Without rushing to study his newly acquired jutsu, Genichi followed Kushina to the Senju Clan Compound once again.
"Sorry to intrude, Lady Mito." Genichi entered and greeted her politely.
The old woman still looked young thanks to her training in the Yin Seal. She had the distinctive red hair of the Uzumaki Clan, tied into two buns, and wore a crown-like ornament on her head. A purple diamond-shaped mark adorned her forehead, and charms hung from both buns. She was dressed in a white kimono.
"You must be Genichi. Come over and sit down. There's no need to be so formal. From now on, just call me Grandma Mito, like little Kushina does. Let me introduce you. This is Tsunade; you've already met."
"Lady Tsunade." Genichi continued greeting her politely.
"This is Nawaki. He attends the Ninja Academy, just like you, and he's two years ahead of you," Mito continued.
"I heard you rescued Kushina from the enemy. That settles it—you're my friend now! If you ever have trouble at school, just tell them my name," Nawaki replied with a silly grin.
Uzumaki Mito had already learned the full story from the Anbu's reports and had read Chiba Genichi's file. She knew he excelled in every area, and that his strength far surpassed Nawaki's at present.
Looking at her grandson again, who had always been so obedient and sensible, she wondered if he might actually be a little mischievous and neglecting his studies.
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. "Tsunade, find Nawaki a teacher right away. He hasn't graduated yet, but I think he can start some of his training early."
"Huh?!" they both exclaimed.
Mito turned back and spoke kindly to Genichi. "Genichi, Monkey told me you're interested in Sealing Jutsu. I happen to have some experience in that area. I spend a lot of time alone in my room, and it can get rather dull. If you don't mind, you're welcome to visit and keep this old woman company."
"Thank you, Grandma Mito." Genichi couldn't help feeling excited. The woman before him had to be the greatest Sealing Jutsu master in the Ninja World.
Mito noticed the book Genichi was carrying, Lightning Release: From Entry to Burial. "Did Tobirama write this? When the village was founded, most of the Senju Clan's books were turned over to help build the village's archives, though some were kept behind. If you're interested, you can take a look at them.
"If those dusty old books can help the children of the village again, I'm sure Hashirama would be very happy."
"Thank you, Grandma Mito. I won't disappoint Lord Hokage." Genichi felt he had gained so much today that he didn't know what else to say besides thank you.
Mito watched the polite, well-behaved boy, growing more and more fond of him. Thinking of Kushina, she felt a stir in her heart, as if she had made up her mind about something. "Genichi, come with me."
Her husband, Hashirama Senju, had once subdued the Nine-Tails with one hand. To anyone else, however, it was an unmitigated calamity—a beast of destruction and ruin.
Thanks to her exceptional strength, the Uzumaki Clan's constitution, and her mastery of Sealing Jutsu, Mito had kept the Nine-Tails under control for decades. She was confident that it would cause no trouble, even when she was close to death.
But Kushina was different. She was still so young. Her homeland had been destroyed, her family gone, and she had come to Konoha alone, only to face the most savage beast in the world by herself. She didn't want this fate, yet she had no choice but to accept the cruel reality.
Just imagining that crushing loneliness and despair was enough to make Mito feel like she was suffocating.
That was right. Kushina was still too young. Her heart wasn't strong enough to bear the malice in that chakra.
She had to become the Nine-Tails' vessel... but before the Tailed Beast was placed inside her, her heart needed to be filled with love.
Genichi, you've already become a part of Kushina's life. Are you willing—or, rather, are you capable—of facing this cruel reality alongside her?
Her thoughts in turmoil, Mito finally spoke. "Genichi, have you ever heard of Tailed Beasts?"
"The Tailed Beasts the First distributed among the villages to maintain peace?" Genichi thought for a moment, then gave the answer that was common knowledge.
"That's right. And the most vicious of them, the Nine-Tails, is in Konoha. Would you like to see it, Genichi?" Mito placed a finger on his forehead.
The scene shifted, and Genichi found himself in the Nine-Tails' seal.
The seal loosened slightly, and an enormous torrent of evil Nine-Tails Chakra poured out. Genichi felt cold all over as despair washed over him.
It was like standing at the edge of a cliff and fearing a fall, or standing beneath a massive boulder and dreading its collapse.
The desire to escape danger was instinctive. It was part of every living creature's drive to survive.
But Genichi's memories of his previous life made him see the Nine-Tails differently. He knew it was an independent living being, not a mindless beast that only knew destruction, as the legends of the Ninja World claimed. Besides, Uzumaki Mito could seal the Nine-Tails perfectly. She would never let him get hurt.
It was like riding a roller coaster: your instincts screamed that you were in danger, but reason assured you that you were safe. You could feel the thrill of swinging between life and death.
At last, Genichi overcame his unease and looked up to study the legendary monster.
Mito, who had been watching him closely, had been about to offer comfort and encouragement. Now she could only marvel at how he had suddenly stopped being afraid.
"Damn old woman! I'll kill you! Just you wait until I get out—I'll kill you, and I'll destroy Konoha!" The moment the seal loosened, the Nine-Tails roared from inside its cage.
Mito ignored the loser's howling and asked Genichi, "Child, aren't you afraid?"
Genichi smiled and shook his head. "I trust that Grandma Mito wouldn't hurt me. And no matter how powerful a Tailed Beast is, it's sealed up, so it shouldn't be able to hurt me, right? I'm not just unafraid—I even want to pat its head."
Mito could tell that Genichi was completely sincere. He felt no fear or hatred toward the Nine-Tails at all, and at last she felt reassured. She had never worried about Kushina's talent. She had only feared that Kushina wouldn't be able to bear the loneliness of being a Jinchūriki.
If it was this boy, he could surely stand and fight alongside Kushina. Whatever problems they faced, the two of them could overcome them together. In that regard, the power of love was limitless.
In high spirits, Mito pulled the Nine-Tails closer and tightened the seal further, forcing it down flat on the ground. Then she said kindly, "Go ahead, Genichi. Since you want to pat this fellow on the head, give it a try."
"What?! Damn old woman, you're going to let this brat pat me on the head? No! No one's allowed to touch my head except the old man!" The Nine-Tails reacted even more violently.
"Don't come any closer!"
Ignoring the Nine-Tails' protests, Genichi placed one hand on its forehead and smiled. "N-Nine-Tails Fox, don't be nervous. Things like this either happen zero times or countless times. I'll come visit you again if I get the chance."
Genichi thought it over. Although he knew how much the Tailed Beasts valued their names, he still didn't call the Nine-Tails by its name directly.
The Sage of Six Paths had first taught people how to extract chakra because he discovered that chakra could convey the emotions within a person's heart. He hoped that if people understood one another, they could live in harmony and preserve peace in the world.
At that moment, it wasn't Genichi's physical body that had entered the seal. His consciousness was being carried directly by a small portion of his chakra.
As the boy and beast made direct contact, the Nine-Tails clearly sensed Genichi's calm, faintly excited feelings. There was no hatred, fear, or greed.
How long had it been since it had met someone like this? In a daze, Kurama recalled the past thousand years. Because its power was so immense, humans had coveted it, making it suffer the bitter fruits of war, hatred, and betrayal. It had become a being made up of hatred and pain.
Thinking of this, it stopped resisting the boy before it and closed its eyes with a sigh.
"Ah, it's been more than a thousand years, Old Man Six Paths. Where is this person you spoke of, the one who can lead us into the future without merging us together?"
Before you continue