Grandma Mito, Let Me Try!

"Buzz!"

In an instant, the world spun... Hyuga Wuye instinctively activated his ocular power, projecting his chakra into Kushina's body.

"This is..."

Just like Sasuke had done in the future, he entered Kushina's sealing space, which closely resembled Naruto's.

But the Nine-Tails was nowhere near as comfortable as it had been in the future. Here, it was completely bound on its back, belly facing up.

The ground rose from the water like a small island. The Nine-Tails' limbs and nine tails were each restrained against the ground by chakra chains. Other than being able to twist its head a few times, it could not move any other part of its body.

At that moment, both Mito Uzumaki and Kushina stood behind the Nine-Tails' enormous head, and Hyuga Wuye appeared there as well.

"Those cursed eyes!"

The Nine-Tails let out an enraged howl. "I'll tear you apart!"

Perhaps it had recalled the terror of being controlled by Madara Uchiha... there was a trace of barely perceptible fear in its roar.

"It's Wuye!"

The Nine-Tails chakra around Kushina melted away like snow and ice, instantly freeing her from her predicament.

Mito Uzumaki could not help glancing at them. By then, Hyuga Wuye had already rushed over and supported Kushina's limp body.

Had this child's influence on Kushina already become this great...? The moment he appeared, Kushina's heart became whole and complete.

"Wuye..."

Kushina tightly wrapped her arms around Hyuga Wuye's waist, rubbing her little head against his chest with a softness that made her seem especially lovable.

Wuye gently stroked her long crimson hair, but his gaze could not help drifting upward.

The Nine-Tails' massive body filled his vision, carrying an overwhelming sense of oppression.

"Make it quick."

Mito Uzumaki reminded them helplessly, "Once the Nine-Tails is sealed, you'll have all the time you want to be affectionate."

The Nine-Tails had already left her body. As her life force drained away, she could feel her strength continuously weakening.

Even as a member of the Uzumaki clan, she was nearly at her limit.

"Ah... right."

Kushina finally remembered what they were supposed to be doing. She hurriedly released Hyuga Wuye, knelt halfway down again, and pressed both hands against the water's surface.

"Clank, clank, clank!"

Chakra chains extended outward and connected with Mito Uzumaki's chains before wrapping around the Nine-Tails' neck and locking tightly into place.

"Roar—!"

Naturally, the Nine-Tails would not submit without resistance. As it struggled fiercely, Kushina's chakra chain snapped with a crack.

"No! My strength is weakening. One chain isn't enough now; we need at least three!" Mito Uzumaki said.

Kushina's face was drained of color. "But with my current chakra reserves, I can only make one at most."

"Tch!"

The Nine-Tails seemed to snort disdainfully.

But Mito Uzumaki spoke quickly. "Kushina, the key to splitting Adamantine Sealing Chains into multiple chains isn't the amount of chakra, but your control over it. Imagine that it's a part of yourself..."

As she explained, regardless of how Kushina felt, the strangest thing was Hyuga Wuye.

He replayed the process of casting Adamantine Sealing Chains over and over in his mind, and his understanding grew deeper and deeper.

Could this so-called analysis not only replicate this secret technique, but also reveal its essence? he wondered.

"I'll try again!"

Kushina raised her pretty face and pressed both hands against the lake once more.

"That's wrong."

In Hyuga Wuye's eyes, every detail of Kushina's Adamantine Sealing Chains casting process was crystal clear. He could spot the problem at a glance.

Sure enough, only one chakra chain extended from behind her again.

"Tch!"

The Nine-Tails, which had been closely watching Kushina, quietly sighed in relief. Then it raised its head and snorted. "Is that all?"

Kushina's face turned pale.

After hesitating for a moment, Hyuga Wuye stepped forward. "Kushina, Grandma Mito doesn't mean you should imagine it out of thin air. At the instant you release it, divide your chakra into however many portions you want. Right here..."

His hand lightly pressed against Kushina's smooth back, tapping a certain chakra point.

Kushina was still somewhat confused, but Mito Uzumaki looked at him in astonishment... Without the Byakugan, how could he see chakra flowing so clearly? And he had even pinpointed Kushina's mistake so accurately.

"Like this?"

Kushina tried casting it again.

"No, you split it too early. Here—decide the number of chakra portions in an instant." Hyuga Wuye touched her back again.

"I understand now!"

Kushina's eyes lit up as she slapped both hands onto the lake's surface. "Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

"Clank, clank, clank..."

At last, three chakra chains extended out, each twenty meters long, linking together with Mito Uzumaki's chains.

Hyuga Wuye let out a breath, though he also felt a little frustrated... This was Kushina's chakra output at full power?

Then, Kushina = 100 Kakashis, Kushina = 120 Wuyes, Wuye < 1 Kakashi... What a monster.

No, Kakashi's chakra reserves at age seven should have been lower than mine, Hyuga Wuye thought. But he was already a chunin at six... What a monster!

Graduated at five, chunin at six, jonin at twelve... Kakashi's record before he became dispirited was unbeatable.

"Roar—!"

While he was thinking such random thoughts, Kushina's chakra chains were already wrestling against the Nine-Tails.

"Kushina, lock down its neck and form a closed loop with my chains. Then the sealing will be complete!" Mito Uzumaki said.

"ROAR!!!"

But at that moment, the Nine-Tails bent its right arm, clenched its right paw into a fist, and unleashed a chakra storm throughout the sealing space with a thunderous boom.

"Crack!"

With a crisp snap, the chakra chain restraining its right paw shattered.

"It had been building up power all along!"

Seeing its claw unhesitatingly swipe toward Kushina's frail body, Mito Uzumaki's expression tightened.

"Splash."

Hyuga Wuye suddenly lunged forward, rolling across the water's surface with Kushina several times.

"Boom!"

The Nine-Tails' claw sent countless waves flying.

"Whew..."

Mito Uzumaki sighed in relief, and the chains she had prepared bound the Nine-Tails' right paw once more.

"Kushina, can you keep going?" she asked.

"I..." Kushina rolled to her feet, her face pale. "More than half my chakra is gone. I can't complete the final seal."

Mito Uzumaki fell silent for a moment before giving her a comforting smile. "It's all right. I'll seal it completely myself."

"Wait."

Hyuga Wuye suddenly interrupted. "Grandma Mito, if Kushina can't complete it herself, what will happen?"

"Then she will lose the key to undoing the seal and will never be able to use the Nine-Tails' chakra," Mito Uzumaki said softly. "In other words, the village can only keep Kushina protected and never allow her to leave. And if a situation arises where the tailed beast must be used, then..."

Wuye understood what she meant.

"We were originally supposed to transfer the Nine-Tails after Kushina came of age. But it is different to come into contact with a tailed beast after it has grown and formed its values. Because of your appearance, I had hoped..." Mito Uzumaki sighed helplessly.

"Stand back."

Three more chains extended from behind her, aimed directly at the Nine-Tails.

But Hyuga Wuye suddenly stepped in front of her. "Grandma Mito, let me try."