What Hoshiyomi wanted to research was nothing else but the three Mangekyō Sharingan left behind by the rebellious Uchiha.
One of Uchiha Yamashiro's Mangekyō eyes had already been destroyed when he used Izanagi, but Uchiha Iwa's pair was still perfectly intact.
That was an unexpected bonus — with these three eyes in hand, Hoshiyomi wouldn't have to use Kuugetsu as a test subject anymore.
As for whether the Uchiha would notice or be displeased, the answer was no.
The few surviving rebels who knew about these eyes were all currently imprisoned in Konoha — and it wouldn't be long before they were secretly executed.
The only person left who knew the truth was Fugaku, and even he hadn't mentioned reclaiming the eyes.
After all, this was not something that could be brought into the open.
He had just barely managed to repair the Uchiha's relationship with Konoha — if he were to suddenly tell the village leadership, "Surprise! I've got Mangekyō Sharingan lying around,"
he'd only be asking for trouble.
Besides, Fugaku didn't believe that Konoha could actually learn anything from studying the eyes.
The secret of the Mangekyō had been researched by generations of Uchiha clan heads for over a hundred years without result —
how could a bunch of outsiders possibly uncover its mysteries?
For these reasons, Hoshiyomi easily obtained the three eyes.
However, he didn't have time to study them himself just yet, so he handed them over to Orochimaru for preliminary research.
He still had another important matter to attend to —
— his promise to the Nine-Tails.
Hoshiyomi had previously said he would give the Nine-Tails its freedom,
and now that most of Konoha's post-crisis affairs were settled, it was time to fulfill that promise.
"Sensei, you're finally here!"
The moment Hoshiyomi knocked on Kushina's door, she yanked him inside.
She looked utterly exhausted — her dark circles were so heavy she resembled a panda.
Clearly, she hadn't been sleeping well for days.
"I really can't take it anymore!" she complained.
"That damn fox has completely lost it lately! He keeps yelling that he wants to see you.
When I told him you were busy, he wouldn't let me sleep — every time I start dozing off, he starts whispering in my ear nonstop!
If this keeps up, I swear I'm going to lose my mind!"
Hoshiyomi couldn't help but chuckle.
This sounded all too familiar — wasn't this exactly how Shukaku used to torment young Gaara in the original story?
So the Tailed Beasts did share their bad habits after all.
Patting Kushina's shoulder reassuringly, Hoshiyomi asked,
"Well, since he's been bothering you for days, I assume you know what he wants from me?"
That only made her angrier.
"Don't even get me started!" she snapped.
"If he'd just say what he wants, I wouldn't be suffering like this!
That stupid fox won't answer no matter how I ask — he just keeps saying he wants to 'negotiate' with you, but won't say a single word more!
I'm starting to think you and Minato hit him so hard he's gone stupid!"
No sooner had Kushina said this than an enraged voice boomed inside her mind:
"You insolent little brat! How dare you call me a stupid fox!
Say it again, and I'll swallow you whole!"
After days of mental harassment, Kushina's nerves were clearly frayed.
Forgetting that Minato and Hoshiyomi couldn't hear the Nine-Tails' voice, she grabbed her head and shouted back:
"Oh, you wanna go, huh? Stupid fox, stupid fox, stupid fox!
What are you gonna do about it? Come out here and eat me if you've got the guts!"
Minato and Hoshiyomi exchanged a speechless glance.
Finally, Hoshiyomi reacted first, speaking calmly toward the air:
"Hey, Nine-Tails. I'm here now. You can behave yourself, right? Stop bullying Kushina."
The fox, who had been baring its teeth and growling in Kushina's spiritual world, snorted at Hoshiyomi's voice.
It slowly lowered its head, curled its tails, and muttered:
"Hmph. Fine. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let the little girl off.
Hurry up and let Hoshiyomi in."
Kushina blinked in surprise.
She tilted her head toward Hoshiyomi, then her expression darkened with irritation.
"Oh, great. So we're both humans — two eyes, one nose, one mouth —
and you're the one he listens to?!"
"You bare your fangs and snarl at me, but the moment Hoshiyomi-sensei shows up, you act all obedient — who exactly are you looking down on here?"
Seeing that Kushina was about to lose her temper again, Hoshiyomi hurriedly stopped her and explained the real reason he'd come today.
When she heard about Hoshiyomi's plan — negotiating with the Nine-Tails and giving it freedom — Kushina's expression turned very strange.
She looked at Hoshiyomi seriously and said,
"So, Hoshiyomi-sensei, you're telling me all that was real?
That conversation between you and the Nine-Tails actually happened while I was unconscious?"
Hoshiyomi nodded, already preparing to carefully explain why he'd made that promise and what he intended to do next.
But before he could, Kushina suddenly exploded:
"Ha! I knew it! That damn fox really is targeting me!
Fine then — today I'm gonna fight it to the death!"
Minato, standing to the side, sighed and smacked his forehead with a pia sound.
The apologetic look he gave Hoshiyomi clearly said, I'm sorry — my wife isn't very bright sometimes.
Three dark lines practically slid down Hoshiyomi's forehead.
So that's where Naruto got his personality from — definitely inherited.
After quite a bit of chaos, they finally managed to begin the so-called negotiation.
Kushina glanced at Hoshiyomi, then slowly raised her hands to form the seal of the Eight Trigrams Seal's release.
Before their eyes, the sealing marks on her abdomen began to fade away, revealing a deep, black void beneath.
Hoshiyomi immediately focused all his attention.
Even though he'd come ready to negotiate, he still kept his guard up — after all, this was the Nine-Tails.
Fortunately, the beast didn't try anything tricky.
Of course, that might have been because the inner sealing talismans inside the cage were still intact.
...
Inside Kushina's Mind
This was a special spiritual space formed from chakra and spiritual energy — a place where only a jinchūriki and their tailed beast could appear and speak to each other.
The environment was much like Naruto's mind in the original story — a dim, tunnel-like space resembling a sewer.
And just like there, the Nine-Tails was imprisoned behind a gigantic cage covered with sealing talismans.
This was the Eight Trigrams Seal made manifest within the spiritual world.
Inside the cage, the Nine-Tails lay sprawled out, pretending to be the picture of lazy, aloof majesty.
But the occasional gleam of joy flickering in its eyes betrayed its true feelings.
Even though it suspected that the human's promise might not be entirely trustworthy, at least it hadn't been deceived.
For once, it wasn't being tricked by humans — and that feeling… wasn't bad at all.
As the fox was mulling over these thoughts, it suddenly sensed something and opened its eyes.
From afar, it saw Kushina walking slowly toward it.
For a moment, the Nine-Tails considered behaving politely — maybe giving her some face for once.
But the next second, her voice rang out:
"Hey, stupid fox! Explain yourself!
Why are you so quiet and well-behaved with Hoshiyomi-sensei, but so noisy when you're dealing with me?
Do you really think I can't handle you?"
Well, damn! the fox cursed internally.
If I show her any respect today, the name "Kurama" can be written backward!