Absurdity had come home to roost

"Who said I'd lost my will?" Kushina asked when she heard Orochimaru's words.

"What?" Orochimaru stared at Kushina in shock. She was still conscious? She was a Perfect Jinchuriki!

"Orochimaru, there's nothing to be shocked about. Kushina is a Perfect Jinchuriki, so she's the strongest one here. For the sake of training, I temporarily sealed off communication between her and the Nine-Tails, but that scare you gave her broke through the seal!" Hatake Ziyan said with a laugh. "Watch yourself, Orochimaru!"

With that, Hatake Ziyan signaled Kakashi and Nawaki to withdraw.

A fiery red tail, covered in bubbling chakra, slowly emerged behind Kushina.

"Using snake ninjutsu in front of a girl? You're disgusting!" Kushina shouted, her voice icy.

The instant she finished speaking, the tail slammed toward Orochimaru.

Orochimaru hurriedly leaped aside, but while he was still in midair, another tail lashed toward him. He immediately formed hand seals.

"Substitution Technique!"

The log that replaced Orochimaru was smashed to splinters.

But just as Orochimaru escaped with the Substitution Technique, a tail shot toward him from the front and struck him squarely.

The blow sent Orochimaru flying. He crashed through several large trees before finally slamming into another and coming to a stop!

Kushina watched Orochimaru fly away, then turned to Hatake Ziyan.

"Don't worry. He won't die that easily!" Hatake Ziyan explained when he saw her looking at him.

Hearing that, Kushina nodded and turned back to Orochimaru.

Orochimaru slowly rose from the ground and looked at Kushina. "As expected of a Perfect Jinchuriki. What incredible power!"

Orochimaru rolled his neck and opened his mouth wide. A sword hilt slowly emerged. Once it was fully out, he gripped it with his right hand and drew the sword from his mouth.

With a flick of his right hand, Orochimaru shook the saliva off the blade.

Watching Orochimaru spit out a sword made Kushina's stomach churn with disgust, and she covered her mouth.

Hatake Ziyan's mouth twitched as well. Although he had known Orochimaru could spit a sword out of his mouth, seeing it in person was still pretty revolting.

Just as Orochimaru was about to advance and continue the fight, Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared at the training ground, dressed in armor and holding a staff. He stared at Kushina with a tense expression.

"Orochimaru, what's going on? Why has the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki gone berserk?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked sternly.

Orochimaru felt a little awkward. He had initially thought the Jinchūriki had gone berserk too, but she was a Perfect Jinchuriki.

Orochimaru walked over to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Teacher, I'm sparring with this child! And she hasn't gone berserk!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kushina and the violent aura pouring from her body, his expression still stern. "With an aura like that, how could she not have gone berserk? She already has three tails. If this continues, we won't be able to suppress her!"

Ever since arriving, Hiruzen Sarutobi had focused entirely on Kushina. He had not even noticed Hatake Ziyan nearby.

Orochimaru tugged at Hiruzen Sarutobi and whispered, "Teacher, Kushina is a Perfect Jinchuriki!"

"Orochimaru!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to become a Perfect Jinchuriki? Only a handful have ever appeared in the entire Shinobi World. Even Roshi, the Hidden Stone Village's Perfect Jinchuriki of the Four-Tails, is somewhat mentally unstable!"

Orochimaru no longer wanted to explain. If she'd gone berserk, would you still be standing here chatting with me? She would've come after you ages ago!

Unable to watch any longer, Hatake Ziyan jumped down from the tree and walked over to Kushina.

Seeing Hatake Ziyan approach, Kushina withdrew the Nine-Tails' chakra and stood quietly beside him.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Hatake Ziyan appear beside Kushina, he assumed the Nine-Tails had retreated on his own out of fear of Hatake Ziyan. "Lord Ziyan, if you cannot properly care for the Jinchūriki, then please entrust the Jinchūriki to me!"

Hatake Ziyan had been planning to tease Hiruzen Sarutobi a little, but those words sent him straight into a fury. He unleashed his aura directly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Orochimaru stood awkwardly beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, wondering whether something was wrong with his teacher's head. He had already told him Kushina was a Perfect Jinchuriki, yet here he was, calling her "the Jinchūriki" and accusing Hatake Ziyan of failing to care for her. Orochimaru had no idea what to say!

Struggling to remain standing, Hiruzen Sarutobi said to Hatake Ziyan, "Are you trying to intimidate me with your strength, Lord Ziyan?"

Hatake Ziyan sneered. "Little monkey, do you really think I won't touch you just because you're the Hokage? This is my granddaughter, Kushina, not 'the Jinchūriki' you keep talking about. And you aren't qualified to judge how well I care for her!"

With that, Hatake Ziyan signaled Kushina to give them a demonstration.

Kushina was a little angry too, and immediately activated the Perfect Nine-Tails Form she had yet to fully master.

A golden cloak appeared over Kushina's body, and black markings emerged on her face. Her entire aura underwent a complete transformation. Not a trace of its former violence remained; instead, there was even a hint of ethereal grace.

But after only a few seconds, Kushina was forced out of the form. She dropped to her knees, panting heavily.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru were so shocked that they stood frozen in place.

Orochimaru felt as though absurdity had opened the door for its own mother today-it had truly come home to roost.

Five-year-old Kakashi was already approaching Chunin-level strength. Orochimaru had also taught Senju Nawaki for a while, yet after just a few days of Hatake Ziyan's training, Nawaki's strength had improved considerably.

Most absurd of all was Kushina. At such a young age, the girl had already learned the Uzumaki Clan's two signature ninjutsu, the Mind's Eye of the Kagura and the Adamantine Sealing Chains. More ridiculous still, it had only been a month since the Nine-Tails was sealed inside her, and she was already a Perfect Jinchuriki.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was utterly speechless. He had thought he had finally found something to use against Hatake Ziyan and could take control of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki this time. He had never expected such a huge surprise-no, such a terrible shock!

Feeling the pressure bearing down on him, Hiruzen Sarutobi was filled with regret. He had thought Orochimaru was talking nonsense! Now it was clear that he had been too impulsive and had provoked that menace, Hatake Ziyan!

Hatake Ziyan looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Why aren't you talking anymore? Your mouth was running nonstop just a moment ago. What happened? Gone mute?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a bitter smile and dismissed the Demon Ape's summoning. With difficulty, he clasped his hands toward Hatake Ziyan. "Lord Ziyan, this was all a misunderstanding. Please forgive me!"