Though night had fallen, the front of Konoha's bathhouse was packed with the village security corps. Their captain, Uchiha Hinokaku, wore a strange expression as several kunoichi dragged out a battered, unrecognizable man.

"The Hyūga clan's young heir… what is the meaning of this?"

Beaten beyond recognition, Hyūga Tenyo lifted his swollen face, eyes lighting up as if seeing salvation. He cried out hoarsely:

"Security squad, save me! I've been framed!"

His voice cracked like a cuckoo weeping blood, full of misery.

Just moments ago, Tenyo had been searching for Uchiha Gin when suddenly a giant "meat bomb" fell on him—the Akimichi auntie in Human Boulder form. Her massive foot smashed him into the wall before he could even spin up a Kaiten.

"Don't let this pervert resist! Sisters, dogpile him!"

The female bath exploded into chaos. Fireballs, water jets, fists and feet rained down.

"Why me?!"

"Not the face!!"

"Definitely not down there!!"

Beaten senseless, Tenyo still couldn't figure out why he was suddenly labeled a peeping tom.

Just as his soul was ready to drift off and join his lonely great-uncles in the Pure Land, a righteous shout rang out from the men's side:

"Stop! If you keep hitting him, he'll die!"

It was Maruboshi Kosuke, short sword in hand, chest puffed out with righteous indignation.

"And who are you, brat?" a kunoichi snapped.

"I'm the bathhouse guard. My employer doesn't want blood spilled here."

Kosuke spoke boldly, though inside he shivered—if not for Gin's intervention earlier, he would've been the one beaten into a pig's head.

"Relax. We won't kill him," the kunoichi admitted. Even the furious Akimichi auntie had held back.

"Help me… I'm innocent…" Tenyo gasped, one hand weakly raised.

"Still denying it? Sisters, rough him up more!"

"Aaaaagh!"

Later, Hinokaku took custody of the swollen-faced Tenyo, listening to his breathless explanation. His eyes grew… complicated.

"You're saying you were here to help Gin catch the peeper?"

"Yes! Gin-san asked me to assist him!"

Tenyo's gold-embroidered bath towel had been shredded into a pathetic thong. He shivered in the cold night until Hinokaku, moved to pity, draped a coat over him.

"And where's Gin?" Hinokaku asked knowingly. He had known Gin for years—if anyone was capable of dumping a black pot on someone's head, it was him.

Tenyo's bruised eyes filled with worry. "We must hurry! Gin-san must still be fighting the real culprit!"

"…Let's calm down first. For now, you'll need to come with us," Hinokaku said carefully. He couldn't just release him under so many watchful kunoichi eyes.

"What?! We're on the same side!" Tenyo shouted.

The crowd jeered.

"Did you hear? He admits he's with the Security Squad!"

"Ha! They're all in it together, snakes and rats!"

"No wonder the Byakugan evolved—for peeping!"

Somewhere in the Pure Land, two Hyūga ancestors sneezed violently.

Hinokaku's face darkened. "Take him away!"

As they dragged the miserable heir down the street, they ran into a familiar figure walking casually, sipping strawberry milk. His curls were damp, yukata fresh.

"Gin-san!!" Tenyo cried like a drowning man seeing shore.

"Oh? Tenyo-roudi, you're done bathing too?" Gin blinked innocently. "Huh… why do you look like that? Did the scrubber hit too hard?"

"W-what are you talking about? Gin-san, the peeper—"

"Peeper? You must've gotten dizzy in the bath." Gin slurped his milk, frowning slightly.

Tenyo nearly coughed blood. Is he pretending?

Gin turned to Hinokaku. "So, what crime has my Tenyo-roudi committed?"

"Cough… the Hyūga heir was caught peeping into the women's bath."

Gin slapped his forehead. "Tenyo-roudi! I was gone for just a moment—how could you make such a mess?!"

"Gin-san, you—" Tenyo tried, but Gin cut him off, stepping close to Hinokaku and whispering just loudly enough:

"Don't say another word. Hinokaku-roudi, do me a favor. I'll cover his bail later. Just release him now—it's too cold to streak around like this."

"…Since when does the Security Corps take bail?" Hinokaku thought, exasperated.

"Silver Bro, I—"

"I know you're in a tough spot, but Tenyo's my sworn brother. If I don't help him, who will?" Gin declared nobly.

"…But—"

"I'll also prepare some tea money for the squad. Everyone's worked hard tonight." Gin winked.

Hinokaku sighed. So it really was Gin's mess again.

"…Fine. Since you've spoken, Silver Bro." He waved. The men let Tenyo go.

"Next time, please restrain your… friend," Hinokaku said pointedly.

"Of course, of course. Tenyo-roudi was just confused!" Gin beamed.

