Hearing Matatabi's words, Arisu's expression tightened slightly.
'What kind of upside-down situation is this?'
'You already said the lines, so what am I supposed to say?'
"You nine tailed beasts joined forces to put on quite a show for me. I haven't even gone to settle accounts with each of you yet.", Arisu slowly stepped down from the boat, looking at Matatabi with a gentle smile.
As soon as these words came out, a trace of panic flashed through Matatabi's lively eyes, and her small body stiffened slightly.
"Ah, teacher already saw through it…"
Matatabi clearly hadn't expected that her teacher had long seen through their little trick. Right away, she lost the confidence she had just shown in her complaint.
Matatabi timidly raised her head to look at Arisu and asked softly, "Teacher, did you come here this time just to punish me?"
Looking at Matatabi's obedient and uneasy little appearance, "No."
Arisu shook his head lightly.
Arisu stepped forward and gently picked Matatabi up, just like how one would usually pet an ordinary kitten.
"Of course not."
Arisu's voice softened further as he asked gently, "After seeing everything along the way, are you satisfied with the human world as it is now?"
Nestled in Arisu's warm embrace, feeling that long-lost familiar presence, the panic from earlier had already completely disappeared.
"As expected, once teacher took action, I'm very satisfied."
Matatabi nodded her little head vigorously, her voice crisp and full of admiration.
"Satisfied?"
Arisu asked again softly, his fingers lightly patting Matatabi.
"Mhm, satisfied!"
Matatabi narrowed her eyes and rubbed comfortably against his palm.
Arisu's movements paused slightly, then he suddenly asked, "Then are you willing to return to Mount Myoboku with me?"
These words were like a thunderclap out of nowhere, making Matatabi suddenly open her eyes wide, her gaze filled with unbelievable joy.
"Teacher? You're allowing me to return to Mount Myoboku?"
She raised her little paw and lightly tugged at Arisu's clothes as she spoke.
She had actually wanted to go back for a long time.
The human world was complicated, and she had helped humanity for hundreds of years.
She was tired of it.
After all, she was a tailed beast, not a saint.
She also had her own choices. She wasn't just a tool meant to endlessly help humans.
But back then, her teacher had said they should follow Otsutsuki Hagoromo's agreement, letting the tailed beasts walk among humans, understand them, and help them.
So she had obediently stayed in the world all this time, never daring to mention returning.
She never expected that her teacher would take the initiative to ask her to go back.
Arisu looked at her overjoyed expression, smiled gently, and nodded, his tone firm, "Of course."
In Arisu's view, the mortal world of the ninja realm had already entered the right track. The nations were stable, the people lived in peace, and there were basically no more major upheavals.
Arisu also wanted to respect the tailed beasts' choices.
After all, after spending a hundred years in the human world, the tailed beasts must be tired too.
As for the agreement Hagoromo made back then?
In his eyes, the dead should not interfere with the affairs of the living world. Only those who are alive have the right to decide the present and the future.
At this moment, a faint buzzing suddenly sounded in Arisu's consciousness. It was a contact signal sent through the mental link by the other eight tailed beasts.
The tailed beasts were calling through a video link.
Arisu's lips curved slightly as he chuckled, "They've come at just the right time. Saves me the trouble of going to find them one by one."
With that said, he held the two-tailed Matatabi in his arms. With a thought, he directly connected to the mental link.
In the next second, the surrounding scene suddenly changed. In an instant, one man and one beast were pulled into the tailed beasts' exclusive mental space.
The towering, massive projections of the eight tailed beasts stood one after another.
Arisu held the small Matatabi in his arms, standing tall before the projections of the beasts.
Before the beasts could speak, Arisu spoke first, "You lot actually still dare to come see me? That little performance you put on together back then, did you really think I couldn't see through it?"
Arisu's gaze slowly swept over each tailed beast projection as he spoke with a faint smile.
As his words fell, the originally calm mental space suddenly fell into a brief stillness.
Except for the Nine-Tails, Kurama, the other seven tailed beasts all paused slightly. Awkward expressions appeared on their faces, their eyes avoiding Arisu's gaze, not daring to look at him directly.
'Teacher really did know…'
"Hahaha, teacher, you must be joking. What is there to not dare!"
Only the Nine-Tails, Kurama, remained carefree. Even after being exposed, he still acted completely justified.
Anyway, their goal had already been achieved. If there was punishment, then so be it.
"Besides, teacher, weren't you also looking for an excuse to go along with it?", Kurama teased.
Arisu raised his eyebrow slightly upon hearing this and cast a faint glance at the Nine-Tails.
"Oh my, the Two-Tails is now this small, she looks way too cute! Compared to her usual majestic form, it's like two completely different beasts!", The Eight-Tails, Gyuki, took the initiative to change the topic.
Shukaku immediately followed along, his voice full of admiration, "That's right, that's right, so cute, such a tiny little thing."
The other tailed beasts also joined in, following the topic and praising Matatabi's adorable appearance.
Arisu didn't truly pursue the matter, so he began reminiscing with the tailed beasts.
After chatting for a while, they were still as close as ever.
"Are you tired of staying in the human world?"
"Are you still willing to return to the mountain with me?"
As soon as these words came out, the projections of the eight tailed beasts all trembled violently.
Right after, their faces showed shock and overwhelming joy.
They had originally been secretly uneasy about being exposed for their act, and never expected their teacher would suddenly propose bringing them back to Mount Myoboku. For a moment, they couldn't even react.
"Teacher! Really!?", Kurama was the first to speak in excitement.
The other tailed beasts quickly echoed, their projections swaying as anticipation overflowed.
"Is it really okay, teacher?"
"We also want to return to Mount Myoboku!"
Arisu looked at their eager expressions and nodded slowly. "As your teacher, I speak the truth. I never deceive you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Two-Tails Matatabi in Arisu's arms immediately raised her little head and said, "Teacher already agreed to me too!"
"Teacher is someone who doesn't talk much, but never lies!"
The tailed beasts all nodded.
"Same for us!"
"We want to go back to Mount Myoboku too!"
"We've had enough of staying here!"
The eight tailed beasts all expressed their stance.
Just like Matatabi, they had stayed in the human world for too long.
Now that the mortal world of the ninja realm was completely stable, with nations at peace and harmony among people, they no longer needed to worry as they once did.
Rather than being drifting observers in the human world, it was better to return to Mount Myoboku, to the place where they were born and grew up, filled with childhood memories, stay by their teacher's side, and peacefully enjoy a quiet life.
"The trivial matters of the human world are boring to begin with. Watching humans fight and struggle every day, I've long grown sick of it.", Shukaku spoke first.
Gyuki followed up, his massive projection swaying lightly, "Yes, teacher, I've long missed the scenery there. Going back would be a good chance to rest properly."
"The scenery of Mount Myoboku is far better than my Water Curtain Cave in the human world!" the Four-Tails, Son Goku, said.
"I actually miss the food teacher makes more.", the Seven-Tails said.
The Three-Tails, Four-Tails… the other tailed beasts also spoke one after another, expressing their own thoughts.
Arisu listened quietly, his eyes filled with relief and warmth. He gently raised his hand and waved it in a calming gesture, signaling the tailed beasts to quiet down.
"In that case, follow me back to Mount Myoboku."
"From now on, that will be your home. There is no need to worry about the trivial matters of the human world anymore. Just live peacefully and freely."
As his words fell, the projections of the eight tailed beasts all bowed together, filled with respect and joy. "Thank you, teacher!"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/XenosX
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