The Dead, the Living

"My ancestor developed a Sealing Technique that sealed all nine Tailed Beasts inside a single Cloud Stone."

"By absorbing the Cloud Stone's power, one could obtain Tailed Beast Chakra without worrying about the Tailed Beasts' resentment at all."

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze were left staring blankly after hearing this. That could be done?

"Wait! Are you saying all nine Tailed Beasts are in Konoha?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked in shock. He simply could not believe it. If the Tailed Beasts had not been distributed, then how had the major shinobi villages maintained peace?

Torikaze nodded. "That's right. All nine Tailed Beasts are in Konoha. Ever since they were captured, they have remained in Konoha."

"They weren't given to other villages as bargaining chips for peace? Why?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was confused. Even the Second Hokage had been unable to overturn the First Hokage's decision, yet their Konoha possessed all nine Tailed Beasts!

In other words, the First Hokage had not sent the Tailed Beasts away. Instead, he had chosen another method to make the various villages sign peace agreements.

Hiruzen Sarutobi grew increasingly curious about that Konoha. If Konoha could possess all nine Tailed Beasts as well, he did not dare imagine how powerful it would be now!

"If the other villages had no Tailed Beasts, how could they willingly sign an agreement? How did you manage it?"

This was no secret, so Torikaze told Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Naturally, it was because of Lord Hashirama's strength. The God of Shinobi intimidated the entire Shinobi World. Who would dare refuse?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze dimmed at those words. "But after Lord Hashirama died, everything would return to how it was."

Torikaze revealed a meaningful smile. "What if I told you Lord Hashirama is still alive?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately slapped the table. "Impossible! If Lord