Willowisp's roaring still echoed above the training grounds at Scott Outpost.
"Orphie! Explain yourself! Why! Why did you kiss him! Do you know he has a girlfriend! Do you know that makes you the other woman! Do you know-"
"Captain! Keep your voice down!"
Orphie covered her face, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. "I-I just... got carried away..."
"You kissed a man because you got carried away?! You call that getting carried away?! Then can I 'get carried away' and shoot him in the head?!"
"Senior Willowisp, calm down." Lin Shuo tried to smooth things over.
"Calm down, my ass!"
Willowisp's muzzle swung toward Lin Shuo, electric sparks crackling.
"And you! Lin Shuo! You already have that girl Ukinami, yet you're still messing around with Orphie! Do you know that makes you a scumbag! A two-timer! A-"
"Captain!" Orphie suddenly raised her voice.
Willowisp fell silent.
Orphie took a deep breath. The blush had yet to fade from her face, but her eyes turned serious.
"I made the first move."
"Lin Shuo had nothing to do with it."
"You-"
"And another thing."
Orphie lowered her voice, a hint of threat in it. "If you keep shouting like this, Captain, I'm ordering a custom pink holster tomorrow. One with lace trim."
The training grounds instantly fell silent.
Even the soldiers drilling in the distance unconsciously quieted their movements.
Willowisp's tail froze in midair. The sparks at her muzzle flickered twice, then went out.
"...You wouldn't dare."
"I really would."
Orphie nodded seriously. "I'll even ask them to embroider 'Cute Little Willowisp-chan' on it."
"You-!!!"
Willowisp's tail trembled with anger, but she simply didn't dare keep yelling.
Watching from the side, Lin Shuo couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from lifting.
Sure enough, everything had its match.
Orphie looked delicate, but she had her own ways of handling the hot-tempered Captain Willowisp.
"Hmph! Fine! I'm done!" Willowisp finally flicked her tail in surrender. "Do whatever you want! Just don't come crying to me when something happens!"
With that, she "shut down"-the indicator light at the tip of her tail dimmed. Clearly, she was so angry that she had cut off external communications outright.
Orphie breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Lin Shuo, her face reddening again.
"...Sorry, Lin Shuo. I caused you trouble."
"It's fine."
Lin Shuo shook his head.
"But aren't you afraid Senior Willowisp will really get angry?"
"She won't," Orphie said quietly. "Captain just talks tough. She actually dotes on me... and..."
She paused, her voice growing even quieter. "She actually likes you quite a bit too. She just won't admit it."
Lin Shuo froze for a moment.
Willowisp liked him?
The kind of liking where she yelled at him, scolded him, and called him a nuisance all day?
"...That's a pretty unique way of showing it."
"That's just how Captain is." Orphie smiled.
"The more she cares about someone, the harsher she is with them, because she's afraid something will happen to them."
She looked at Lin Shuo, a gentle light in her green eyes. "So, Lin Shuo, Captain was that angry because she was worried about you-worried you'd get hurt over matters of the heart, and worried Orphie would get hurt too."
Lin Shuo fell silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "...I understand."
Lin Yue ran over from the distance, worry in her Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
"Daddy, Big Sister Orphie, are you okay? I heard such loud voices..."
"We're fine." Lin Shuo ruffled her hair. "We were just... chatting."
"Oh..." Lin Yue nodded without quite understanding, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right, Daddy! Little Shukaku's been acting really strange today!"
"He's been hiding in the backpack all day and won't come out. He keeps saying he 'doesn't feel well'..."
Lin Shuo's heart tightened.
Shukaku wasn't feeling well?
He immediately closed his eyes and checked Shukaku's condition through the system connection.
Then he froze.
It wasn't that he felt unwell.
He was... evolving?
[System notification: an adaptive transformation has been detected in the form of the Tailed Beast "Shukaku"] [Cause: the current world exerts a rejection effect on "creatures from other worlds." As a being originating from the Hokage world, prolonged exposure to this world's rules will cause the Tailed Beast to lose power] [Solution: offer a "Bangboo form" transformation] [Effects after transformation: 1. Appearance changes to a Bangboo (a small rabbit-eared robot), while retaining the original consciousness and full strength 2. Can switch freely between "Tailed Beast form" and "Bangboo form" 3. Bangboo form is better adapted to this world's rules and attracts less attention 4. The number of tails will be reflected on the Bangboo's back (one tail for Shukaku)] [Transform now?]
Lin Shuo opened his eyes with a complicated expression.
Bangboo form?
"Daddy?" Lin Yue looked at him worriedly.
"Is Little Shukaku okay?"
"...He's fine," Lin Shuo said.
