"Do you still think you can persuade the Nine-Tails now?!"
The softness in his hands delighted him so much that he lingered over it, momentarily forgetting the serious matter they had been discussing. Unfortunately, the brief moment passed, and Minato Namikaze's mind returned to reality. Smiling at her, he answered confidently, "I'm even more certain of my idea now!"
Kushina Uzumaki raised an eyebrow, thoroughly speechless at Minato Namikaze's words.
"What?!"
Minato Namikaze placed both hands on Kushina Uzumaki's shoulders and spoke to her earnestly.
"You wouldn't understand, Kushina. The Nine-Tails has already reached its limit. After being lonely for too long, it will desperately crave companionship. That longing will make the Nine-Tails compromise. And our intentions are good, after all. Once it compromises, we can gradually influence it. I believe that in the near future, we'll definitely succeed in persuading the Nine-Tails!"
Inside the Third Hokage's secret chamber, two Anbu ninjas wearing flowered fox masks knelt before him. Two letters slowly unfolded in the Third Hokage's hands.
"Asagami Naoto, Kokonoe Mutsue! Why?!"
Asagami Naoto spoke first, coldly explaining himself in response to Sarutobi Hiruzen's question. "We don't want to discuss this anymore. We only hope that after making a proper judgment, you will strike our names from the lists of Anbu and Root ninjas. Perhaps that will be our repentance."
"I became a ninja in Konoha's thirty-fourth year, then became a jonin in its thirty-eighth year and joined the Anbu. But from then on, my strength stagnated. Because of my status in the Anbu, I couldn't even ask anyone for guidance. Yet at the Ninjutsu Pavilion, I found what I needed. Your kindness was like giving me a new life. Without you, there would be no me as I am now. If Lord Orochimaru truly is the culprit, then