Chapter 27: Freeing The Nine Tails.

"Release the Kyūbi? Impossible." "The tailed beast is part of the jinchūriki's life. If it's released, the jinchūriki will die." "Your request isn't sincere at all." "You're mocking us and insulting our intelligence." The Third Hokage stared at Zenkichi, speaking righteously. "Hmm~ That's right, I didn't make myself clear enough," Zenkichi replied casually. "What I mean is: release the Kyūbi's chakra and let it control your body." "As long as you don't resist, the Nine-Tails' chakra should be able to manifest as a full-tailed beast, right?" "Let it dominate everything and enjoy one minute of freedom—is that really too much to ask?" "If you refuse... Namikaze Minato's head will be crushed." Zenkichi slowly raised his long leg, a dazzling golden light flashing at his heel. Namikaze Minato coughed up a mouthful of blood. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but his injuries were too severe. "Zenkichi, you're despicable!" "Using someone's life as leverage—don't you think it's shameless to threaten Konoha's shinobi like this?" The Third Hokage's expression changed as he scolded him. "Breaking alliances, using poison, ambushing, sneaking attacks... Konoha has done all those things to me. And you have the nerve to call me shameless?" "You people from the Hidden Leaf are so thick-skinned, it's terrifying." Zenkichi curled his lip and spoke indifferently. As he finished, he raised his hand toward a house nearby. Golden lasers bloomed from his fingertips. "Ninjas of the Yamanaka clan, you'd better stop courting death." "Nothing in Konoha is hidden from me—your little tricks included." Zenkichi smiled, turning to look at Uzumaki Kushina. "Young Uzumaki Kushina, have you made up your mind yet?" "Namikaze Minato is seriously injured. He doesn't have time to wait." "If you don't decide in one minute, Minato will die." "As far as I know... you're a couple, right?" Zenkichi spoke lazily, a playful look on his face. "Kushina..." The Third Hokage looked at her, hesitating. "Does the Third Hokage want to stop Uzumaki Kushina? Oh~ I see what you're thinking." "As a free being, the Kyūbi was cruelly imprisoned by Konoha—reduced to a weapon sealed inside a jinchūriki." "It must be full of hatred for the village. Once it's free, even for just a minute, it will surely retaliate." "I'm really looking forward to that!" "That scene would be... beautiful." Zenkichi spoke lazily, staring at the Third Hokage with amusement. Uzumaki Kushina held her stomach, uncertain. Shimura Danzō barked, "Uzumaki Kushina, what are you hesitating for? Don't forget—you're a Konoha shinobi." "Namikaze Minato is also a shinobi of the Leaf. It is a shinobi's duty to lay down their life for the village." "Minato has been seriously wounded—he may not survive. We cannot risk the disaster that releasing the Kyūbi would bring, just for his sake." Zenkichi laughed loudly. "Well said! But I don't get it—what does your so-called bond with Konoha actually mean?" "In Kirigakure, where I live, we don't glorify things like 'bonds.' It's cruel, but at least it's honest." "But you in Konoha... you're different. You preach bonds and camaraderie." "And now? You hesitate not at all in sacrificing Namikaze Minato, the 'Yellow Flash' who's done so much for your village." "So let me ask you: where is your bond with him?" "You preach 'bonds' while creating darkness." "Could it be... this is Konoha's true nature?" "Or maybe 'bonds' are just empty slogans your higher-ups use to deceive those beneath them. You use it as long as it's convenient—then abandon it when it's not." "As long as the higher-ups say so, even shinobi who once lived by the will of bonds must switch to a new belief?" "Hmm~ That's a pretty incredible system, Third Hokage." "If every Konoha ninja became nothing more than a weapon—mindless, obedient—then Konoha's prosperity would be assured." Zenkichi's mocking tone made the Third Hokage's face darken. Shrimp with pig heart! The Third Hokage was clearly rattled. He declared, "What nonsense! We in Konoha would never do something so foolish!" "The bonds between Konoha shinobi are real. The will to protect the village—and each other—has never wavered." "Kushina, do as he says. We will control the Kyūbi—we won't let it run wild." His firm voice moved Kushina to tears. She was deeply touched by the Hokage's resolve. "I understand." Kushina nodded and sent her mind into the sealed space within her. Just like Naruto's, Kushina's seal space took the form of a sewer-like world—but with one key difference: the treatment of the Nine-Tails. While Naruto's Kyūbi was simply locked in a cage, Kushina's was pinned—its limbs nailed to a massive volcanic rock with sharp wooden stakes. A prisoner, like a grotesque specimen. "Hahaha! Uzumaki Kushina—so even you've reached this point!" As soon as her consciousness entered the seal, the Kyūbi mocked her loudly. Though its body was restrained, its consciousness was not. Through Kushina's senses, it had seen everything that happened outside. "You want to give me a minute of freedom? I won't be polite." The Kyūbi bared its fangs, grinning menacingly. "Kyuubi... we will stop you." Kushina looked at the beast with determination, then waved her hand—removing most of the seal and pulling the wooden stakes from its tails. "Hmph." The Kyūbi snorted hot breath. Red chakra erupted from its body, quickly flowing into Kushina and taking control. "It's starting..." The Third Hokage's expression turned grim as he sensed the Kyūbi's chakra swirling from Kushina's body. Truth be told, he hadn't agreed with Zenkichi's demand at all. But with so many spectators gathered around the Hokage Rock, he had no choice. Refusing would be the same as admitting Zenkichi was right—that 'bonds' were nothing more than propaganda. If the shinobi of Konoha accepted that notion... their morale would collapse. And when that happens, it becomes impossible to lead. ______________________________________ Want to read Chapters in advance? Join my p@treon to get access to 40+ advanced chapters. Patreon(.)com/Zphy