Sealing the Nine-Tails

Uzumaki Mito took Kushina's hand and stepped into the center of the formation.

Senju Genma stood a short distance away. Sensing that no one else was around, he activated his Sharingan to observe the two women.

He would intervene the moment anything went wrong.

Uzumaki Mito gently stroked her abdomen as red chakra slowly enveloped her entire body, before beginning to detach itself from her form.

On the open ground, the giant red beast thrashed its nine massive tails, letting out a roar that caused the very earth to tremble.

Yet, its roar was quickly cut short as golden chains tightened around its body, pinning the suppressed creature firmly against the ground.

Seeing the Nine-Tails subdued, Uzumaki Mito shouted immediately, "Kushina, get ready!"

"Yes!" Kushina responded loudly, several golden chains erupting from her back as she attempted to pull the Nine-Tails into her own body.

"Have I been too greedy for the beauty of this world, letting myself weaken to this point? The sealing ritual should have been performed sooner!" Uzumaki Mito frowned, gritting her teeth.

The Nine-Tails struggled against their seal, attempting to break free from the binding chains.

This had been anticipated.

What shocked her most was that she was losing her grip on the Nine-Tails; several of the golden chains had already been snapped by the beast.

Senju Genma frowned.

He had thought this would be foolproof, but he hadn't expected trouble to arise after all!

He immediately used the Flying Thunder God technique, teleporting to Uzumaki Kushina's side to shield both her and Mito.

"Sage Art: Myojinmon!"

Fifteen massive torii gates descended from the sky, locking down the Nine-Tails' neck, waist, limbs, and nine giant tails.

"Nine-Tails, your power is too great. I'm sorry! I cannot leave you to your own devices!"

Hearing Senju Genma's words, the once-ferocious Nine-Tails paused, suddenly growing somewhat calmer.

This line sounds familiar. I feel like I've heard it somewhere before!

And this familiar ninjutsu.

Something is wrong!

Something is very wrong!!

"Sage Art: Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"

"Kuan Entering the Marketplace with Bliss-Bringing Hands!"

Senju Genma shouted twice. A fifty-meter-tall wooden figure manifested beneath him, its right hand—marked with the character for 'Seat'—pressing down toward the Nine-Tails' head.

The Nine-Tails' eyes widened in horror.

On this day, the Nine-Tails finally recalled the terror of once being dominated by that man, and the humiliation of being imprisoned in a cage.

I still remember an afternoon decades ago. I was a happy, giant fox, basking in the sun and singing in the forest, when suddenly I was controlled by a handsome guy with long black hair and red eyes!

As if that wasn't enough, he made me fight a terrifying existence named Senju Hashirama, and I ended up beaten into unconsciousness.

That guy named Senju Hashirama said the exact same thing as you.

Thinking about it is just too miserable!

Who did I ever offend?

Isn't this just bullying an honest fox?

"Kurama, we can talk about this later!"

The Nine-Tails was shocked and confused, unable to understand how Senju Genma knew its name.

"Brat, just who are you..."

As the Kuan Entering the Marketplace with Bliss-Bringing Hands took effect, the Nine-Tails lost consciousness and fell into a deep slumber before it could finish its sentence.

"Genma, thank goodness you were here!" Uzumaki Mito's weary voice came from behind Senju Genma.

"Kushina, prepare for the final step!"

After speaking, Uzumaki Mito joined forces with Kushina to seal the unconscious Nine-Tails into the girl's body.

"Four Symbols Seal!"

Uzumaki Mito lifted Kushina's shirt, only to discover a formation composed of a complex heart-shaped pattern on her stomach.

But she had no more time to ponder it; she could only press her hand against Kushina's abdomen and cast the Four Symbols Seal.

Once it was done, Uzumaki Mito felt all her strength drain away, her body swaying unsteadily.

Having had the Nine-Tails extracted, the only reason she was still alive was the special constitution of the Uzumaki Clan and their tenacious vitality.

Had it been an ordinary person, they would have died long before they could finish sealing a Tailed Beast into another host after its extraction.

Senju Genma, aware of Uzumaki Mito's condition, quickly stepped forward to support her.

"Genma, that strange formation from just now—do you have nothing to say about it?" Even as she faced the end of her life, Uzumaki Mito was still concerned for the two of them.

Senju Genma rubbed his nose, looking embarrassed. "It was just a Flying Thunder God seal, used to protect Kushina."

"Is that so? That is good..." Uzumaki Mito revealed a look of relief, her eyes gradually losing their luster as she lay in Senju Genma's arms.

Senju Genma felt that Uzumaki Mito had already passed on, but he did not cry; instead, he picked her up with an expressionless face.

It was only death, nothing to make a fuss about.

He just couldn't understand why his eyes were aching on behalf of his heart.

Senju Genma carried Uzumaki Mito away from the forest.

Uzumaki Kushina followed silently behind him, a few clear tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

Seeing that Senju Genma and Kushina were safe and sound, Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a sigh.

It was not that he had hoped for something to happen to them, but he understood that another important old friend had departed from his life.

"Genma, is it done?"

Senju Genma nodded. "It is done!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Uzumaki Mito's body, pressed his lips together, and said, "Lady Mito's remains... I can have the village give her a grand burial!"

"There is no need. I will take her back to the clan grounds. Lady Mito surely wants to return to the side of her kin," Senju Genma said, shaking his head firmly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, signaling his understanding.

That night, under the escort of Anbu and Senju Jonin, Senju Genma and Kushina brought Uzumaki Mito's remains back to the Senju Clan Grounds.

The clansmen soon learned of Uzumaki Mito's death, and one by one, they wept uncontrollably.

In the nearly forty years since Konoha was founded, the two clan heads, Hashirama and Tobirama, had passed away one after the other.

It was Uzumaki Mito who had been supporting this clan all along.

With Senju Genma bringing back Uzumaki Mito's body, the Senju Clan instantly fell into a state of having no leader.

Under these circumstances, he logically became the new clan head.

No one linked Uzumaki Mito's death to Senju Genma, even though six Jonin had seen them enter the forest together.

Senju Genma and Uzumaki Mito's close relationship was plain for all the clansmen to see; there was no possibility that Senju Genma would kill Uzumaki Mito for the position of clan head.

Uzumaki Mito was already of advanced age, and her health had been failing day by day; it was perfectly normal for her to suddenly pass away.

Moreover, Senju Genma was handsome, had a good personality, and most importantly, was strong enough; his becoming clan head was truly the desire of the people.

After becoming clan head, Senju Genma moved into the Clan Head Residence with Kushina, Mikoto, Konan, and Mito's body.

He did not intend to bury Uzumaki Mito's body so quickly; instead, he brought in some medical ninja to temporarily preserve her remains.

Regarding this, although the clan elders felt it was somewhat improper, they did not raise any objections, and some elders even felt very gratified.

After all, Clan Head Genma was still just a child; it was understandable that he could not bear to part with a loved one who had passed away.

The clan head lived up to the name of the Senju of Love!