"I was not!!"

"You were!" Gin forced his head down with one hand, smiling as the squad withdrew.

When they were gone, Tenyo finally burst out: "Gin! Why didn't you clear my name?!"

Gin sighed, eyes suddenly filled with false sorrow. "Tenyo-roudi, I know you're innocent."

"Then why—"

"There are truths you don't want to know." Gin leaned close, whispering heavily. "The peeper… was a white-haired man with space-time ninjutsu."

"!!!"

Tenyo froze, every muscle stiff. His pale eyes shook with disbelief.

"You mean…"

"I didn't say anything," Gin cut him off quickly, pretending panic.

But Tenyo understood. That flash of light earlier… it wasn't Gin's signal at all. It was his brother's jutsu.

He bowed deeply, gratitude replacing his anger. "Thank you, Gin-san."

If he pressed further, the truth would reach the Hokage's desk—and then the real culprit on the Hokage's seat would surely crush him.

"Think nothing of it. It's only a few million ryō of bail. I'll handle it." Gin smiled magnanimously.

"I'll repay it all. Bail, tea money, and your gratitude fee. I'll send ten million ryō by tomorrow."

"Ah, no need… but if you insist…" Gin chuckled, eyes gleaming.

"Tonight!" Tenyo swore.

"Then from now on, we're closer than brothers! Your grandson's future—I'll protect it!"

"…I'm not even married yet."

The Next Day

In the Hokage's office, Senju Tobirama flipped through reports. His face went strange.

"Big Brother… the Hyūga heir was caught peeping into the women's bath."

"What? That gentle-looking Tenyo? Didn't expect that," Hashirama mused.

"Indeed. Never judge a book by its cover. Though, surprisingly, that curly-haired Gin showed some loyalty."

"Gin? How was he involved?"

"He vouched for Tenyo. Anyway, it's a minor matter—he won't be jailed long."

"Haha, I knew Gin was a good man!" Hashirama laughed.

Tobirama snorted—but his sharp gaze softened slightly. Curly-haired Uchihas really are reliable…

Then Hashirama exclaimed: "Wait! Tobirama, look—news about a tailed beast!"

"What?! Which country?!"

"Land of Waterfalls."

"Waterfalls? How do they have one?" Tobirama frowned. All the bijū had been distributed to the five great nations.

"Apparently, they somehow got the Seven-Tails from Iwa."

"…That explains it," Tobirama muttered. Taki had long been Iwa's ally.

"But there's more—big trouble. Look here." Hashirama handed him the report.

Tobirama skimmed—then nearly fell off his chair.

"The Seven-Tails was stolen… by a rogue ninja?!"

Yes. A Taki shinobi had been branded a traitor and thrown in prison. He broke free, slaughtered the village's elders, raided its treasury, and ended up at the bijū's prison. Instead of dying, he tamed the Seven-Tails and escaped.

"Unbelievable," Hashirama said gravely.

"…This rogue ninja's name wasn't Uchiha, was it?" Tobirama asked darkly.

"…No. I recall—'Kakuzu.'"

High cliffs of Taki, unreachable by man.

A black-haired youth lay bleeding, body covered in scabs, clutching an ancient scroll and a golden-glowing card. Slowly, Kakuzu's eyes fluttered open.

"…So this is the Pure Land?" he whispered bitterly.

But no—the voice in his head was sharp, mocking.

"Boy, I saved your life. And you don't even say thanks?"

Kakuzu jolted, looking around wildly.

"Don't bother. I'm in your hand. In that card."

He lifted it. On the surface was etched a seven-winged beetle—the Seven-Tails. Its chakra pulsed within.

Kakuzu's eyes widened. He dropped to his knees, bowing deeply. "Thank you, Great Beast, for saving my life!"

The voice sighed. "Betrayed by your village… it hurts, doesn't it?"

Tears rolled down Kakuzu's scarred face. "No… it wasn't I who betrayed Taki. It was they who betrayed me."

He remembered it all—facing death at Hashirama's hands, obeying orders, returning home only to be thrown in jail. Returning to his house to find his savings looted. Mocked by his comrades. Condemned by the village leader.

"No… you are the traitors. You are the rogues," Kakuzu hissed.

Power erupted from his body, blasting through his bottleneck.

Then began the slaughter. Taki's elders, fat from idleness, fell one by one. Even the leader, once wounded by the Nine-Tails, dared not face him.

Finally, Kakuzu loomed over him, cold eyes gleaming.

The leader scrabbled for a vial of Hero Water, desperate to drink. But icy fingers pierced his back, clutching his heart.

"Kakuzu—spare me! I'll give you anything!"

"Then tell me… where you hid my money," Kakuzu whispered.

(End of Chapter)

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