First Meeting with the Nine-Tails—Orochimaru, Run!

"How could that be fake?" Uchiha Dan guaranteed firmly.

"It's... um... that little nurse at your hospital named Kawaina." After stammering through the sentence, Hatake Sakumo wished he could crawl into a hole. This was fucking embarrassing.

But Uchiha Dan really could help with this.

"Good grief!" Uchiha Dan was stunned. "Are you monitoring me, or are you watching that girl? That's a little irresponsible of you."

"Ahem..." Hatake Sakumo coughed twice again, his face red as he forcibly explained, "Monitoring you is pointless anyway. Can't I at least take a few more looks at a girl I like?"

"Besides, everyone appreciates beauty. Is it wrong just to look?"

"Hahaha!" Uchiha Dan burst out laughing.

Seeing how thin-skinned Hatake Sakumo had become after taking off his mask, Uchiha Dan simply could not hold it in.

But when Hatake Sakumo's expression grew increasingly ugly, he quickly promised, "Senior, leave this matter to me. Don't worry—I guarantee Sister-in-law Kawaina won't get a chance to run away."

Hearing Uchiha Dan's promise, Hatake Sakumo finally sighed in relief. "Then what about the surveillance on you?"

"Within seven days, the surveillance on me will be withdrawn," Uchiha Dan continued, reassuring him. "And you'll be punished for inadequate surveillance, of course, but it won't be too serious."

"When the time comes, just resign from the Anbu at the right moment, and you'll be completely free."

"You can really do that?" Hatake Sakumo exclaimed.

"How hard do you think it is? All right, I need to go home and rest. Just wait for my good news!" Uchiha Dan waved behind him and strode away coolly, humming a cheerful tune as he left.

Unlike yesterday, when going to work had felt like torture.

On this new day, both Uchiha Dan and Tsunade got up early.

The two ate a bowl of ramen together, then arrived at their office in the hospital an hour early.

Having only just confirmed their relationship, they had endless things to talk about. One moment they poured out their feelings, the next they discussed ideas for new Medical Ninjutsu, and then they were discussing what to eat for lunch.

Every now and then, they would share a few intimate gestures.

In the end, they both sighed that going to work really was something that pleased both body and mind.

After being lovey-dovey for three days, Uchiha Dan came to Tsunade's home again.

Today was the day Uzumaki Mito would reinforce the Nine-Tails' seal, and Uchiha Dan had been specifically summoned.

"Lady Mito!" The moment they met, Uchiha Dan respectfully bowed.

Uchiha Dan sincerely respected Uzumaki Mito, whether because of Tsunade or because the old lady herself deserved such respect.

"Still calling me Lady Mito?" Uzumaki Mito asked with feigned displeasure.

"Uh... Grandma!" Uchiha Dan immediately changed how he addressed her.

"Hahaha! Good, very good!" Uzumaki Mito's mood immediately brightened. She looked at Uchiha Dan, then at Tsunade, and the more she looked, the more satisfied she became.

Uzumaki Mito had naturally noticed Tsunade's changes at a glance.

That overflowing sense of happiness was impossible to hide.

In the end, after being questioned by her, Tsunade blushed and nodded, admitting her relationship with Uchiha Dan.

"Dan, have you studied sealing techniques?" Once her emotions settled somewhat, Uzumaki Mito suddenly asked Uchiha Dan.

"I haven't. I did create some sealing techniques on my own, but none of them were very satisfactory," Uchiha Dan answered.

"What?" Uzumaki Mito's eyes widened. "Are you saying that, without ever coming into contact with any sealing techniques, you created sealing techniques yourself?"

"Mm!" Uchiha Dan nodded truthfully.

Uzumaki Mito was dumbfounded.

Was that even something a human could do?

Without other sealing techniques to use as references, one could not understand the principles behind sealing techniques, much less create them from scratch. That was common knowledge in the ninja world.

Uzumaki Mito herself had created sealing techniques before.

But that was because she had been exposed to countless sealing techniques since childhood and understood their principles.

Combined with the Uzumaki Clan's innate talent and her own exceptional gifts, she had been able to achieve it.

