Compete for the Position

Early summer, Year 52 of Konoha.

Inside Kushina Uzumaki's Sealing Space, Minato Namikaze and Anju were both watching the Television in the living room.

On it was a scene of Kushina talking with Fugaku.

As Naruto grew up, Fugaku had already spoken with Kushina many times.

The advice Kushina gave was sometimes quite pertinent to Fugaku, and Fugaku would sometimes ask Kushina for other suggestions as well.

Kushina's (Anju's) influence could be seen in many of Fugaku's political confrontations with the Third Hokage.

Kushina was not interested in political matters, but Naruto's previous disappearance had made her truly unable to rely on the Third Hokage.

And in Anju's words, the Uchiha Clan, which was being targeted by the Third Hokage, was an excellent organization to entrust Naruto to.

Although Minato Namikaze strongly opposed Anju's "prejudice" against the Third Hokage, Kushina agreed with Anju as well, leaving him helpless.

"Lady Kushina, this time, the Third Hokage has asked the Uchiha Clan to take over the border defense duties of three ninja villages at once.

"I can't understand what the Third Hokage intends to do. I wonder if Lady Kushina can offer some advice. How should the Uchiha act?"

Uchiha Fugaku's aged-looking face was stern year-round, but now it was also clouded with worry.

Anju spoke within Kushina's Sealing Space. "What you should be worrying about now is how to start a war without making the Uchiha Clan the party that started it."

Minato Namikaze immediately grew anxious upon hearing that answer. "Anju! Didn't you say Konoha needed stability? How can you start a war? No! I don't agree!"

Anju glanced at Minato, then ignored him outright.

Seeing Anju ignore him, Minato Namikaze completely panicked. With a hand seal, several Black Chains tightly bound Anju. Anju immediately felt his Chakra Body stiffen, and his entire fox body became unable to move.

After Kushina repeated Anju's words, Fugaku was also somewhat confused.

"Why start a war?"

After Fugaku spoke, he realized that Kushina had not said another word. When he looked at her, Kushina was stunned too.

Why had Anju stopped talking? How was she supposed to answer Fugaku now?

Seeing Kushina's silence, Uchiha Fugaku also felt somewhat guilty. How could he throw every question at Lady Kushina?

He should think over Lady Kushina's intentions himself!

"Does Lady Kushina mean that after we start a war, the Uchiha can gain a great deal of military merit and contend for the next Hokage position?"

After saying that, Fugaku looked at Kushina with excitement on his face.

Kushina was falling apart inside. She had no interest in these matters at all. She had originally decided that, like the previous times, she only needed to repeat Anju's words.

But Anju had let her down this time!!!

Kushina had never expected Minato Namikaze to suddenly attack Anju, sealing him and making him completely unable to speak.

Anju also felt utterly screwed. Minato Namikaze was insane. This seal Minato Namikaze had recently developed could not only seal Tailed Beast Balls—it could seal Tailed Beasts with ease as well.

After Anju was sealed, he once again felt as though he had been thrown into the Little Black Room.

Anju could not see, could not move, and felt as if the entire world had abandoned him.

This feeling was awful.

Kushina's silence left Fugaku unable to determine whether his guess was right, and he once again sank into deep thought.

Kushina also realized something was wrong. She closed her eyes and entered the Sealing Space.

The first thing she saw was Anju on the sofa, bound by four or five Black Chains, and Minato Namikaze wearing a frosty expression.

"What happened to you two? Minato, what are you doing?!"

"This Nine-Tails is driving a wedge between Konoha! Kushina, you cannot be deceived by him!"

Minato Namikaze spoke to Kushina in a severe, forceful tone.

Kushina sighed. "Minato, calm down. We've been with Anju for so long. Has Anju ever harmed us or Naruto?"

"Has Anju deliberately driven a wedge between Konoha?"

Kushina once again asked a soul-searching question. "Didn't the situation reach this point because of the Third Hokage?"

