Today was the day the Nine-Tails would be transferred, which meant Uzumaki Mito's life was nearing its end.
Genichi looked at the old woman before him. Though she had practiced the Yin Seal, she had still begun to age, and her eyes were always clouded with weariness. Remembering how she had always looked after him and helped him so much, his heart filled with sorrow.
"Mito... Grandma..." Kushina was devastated, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to speak. Nawaki and Tsunade's eyes were red too, and they couldn't find the words.
"Now, children, don't be sad. I'm more than satisfied to have lived this long as a ninja." Mito gently comforted them. "I've had a good life, and there's nothing I regret. I'm just a little worried about you children."
"Tsunade, gamble less from now on, and take good care of Nawaki. He's impulsive and can easily get himself into trouble."
"Nawaki, the same goes for you. Don't make everyone worry. Your sister has been deeply hurt by the war, so you need to support her."
"Ah, once I start, I just keep going. Monkey, take them outside. Genichi and Kushina, stay here. I still have a little strength left to suppress the Nine-Tails, so let's complete the transfer as soon as possible." After a brief pause, Uzumaki Mito decided to proceed with the Nine-Tails' transfer.
Once only the three of them remained in the room, Genichi spoke up. "Grandma Mito, before we begin, could Kushina and I talk to the Nine-Tails, like we did when we were children? We could see if we can persuade it to cooperate."
At that, Uzumaki Mito's expression grew complicated. She didn't think the Nine-Tails would be easy to talk to. They were moving it from one prison to another; how could a few words possibly make it cooperate? She sighed. "All right, if that's what you want."
In the next moment, the three of them were inside the Nine-Tails' sealed space.
"Hahaha, so this day has finally come. Mito, you're counting on this little runt to seal me? Once I get out, I'll destroy this village and kill every last one of you." The Nine-Tails sensed what was happening and immediately lashed out.
No one paid it any attention. Genichi saw how tense Kushina was, rested a hand on her head, and ruffled her hair, reassuring her. "Are you scared, Kushina? Don't be. You know, foxes are actually canines. We can just think of it as having a dog at home."
"Brat! How dare you call me a dog!" Before Kushina could reply, the Nine-Tails was already bristling with anger.
The Nine-Tails remembered this boy. He was one of the rare humans who hadn't been prejudiced against Tailed Beasts. He had seemed decent enough, but now he'd become an accomplice in its imprisonment.
How could humans and Tailed Beasts ever understand each other? Old Man Six Paths, you were just fooling the beasts.
Kushina had known for a long time that she would become a Jinchūriki. She had already felt the Nine-Tails' wicked Chakra, but this was her first time facing it directly.
It was terrifying, and she couldn't help feeling nervous and afraid. Still, she stammered, "I-I can do this. D-don't worry, Genichi."
Genichi continued to reassure her. "The Nine-Tails is just like us humans. It has its own thoughts and feelings—happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy. It's not some irrational beast that only knows how to destroy, like the legends say."
"In fact, in the Jinchūriki system, it's a victim too, just like you, Kushina."
"Hmph. What good will saying all that do? You think a few kind words will make me cooperate? Not a chance. One day, sooner or later..." The Nine-Tails looked disdainful.
Genichi didn't disagree with the Nine-Tails. Instead, he continued, "Kushina, do you want to know how the Nine-Tails was captured and brought to Konoha, then imprisoned inside a Jinchūriki?"
Kushina calmed down and thought it over. She tilted her little head to one side, sucking on her finger. "Wasn't it the First who captured it?"
Genichi suddenly raised his head and spoke loudly enough for the Nine-Tails to hear clearly. "Let's set aside the fact that, over the past thousand years, humans coveted the Nine-Tails' power and dragged it into all kinds of conflicts. We'll start with Madara Uchiha, who was as famous as Lord Hashirama."
"One day, the Nine-Tails was sleeping peacefully in a valley when Madara Uchiha suddenly showed up and shouted, 'Beast, lend me your Chakra!' Then he opened his eyes wide, and his Sharingan Genjutsu instantly took control of the Nine-Tails, turning it into a mount."
The Nine-Tails couldn't take it anymore. It had never been weaker than anyone else in its life. As the most beloved child of the Sage of Six Paths, it was the strongest Tailed Beast in history, far stronger than Shukaku and the others. More than anything, it couldn't stand anyone questioning its strength.
"Bullshit! Brat, what do you know? Back then, Madara Uchiha waited reverently outside the valley for a whole week before I finally found time to see him. He told me how unfair Hashirama had been to him and begged me over and over. He almost got down on his knees!"
The Nine-Tails grew more and more smug as it spoke. "It was only because I took pity on him that I agreed to lend him a hand. We signed a temporary Summoning Contract so I could help him get justice from Hashirama Senju."
