Yugito Nii shook her head and stopped thinking about how much better at socializing her brother was compared to her.
Now she had a decision to make, a decision regarding this girl Sato wants to train.
"Normally I would test the loyalty of someone wanting be a shadow, a shadow's loyalty is just too important to ignore."
"But this girl, she ran in to save Sato even when you were her opponent, she has proven herself a loyal friend."
"As long as she has ninja talent I'll support her, even if she doesn't have any talent, she can stay as Sato's assistant."
If Sato wanted to build his own power, Yugito would support him.
Yugito herself didn't know how to do these things, she was always a lone ninja, but she knew the importance of having someone to watch your back.
This was very important in the ninja world, a ninja had high attack and low defence, a well placed kunai can kill a Kage.
Raikage's A and B combination was also built on the concept of two people supporting each other.
Matatabi heard Yugito's answer and said.
"Yugito says you can stay."
Said Matatabi in her natural soft voice.
Which made Karui smile like a flower.
Bowing to Matatabi she thanked them both.
"Thank you Yugito Nii Sama, thank you Matatabi Sama."
Karui's polite behaviour made Matatabi happy and she decided to ignore the kid throwing a rock at her before.
Making Karui unknowingly escape the petty revenge of a tailed beast.
"See, I told you, sister is the best."
Sato grinned happily, he wasn't happy just because Karui was accepted, he was happy because Yugito was supporting his plan.
Yugito was smart enough to see he wanted to build his own power or he wouldn't be choosing a shadow so soon.
Her supporting Karui means she was supporting him building a team.
This was great news, there were far too many talents buried in the dust of the Ninja world.
'If dying a nameless death is their end, they might as well work for me instead.'
Sato had a calculating look flash in his eyes before it was replaced by calm once more.
"Sato, I will take my leave, your sister is getting impatient."
Matatabi's word's made Sato pay attention to her again.
"Are you going back?"
"Okay, can you come out to hang out with me again?"
Matatabi watched Sato with a silent smile.
Then gracefully lowered her head and licked Sato with her big tongue.
Startling him and making him wet from head to toe.
"I will."
Right after that Matatabi burst into flames and shrunk down, exposing Yugito Nii inside.
"..."
Both Yugito and Karui weirdly looked at Sato who was dripping in saliva and resisted their urge to laugh.
"That, Stato."
"Why did she lick you?"
Yugito couldn't help but ask, unlike Karui who didn't know what Matatabi was, she understood very clearly, this was a tailed beast.
She knew all tailed beasts have their own weird behaviours, but she had never seen someone understand their behaviour until now.
She had been with Matatabi for so long yet she didn't understand her as much as Sato did in ten minutes.
"Huh?"
"Oh that."
Sato first rubbed the saliva off his face before he started to explain.
"She is showing affection, that's how big cats show their love."
"She was also marking me with her scent, or removing whatever scent was on me at that time."
Sato shrugged which made Yugito and Karui look at him weirdly again.
Yugito just had to ask once more.
"How do you know that? You also understood what she meant back when she bit you."
Yugito was beginning to think she was the weird one for not understanding what her tailed beast does.
Maybe this was why she was never able to become a perfect jinchuriki.
How was it possible for Sato to know about Matatabi's behaviour so clearly the first time he met her.
It was as if he was born to he Matatabi's jinchuriki.
Sato rubbed his wet hair, he didn't know how to explain this.
He had dealt with all kinds of animals back in his world, big cats being one of them.
He just knew about big cat behaviour more than people of this world do.
After all, this world was constantly war torn, they didn't have the time to study animal behaviour in detail.
While his world had studied all kinds of animals and their habits.
"I have seen a lot of big cats sister, my family lived right next to the jungles many times."
"We had to learn as we lived, what works and what doesn't, I know about all kinds of animals because of that."
Sato told a semi believable story, the things he said did actually happen, but his family was more worried about what to eat than learn how cats behave.
Still, it seemed to have convinced Yugito enough.
"I see! That makes sense."
Yugito Nii nodded, happy that she wasn't a complete idiot for not knowing what Matatabi means.
She just never had the experience needed for it.
'If a wandering family like Sato's can learn then so can I.'
'Observing behavioural patterns is a ninja's instinct.'
'I will visit great forests from now on and watch big cat life myself.'
'Maybe this is what will make a perfect jinchuriki.'
Yugito was motivated, at her level there wasn't much she could do to become stronger.
But becoming a perfect jinchuriki was something that would increase her strength by many folds.
Making it possible for her to compete against the heaviest hitters of the Ninja world.
"Thank you Sato!"
"You helped me a lot."
Yugito hugged Sato tightly, regardless of the cat saliva covering him.
"I get why I was never able to understand Matatabi."
"I was looking at it all wrong, I have to understand her for her to understand me."
Yugito said while hugging Sato, making him blink his eyes in confusion.
His false story somehow made her realise the way to understand Matatabi.
"That's great news sister, it would be great if both of you can become friends."
Sato smiled and gave a thumbs up to Yugito.
Yugito also smiled and gave a thumbs up back.
Then she turned towards Karui and her smile melted away instantly.
Her face took on a serious expression.
"You, girl."
"What is your name?"
Karui was startled and gulped in nervousness.
"My name is Karui, Yugito Nii sama."
Yugito nodded dryly and walked away, she casually gestured for Karui to follow after her.
Karui again gulped nervously and looked towards Sato for help.
"Go ahead, it'll be fine."
Sato smiled and gave her encouragement, but he wasn't going to stop her.
This was an important step for Karui, one that cannot be left out.
Advanced chapters ahead on patréon
www.patréon.com/ImagineMaker