"He just... needs to change his appearance."
He looked at Orphie. "Could we borrow a quiet room? There's something I need to take care of."
"Of course!" Orphie nodded.
"Let's go to my dorm. There's no one there right now."
The three arrived at Orphie's dorm-a single room of less than ten square meters, so tidy it hardly looked like a soldier's room.
Several dessert posters hung on the wall, a few cute ornaments sat on the desk, and the bedding was neatly folded.
Orphie blushed again. "Um... it's a little messy. Please don't mind..."
"It's very tidy," Lin Shuo said.
He set down the backpack and unzipped it.
Little Shukaku lay curled up inside, his amber eyes half-open. He really did look listless.
"Little Shukaku," Lin Shuo said softly.
"Lin Shuo..." Shukaku's voice was weak.
"This world... is rejecting me... I can feel it..."
"I know."
Lin Shuo rested his hand on his head. "The system has offered a solution, but I need your consent."
"What... solution?"
"Turning into a Bangboo."
Shukaku's eyes widened, and he remained silent for a long time.
Long enough that Lin Shuo thought he would refuse.
Then he sighed.
"...Better than disappearing."
Lin Shuo nodded and said silently, System, begin the transformation.
[Transformation procedure initiated-]
A soft white light lit up inside the backpack.
Little Shukaku's body began to change-not twisting, but flowing like water, reshaping itself.
His body shrank, his fur turned into metal, and his limbs became mechanical structures...
Finally, the light faded.
Crouching in the backpack was... a Shukaku version of a Bangboo.
A round body, a silvery-white metal shell, and two long rabbit ears on top of his head-the left ear bore the mark "one."
A sandy-yellow tail grew from his back, fluffy and exactly like Shukaku's original tail.
His eyes were the most distinctive part-they were no longer amber, but circular display screens like a real Bangboo's.
Yet the screens didn't display pixelated expressions, but the original look in Shukaku's eyes.
"Wh-what is this look?!"
Shukaku-now Bangboo Shukaku-jumped out of the backpack, stood on the desk, and looked down at his body.
His formerly deep voice had also become the electronic voice characteristic of a Bangboo, but his tone was still unmistakably Shukaku's.
"How did the great me end up like this?! A rabbit?! A mechanical rabbit, at that?!"
He raised his "hands"-now mechanical arms-and felt his face, then let out a wail.
"Where are my good looks?! Where's my imposing presence?!"
The corner of Lin Shuo's mouth twitched as he watched.
He really was... a little too cute.
Lin Yue's eyes, however, lit up.
"Wow! Little Shukaku turned into a Bangboo! So cute!"
She reached out to hug him, but Bangboo Shukaku immediately jumped away.
"Don't touch me! I'm in a terrible mood right now!"
He jumped onto Lin Shuo's shoulder and grabbed his hair with his mechanical claws. "Lin Shuo! What's going on! Explain!"
"It's so you can exist stably in this world," Lin Shuo explained. "This world rejects nonnative creatures. Bangboo form lets you adapt better."
"...So I have to turn into a rabbit?"
"You can switch forms," Lin Shuo said. "Try it. Think about changing back to your original appearance."
Bangboo Shukaku closed his eyes.
A few seconds later, his body flowed and transformed again-
Back into that small, orange-yellow, fluffy tanuki.
"Phew..." Shukaku breathed a sigh of relief. "Good thing I can change back..."
But he soon frowned again. "Wait, I still feel a little... weak?"
"Try turning back into a Bangboo."
Shukaku did as he was told.
After returning to Bangboo form, he shook his head. "Hmm... this form feels much more comfortable. That feeling of being rejected is gone."
"Good," Lin Shuo said. "Try to stay in Bangboo form in public from now on. It draws less attention."
"...I hate rabbits," Shukaku muttered.
"But it's better than disappearing, right?"
"...Yeah."
Shukaku gave in, though he was clearly reluctant.
He jumped onto the desk, looked at himself in the little mirror on Orphie's dressing table, and let out a mournful sigh.
"My lifetime of illustrious renown..."
Lin Yue came closer and asked cautiously, "Little Shukaku, can I pet you?"
Bangboo Shukaku turned his head, an "unwilling" expression appearing on his electronic screens.
"...Just once."
"Okay!"
Lin Yue gently stroked his head-the metal shell was warm, the rabbit ears were soft, and the tail on his back was still fluffy.
"So cute..." Lin Yue's eyes sparkled.
Shukaku turned his face away, but his tail swayed gently.
Clearly, he didn't dislike being petted.
Watching from the side, Orphie couldn't help smiling too.
"Um... Little Shukaku looks pretty cute like this."