She had always known that Uchiha Dan was a super genius, but surely his talent could not be this monstrous?

"Can you tell me about them?" Uzumaki Mito asked.

"Of course!" As he spoke, Uchiha Dan took out three scrolls from his clothes and handed them to Uzumaki Mito.

Uchiha Dan normally did not carry these three scrolls with him, nor was there any need to.

But ever since he had figured out what Uzumaki Mito might have intended, he had deliberately brought them with him when leaving home today.

As she examined the scrolls containing the sealing techniques, Uzumaki Mito nodded repeatedly.

"Exquisite, truly exquisite!" Uzumaki Mito praised without restraint. "Although the lack of references has left these sealing techniques imperfect, the concepts themselves are incomparably ingenious."

"With the right guidance and some corrections, they could become extraordinary sealing techniques passed down through generations."

"Since that is the case, there is no need for me to say anything more. Enter my mindscape first. I'll teach you step by step how to strengthen the seal."

"All right, Grandma!"

As Uzumaki Mito opened her consciousness, Uchiha Dan activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan as well.

Soon, guided by Uzumaki Mito, his eyes found the location of the seal. He then cast a genjutsu projection, and his consciousness appeared before a sealed cage.

It had to be said, the Uchiha Clan truly was favored by heaven. Those eyes possessed abilities as unfathomable as ghosts and gods.

Inside the cage, the Nine-Tails' enormous divine body was tightly bound by countless iron chains, struggling without pause.

"He's really lively!" Uchiha Dan could not help remarking.

"Brat, who are you? Why are you here?" the Nine-Tails shouted upon seeing Uchiha Dan.

"No, those eyes of yours..." The Nine-Tails' pupils contracted as he said coldly, "Your eyes remind me of someone—Madara Uchiha!"

"Hmph, nothing but memories I don't want to recall!" the Nine-Tails complained irritably.

"You sure talk a lot," Uchiha Dan quipped.

"Stinking brat, you only dare say that because I'm sealed away. Otherwise, I'd definitely show you what true fear is."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm so scared! Why don't you talk a little less?"

"Brat..."

"Dan, don't pay it any mind. Do as I say." Uzumaki Mito appeared in the mindscape as well and spoke.

Next, under Uzumaki Mito's guidance, Uchiha Dan gradually reinforced the Nine-Tails' seal. No matter how the Nine-Tails roared in fury, it was useless.

By the end, as the binding chains tightened further and further, the Nine-Tails could no longer move at all.

"Phew!" Having finished everything, Uchiha Dan finally let out a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Uzumaki Mito's mastery of sealing techniques was astonishing. If he had been on his own, he truly would not have been able to handle it.

"Dan, did you learn it?"

"I did!"

"Good. Kushina will depend on you from now on. If anything goes wrong with the Nine-Tails, use this method to reinforce the seal."

"Also, I will teach you all of the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques. With your talent, I believe it won't be long before you master them all."

"Thank you, Grandma!"

"We're family. What are you thanking me for?"

After leaving the mindscape, Uzumaki Mito told Uchiha Dan to come to her home for dinner every day after work, then study sealing techniques under her after dinner.

Uchiha Dan naturally accepted with pleasure.

As such, his meeting with Orochimaru was arranged for the daytime.

The next day, led by Tsunade, Uchiha Dan found Orochimaru.

The moment he saw Uchiha Dan, Orochimaru, who was usually exceptionally calm, became more excited than ever. His tongue unconsciously licked at the corner of his lips, as though he had found some priceless treasure.

"Lord Dan, I have long admired you from afar." Orochimaru excitedly stepped forward and warmly grasped Uchiha Dan's hand.

Tsunade, standing beside them, felt incredibly awkward watching this.

She knew Uchiha Dan was very popular at Konoha Hospital, and quite a few girls liked him. But now even Orochimaru was trying to steal her man?

"I've wanted to have a talk with you for a long time too!" Yet Uchiha Dan's tone was somewhat unfriendly, showing none of Orochimaru's enthusiasm.

"Orochimaru, run."

Uchiha Dan suddenly said something that left both Orochimaru and Tsunade utterly dumbfounded.