Gisei landed on the ground and shook his head.
"I advise you not to use that dangerous move," he said calmly. "Besides, inside my Instant Thunder Formation, you can't possibly hit me."
After Tsukasa climbed up from the ground, he gave Gisei a deep look before flying directly into the sky, attempting to escape.
Gisei sneered. "I already told you it's a trap. Where do you think you can run?"
A red barrier suddenly materialized, blocking Tsukasa's path.
At the same time, countless butterflies began to swarm toward him in the sky.
Lightning sparked across Gisei's body, and a moment later, he appeared in front of Tsukasa again.
Imprinting a palm on Tsukasa's Tailed Beast-transformed body, Gisei began to absorb his chakra.
The immense chakra around Tsukasa's body instantly diminished by nearly half. He hurriedly manipulated his tails to attack Gisei.
Gisei exerted a slight force with his palm, sending Tsukasa flying backward into the barrier. Wings appeared on Gisei's back, and using the Butterfly Body Flicker, he was in front of him again in an instant.
Pinning the Jinchuriki against the barrier, he began to absorb his chakra once more.
This time, Tsukasa felt more than half the chakra in his body vanish completely. He could no longer maintain the partial Tailed Beast transformation.
Seeing the Jinchuriki revert to his human form, Gisei placed his other hand directly on Tsukasa's abdomen.
"Sealing Jutsu: Five Elements Seal!"
Tsukasa spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes dull. "Why are you doing this?" he rasped.
"If I must give a grand-sounding reason, then just consider it for the sake of world peace."
Tsukasa's eyes widened, and he roared, "Attacking my village for peace? What kind of peace is that?!"
Gisei sighed. "Reasons don't really matter. Reality is just this cruel. You lost."
One minute later, the barrier began to dissipate. Gisei dragged the unconscious Jinchuriki and landed on the ground.
Four figures approached him from four directions. "Lord Gisei, are there any other orders?"
"None. Take the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki back to Butterfly Habitat Valley. I'll deal with the traces here and then head there myself."
These four were, of course, Ninja Butterflies, summoned by him long ago to set up the Four Red Yang Formation for this ambush. Since he began cooperating with Danzo, he had obtained quite a few good things from him, and this formation was just one of them.
The Ninja Butterflies used a spatial jutsu to transport the Jinchuriki away. Gisei then used Earth Style to clear away all traces of the battle.
Afterward, he flew into the sky, found a safe location, and used a reverse summoning to arrive at Butterfly Habitat Valley.
Gisei appeared on the square in front of the main hall.
He hadn't been here for nearly two years, and he found that Butterfly Habitat Valley had changed a lot.
A purple barrier now shrouded the entire Ninja Butterfly village. There were also more Ninja Butterflies walking around in human form, and upon seeing him, they all bowed in greeting.
"What's with this barrier? I don't remember it being here before."
Aki answered, "In the past, only you could come here, Lord Gisei, so there was no need for a barrier. Now that more people are coming and going, one was set up to prevent them from disturbing Lady Mei."
Gisei nodded. "Where is the Jinchuriki I had them bring back?"
"Lady Mei took him into the main hall."
Mei?
Gisei felt a headache coming on just hearing her name.
After entering the main hall, he saw a man in his thirties lying on the ground. It was the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, still unconscious.
Mei sat on her throne, staring at Gisei expressionlessly. "How long has it been since you came to see me?"
"Hey, you're not a child anymore. Do you still get lonely?"
Mei tilted her head and instantly teleported in front of Gisei, staring at him and examining him carefully.
Gisei frowned. "What are you doing? Trying to spy on my thoughts again?"
Mei ignored him. After looking for a while, she revealed a helpless smile.
"It seems your relationship with Shiro has become very good. What a pity... that thing can no longer be done."
Shiro's voice suddenly rang in his ear: I told Lady Mei about our fusion. I believe she will change her attitude toward you.
Change her attitude?
Gisei scratched his head, speaking with a speechless tone, "Don't do unnecessary things. I have no intention of reconciling with her."
Mei kicked the Jinchuriki on the ground. "Your skills have grown. You actually defeated an old friend of mine."
Old friend?
Gisei pointed at the man on the ground. "You know this Jinchuriki?"
"I'm not talking about the human, but the Tailed Beast inside him."
Gisei was taken aback. "...You know the Seven-Tails?"
"Yeah. An annoying little fellow. You could consider it a flea on my body."
Flea? What nonsense is this woman talking about...
"Alright, release his restraints. It's rare to meet an old friend, so we can't be rude."
Gisei's face darkened. "Hey, a Tailed Beast is a very dangerous creature."
"This is my territory. I was tormented enough by this guy in the past. Now is the perfect time to vent my anger."
"..."
Gisei really couldn't understand Mei. He just shrugged indifferently. "As long as you're happy."
As he prepared to release the seal, Mei spoke again. "Seal that human's consciousness first. That way, the Seven-Tails' consciousness will appear."
After Gisei did as he was told, the Jinchuriki slowly opened his eyes, and his body began to expand rapidly.
Mei spoke coldly, "If you dare to tear down my house, believe it or not, I'll tear off all your wings."
Hearing this, the Seven-Tails, Chomei, actually stopped its Tailed Beast transformation and remained in its human form.
"Who are you? Why do you feel so familiar?"
"This is my consciousness body. As for my main body... did you forget the days you used to frolic on my back?"
A swarm of butterflies flew out from behind Mei. Upon seeing them, Chomei suddenly became excited. "You're that giant butterfly? So this is my hometown?"
"Hometown?" Mei sneered. "You flea that insisted on staying on someone else's body and wouldn't leave. In the past, I couldn't do anything about you, but now... I'm different."
Mei teleported in front of Chomei and kicked it clean out of the main hall, sending it smashing through the roof and breaking the barrier. She then vanished, seemingly going to "fix" the Seven-Tails.
Gisei scratched his head. What did I even come here for?
Shiro suddenly spoke again. Later, Lady Mei will probably tell you what help she needs. I hope you can agree to it.
Gisei was stunned and asked back, "Do you already know what it is?"
Yes.
Gisei was silent for a moment, then sighed. "If I don't agree, will you and she join forces to kill me?"
No, but Lady Mei will be very disappointed.
"Disappointed?"
For so many years, you are the only person who has given her hope. If you disappoint her, your clan might lose her help.
Gisei fell silent.
If they lost Mei's help, the Butterfly Users might never be able to use their secret techniques again. Mei might even drive all the clan members out of Butterfly Habitat Valley.
And right at that moment...