Konoha United, Everyone Began to Act

Kushina looked somewhat nervous.

Although she had been known as the "Bloody Habanero" during her time at the Ninja Academy, famous for her fiery temper...

Seeing so many of Konoha's higher-ups at once was another matter entirely.

Minato, on the other hand, appeared much more relaxed.

Kurama Genshin stood nearby, studying the blond boy with the gentle smile from the corner of his eye. He sighed inwardly. What an extraordinary kid...

Along the way, he had heard how Minato had comforted Kushina.

—"Just listen to what Lord Third says later. He's my Grandmaster, so that makes him your... Grandmaster too. If Grandmaster says Konoha is your home, then Konoha is definitely your home."

At such a young age, he already knew to cling tightly to Konoha's most crucial element—the Hokage!

In terms of combat ability, he had heard the boy was a genius as well...

Thinking of the situation within his clan, Kurama Genshin felt anxious and melancholy.

The constitutions of the Kurama Clan's descendants had been getting weaker and weaker, while the number of clansmen awakening the Kekkei Genkai had sharply declined.

However, he had recently heard that the village was carrying out sweeping reforms and placing great importance on ninjutsu research...

If he found an opportunity to speak to Lord Hokage about the Kurama Clan's difficulties, perhaps they might receive help?

Kurama Genshin looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's upright, powerful figure and thought to himself, I have to perform well!

"Kushina, have you been settling in well at Konoha?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not immediately bring up Sealing Jutsu. Instead, he said gently, "I've been quite busy and wasn't able to visit you personally, so I could only ask Koharu to go see you for me."

"But if you encounter any difficulties in training or daily life, don't keep them bottled up inside, all right? Konoha is your home. Though I am the Hokage, I'm also your elder. There's no need to stand on ceremony."

Kushina's eyes suddenly stung, and she nodded vigorously.

In her eyes, the gentle yet powerful Lord Third was like the sun...

His light warmed her heart.

Minato blinked.

Eh, in front of Grandmaster, he really had become the "Little Sun"...

"Kushina, we called you here this time because the village is preparing to retaliate against Kumogakure! This is for your sake, but not only for your sake."

"Every enemy who has offended the village will be crushed beneath Konoha's iron fist!"

"Do you know anything about the technique called Iron Armor Seal?"

Kushina's heart trembled. Was this what it felt like to be protected by the village?

She quickly replied:

"Lord Third, I know it! This technique can seal a massive amount of Chakra. Its core structure is very sturdy, but there are flaws in the details that cause Chakra to slowly dissipate."

Orochimaru nodded slightly.

Slow dissipation? So that was why Kumogakure's Jinchuriki always went berserk.

"Kushina, can you break down this technique? The village needs to understand its structure." Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up.

If Kushina had not known, he had been considering approaching Mito Uzumaki ahead of time.

But naturally, it would be best to produce results first before seeking her out, showing his efforts to make amends.

"No problem, Lord Third!" Kushina agreed readily, but her gaze wandered.

Where was she supposed to break it down?

Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed to the Tactical Command Board in the center of the meeting room. "Go up there!"

"Lord Third, I have some thoughts on this technique as well!" Minato raised his hand.

"Then do it together." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

Kushina and Minato went up together and began sketching and outlining the Iron Armor Seal on the command board.

Kushina drew the main structure, while Minato annotated the principles and purposes behind every sealing component.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, Sealing Jutsu belonged to one of the most difficult categories of techniques.

Studying complex sealing structures was somewhat like assembling the interlocking joints of ancient architecture. Not a single link could go wrong, and Chakra had to be used to manifest them.

"Rare talents. Kushina has the constitution and bloodline for it... but Minato clearly has an exceptional talent for Sealing Jutsu."

"His foundation isn't as deep as Kushina's, but he's full of ingenuity."

"We need to expose this kid to more techniques and focus on nurturing him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself.

Discovering talent was naturally one of his Performance Metrics as Hokage.

"That's it!" Minato and Kushina gave everyone a slight bow.

"The explanation was excellent. Do you have any issues on your end?" Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to ask.

"Heh heh, the village truly has more and more talent." Orochimaru smiled. "They've already placed the answer right before me. If I still can't understand it..."

"Then that drunken nonsense Jiraiya said might actually come true."

He was referring to the gathering at Hiruzen Sarutobi's home, when Jiraiya had drunkenly claimed that although Minato was young, he might still have a chance to become the Fourth.

"Hmph..." Jiraiya shot Orochimaru a glare and muttered, "You really hold a grudge!"

"Genshin, can your genjutsu affect a Jinchuriki?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked. "Don't feel pressured. Just answer truthfully."

"If I unleash it at full strength, holding back a Tailed Beast for a while won't be a problem."

Kurama Genshin replied seriously, "But if the Jinchuriki can draw upon the Tailed Beast's Chakra, then it will be troublesome... The combined Chakra of the two is the nemesis of all disruptive genjutsu."

"What if the Jinchuriki is poisoned or controlled by a Cursed Seal?" Shimura Danzō asked in a hoarse voice.

"Then there will absolutely be no problem. I guarantee it!"

Kurama Genshin almost laughed. So this was going to be such a well-funded battle?

"The Kurama Clan may not be as famous as before, but our techniques aren't just empty boasts."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly rose to his feet.

His gaze swept over everyone as he raised one hand and clenched it tightly.

The meeting room fell silent.

"When Konoha's shinobi stand united, no enemy can withstand us!" Hiruzen Sarutobi declared in a forceful voice.

"Danzo, lead the Anbu in clearing out the sentries and opening a safe retreat route."

"Orochimaru, you will assassinate the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. Bring the corpse back."

"Jiraiya, take Genshin and infiltrate the area to rendezvous with Orochimaru. Keep the situation under control."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke each word with deliberate weight. "This time, we will make the enemy feel fear! Kill their Jinchuriki without a sound."

"Use the enemy's blood to write 'blood debts must be repaid in blood' within their village!"

"Throw them into chaos, into madness!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sneered coldly to himself.

Several of Konoha's greatest experts against an immature Eight-Tails Jinchuriki...

Blue B's death would be something to be proud of!

Kumogakure, which had always been in constant conflict with the various Hidden Villages, had an abysmal reputation throughout the Shinobi World.

The Eight-Tails dying violently within their village was something every Hidden Village would be happy to see...

And powerless Kumogakure would be left with nothing but empty bluster, denouncing every possible suspect.

That was precisely the stage Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted.

It was time for everyone to recognize Konoha again—and to recognize a hardline Hokage once more!

"Gentlemen, prepare to act!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Outside the window, the sunset blazed like fire as it spilled into the room, making it seem as though flames had ignited around them.

It reflected brilliantly against the fighting spirit in their eyes.