Minato Namikaze stared fixedly at Anju. "Release!"

After undoing the seal, Minato Namikaze sternly said, "Anju! You need to understand that you and I are both inside Kushina's seal. If you make any suspicious move, I can seal you at any time!"

The grayish-orange little fox remained in the posture he had been sealed in. Although the seal had been released, Anju had not regained consciousness.

"Anju!" Seeing Anju remain completely motionless, Kushina began to panic.

Minato Namikaze also noticed that Anju had not moved. "Anju! Stop pretending! You know I can restrict your movements. If you keep playing dead, I'll seal you completely!"

Anju's condition was indeed terrible.

Because a sleeping Nine-Tails Phantom had appeared in the dark space he occupied.

He had originally transmigrated into Kurama's Yin clone.

At that time, the Yin Nine-Tails clone had not developed a self-consciousness.

But just now, Minato Namikaze had sealed Anju's consciousness, and once the enormous Yin Nine-Tails Chakra Body lost its primary consciousness, it would instinctively form a new consciousness.

And now that Minato Namikaze had unsealed Anju's consciousness again, Anju's consciousness, which should have directly returned to the Yin Nine-Tails Chakra Body, and the newly formed Yin Nine-Tails Consciousness were now competing for the position.

Fortunately, because the sealing had not lasted long, the Yin Nine-Tails Consciousness had not fully formed and was currently only a phantom.

What should he do?

Anju was anxious too. He was terrified that he would lose to that phantom-state Yin Nine-Tails Consciousness. Then what would happen to him? Would he be eaten if he lost? No, please!

≥﹏≤

"I don't want to die!"

Anju stepped closer and closer to the sleeping phantom of the Yin Nine-Tails Consciousness, then touched the Yin Nine-Tails' grayish-orange fur.

But Anju found that his hand passed directly through the phantom. In other words, this phantom was not yet comparable to him.

But how was he supposed to deal with it?

How could he return to the Chakra Body?

The Sealing Jutsu Minato Namikaze had developed was far too powerful!

No!

He had only brought this upon himself!

If he had not attached his consciousness outside the Chakra Body, he would not have lost contact with the Yin Nine-Tails Chakra and caused it to form a new consciousness.

He had no idea how to deal with this giant fox phantom.

And he could not contact Kurama. The cooldown was too long. This was all Minato's fault! He had really made things miserable for Anju!

Kushina's Sealing Space.

Kushina looked at Minato with a terrible expression.

Because just now, Minato Namikaze had used Sealing Jutsu again. The moment the Black Chains bound the grayish-orange little fox, it turned into spray and vanished without a trace.

Minato Namikaze looked unhappily at the sofa. "Anju! Stop pretending! I know you're still here! Come out!"

Kushina sensed her seal. The Yin Nine-Tails Chakra was still there, but this mass of Chakra showed no reaction at all, as if it had no consciousness.

She could directly mobilize that Chakra whenever she wanted, without the slightest restriction.

Kushina began to panic. This situation was extremely strange, because no Tailed Beast would allow its Jinchuriki to draw Chakra at will. Yet now, the Yin Nine-Tails Chakra had become like her own, allowing her to mobilize it freely.

"Minato! This is bad! I can use the Nine-Tails Chakra whenever I want."

After Kushina spoke, Minato Namikaze's entire body—no, his entire Chakra Body—swayed.

He had also realized something was wrong.

Because he discovered that without Anju mobilizing Chakra to replenish his Chakra Body, he was growing weaker and weaker.

"Kushina, seal me quickly. I'm about to dissipate!"

After Minato Namikaze said that, he froze as well.

Why did he want to continue living? He was already dead, so why was he still unwilling to accept it?

Kushina inside the Sealing Space was also stunned.

What the hell? In the blink of an eye, her husband was about to leave her completely, and even Anju, who was like a pet, was gone.