After discovering the location where Tuziku and Ryōkōjū had been training, Nēgus revealed that he had been forced to use violence to obtain their whereabouts from Prīōra.
Upon hearing this, Tuziku immediately snapped and confronted Nēgus.
"You bastard!"
"What the hell did you do to my crew-mate?!" Tuziku cracked his knuckles as he approached Nēgus.
"Who do you think you're talking to, you little shit?!" Nēgus clapped back.
Then—
Tuziku and Nēgus stood face-to-face.
"I'll ask one more time..."
"...What did you do to Prīōra?" Tuziku clenched his fist.
Nēgus glared at him.
"Well, if you must know..."
"I beat the crap out of her after she lied to me about your location!"
Nēgus wore a conceited grin as he looked down at Tuziku, towering over him with his superior height.
Tuziku's eyes widened unnaturally as he gritted his teeth in fury.
"YOU BASTARD!!!"
Tuziku screamed as he swung his fist toward Nēgus' face.
However, just before his fist could make contact—
Fwoooooooo!!
A sudden burst of wind erupted between Tuziku and Nēgus, sending them flying backward in opposite directions.
Thud!
Thud!
"That's enough, boy!" The old man stepped forward.
"At your current level, you can't possibly hope to win a fight against him!" he shouted.
He then turned toward Nēgus, who simply got up and dusted himself off.
"And you..."
The old man raised his fist as he glared at him with nothing but condemnation and anger.
"Your arrogance has finally grown insatiable..."
Ryōkōjū displayed great restraint as he desperately struggled to hold back his fist from attacking his beloved grandson.
"How could you do such a thing to your own sister?!"
He clenched his fists.
"...Nēgus... you only bring shame and disappointment upon me as my grandson!"
Ryōkōjū approached him.
"With my authority as Chief of this village..."
"From this day onward... I hereby exile you from the Hakashi village!"
"I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE EVER AGAIN!!" Ryōkōjū shouted.
...
Cold winds began to roar as the atmosphere filled with breathtaking tension.
Nēgus glared at the old man in utter confusion.
"What are you talking about, grandfather?!"
"You must be joking!"
Nēgus burst out laughing.
The old man continued to glare at him with raging anger.
Upon realizing that Ryōkōjū was being serious—
"CUT THE BULLSHIT, OLD MAN!!" Nēgus snapped.
"You want to exile me just because I disciplined my insolent little sister for lying to me, when you... the proud Chief of the Hakashi village, are secretly committing one of the most unforgivable acts a member of this tribe can commit..."
"...Teaching the renowned Hakashi Technique to an outsider!"
He pointed at Tuziku.
"Not only that, but he's also an Underdog!"
Ryōkōjū's rage only grew more overbearing as Nēgus continued.
Nēgus glared at Tuziku for a brief moment.
"Tch!"
Tuziku clenched his fist passionately, his veins bulging as they pulsated violently in sync with his emotional state.
Then—
"To think that this is why you left me in charge of the village for the past three days... grandpa!"
Nēgus smirked at the old man.
"I'm willing to keep my lips sealed on your act of treason, so..."
"How about you drop that stupid talk about having me exiled in return!"
"What do you say... grandpa?"
He extended an arm toward Ryōkōjū.
Ryōkōjū's expression turned dark as the wind began to blow violently.
Fwooooo!!
As the old man lifted his head toward Nēgus, his gaze alone was enough to reveal both his thoughts and emotions.
However, unexpectedly—
"Nēgus..."
"...Out of what little love I may have left for you as my grandson..."
"I'm not going to deal with you as I would an enemy..."
"But..."
"If I ever see your face again..."
FWOOOOSSH!!
"...I can't guarantee that I won't disfigure it!"
He clenched his fists.
Powerful winds violently erupted from the old man's presence.
Fwoooooo!!
"Get the hell out of my village!" Ryōkōjū said in a menacing yet quiet tone.
Nēgus sneered at him.
"You're seriously gonna do this, old man?!"
Ryōkōjū remained silent.
"Fine then!"
"I'll leave your village!"
Nēgus turned his back and walked away.
Tap... Tap...
Tap...
Suddenly, he stopped and turned toward Ryōkōjū.
"But know this..."
"I plan on letting everyone know that you've been teaching an outsider the Hakashi Technique!"
Ryōkōjū remained silent.
Nēgus glanced toward Tuziku.
"And as for you..."
"I'm sure we'll meet again pretty soon!"
He let out a malicious grin.
"I really hope so...!" Said Tuziku as he clenched his fists.
Nēgus walked off.
Then—
"Old man!"
Tuziku rushed to his side.
"We have to hurry and go to Prīōra!" said the old man.
Tuziku lowered his head.
"Boy...?" said Ryōkōjū.
"I know that I should go and see her, but..."
Tuziku gritted his teeth so hard that the veins in his forehead bulged.
"Old man, I'm sorry, but... as Prīōra's Captain and as an older brother myself..."
"I'm gonna beat the shit out of your grandson the next time I see him again!"
Tuziku's expression displayed nothing but resolve behind those bold words.
"And so... I'd like to stay here and continue my training..."
I have to get stronger as soon as possible!
"I'm sure Prīōra might be upset, but... I need to get stronger!"
"Besides, she's been through much tougher situations than that!"
Tuziku grinned.
Ryōkōjū gazed at him for a moment.
Then—
He nodded.
"Then, I'll be off now."
Fwoosh!
He leapt into the sky as he rushed back to the house in order to check on Prīōra.
Meanwhile, Tuziku thought to himself...
Where the hell is Kutcher throughout all of this?!
In any case...
I'll leave Prīōra up to the old man.
What I need to do right now...
Suddenly—
FWOOOOOOOO!!
...is hurry up and learn this first form!
Heavy winds began circulating around Tuziku as he exhaled sharply.
And thus, Tuziku began his training in solitude as Ryōkōjū steadily rushed to Prīōra's side.
CHAPTER 49 END