Your comments, reviews, and votes really help me out so much and they make me super motivated to keep working on this story! Thank you! Pat**on : japanime20
The moment Night Namikaze stepped into the office, everyone's gaze snapped toward him.
Being watched by so many top-tier combatants simultaneously, even Night couldn't help but feel a shiver in his heart.
He walked steadily to the center of the office and bowed slightly to the Third Hokage. "Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi only nodded slightly without responding. Night consciously moved to stand beside Orochimaru, waiting quietly for the Hokage to speak.
After a long while, no one else arrived. Hiruzen Sarutobi finally cleared his throat and addressed everyone, "Everyone is here, so let's skip the small talk. According to Lady Mito's wishes, the Nine-Tails transfer ceremony will take place tonight."
Despite being somewhat anticipated, this news still caused a suppressed stir in the meeting room.
"So soon?" Someone even exclaimed in a low voice.
Hiruzen raised his hand for silence. "Time is tight; we must be fully prepared. The ceremony will be held at a secret location in the village. Participation is limited to essential personnel only.
The task for the rest of you is to ensure that during this period, Konoha's defense is foolproof."
He scanned the room, his gaze sharp. "The Police Force is responsible for maintaining order within the village, increasing patrols, and strictly preventing any suspicious individuals from approaching the barrier.
ANBU will fully take over the village's perimeter defense. Major clans are to deploy elites to form emergency squads, ready for orders at any time."
Night listened quietly, quickly analyzing the situation. The Nine-Tails transfer was Konoha's top secret. Theoretically, the fewer people who knew, the better.
But now the Third Hokage had summoned almost all top ninjas, clearly preparing for the worst-case scenario.
After all, this was the first Jinchuriki handover. Not everyone could toy with Tailed Beasts like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
If the ceremony failed and the Nine-Tails went berserk, Konoha had to be capable of handling it.
"Orochimaru, Jiraiya, now that you've returned, you two are responsible for guarding outside the barrier." Hiruzen looked at his disciples in the corner, a flash of relief in his eyes.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya responded in unison, "Understood."
After the meeting ended, Night was about to leave when Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke up to keep him behind alone.
All the elites were somewhat surprised, looking at Night, who remained alone in the office without moving, with varied expressions.
Fugaku Uchiha, in particular, raised his psychological expectations of Night's special status once again.
Once everyone had left, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke. "Lady Mito specifically recommended you to participate as a core guard for this ceremony."
Night wasn't surprised, as he had already promised her, so he just nodded faintly to acknowledge it.
"Follow me." The Third Hokage was concise, turning to lead Night.
The two moved swiftly, one after another, through the cleared perimeter streets of the village.
Night could feel the majestic chakra contained within the "Strongest Hokage of the early period." It was a power that, while hidden, was heart-palpitating.
Passing through layers of barriers, they arrived at a hidden valley outside the village.
It was already heavily guarded. Orochimaru and Jiraiya stood outside the barrier, nodding in greeting upon seeing the Third Hokage.
"Open it," Hiruzen ordered.
Orochimaru formed hand seals, and a gap just wide enough for one person opened in the barrier.
Under the shocked gazes of numerous ninjas, Night followed the Third Hokage through the barrier. After all, even the Hokage's aides and disciples didn't have permission to enter.
He could sense the internal shock of the guards trying to keep their eyes straight. After this event, his weight in the hearts of Konoha's major clans would be completely different.
Inside the valley, the scene was oppressive enough to make one pause.
Mito Uzumaki sat in the center of a meticulously drawn sealing array, her face bearing a calm that transcended life and death.
Tsunade stood by her side, eyes slightly red but forcing herself to remain composed.
Kushina Uzumaki sat on her knees at the other end of the array, fists clenched tight, her body trembling slightly from nervousness.
Seeing the two arrive, Mito Uzumaki nodded with relief, acknowledging their presence.
At this moment, she was fully suppressing the restless Nine-Tails. Even with her strength, it was somewhat strenuous.
Night stood at the designated position, his Mind's Eye of the Kagura fully open. An overwhelming wave of malice assaulted him, originating from within Mito Uzumaki.
At this time, Hiruzen Sarutobi had casually shed his Hokage robe, revealing the black tight combat suit underneath.
His entire aura changed abruptly. His expression was solemn, a faint light flickering in his eyes as his aura rose slightly.
Seeing everyone ready in their positions, Mito Uzumaki gently patted the back of Tsunade's hand beside her.
"Go to the side, don't get hurt later."
In her eyes, even Tsunade, one of the famed Sannin, was still that child clamoring to be held.
Mito's words undoubtedly signaled the start of the ceremony. Reluctantly, Tsunade retreated to the side, her beautiful eyes already misty.
"Let's begin."
With Mito's command, Hiruzen stood at the core of the array, his hands forming seals rapidly yet steadily.
With his movements, the entire valley seemed to start trembling.
This Third Hokage, usually unassuming, now displayed an aura that let Night truly witness the strength of "The Professor."
This Hokage, still in his prime, displayed an aura no less imposing than Onoki the Tsuchikage whom Night had faced directly on the Rain Country battlefield.
As another thick barrier rose, dark orange chakra began to leak continuously from Mito Uzumaki's body. Clearly, the Nine-Tails knew its impending fate.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
With Mito's shout, the Nine-Tails inside her was bound layer by layer like a dumpling.
But as the strongest Tailed Beast, the Nine-Tails naturally wouldn't accept its fate so easily, struggling continuously within its seal space.
With its full-force struggle, more and more malicious and imposing chakra leaked out, surging like a tide toward Kushina in front.
"Mito Uzumaki! You dare! What right does this brat have? This is an insult to me!"
In the perception of the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Night strangely achieved resonance with Mito, clearly hearing her conversation with the Nine-Tails.
"Nine-Tails, it's just changing residences," Mito's spiritual projection persuaded in the seal space.
"Damn Hashirama Senju, damn Uzumaki clan! Don't let me find an opportunity!"
With the Nine-Tails' words, the entire seal space shook constantly, as if it could shatter at any moment.
"Night, if you've seen enough, come and help."
Mito's words woke Night from his daze. He immediately shot several golden chains from his body toward Mito Uzumaki.
Hiruzen beside them twitched slightly at this, getting nervous, fearing an accident.
But fortunately, as Night acted and his Adamantine Sealing Chains entered Mito's abdomen, the leaking aura of the Nine-Tails stagnated abruptly.
At the same time, in that private laboratory, a pair of bright eyes snapped open.