The Nine-Tails, even in captivity, retained its haughty demeanor.
Despite this, Uzumaki Mito could only speak on its behalf.
After all, the Nine-Tails was a friend of Emiya Shigen, and she dared not propose sealing it permanently without proper reason. Fortunately, the Nine-Tails did not entirely reject her presence, though it was far from cooperative.
The trouble lay elsewhere...
Within her sealed space, the Nine-Tails often bellowed and ranted, urging Mito to use its chakra to kill her husband, Hashirama Senju, and then challenge Emiya Shigen to a fight.
Still, Mito understood that being a Jinchūriki wasn't the end of her journey; it was only the beginning.
Although she had access to the Nine-Tails' chakra, the connection was far from seamless. The Nine-Tails begrudgingly allowed her to tap into its power, but only as a token gesture out of respect for Shigen. Trust had not yet been fully established.
The relationship between Jinchūriki and tailed beast had a long way to go.
But Mito's concerns extended beyond mastering the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Being a member of the Uzumaki Clan, she was naturally blessed with enormous chakra reserves and formidable sensory abilities. With the Nine-Tails' chakra amplifying her senses, she could perceive human emotions—both good and evil—with unparalleled clarity.
However, this heightened perception brought an unsettling discovery.
Mito found that while she could sense the intentions of everyone present, Emiya Shigen remained an enigma.
Even with her sensory abilities and the Nine-Tails' chakra mode, she could not discern any emotions from him—no goodness, no malice. The only faint trace of emotion came when Shigen spoke about the Nine-Tails, and even that was fleeting.
Her brows furrowed as unease crept into her thoughts.
What did this ancient medical ninja truly think of them? What kind of person was he to be devoid of discernible emotion?
"You seem to be observing me..."
Shigen's calm voice broke the silence, cutting through Mito's thoughts. He turned his gaze toward her, his tone tinged with curiosity.
"Is there something strange about me?"
As an experienced ninja with sharp instincts, Shigen was acutely aware of any attempts to probe him. In the turbulent world of shinobi, vigilance was a necessity.
After all, even during the ancient era, Shigen constantly feared the watchful eyes of Black Zetsu.
Mito hesitated, then decided to speak.
"Our Uzumaki Clan has powerful sensory abilities," she admitted, her voice steady but cautious. "We can sense the good and evil in others. The Nine-Tails' chakra amplifies this ability, making it even more acute."
"But..."
Her gaze hardened, and her tone became more serious.
"We sense nothing from you, Lord Shigen. No emotions, no intentions. It's as if..."
She trailed off, unsure how to articulate the anomaly she felt.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Everyone present felt the weight of Mito's words.
The only one unaffected was the Nine-Tails, who had long since made peace with this mystery.
During its youth, the Nine-Tails had asked Shigen the same question. It remembered vividly the response Shigen gave—a reply it hadn't liked at the time.
Hearing Mito voice the same curiosity now, the Nine-Tails couldn't help but mock her.
"Hey," it sneered. "Are you humans always this naive?"
Its massive eyes fixed on Mito, disdain flickering within them.
"This guy, Emiya Shigen, spent his entire life healing people," the Nine-Tails began, its voice dripping with sarcasm. "He's saved more lives than you could ever count. To him, every patient was the same."
"For us," it continued, "Madara Uchiha is a scum who deserves to die.
"To you high-and-mighty shinobi, the common folk you claim to protect are worthless weaklings, unworthy of a second glance.
"But to Shigen?"
The Nine-Tails let out a low growl, its eyes narrowing.
"Whether it's Madara on the brink of death or a sickly peasant lying in the dirt, Shigen will save them all. To him, everyone is equal because he's a healer first and foremost."
The room was silent, save for the Nine-Tails' voice.
"Even that old Sage of Six Paths you worship? In Shigen's eyes, he's no different from a normal human."
Its gaze bore into Mito, sharp and unyielding.
"So tell me, why do you think you're special?
"What makes you, or anyone in this village, worthy of Emiya Shigen's attention? What makes you think you deserve anything from him?"
Mito's face froze in shock.
The Nine-Tails' words, though harsh, struck a chord.
It wasn't just addressing her; it was a challenge to all of Konoha.