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Chapter 24 - A Cat?

From Kushina, Yue learned that the seal on her body had recently become unstable, causing some of the Nine-Tails' chakra to leak out and disrupt her own chakra.

This was the additional chakra Yue had sensed through his Kagura Mind's Eye.

Because of this, Kushina had been busy reinforcing the seal, but her efforts had little effect.

"Did you tell Father about this? With his strength, he should be able to help, right?"

"Little Sun is just too busy. The village affairs keep him tied up, so I didn't want to bother him. Besides, I can handle that stinky fox myself! Your mom's sealing techniques are top-notch, Yue, so you don't need to worry about me."

As a wife and mother, Kushina didn't want to trouble her husband and son.

"Can you teach me some sealing techniques tomorrow?"

Yue wanted to help, but at the moment, he had no way to assist her at all.

So, he decided to ask Kushina for some sealing techniques to study and research.

"Sure, but I have to go to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up. I'll give you some scrolls first, and once I've sorted everything out, I'll train with you. Don't worry—it's just a routine check-up, nothing serious."

Noticing Yue's body tense slightly at the mention of the hospital, Kushina reassured him.

"I'll give you the sealing techniques now since I have to head out early tomorrow."

She went back to her room and took out two scrolls, handing them to Yue.

"These are the Four Symbols Seal and the Five Elements Seal. They're a bit difficult, but I'm sure you'll manage, Yue! Keep up the good work!

Now, it's time for bed. Go back to your room—keeping a proper routine is important."

Yue took the two scrolls back to his room, lay down, and prepared to sleep.

Tomorrow morning, he had to visit someone and see if he could gather more information.

The next day, Yue arrived at the Uchiha clan district. As expected of a prestigious family, their territory was vast.

"Hey, you're the Fourth Hokage's kid, right? What are you doing in our clan's land?"

"I'm looking for Uchiha Itachi. Could you notify him for me?"

"You want to see the Young Master? What for?"

"I'm his friend. I need his help with something."

"Hmph… Even the Fourth Hokage's son has to come begging for help from the Uchiha."

The Uchiha clansman before Yue looked even more arrogant after hearing Yue's request, clearly pleased by his answer.

Yue now understood why the Uchiha clan was so disliked in the village. You could tell what they were like just by observing one member. This kind of attitude naturally made them unpopular.

Still, Yue wasn't the type to get emotional over something like this. He didn't have any particular feelings about this Uchiha or the clan as a whole—he just found them a little immature.

"Wait here. I'll check if the Young Master is available."

The man left, leaving Yue standing at the main gate. He didn't even offer him a seat, just left him there without a second thought.

This was the first time Yue had experienced such poor hospitality. With no other option, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes to rest.

"Yue!"

Two or three minutes later, he heard Itachi calling him. Yue opened his eyes and stood up straight.

"You're actually coming to me for help? That's rare. What do you need?"

"I wanted to ask if your clan has any records on the Tailed Beasts. Could I borrow them?"

Yue had read many books, but he had never come across any information on the Tailed Beasts.

The major clans and villages of the ninja world all hoarded their secrets, treating even common knowledge as family treasures. Even things that were practically public knowledge still required special access to obtain.

Minato probably had this information, but from Kushina's words, he gathered that most villagers didn't know her true situation—only high-ranking officials or those close to Minato's family were aware.

Clearly, the village had been enforcing a near twenty-year-long information lockdown. Whether it was to protect Kushina or simply to keep her life undisturbed, Yue wasn't sure.

For that reason, he didn't want to ask Minato for this information.

"Tailed Beasts? What are those?"

"..."

Yue was speechless. He hadn't considered that Itachi, like himself, might not have known about them before now.

"Can you check your clan's records? Or ask your father?"

Since he was already here, he figured he might as well trouble Itachi. At worst, he'd just owe the Uchiha a favor and pay them back later.

"Alright, I'll check. I'll give you an answer this afternoon. You'll be in the back mountain, right?"

"Yeah. Thanks."

Yue thanked him and turned to leave.

"Father, I have a request."

"What is it, Itachi?"

Fugaku, his stern face as rigid as ever, looked at Itachi. This was the third time his son had made a request.

The first time was asking to join him on the battlefield.

The second was asking to learn the Great Fireball Technique.

"What is it? Just say it."

"It's about Namikaze Yue. He wants to borrow the clan's records on the Tailed Beasts. May I lend them to him, Father?"

Fugaku frowned upon hearing Minato's son was asking for such information. He pondered for a moment, puzzled as to why Yue wouldn't just ask Minato directly.

'Maybe… there are some unspoken concerns. From Itachi's description, that child seems exceptionally mature.'

"I understand. Come with me to retrieve them."

"Arigato."

After finishing lunch, Yue arrived at the back mountain. Itachi was already there waiting.

"Yue, here's what you wanted."

"Thanks. Have you read it before?"

"No, I just got it after lunch and came straight here."

"Then let's read it together."

"No, I have to go home. I need to take care of my mom. Yue, in eight months, I'm going to be a big brother!"

Itachi was overjoyed. His mother, Mikoto Uchiha, had been feeling unwell recently, and after a check-up, it was confirmed that she was pregnant.

His face was full of anticipation for the future.

"Congratulations."

After reading through all the records, Yue learned that there were eight more beings like the Nine-Tails, named according to their number of tails, from the One-Tail to the Nine-Tails.

Yue had suspected this before. Minato had once told him about his experiences in the Land of Lightning, where he encountered Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. It seemed his guess had been correct.

"Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara… Just how strong were these two? And why has no one in the past sixty years ever reached their level, treating the Tailed Beasts like mere pets?"

Yue had a few theories:

First, they were simply that powerful—once-in-a-century geniuses.

Second, they were throwbacks to an earlier, immensely strong ancestor of the Senju and Uchiha clans.

Considering how bloodline limits were passed down, this seemed plausible.

Third, the Wood Release and Sharingan had immense untapped potential, and these two found the key to unlocking it.

'The Uchiha records on Madara are quite detailed… He lost his brother to Tobirama Senju, yet he still abandoned hatred to establish Konoha with Hashirama. He only left due to ideological differences.

He doesn't seem like the insane terrorist the village portrays him as. History is written by the victors.

If he had truly wanted to, he could've fought Hashirama within Konoha itself and destroyed the village in the process.'

'And Hashirama's vision of peace… is just too naive.'

Yue couldn't understand his way of thinking.

Instead of using his superior strength and eight captured Tailed Beasts to unify the world, he gave the Tailed Beasts away in hopes of peace.

Maybe that was why Konoha kept winning wars but kept getting weaker.

From the moment Konoha was founded, appeasement had been embedded in its leadership.

And now, Yue had set a goal for himself.

To become strong enough to treat the Nine-Tails like a pet cat!

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