Two Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?

The east stands of the arena.

The fan-shaped area that had once held thousands of spectators was now a complete mess.

Collapsed seats, shattered flagstones, Sound Ninja corpses lying in all directions, and the huge cracks punched through by the savage growth of the Wood Release forest together painted the brutality of this battlefield.

As those words—"Lord Minato's wishes"—fell.

Kakashi froze completely.

The kunai held across his chest trembled when it should not have, and even his breathing stopped for a beat in that instant.

Minato... Sensei?

How was that possible?!

Minato-sensei and Lady Kushina had sacrificed themselves twelve years ago during the Nine-Tails Incident to protect the village!

But...

Kakashi stared fixedly at Yukimi, his pupils contracting and trembling beyond his control.

How did Yukimi know about Minato-sensei?

And why would she use an honorific like "Lord Minato"?

If she had only heard the name "Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato" through some channel, then like most people, she should have called him the "Fourth Hokage" or "Namikaze Minato," not "Lord Minato" with such obvious closeness.

Unless...

Unless she really had met Minato-sensei.

"Yukimi..." Kakashi's voice was dry.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

He forced himself to calm down, tightening his grip slightly on the kunai.

"Minato-sensei was not only my mentor, but also the Fourth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, a hero who sacrificed himself to protect the village."

Kakashi spoke each word deliberately, his voice growing steadier and steadier.

"If Sensei were still alive, he would never join the Land of Stars!"

Yukimi stood on a thick tree trunk growing sideways, holding a kunai in a reverse grip. On her freckled face, her smile was bright.

She did not take the chance to attack. She simply watched Kakashi quietly, enjoying this interesting scene.

"As expected..." Yukimi put