mountains and rivers... everything you want to see."
Three-Tails's breathing became rapid.
"You... you are lying to me..."
"I'm not lying to you." Senju Chen shook his head, "She is a kind girl. As long as you are willing to believe in her, she will definitely take you to see the world."
"I..." Three-Tails's voice was filled with hesitation, "Why should I believe you?"
"You don't need to believe me." Senju Chen said, "You just need to try to believe her. After all, you will get along for a long time in the future."
Behind the iron gate, there was silence for a long time.
Lin could feel that Three-Tails's emotions were fluctuating violently.
Anger, doubt, hesitation... all kinds of emotions are intertwined together, like a mess.
After a long while, Three-Tails suddenly spoke.
"I... I need time to think."
Senju Chen smiled.
"Okay." He nodded, "But before that, I hope you can promise me something."
"What's the matter?"
"Stop attacking Lin's spirit." Senju Chen's tone became serious, "She is your Jinchūriki. If she dies, who can guarantee whether your next Jinchūriki will be as kind as her."
Three-Tails was silent.
Senju Chen nodded with satisfaction.
"Then let's take our leave first."
He turned around and pulled Lin back.
Lin looked back at the iron door, and suddenly a complex emotion surged in her heart.
She knows that Three-Tails has not fully accepted her.
But at least... it's willing to consider it.
Just when the two were about to leave the spiritual world.
Behind the iron gate, a low roar suddenly came.
"Wait..."
Senju Chen stopped and turned around.
"What's wrong?"
"You..." Three-Tails's voice was filled with hesitation, "What you just said... are they true?"
"Of course it's true." Senju Chen smiled, "I never tell lies."
"Then..." Three-Tails's voice suddenly became deeper, "What if I don't agree?"
Senju Chen's smile disappeared.
He turned around and looked directly into those red eyes,