Chapter 196 - Nine-Tails Chaos???
"What?! You want me to protect Kushina?"
Upon hearing this, Kazane felt a headache coming on.
He had painstakingly prepared a gift for Uchiha Makoto. If he stayed by Kushina's side during the childbirth, there was no way Makoto would dare show up. Then everything he'd set up would be for nothing.
"Kazane, I know Kushina used to treat you poorly, but for my sake, could you please just bear with it this once?"
Seeing Kazane's reaction, Minato felt a jolt of unease in his heart—but his expression remained gentle and sincere.
For Kushina's safety, Minato was willing to sacrifice anything. This much was nothing.
Kazane, faced with Minato's earnest plea, found himself in a dilemma.
After all, he couldn't just tell Minato, "I'm using your wife as bait to lure Uchiha Makoto."
"If I show up, Makoto might not appear at all—and then the trap would've been set in vain."
Kazane knew, if he told Minato the truth, Minato would probably go all-out against him, even knowing he'd lose.
And so, Kazane truly felt torn.
Uchiha Makoto had always been a thorn in Kazane's side—an unpredictable threat. Kazane feared him targeting his loved ones, and always wanted to find an opportunity to eliminate him.
But with Makoto's Zetsu intelligence network, he was already hard enough to track. Now that he was actively avoiding Kazane, catching him was nearly impossible.
If he missed this opportunity—Kushina's childbirth and the unstable Nine-Tails seal—then who knew when he'd get another chance?
This was an extremely difficult choice.
If he went?
Then Makoto, cautious as ever, wouldn't show up. The opportunity would be lost.
If he didn't go?
Minato would be disappointed—he might even lose a friend forever.
"Sigh… alright, Minato. I'll do it."
After a long internal struggle, Kazane agreed.
He'd rather sacrifice a chance to kill Makoto than lose a true friend. He could always plan another trap—some friendships, once broken, could never be mended.
"Haha, Kazane, I'm counting on you."
—
Outside Konohagakure, in a cave—
Uchiha Makoto stood with his back against the stone wall, expressionless, staring at a small protrusion in the rock ahead, seemingly deep in thought.
Tap, tap.
Footsteps echoed from outside the cave, sharp in the silence.
"Makoto, why did you call me here?"
A hoarse voice accompanied the arrival of Uchiha Fugaku, who stepped into the cave from the darkness.
Recently, rumors had begun to spread that the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was about to give birth.
Normally, matters concerning the Jinchūriki were top secret. But somehow, this news had become common knowledge—even civilians were talking about it.
Upon hearing this, ANBU Commander Hatake Kazane and Deputy Commander Namikaze Minato were furious. They ordered a full-scale investigation into the leak, imposed a curfew, and strictly controlled who entered and exited the village.
Many spies from other villages had been caught, and Konoha was on maximum alert.
Everyone knew that Uzumaki Kushina, the current Jinchūriki, was a sealing master of the Uzumaki Clan.
Unlike the unstable tailed beasts in other villages, the Nine-Tails in Konoha had always been contained—thanks to the Uzumaki clan's sealing prowess.
But Kushina's childbirth posed a unique risk. To certain people, this was the only chance to trigger a rampage.
Because of the heightened security, even someone like Uchiha Fugaku—the Police Force Captain—couldn't leave the village easily. After all, ANBU was watching.
So when he received Makoto's summons, Fugaku hesitated for a long time before deciding to come.
"Sensei, I called you here because I've found the chance to kill Tobirama Senju."
Still leaning casually against the cave wall, Makoto stole a glance at Fugaku.
He still harbored some distrust toward Fugaku and intended to test him.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of excitement flashed in Fugaku's eyes.
"What opportunity? Tell me, Makoto—I'll give you my full support."
Makoto had been observing closely, and now felt reasonably confident in Fugaku's sincerity.
"Sensei, I heard the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is about to give birth. I want to cause a rampage during the delivery. All of Konoha's shinobi will be focused on containing the beast. I'll sneak into the village and eliminate Tobirama to secure our clan's future."
"But I need you to help me remove Hatake Kazane from the village. As long as he's not there, no one in Konoha can stop me."
Makoto turned slightly away from Fugaku, hiding his expression. But the confident tone in his voice left Fugaku a bit pleased.
Makoto's words implied that the clan still held weight in his heart.
However, the intelligence Fugaku had told a different story—and reason prevailed.
"Makoto, your plan is bold, but it's currently impossible. According to my intel, Hatake Kazane has already been personally invited by Minato to stay at his home. He's been guarding Kushina day and night—it'll be near impossible to draw him away."
"Also, Makoto, I'm glad you care about the clan, but you're underestimating Tobirama. He's far from easy to deal with."
"I saw him in action when I was young. He's a rare all-element shinobi and a master of forbidden techniques. His Water Style was peerless in the shinobi world, and combined with Flying Thunder God—he's extremely dangerous. We need to think this through."
Makoto frowned.
Because of Kazane's presence, even his Zetsu intel network couldn't penetrate Konoha. He had no idea what was really happening inside.
He'd thought his plan was airtight—but this changed everything.
If Kazane was personally guarding the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, then things were bad. Based on current intel, Makoto knew he was no match for Kazane.
