Konoha.
Before the sun's rays had reached every corner of the village, a figure clad in green was already running laps around Konoha, unwavering in his daily training. He muttered as he went.
"Handstand push-ups... 101, 102, 103..."
That morning, just as Namikaze Minato was about to step out, he caught sight of a familiar red silhouette standing quietly at his doorstep.
"Kushina, good morning."
Minato's ever-radiant smile was as infectious as ever. Even though Uzumaki Kushina had steeled herself for this meeting, that smile still caught her off guard, leaving her cheeks tinged with pink.
"Morning…"
"Uhm… could you come with me to the Senju compound today?"
She seemed a bit hesitant, biting down on her lip until it turned red from the pressure.
What she was about to ask felt selfish—inviting someone else to share the fate of becoming a monster. But the arrow had already been drawn; there was no turning back now.
In the past few days, Granny Mito had figured out a way to split the Nine-Tails in two. She was also fully prepared for the cost—her life. If Kushina still treated this like some kind of joke, that would be the real betrayal of life.
Whether or not Minato was the right choice didn't matter—he had to come.
If he was compatible, then they'd face the future together, as Jinchūriki. And if not… then she would beg Granny Mito to proceed with the original plan. She would become the Nine-Tails' host and bear the weight of that cursed power alone.
"Of course. If it's your request, Kushina, I'll agree to anything."
Seeing this rare side of her, Minato knew—this wasn't a casual ask. It was something serious.
Possibly… something to do with the Nine-Tails. And with Kaien's warning still fresh in his mind, Minato could already guess what kind of power he was being urged to grasp.
"Minato…"
Kushina's face lit up like a cherry blossom in spring. That smile of his was way too unfair.
...
A week had passed since the barbecue.
After Minato agreed to Uchiha Kaien's request, he had been visiting him daily. During that time, he ended up "sparring" with a good number of Uchiha clan youths.
Some were his age, others even older—but without exception, all of them were taken down in a single strike by Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique.
Whether they had a single tomoe or three, none of them could keep up.
Minato had long known from fighting Kaien that the Sharingan was an incredibly powerful dōjutsu. He had initially worried about sparring with other Uchihas, but after the experience, he came to a shocking realization.
Their Sharingan didn't even compare.
Kaien's three-tomoe Sharingan, back when they fought, was leagues beyond the rest. In fact, the abilities of these other Uchihas barely measured up to half of Kaien's.
So it was true—there were differences even among Kekkei Genkai. And a ninja's strength could magnify or diminish the potential of their bloodline limit.
Kaien had suffered from an early onset of the Kekkei Genkai disease due to awakening the Sharingan too young. Thankfully, it was brought under control.
Minato still marveled at how effective Sakumo-sensei's "Sword" was at suppressing excess spiritual energy. Once the body and spirit were in balance, the symptoms disappeared naturally.
To this day, Minato firmly believed that Sakumo's technique had saved Kaien—and he wasn't wrong.
After "sparring" with the Uchiha youths—more like giving them a reality check—Minato now had a clearer understanding of his own strength.
Unless he encountered someone like Chiyo, most Jōnin could probably be taken down in a single move. As for elite Jōnin, that was still uncertain—but with Flying Thunder God at his disposal, he had a tactical advantage in at least 90% of scenarios.
Even if outmatched, he could still escape unscathed.
...Though lately, it felt like the Uchiha youths were getting a little too attached to him.
One of them, in particular, had challenged Minato seven times in just a week.
Every time, instant defeat. Yet he just wouldn't give up.
Minato had to admit—he kind of respected that guy's persistence.
...
Along the way, Minato and Kushina chatted idly, though her mind clearly wasn't in it. Eventually, they reached their destination—the Senju compound.
Today's atmosphere was clearly different.
Even Tsunade, whom Minato hadn't seen in ages, was present.
She looked as tired as ever, her once-vibrant face now marked with exhaustion. Still, she forced herself to stay composed—clearly, today's matter was no small deal.
And when Minato stepped into the main hall and saw Sarutobi Hiruzen seated there as well, he immediately had an idea of what was going on.
This really was about the Nine-Tails.
Kaien had already told him quite a bit about the Nine-Tails—its lore, its power, its history. So while Minato wasn't exactly confident, at least he wouldn't be walking in blind.
...
"Lord Third. Lady Mito. Lady Tsunade."
Minato bowed respectfully to each of them.
"Minato," Mito said gently, her voice warm and kind, the kind that put people at ease—though her youthful appearance was still jarring against her grandmotherly tone. "I've asked you here today because I have something important to discuss with you."
"If there's anything I can do to help you or the village, please don't hesitate to ask!"
With the Hokage present, this had to be about something of great importance. As always, Minato's words were impeccable—a true successor to the Will of Fire.
Although Mito clearly led the conversation today—even Hiruzen didn't interrupt—proper respect toward the Hokage was still necessary.
"Heh… You really are the embodiment of the Will of Fire, little Minato. That conviction of yours is what makes you worthy of being a Konoha shinobi."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled warmly.
When he first heard of Mito's plan a few days ago, he had been stunned. But from a Hokage's perspective, it was actually a good thing.
Uzumaki Kushina had been the previously selected Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, but she wasn't directly tied to the Hokage's faction. That had made Hiruzen uneasy.
Still, given Mito's presence, he hadn't objected.
Now, though? If his own successor's successor—his student's student—became the new Jinchūriki, it was a far more favorable outcome.
Even better, Minato and Kushina had such a strong bond already. From every angle, this was the best-case scenario.
"But before anything else," Mito said, "allow me to tell you the story of the Nine-Tails…"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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