"You and Kushina should take the next few days to prepare. Tell me when you're ready, and I'll let you experience my chakra."
The Nine-Tails weighed things over for a long while before finally making up his mind.
"Thank you so much, Senior Kurama! Sister Kushina and I will prepare thoroughly over the next few days. We definitely won't disappoint you!"
Nobuhiko breathed a long sigh of relief inwardly and firmly gave the Nine-Tails his assurance.
He had finally managed to hug this thigh. All his efforts to use the original story and push his powers of persuasion to their limits hadn't been wasted.
"Other than you and Kushina, I don't want anyone else knowing about this. Understood, brat?"
That's just like you, Kurama. As tsundere as ever!
"Brat, what disrespectful thing are you thinking?"
After looking at Nobuhiko's expression and combining it with what he sensed, Kurama roared.
Crap. Nobuhiko had forgotten that the Nine-Tails could sense good and evil.
"Well, Senior Kurama, I was thinking about how to persuade you!"
Nobuhiko's eyes darted as he spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face.
"Persuade me about what?"
Kurama didn't believe him.
"Could I tell Sister Tsunade about this?"
Nobuhiko's mind suddenly began racing, and this abruptly occurred to him.
"Have I been giving you too much face?"
Kurama hadn't expected Nobuhiko to actually dare to push his luck.
"Senior Kurama, I can promise you that Sister Tsunade is absolutely trustworthy. Can I tell her?"
Other than the matter of Dan Katō, Nobuhiko really didn't want to hide anything else from Tsunade. Besides, telling her about this didn't seem to have any downsides.
The Nine-Tails thought for a moment.
"Fine. Then include that granddaughter of old lady Mito's."
"Rest assured, Senior Kurama. There definitely won't be a fourth person who knows about this."
"Other than Sister Tsunade, Kushina, and me, I'll kill anyone who finds out."
"If I can't kill them now, I'll wipe out their entire family once I'm stronger!"
Nobuhiko gave the Nine-Tails his assurance through gritted teeth.
This time, it was Kurama's turn to be shocked. He truly hadn't expected this brat, who seemed rather clever but was actually rather shameless and liked to flatter him at every opportunity, to be so ruthless inside. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
"Handle it however you see fit!"
The contrast in Nobuhiko was so stark that Kurama was truly at a loss for words.
"Oh, right, Senior Kurama. There's one more thing we need to consider."
Nobuhiko lowered his head and thought for a while before adding this.
Kurama suddenly realized that he might have been too hasty. This brat had rather a lot of issues.
Seeing that the Nine-Tails remained silent but that his gaze was growing increasingly dangerous, Nobuhiko hurried to explain.
"Senior Kurama, when you let Sister Kushina experience your chakra, it'll definitely cause a huge commotion. Then the ninja 'protecting' Sister Kushina will definitely report it to Lord Hokage, which will very likely cause some unnecessary misunderstandings, so..."
*???*
Something's wrong. What's with that amused look in the Nine-Tails' eyes?
"Um, Senior Kurama, was there something wrong with what I just said?"
"The last time I saw you in front of your Hokage, I didn't sense even a trace of malice in your heart."
The Nine-Tails suppressed his laughter and spoke slowly.
"And?"
"And just now, when you mentioned your Hokage, although your tone was still very respectful, there was quite a lot of malice in your heart!"
The Nine-Tails finally couldn't hold back anymore, and a smile curled at the corner of his mouth. He found this brat far too entertaining.
Seriously, what's wrong with you? Why the hell are you spending all your time sensing the malice in my heart?
"Um, Senior Kurama, you can't just say things like that. Heaven and earth can bear witness to my loyalty to Lord Hokage. You can't slander me!"
Nobuhiko refuted Kurama very "angrily."
"Handle this however you like. Save your explanations for Kushina. There's no need to explain yourself to me. This little girl is very angry after finding out you deceived her!"
Finally, the Nine-Tails fanned the flames, enjoying the spectacle without caring how much trouble he caused, then returned to the sealed space.
When Kushina's consciousness returned, she saw Nobuhiko, gave a "hmph," and turned her face away, not wanting to speak to him.
"Sister Kushina, I really am utterly loyal to Lord Hokage. I definitely didn't lie to you!"
Nobuhiko truly didn't dare tell the innocent girl before him what he really thought of the Third Hokage. It had nothing to do with trust.
Some people simply weren't born to act, and Kushina just happened to be one of them.
Although Tsunade wasn't suited to acting either, she was an adult, after all, and had been through countless battles. Naturally, she wouldn't give anything away.
"Then why did Kurama say he sensed malice in your heart?"
Kushina clearly didn't believe him this time.
Nobuhiko thought for a moment, then offered Kushina a specious argument with a pained expression.
"Sister Kushina, what Senior Kurama sensed wasn't malice toward Lord Hokage. It was just my dissatisfaction with your current situation of being 'protected.'"
"Huh? Really?"
Kushina hesitated.
"Of course it's true! When have I ever lied to you, Sister Kushina?"
"I'm so sorry, Little Brother Nobuhiko. I misunderstood you!"
Moved by Nobuhiko's sophistry, Kushina gently stroked his head.
"You really don't need to worry about this. I've actually gotten used to it long ago."
"Believe me, Sister Kushina. Sooner or later, I'll change this situation!"
Nobuhiko firmly gave Kushina his assurance.
"I believe you!"
Kushina raised her head, trying hard not to let her little pearls fall.
Meanwhile, inside the sealed space, the Nine-Tails was once again shocked by Nobuhiko's shamelessness.
"Sister Kushina, I have a plan. Let's spend the next few days getting more familiar with Sealing Jutsu and improving our coordination. Then we'll go to Lord Hokage's office..."
"Little Brother Nobuhiko, am I really that talented?"
After hearing Nobuhiko's plan, Kushina was a little hesitant.
"Sister Kushina, right now, the only ones who know about this are Senior Kurama, you, and me. Sister Tsunade will know in the future, too."
"As long as we don't reveal the truth, then as the person involved, whatever you say is the truth!"
Kushina was persuaded by Nobuhiko's words, but she still felt that something was a little off.
Wasn't her Little Brother Nobuhiko utterly loyal to that old man, the Third Hokage? Then why did they have to hide this from him?
This time, Kushina was clever enough not to ask the question. Instead, she decided to discover the truth through her own observations!
After sensing Kushina's thoughts this time, Kurama finally felt a sense of vindication inside the sealed space.
Three days later, in the Hokage's office.
Bang.
" What did you say?"
Shocked by Nobuhiko and Kushina's request, the Third Hokage slapped the desk and sprang to his feet.
Looking at the shocked Third Hokage, Nobuhiko gave Kushina a look.
"I don't care, old man! My mastery of Sealing Jutsu really has improved by leaps and bounds lately. Just let me try! With you watching beside me, are you really worried something will go wrong? You're the man known as the strongest Hokage!"
After receiving Nobuhiko's signal, Kushina shook the Third Hokage's arm and wheedled, following the words Nobuhiko had taught her.
"All right, all right, I agree. But we'll have to go to the Forest of Death to test it. And I'll also bring a Sealing Squad and a team of Anbu ninja to ensure everyone's safety."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
After getting the Third Hokage's approval, Kushina grabbed Nobuhiko and ran toward the Forest of Death.
In the Forest of Death, everyone except Kushina and Nobuhiko stood fully prepared, as though facing a formidable enemy.
Once he saw that the Sealing Squad and the Anbu were ready, the Third Hokage, dressed in combat gear, looked at Kushina.
"You can begin, Kushina!"