"Even you're saying that!" Shukaku protested. "I'm a Tailed Beast! Not a pet!"
"But you're a Bangboo now," Lin Yue said. "Bangboo are there to help and keep people company~"
"...I'm nothing like those inferior machines!"
Shukaku spoke indignantly, but didn't pull away from Lin Yue's hand.
Watching them, Lin Shuo felt the taut string in his heart loosen a little.
At least Shukaku's problem was solved.
He recalled the system notification saying that "the number of tails will be reflected on the Bangboo's back," and a thought stirred in his mind.
System, he asked inwardly, what about the other Tailed Beasts? Can I get them?
[Searching...] [Tailed Beast acquisition methods: 1. Rewards for completing specific main/side quests 2. Find and "persuade" (defeat) wild Tailed Beasts in the depths of Hollows 3. Trigger special events] [Currently available leads: Two-Tails Matatabi: sightings of a "blue-flamed cat demon" have reportedly occurred deep within Havarie Hollow Three-Tails Isobu: traces of a "three-tailed armored behemoth" have been found in the undersea region of Perseus Hollow Four-Tails Son Goku: suspected to be present in the volcanic zone of Solov Hollow] [Note: a Tailed Beast's strength is directly proportional to its danger level. Please act within your capabilities, host.]
Lin Shuo studied the information, lost in thought.
The other Tailed Beasts...
If I could gather all nine, how strong would I become?
But the risks were also considerable.
Tailed Beasts were not pets, but powerful beings with wills of their own.
Shukaku's willingness to follow him was largely due to the system's binding, along with his relatively mild temperament (despite his tough talk).
The others... might not be so easy to talk to.
"Dad?" Lin Yue's voice interrupted his thoughts. "What are you thinking about?"
"...Nothing." Lin Shuo shook his head.
"I was just thinking that we might have a few more companions like Little Shukaku someday."
"Really?" Lin Yue's eyes lit up.
"Will they be Bangboo too?"
"Not necessarily," Lin Shuo said.
"But they should all be very... special."
Bangboo Shukaku snorted beside them. "The other Tailed Beasts aren't as easygoing as yours truly-especially that rotten fox Kurama. His temper is absolutely awful."
"Kurama?"
"The Nine-Tails," Lin Shuo explained.
"The strongest of the Tailed Beasts."
"Oh..." Lin Yue nodded, only half understanding.
Orphie suddenly spoke. "Lin Shuo, these 'Tailed Beasts' you mentioned... could they be connected to the Hollows?"
Lin Shuo looked at her. "Why do you ask?"
"Because..." Orphie hesitated. "There have been anomalies in the Hollow monitoring data recently. Ether activity has been rising in several major Hollows, and there have been... life signs we've never seen before."
She brought out her portable terminal and opened an encrypted report.
"This is data from three days ago-an extremely high heat signature was detected deep within Havarie Hollow. It lasted twelve seconds, then disappeared. The Defense Force sent a reconnaissance team, but they found nothing."
"Then there's Perseus Hollow."
Orphie turned to the next page. "The Ether concentration in the undersea region suddenly spiked, expanding the entire Hollow's corruption range by 3%. Hollow Special Operations Section 6 is investigating."
"The volcanic zone in Solov Hollow is even stranger-unusual energy fluctuations were detected, but they're completely different from the Ether we know."
Lin Shuo's expression grew serious.
These clues matched the Tailed Beast locations given by the system exactly.
Could it be... that the other Tailed Beasts have already arrived in this world?
[Note: no need to question it. The other Tailed Beasts were all brought over by the system. After all, the male lead still has plenty of room to grow stronger.]
Or... have they always been here, just undiscovered until now?
"Orphie," Lin Shuo asked.
"Could you give me a copy of this data?"
"I could, technically..." Orphie said hesitantly.
"But this is internal Defense Force information. It can't be leaked..."
"I understand," Lin Shuo said.
"Then how about this-if you get any related missions, let me know. I'd like to... take a look."
Orphie looked at him, a flicker of worry passing through her green eyes.
"It'll be dangerous, won't it?"
"Possibly," Lin Shuo admitted.
"But I have to go."
Lin Shuo nodded. "And also... to find out what's really happening in this world."
Orphie was silent for a long time, then nodded gently.
"All right. If the captain has any missions, I'll tell you."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome..." Orphie lowered her head, her voice very quiet.
"Anyway... it's not like I could stop you."
Lin Shuo looked at her, a complicated feeling welling up inside him.
This girl was clearly worried, yet she still chose to support him.
Just like Yuzuha.
He suddenly felt that he truly was lucky.
To have met these people, and to have them care about him.