"Ha." Genichi nearly burst out laughing. He forced down his amusement and continued, "Let's say the Nine-Tails is telling the truth. After the battle at the Valley of the End, Lord Hashirama realized how dangerous the Nine-Tails was."
"So later, Lord Hashirama found the Nine-Tails lazily wandering through the forest. That day, Lord Hashirama clasped his hands in front of his chest and instantly entered Sage Mode, using [Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands]."
"He summoned a gigantic statue of the Thousand-Armed Kannon, dozens of times larger than the Nine-Tails, with a thousand arms growing from its back. Then one hand grabbed the Nine-Tails in its palm like a little chick."
"Only then did Lord Hashirama speak slowly. 'Nine-Tails, your power is too great. I'm sorry, but I can't let you roam free.'"
"In the end, the once-free Nine-Tails was sealed inside Grandma Mito, where it languished in darkness until today."
Kushina looked completely bewildered. What did it mean to have a thousand arms, with one hand grabbing the Nine-Tails like a chick? Were they talking about the Nine-Tails right in front of her? She murmured, "Then isn't it pitiful?"
Hearing that this little runt dared to pity the great Nine-Tails, it immediately roared, "Damn you, brat! You don't understand a thing. All you know is Hashirama Senju's version of history, full of self-aggrandizement!"
"Let me tell you the truth. When Hashirama Senju came looking for me, I wanted to back down, but I couldn't get away from him. I had no choice but to fight."
"He was certainly strong, and his Wood Style was a little strange. For a while, neither of us could gain the upper hand. Ah, that battle split mountains and filled seas; the heavens and earth changed. We fought all the way to the far reaches of the Ninja World, until our Chakra was completely spent. Three days and three nights later, I no longer wanted to fight and tried to leave. Only then did he find an opening and beat me by a single move."
"I only lost by one move. Do you understand?"
You can fool your friends, but don't fool yourself, Genichi silently added.
Then he turned to Kushina and said, "Well? Surprised the Nine-Tails is like this, aren't you? Feeling a little less nervous now?"
Kushina nodded. If she could talk to it, then it was much easier to accept than a beast that only knew destruction.
"Big fox! We've talked about the past enough. How about we talk about the future?" Genichi called out.
"What's there to talk about? You just want to lock me up somewhere else." The Nine-Tails refused to engage.
"Come to think of it, we've known each other for years, but we've never properly introduced ourselves. My name is Chiba Genichi, and this is Kushina Uzumaki. What about you? Do you have a name?"
"I'd never tell you my name..."
"I heard from someone that your name is Kurama. Is that true?"
At that, every trace of calm vanished from the Nine-Tails' face. It asked excitedly, "Where did you hear that name?"
"Looks like it's true. I'll call you Kurama from now on. And now I'll ask you directly: Kurama, do you want to be free?" Genichi asked solemnly.
"Free? Easy to say. Do you think Konoha would let me leave?" The Nine-Tails, still shocked that Genichi knew its real name, scoffed.
"Do you think leaving Konoha would make you truly free?" Genichi countered.
"Of course. If it weren't for Hashirama Senju, who knows how much fun I'd be having now?"
Genichi explained patiently. "Every country is now developing ways to seal Tailed Beasts. Your power is undoubtedly great, but the moment you leave Konoha, other ninjas will gang up on you. In the end, you'll just be sealed somewhere else."
"If you cooperate with Kushina, I can promise you this: if you're willing, she'll be your last Jinchūriki."
"What makes you so sure?" The Nine-Tails had lived for over a thousand years. If it only had to endure a few decades, it didn't seem impossible.
Seeing the Nine-Tails wavering, Genichi raised the stakes. "Even seals can have very different effects. The new [Eight-Trigrams Seal] is made up of two [Four-Symbols Seals]. Even if some Tailed Beast Chakra leaks out, the seal will remain stable."
"Simply put, if you and Kushina cooperate, then once I become Hokage, you can sleep with most of your Chakra inside Kushina, while a small portion gathers into a little Nine-Tails that can live outside her."
"Right now, I'm only a Konoha jonin, so I don't have much influence. But in the future—within ten years at most—I'll become Hokage!" Genichi declared confidently. "Just endure for ten years, and I'll keep my promise."
The Nine-Tails was already tempted, but pride kept it from agreeing.
So Genichi decided to bring out his trump card. "Hey, you Tailed Beasts must be as close as brothers, right? I heard the One-Tail is being held prisoner by Sunagakure's ninjas and tortured in all sorts of ways. They've even figured out how to counter Magnet Release. Agree to my terms today, and one day I'll take you to visit your brother."
"Ninjas don't break their word?" Without a moment's hesitation, the Nine-Tails felt that even hesitating for one second would be disrespectful to the sincere man before it.
"With Kage Rock as my witness, I'll never break my word." Genichi made the promise in a peculiar tone.
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