chapter 85 part 4
The Third Hokage hoisted his Nyoibo, wielding it as if an extension of his arm, and was about to follow Tsukasa Kaede to the Land of Rain.
But Tsukasa Kaede paused, then shook his head decisively: "Lady Mito must have her reasons for ordering me to do this."
Mito Uzumaki might not have fully trusted the Third Hokage either. When it came to changing the Nine-Tails' Vessel, all variables needed to be minimized.
"Lord Hokage, at a time like this, we should trust a comrade's judgment. If Lady Mito ordered Tsukasa Kaede to do this, she must have her reasons."
In this tense atmosphere, Sakumo Hatake spoke up on his own initiative. He clearly had no obligation to get involved in such matters, yet he still did so.
Tsukasa Kaede watched Sakumo Hatake from the corner of his eye, sighing inwardly. This man was a firm believer in the Will of Fire, convinced that a comrade's life was more important than a mission. While not entirely out of step with the prevailing sentiment of the era, there was undoubtedly a conflict.
Stepping forward to vouch for Tsukasa Kaede was not politically correct at all.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you then. I trust you won't disappoint the Village." The Third Hokage stepped aside.
Tsukasa Kaede walked over, touched the Barrier Technique with the Red Magatama, and the Barrier Technique immediately crumbled. He extended his hand towards the bewildered Kushina Uzumaki.
"This is Grandma Mito's Magatama..."
"Kaedence you recognize it, quickly grab my hand and come with me. Lady Mito needs you."
Tsukasa Kaede, under everyone's watchful eyes, took away Kushina, who was immensely important to the Village.
Anxious expressions appeared on everyone's faces. They desperately wanted to know what Mito Uzumaki had encountered, and why she needed Tsukasa Kaede to take Kushina away. And the Nine-Tails... surely it wouldn't cause problems, right? If the strongest Tailed Beast broke free, it would surely become the Village's nightmare. Everyone would thereafter live under the threat of the Nine-Tails.
The Hidden Leaf Village in this era no longer had Super Kage-level experts like Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki who could powerfully suppress Tailed Beasts...
"Danzo, you'd better be honest. The Village needs you to provide a reasonable explanation for this. Even if Tsukasa Kaede successfully returns with Kushina, you won't be able to escape your culpability!"
The Third Hokage was genuinely enraged this time.
He had led the Hidden Leaf Village to victory in the Second Great Ninja War, ushering in explosive economic and military development. But if the Nine-Tails were lost, all these achievements would be overshadowed. Even defeat in the Second Great Ninja War would be far better than losing the Nine-Tails.
Danzo remained silent, his mind racing, pondering what to say and what not to say. But for now, he could only wait for Tsukasa Kaede to return to the Village.
...
In Kushina's vision, the scene instantly changed, and they appeared in an unfamiliar environment.
It was an unfamiliar, ravaged forest. Even the intact trees had extremely bizarre growth patterns, completely unnatural.
In the sky, dark clouds visibly gathered from all directions, and heavy rain would soon fall.
Everything here was too strange, until Kushina gaped, watching the colossal, motionless Senju Buddha statue, the Nine-Tails restrained by a mass of chains, sprawled on the statue, and Mito Uzumaki atop the statue.
"Grandma Mito!!"
Kushina shrieked, rushing forward recklessly, staring in disbelief at the scene before her: a fallen white-haired old man, and Mito Uzumaki kneeling and spitting blood.
"You've arrived. It seems I have to break the promise I made to you earlier. It's my first time breaking a promise."
On Mito Uzumaki's pale face, a strained smile appeared. Without waiting for Kushina to ask, she interrupted, "My time is running out. I will seal the Nine-Tails into your body. From today onwards, you will be the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
As before, she reached out and stroked Kushina's head, saying gently, "From now on, you'll have to walk your own path. It will be very hard, but don't worry too much. Do you remember what I taught you?"
"I remember, 'Fill your heart with love to control the Nine-Tails,' that's what you always told me... Grandma Mito, though I don't know what happened, please proceed. I will inherit your will, firmly control the Nine-Tails, and become an asset to the Village!"
Kushina trembled all over, tears streaming down her face: "I-I will definitely do it, and I will surpass you in the future. Just watch my performance from the other world!"
"Good child, good child... Don't tell the Village what happened here. Let us relics of the old era be buried silently."
Mito Uzumaki's hands trembled as she performed Hand Kaedegns. Then, with one hand pulling the Adamantine Chains, she pressed her other hand towards Kushina's abdomen.
Eight Trigrams Sealing!
The immensely massive Nine-Tails, pulled by this force, was forcefully sent into Kushina's body.
It was the familiar cage again, and on the cage appeared the mark of the Eight Trigrams Sealing Jutsu that enraged and maddened it. Everything seemed to have returned to how it was before. All its efforts had been in vain. Who knew how many years it would be until its next chance?
"I won't just give up like this, Kushina. You had best never show a weakness. As soon as I get one opportunity, I will kill you, destroy everything you cherish, and completely crush your ideals and beliefs!!"
The Nine-Tails struggled for a bit, then lay back down, gnashing its teeth. Its violent eyes stared out beyond the cage, as if committing every single one of Kushina's movements to memory.
After performing the Eight Trigrams Sealing Jutsu, Mito Uzumaki's Life Force completely came to an end. Her last remaining bit of vitality dissipated.
A smile still lingered on her lips, but now tinged with a hint of pity and helplessness.
Kushina wailed in grief, clutching the remains. The person in the Village who cherished her most had departed.
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