Shukaku, You Big Dummy?

"I don't want to be left behind, watching my child die before me."

"Do you understand?"

Mito gazed ahead, a hint of anguish flashing in her eyes. Her heart ached, and she fought to keep her tears from falling.

"What? The Nine-Tails?"

"That jerk Kurama got captured too?"

"Ha ha ha! At least I'm not the only one who got caught. Otherwise, I'd have been so embarrassed."

"So there's someone else to keep me company? I feel a lot better now."

"But this Uzumaki has a truly enormous chakra supply. It's almost a match for mine."

"This guy's practically a human Tailed Beast. Terrifying."

"I'd love to see that foul mouth of Kurama's. Heh heh!"

When Gyuki heard that the Nine-Tails had been captured, being sealed himself suddenly didn't seem like such a big deal.

After all, someone else had been caught first, so he wasn't the first. He was actually pretty pleased about it.

"That man with Asura's abilities is strong, and his wife is powerful too."

"But I doubt the next person you send will be as strong."

"Heh heh! It's not like I can die. Worst case, I'll just be locked up for a few years."

Gyuki finally quieted down. There was no point coming out to fight Hashirama Senju, who was far too powerful for him. And Mito Uzumaki was no pushover either—her immense chakra was every bit as great as his, if not greater.

"Is that so?"

"Mito, then do you want to know what Fujima decided for himself?"

"He must know by now how much chakra he's using up. Yet he still chose not to release the Nine-Tails."

"If our child hasn't said anything, shouldn't we, as his parents, support him?"

After hearing Mito Uzumaki's words, Hashirama Senju's body trembled slightly, but his gaze remained resolute.

In his eyes, the village mattered more than anything. Even if Senju Fujima wanted to destroy it, Hashirama would strike without mercy.

Of course, he believed even more strongly in Senju Fujima's love for the village. That was why Fujima had volunteered to be the first Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.

"I know, but I still can't help worrying!"

After hearing Hashirama Senju's words, tears streamed down Mito's face.

"Everything will be all right."

"Didn't Fujima say he and the Nine-Tails had become good friends?"

"Maybe he doesn't need to suppress it with chakra anymore."

"Don't worry too much. We'll find a way."

Hashirama Senju slowly stepped forward. A trace of guilt crossed his eyes as he pulled Mito Uzumaki tightly into his arms to comfort her.

"I hope so."

"When I get back, I'll study this carefully too, and see if there's a way to stop the Tailed Beasts from leaking chakra."

"Only by stopping their chakra from leaking can we get to the root of the problem."

Mito Uzumaki leaned against Hashirama Senju's chest and gazed at the sky, speaking with a helpless sigh.

"Mm. We'll find a way."

Hashirama Senju spoke softly.

"Big Brother, it's about time we headed back."

"There are still a few Tailed Beasts we need to capture!"

Just then, Tobirama Senju walked over. He didn't want to interrupt their quiet moment, but time was pressing.

"Let's go."

After hearing Tobirama's words, Hashirama Senju spoke softly into Mito's ear.

"Mm."

Mito Uzumaki nodded slightly.

The three of them then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to leap from place to place, and soon returned to Konoha.

Tobirama Senju's chakra was astonishingly vast. He kept taking people with him as he used the Flying Thunder God Technique, yet he didn't show the slightest strain. No wonder he was the Senju Clan's second clan leader.

"Hashirama, how did it go? Was the mission successful?"

Back in Konoha, Madara Uchiha asked Hashirama Senju.

"Mm, it went pretty well. We captured Gyuki."

Hashirama Senju smiled at Madara Uchiha.

"Ha ha ha! Good."

"Now it's my turn. I haven't been out to stretch my legs in ages."

"One each. No backing out."

Madara Uchiha laughed heartily and patted Hashirama Senju, as if afraid he might renege.

"Do you really think I'm the kind of person who'd back out?"

Hearing Madara Uchiha say that, Hashirama Senju lowered his head and said dejectedly.

"There you go again. You're the Hokage, for goodness' sake. Can you stop getting depressed over every little thing?"

"You make me want to punch you, you know?"

Seeing Hashirama Senju at it again, Madara Uchiha slapped his forehead and shouted angrily.

"All right, all right. I'll stop, I'll stop. Ha ha ha...!"

"Then I'll leave the rest to you. Go on!"

Hearing Madara Uchiha say that, Hashirama Senju immediately burst into cheerful laughter.

"Hmph. Boring."

Madara Uchiha snorted. Then he followed Tobirama Senju away, and the two vanished in an instant.

"Is this the place?"

"A desert? Isn't this Sunagakure's territory?"

Soon, Tobirama Senju brought Madara Uchiha to the desert. He frowned deeply.

"Mm. This is the Nara Desert. It seems there's a Shukaku around here."

"Several Anbu have already died. Shukaku isn't very strong, but it's right at home in the desert. It's lively and playful by nature, and likes to bury everything in sight beneath the sand."

"Its attacks also cover a wide area. It's hard to hide your tracks in the desert, and Anbu who are spotted have little chance of escaping."

"That's why it's been listed as a top-priority target."

Tobirama Senju nodded slightly and looked toward Shukaku, who was playing with the sand not far ahead.

"Tch. Just a tail, with so little chakra, and it's still called a Tailed Beast?"

"It doesn't even have a tenth of the Nine-Tails' chakra. What a disappointment."

"Hashirama got the better deal. He got to capture Gyuki."

"Tenka, get ready to seal it. I'll restrain Shukaku, then you can seal it."

Madara Uchiha looked at Shukaku in front of him. It was so weak that he couldn't muster the slightest interest in it.

Then he turned to Tenka Uzumaki beside him and spoke coolly.

"I understand, First."

"Don't worry, First."

Tenka Uzumaki had a powerful constitution and an enormous chakra supply, but she was young. That was why Mito Uzumaki had sent her to seal Shukaku.

Mito was also worried about her and didn't want her to control a Tailed Beast that was too powerful.

"Mm."

Madara Uchiha nodded slightly, then vanished in an instant.

"Hey, big dummy."

Madara Uchiha soon appeared in front of Shukaku. He held out his personal Uchiha Gunbai, dressed in his Hokage uniform, and looked at Shukaku with disdain.

"Big dummy?"

"Big dummy?"

"You actually called me a big dummy?"

"You puny human! Die!"

"Wind Release: Air Bullet!"

Shukaku had been playing in the sand when a puny human suddenly appeared before him and called him a big dummy. Enraged, he immediately fired an Air Bullet at Madara Uchiha.