Uchiha Clan District.
Inside Bai Ye's manor.
A lighthearted taunt came from a certain rogue, causing Tsunade to flare up instantly.
She never imagined this man would make her stand here for such a ridiculous comparison!
But her fury was meaningless.
Her formidable strength, which once shook the battlefield, now seemed utterly insignificant before Bai Ye.
Bai Ye, ever playful, darted around the courtyard while Tsunade chased after him.
What kind of man is this?
From a distance, Kushina observed the scene, her expression unreadable.
Beside her, Samui and Yugito Nii remained silent.
Both women, captives of Bai Ye, pondered their uncertain fate.
Yet, despite their initial fears, nothing had happened to them. Bai Ye had simply locked them up and paid them little attention.
In the ninja world, prisoners were often isolated. Speaking carelessly could endanger their village, so Yugito and Samui refrained from unnecessary conversation.
But now, watching the man in the courtyard, they were at a loss.
In battle, he was ruthless—an overwhelming force that showed no mercy to any opponent.
His cruelty was terrifying.
Yugito still remembered the moment when her comrade was obliterated in an instant.
Yet in daily life, this same man seemed carefree, indulging in leisure without a hint of bloodlust.
Even when teasing Kushina, his humor was lighthearted rather than malicious.
Like now.
Bai Ye could end Tsunade with a single blow. Instead, he let her wrestle him down, a soft smile playing on his lips.
Unbelievable.
This was the same man who had demonstrated unimaginable power last night.
By now, after witnessing his overwhelming strength, they had abandoned any thoughts of escape.
Not out of lack of will—out of impossibility.
Especially after experiencing his space-time abilities firsthand. The moment they were teleported, they realized how futile resistance was.
A being who could decide their fate with a thought… how could they defy such power?
Remaining silent and awaiting his judgment was the only choice left.
"Why… have I never heard of him in Konoha before?" Yugito finally spoke, her voice hoarse.
Her questioning gaze fell upon Kushina, the only familiar face among strangers.
Since the moment she was captured, Yugito had refused any water or food offered by Kushina, treating her with distrust.
But deep down, she knew the truth—against the Adamantine Sealing Chains of the Uzumaki clan, even a Jinchūriki like herself stood little chance.
Samui also wanted to know the answer.
"This question…"
Kushina pondered for a moment before smiling.
Perhaps it was their shared experience as Jinchūriki that made her more tolerant of Yugito's hostility.
At her core, Kushina was simply kind-hearted.
"He fought on the battlefield, but I suppose everyone who saw him fight… died?"
"After all, according to Bai Ye himself—"
"Kill all the witnesses, and there will be no witnesses."
A chilling logic.
Yugito and Samui exchanged bitter smiles.
If we had known Konoha had such a monster, we would have never provoked him.
"But I think he's easy to get along with."
Kushina grinned mischievously.
"As long as you follow his rules, he won't act irrationally. After all, he's the one who made them."
"I'm guessing the reason you two were captured is that you challenged the Konoha Guard's regulations?"
Rules.
Samui sighed inwardly.
Not enough information.
In the end, this was Raikage-sama's miscalculation.
Yugito, however, was preoccupied with another thought.
"As far as I know, you were the last Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
"The Adamantine Sealing Chains can only be used by the Uzumaki clan, and you're the only living member capable of wielding them. You still have traces of Chakra from the Nine-Tails, but… the beast itself isn't inside you."
"So, tell me—how did you survive?"
Kushina didn't answer. Instead, she tilted her chin toward Bai Ye.
Yugito fell silent.
She didn't resent her bond with Matatabi; they had achieved near-perfect synchronization. Yugito could control her Tailed Beast's power at will—perhaps better than most Jinchūriki.
But this man…
Could he control life and death itself?
Yugito shook her head, pushing away the thought.
Why does such a powerful man belong to Konoha?
Inexplicably, she felt a trace of jealousy.
To her, a warrior like Bai Ye would be far more suited to Kumogakure, the village of martial might.
Kumogakure revered strength.
If Bai Ye had been born there, he wouldn't have settled for being a mere Guard Captain.
Even becoming Raikage would be within his reach.
Unlike Konoha's political scheming, Kumogakure was simple—if your fists were strong enough, you could seize power.
But Yugito didn't know.
Bai Ye hadn't become the Guard Captain out of ambition.
It was simply a task assigned by the Scrap System.
And enforcing his own rules?
That was just his way of ensuring a comfortable life.
"Stop."
Suddenly.
Bai Ye, who had been "beaten" by Tsunade on the ground, paused.
Then, with a single swift motion, he flipped Tsunade and pinned her to the ground, his expression shifting.
Gone was the playful demeanor.
In its place—unyielding authority.
He squinted toward the village gate.
Trouble.
From Kushina's perspective, the two of them were in a rather compromising position—one that she and Bai Ye often ended up in.
"Stop just because you say so?"
Tsunade struggled, unwilling to submit.
But Bai Ye cast her a single glance, and she froze.
The teasing glint in his eyes vanished, replaced by sheer dominance.
"There's a guest."
With a chuckle, Bai Ye rose from Tsunade, then swung a fist into empty air.
Boom!
Space distorted.
A visible crack tore through reality.
Blue Chakra surged around Bai Ye, forming a protective barrier as he stepped into the rift.