Back in the apartment building where she was under close watch, Kushina was in low spirits, slowly pacing by herself near the window.
Kushina didn't know what had happened lately, but the tighter restrictions made her imagine the worst.
"...Can a Jinchuriki really live a happy life?..."
Mito Uzumaki had taught her from a very young age to seek out love. Kushina felt that she had found it, but her life hadn't changed much.
After standing by the window for a long time, Kushina's gaze grew resolute. She suddenly drew on Nine-Tails Chakra, and the instant her eyes became slit-pupiled, golden chains appeared throughout the building.
By the time the Anbu on watch reacted, they were all pinned in place. Before anyone could say a word, Kushina shouted:
"I'm going to watch Minato train! Don't follow me!"
"..."
"Her Sealing Jutsu has gotten even stronger. We can't break free at all."
"We can't let her keep doing whatever she wants. Go after her..."
The Anbu shouted to one another from the ground, but this time the Sealing Jutsu was so powerful that they had all been caught off guard.
After making her way from the street to the edge of the barrier, Kushina hesitated. Then the Nine-Tails Chakra within her surged again, and the girl covered her eyes and ran faster as she escaped the barrier.
"That's it. Don't forget to hate, and live however you want!"
The Nine-Tails, bound hand and foot by the sealing formula inside her, began its daily attempt to manipulate her again. Kushina ignored it and simply lowered her head and ran faster.
"Minato..."
At Training Ground Three, spiral-shaped craters pocked the rock wall and ground. Sitting on the ground, Minato Namikaze was drenched in sweat. He propped himself up and summed up his progress.
"I managed to hold it together, but it still exploded in the end. Controlling this jutsu is just too difficult."
"Maybe my chakra control isn't precise enough. If Shu were the one trying, he might have already mastered it. He's a genius, after all."
Jiraiya stood with his hands on his hips, deep in thought. He leaned toward his student and offered some reassurance.
"Don't underestimate yourself. You mastered and can use the Flying Thunder God. Your talent is second to none."
"Maybe control isn't the issue. It might be easier to mold the chakra in the direction your hair whorls. Let me take a look."
Minato hurriedly leaned his head toward him, his face full of anticipation.
"So there's a trick like that! You really are amazing, Jiraiya-sensei!"
When Jiraiya didn't respond, Minato started to lift his head. Jiraiya's mouth twitched, and he muttered under his breath:
"You have whorls going in both directions!"
"..."
The two of them fell silent, and neither said another word about the direction of the whorls.
After a brief rest, Minato was still thinking about the jutsu. Jiraiya returned to the training ground, pulled out a popsicle, and asked with a smile:
"Which end do you want?"
Minato suddenly froze. Remembering Shu Furukawa's earlier advice about multitasking, he immediately jumped to his feet and shouted:
"Jiraiya-sensei, I've got it!"
After eating his popsicle, Jiraiya watched his student make several attempts before a stable orb of chakra suddenly appeared in his right hand. He exclaimed in delight:
"Let's test its power!"
"Boom!"
The rock wall was blasted open, leaving a massive crater. Elated, Minato formed another orb of chakra in his right hand. Sweating profusely, he cheerfully explained to Jiraiya:
"I'm calling it the Light Wheel Popsicle Shu-Inspired Whorl Jiraiya Double-Style Ball!"
"That's an awful lot of words..."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes and teased him. Minato could only laugh awkwardly. He genuinely thought the name sounded good and fit the jutsu.
"Let's call it a day for now. I have a mission to request. Minato, make sure you get some rest!"
"Yes..."
Following Jiraiya's advice, Minato prepared to head home. As he was packing his bag, he suddenly turned around. Kushina was peeking out from among the trees.
"Huh? Kushina, is it all right for you to come here?"
"Well... the Third Hokage gave me special permission today. I can leave the barrier for a while."
"I'm sorry, Minato. I shouldn't have gotten angry with you earlier."
Kushina bowed in apology, but Minato shook his head. Remembering the Tailed Beast Bomb from not long ago, he said dejectedly:
"I was the one who didn't keep my promise. You must know they've tightened the restrictions, right?"
"I'm sorry. After seeing that kind of power, I was really worried you'd get involved in the war. I developed this jutsu for you."
"I don't want to lose you!"
Kushina's emotions surged violently. Her pupils contracted, and Nine-Tails Chakra spilled out at once, forming a Tailed Beast Cloak. Minato hurried over to support her, but a tail knocked him flying.
Blood seeped from the wound on his chest, but Minato didn't back down. He rushed in front of the girl and used the Four-Symbols Seal.
In the spirit world, Kushina felt the feelings of the man she loved. She cried out and tried to strengthen the seal on the Nine-Tails, but the Tailed Beast Chakra suddenly erupted.
"Let's do this together..."
Breathing heavily, Minato looked at Kushina and spoke softly. As soon as he finished, six tails appeared behind her, and then his abdomen was pierced clean through.
"Leave! Get away from Minato!"
"I will never leave!"
In the spirit world, Minato faced the Nine-Tails for the first time. As the girl screamed in anguish, he took the initiative and used his new jutsu to clash with the Tailed Beast Bomb the Nine-Tails was about to form.
At noon, Minato was rushed to Konoha Hospital with a hole through his abdomen and blood covering his body.
Kushina's coat was also stained with blood. The girl's eyes were swollen and red from crying. After seeing the man she loved carried into the operating room, she collapsed to the floor and sobbed.
The Anbu urgently locked down the hospital. By the time Jiraiya ran over, he was drenched in sweat. Without stopping to learn what had happened, he turned to Tsunade, whose face had gone pale, and asked quietly:
"Are you all right?"
Her Hemophobia had flared up, and Tsunade was struggling to control her trembling body. Shu Furukawa, summoned in an emergency, took her pale hand, then gave her a quick reminder:
"Sensei, after I treat the wound, I'll summon Katsuyu. There won't be any blood when we activate Chikatsu Kyusei no Jutsu."
"You take charge of the jutsu, sensei, and handle the activation. The four of us will supply the chakra."
The penetrating wound was more severe than expected, and the Nine-Tails Chakra was corrosive as well.
After hearing the Special Jōnin's report, Shu Furukawa volunteered to take on the task.
"I'll use Sealing Jutsu to control the Tailed Beast Chakra around the wound first."
"Don't worry. Minato must have avoided any vital spots. Don't underestimate him."
The warmth of Shu's hand brought Tsunade back to herself. Seeing Jiraiya hesitate to speak, she let out a long breath and said seriously:
"The hospital is under control. You should go to the teacher. This was a terrible time for the loss of control."
Thinking of the recent argument between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo over how to use the Jinchuriki, Jiraiya felt a headache coming on. It was fortunate Kushina hadn't lost control in the village; otherwise, their situation would have been even worse.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Shu summoned a slug as large as a person, then headed straight for the operating room. Once inside, he sensed the Tailed Beast Chakra in Minato's body and suddenly sent a thought to Katsuyu:
"Help me extract some of the Tailed Beast Chakra from the wound. This is a great chance to test my theory about chakra!"
Katsuyu's writhing body swayed its antennae and replied at once in a soft, sweet voice:
"Understood, Lord Shu!"
"..."