Thankfully, Fugaku warned him. Otherwise, he might've walked right into a trap.
Makoto's original plan had been to use Fugaku to tie up Kazane while he released the Nine-Tails. He'd extract some of its chakra, cast Genjutsu to control it, and let it wreak havoc.
That's right—after assessing Kazane's power, Makoto had downgraded his goal from the entire Nine-Tails to just a portion of its chakra. Some things required a realistic approach.
Konoha's current power meant the Nine-Tails wouldn't last long—it would be swiftly suppressed and resealed. But the Jinchūriki would die if the beast was extracted. Even if Kushina survived, she'd be permanently damaged.
And Kushina had strong backers—Minato, Jiraiya, Tsunade, even Hiruzen. Eventually, even Tobirama might get involved.
Once the Nine-Tails was sealed again, all evidence would point to the Uchiha clan. After all, the Nine-Tails would have been controlled by the Sharingan.
And at the time of the attack, not a single Uchiha would be at the scene—and Kazane would've been conveniently occupied.
Makoto himself would've already fled beyond Konoha's reach. With no one to pin it on, suspicion would fall entirely on the Uchiha.
No matter what Fugaku said, no one would believe him. Konoha and the Uchiha would be at each other's throats again.
Fugaku once told him the clan currently had four Mangekyō Sharingan users.
Given Itachi's relationship with them, neither Orochimaru nor Kazane would likely interfere. And if both sides truly clashed, no matter who won, Konoha would suffer catastrophic losses.
Makoto would only act once—then sit back and let the chaos unfold.
As for the promise he made to Fugaku?
Heh…
When Uchiha Hanshan died, so did the old Makoto. What lived now was just a puppet obsessed with resurrecting his father—feelings had long since become irrelevant.
Still, Makoto had sensed a trace of doubt in Fugaku's words—doubt in his strength.
Maybe it was time to show Fugaku just how powerful he had become.
His Mangekyō Sharingan spun slowly. Without a sound, Makoto appeared behind Fugaku and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Sensei, you've been standing a while. Time to take a break."
From the ground, a wooden chair sprouted and slid into place behind Fugaku's knees.
Only now did the fading afterimage left by Makoto's movement dissipate in the air.
Feeling the warmth of Makoto's hand and the surreal scene unfolding, cold sweat beaded on Fugaku's forehead.
He hadn't even registered Makoto moving. If Makoto had intended to kill him… he'd already be dead.
That had to be space-time ninjutsu.
That sensation—it had to be Flying Thunder God.
It was the only technique that could fool his Sharingan like this.
Compared to that, the use of Wood Release wasn't surprising. Obito had already informed him of it.
"Sensei, do you still think I can't kill Tobirama?"
Makoto's calm voice came from behind, as a force gently pressed Fugaku into the chair.
"Still, Makoto… Konoha isn't as simple as you think. The Nine-Tails is volatile, and Kushina's situation is delicate. We need to plan this carefully."
Seated now, Fugaku slowly calmed himself.
The stronger Makoto was, the better it was for him. And he wasn't worried about being betrayed—his own Mangekyō technique specifically countered speed-based enemies.
"Alright, Sensei. Then I have another plan. What do you think of this…"
"*******"
"Good. Let's go with that."
With the new plan confirmed, Fugaku left the cave. There was still much to arrange.
Makoto returned to his original spot and resumed staring at that small protrusion on the stone wall.
After a while, he suddenly raised his hand and struck it with a burst of lightning. The protrusion collapsed, triggering a cave-in.
Moments later, the entire cave was reduced to rubble.
"Heh. One weak point was all it took to destroy a cave. Konoha… just wait for me."
Watching the dust settle, Makoto's lips curled into a sinister smile.
—
Three days later – Nightfall
"Safe and sound. Please, let them be safe and sound…"
Pacing nervously outside the delivery room, Minato was visibly anxious.
"Minato, please stop pacing—you're making me dizzy."
Kazane sat nearby, irritated by Minato's nervous energy.
Having never experienced such things himself, Kazane couldn't relate to Minato's emotions.
To him, with Biwako Sarutobi and Shizune assisting—both expert medical-nin—and with Kushina's resilient, well-trained body, childbirth should pose no threat at all.
Why was Minato acting like the sky was falling?
"Kazane, you'll understand one day. You'll see."
Minato wasn't angry. He understood—Kazane lacked experience. Just like him—he knew Kushina would be fine, but couldn't help worrying.
"Waaah! Waaah!"
Just as Kazane was about to reply, the cries of a newborn echoed from the room.
A moment later, Shizune poked her head out and called:
"Minato, come in. Congratulations—mother and child are safe."
Clearly, she'd heard his anxious muttering from inside.
Minato didn't mind the teasing. The moment he heard the words "mother and child are safe," all his focus shifted.
He hurried inside, unable to wait a second longer.
Clang!
The door shut behind him, leaving Kazane alone outside.
He activated his Observation Haki, sweeping the village for unfamiliar auras.
After a long scan, he sighed in frustration.
"Sigh… Uchiha Makoto didn't come after all."
Another opportunity lost. Who knew when the next chance would come?