Not long after outsiders found Uzumaki Kuming's residence, an order from the Third really did reach Qifeng. A Ninja Hawk swooped down from the sky and landed on his arm.
"Lord Hokage wants to see him. Is the situation really that serious?"
Holding the small scroll in his hand, Qifeng hurried toward the residence. This time, though, he didn't vault over the wall. Instead, he dutifully knocked on the gate.
He waited outside for a long while. Then the gate opened by itself, though there wasn't a breath of wind. As Qifeng stepped into the courtyard, he saw Uzumaki Kuming coming out of the dojo with the Heavenly Feather Blade in hand.
"Lord Kuming, Lord Third wants to see you." Qifeng didn't approach. He tossed the small scroll in his hand toward Kuming.
"All right, I know."
Kuming caught the scroll but didn't open it. After replying flatly, he turned and went straight back into the dojo. Watching Uzumaki Kuming's attitude, Qifeng awkwardly scratched his head and had no choice but to remind him again:
"Lord Hokage is waiting for you."
Qifeng didn't dare say anything more. He could only steel himself to hurry Kuming along before immediately leaving the courtyard.
"Look, Kurama. Trouble's come knocking."
Watching Qifeng leave the courtyard, Kuming chuckled. He created a Shadow Clone and went back into the dojo, while the clone left the residence and headed into the village.
"Kid, is it really a good idea to send a Shadow Clone to deal with the Hokage?"
"Aren't you worried that old geezer will get angry?"
Though the Nine-Tails was sealed inside a cage by Kuming, it knew everything happening outside. Kuming and the Nine-Tails shared their field of vision; the Nine-Tails could even borrow Kuming's senses.
It wasn't that the Nine-Tails had some incredible