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Chapter 144 - Chapter 143 – The Nine-Tails Refuses to Acknowledge Humanity

As Uzumaki Mito continued her calm narration, Namikaze Minato gained a deeper understanding of the Nine-Tails.

A massive, flame-orange fox—once subdued by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.

That was the version Minato had heard from Uchiha Kaien.

The Nine-Tails' power was akin to a natural disaster, terrifying in its sheer scale. It had once attacked Konoha, which led Hashirama to seal it away. He gathered the other Tailed Beasts as well.

Recognizing just how fearsome the Nine-Tails truly was, Hashirama had sealed it into his wife, making her the first jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.

That was the version Minato had heard from Sarutobi Hiruzen—now echoed in Mito's own words.

"Though the Nine-Tails is indeed terrifying," Mito said, "it's not beyond redemption. It is possible to reach its heart."

"If you offer it 'love'... if it can feel that love for itself... then one may gain its power."

Lifting her teacup, Uzumaki Mito took a slow sip before continuing her tale of the man the world had once hailed as the God of Shinobi—Senju Hashirama.

He wielded the unique power of Wood Release, a kekkei genkai that even his own brother, Senju Tobirama, could not master.

"Wood Release holds an unexpected advantage over Tailed Beasts. It can absorb their chakra when it leaks out... and it can actively draw on that power to strengthen itself."

"Unfortunately, there are no more Wood Release users in Konoha. Hashirama-sama's ability was simply too unique."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed with visible frustration. If there were still Wood Release users in the village, transferring the Nine-Tails wouldn't be nearly this difficult.

How could a bloodline limit, created from nothing more than Earth and Water Release, be so impossible to replicate?

His thoughts turned to a once-secret experiment—known only to the Hokage—the most classified Wood Release research program Konoha had ever undertaken.

The one who had led that experiment was none other than Senju Tobirama.

But those old secrets had faded with time. And soon, Uzumaki Mito—the last person alive who knew them—would carry those truths with her to the Pure Land.

...

"What comes next, Minato... is to face the Nine-Tails' chakra directly."

Mito's expression softened with a trace of hesitation.

But for the sake of Konoha's future, she hardened her heart.

The Nine-Tails had always been seen as a last resort—a guardian beast.

Konoha would never allow its jinchūriki to be left vulnerable.

Her original intent in making Kushina the host of the Nine-Tails had been to protect her. As the most pure-blooded member of the Uzumaki clan, she needed to be safeguarded. And the best way to ensure that was to bind her more deeply to the village.

The current plan had deviated slightly from what she'd envisioned at first—but to Mito, this wasn't a bad outcome.

Kushina had found love early on. With a partner by her side, Mito believed they could go further—perhaps even gain the Nine-Tails' power together.

Mito no longer held out much hope of taming the Nine-Tails herself. She'd reached the point of equal conversation—but the rest of the journey would be left to the next generation.

"Nine-Tails... I hope you'll be kind to Kushina and Minato."

She spoke through the Four Symbols Seal, addressing the beast within her.

"Old woman! You humans are the true monsters! Always claiming we Tailed Beasts are evil—but look at your own twisted methods!"

"The one made of hatred isn't me... it's you!"

The Nine-Tails could see and hear everything outside the seal. It had heard the venomous thoughts of the two red-haired women loud and clear that day.

What kind of depraved person would ever think of splitting a Tailed Beast in two?

It was beyond cruelty—pure exploitation!

No creature would ever want to be torn in half and turned into two separate beings.

But what disgusted the Nine-Tails the most... was the sheer hypocrisy of these humans. Claiming they'd reform it through 'love'? Utterly delusional!

With just a single roar, the space inside the seal rippled with shockwaves. Crimson chakra burst skyward, and a terrifying sphere of energy began forming in the Nine-Tails' mouth.

"I'm sorry," Mito said, standing firm. "But for Konoha's future—and for the happiness of the next generation—I have no choice."

Without flinching from the oncoming wave of hatred, she summoned eight golden chains from her back.

"Adamantine Sealing Chains."

The golden chains writhed like living things, launching from all directions to bind the Nine-Tails.

In midair, the chains stretched and locked around the beast. The Tailed Beast Bomb it had nearly launched fizzled out, snuffed by the pressure of the seal.

Still, the Nine-Tails didn't back down. Its tails whipped furiously behind it, lashing out toward Mito, but more golden chains surged out, locking down even its limbs and dragging it flat to the ground.

"Every time I try to speak with you, it ends like this," Mito murmured, voice tinged with sorrow. "I really had hoped... we could come to understand one another."

But all she received in return was a snort of contempt.

Even shackled by the Adamantine Sealing Chains, the Nine-Tails refused to submit.

It had long since seen through human hypocrisy—especially from that young red-haired girl with the twisted ideas.

She was nearly as vile as Uchiha Madara!

Humans always put their own interests above nature's harmony.

The Nine-Tails had once been nothing more than a happy fox, playing in the forests of the Land of Fire. It had animal friends. It used to enjoy mocking Shukaku in the Tailed Beast Plane every day.

But so many humans had tried to harness its power—only to be swatted aside by its massive chakra.

And those who survived labeled it the embodiment of hatred. The ones who had once benefited from its power no longer trusted it.

This wasn't something that happened overnight—it was the product of a thousand years of resentment.

And now, the Nine-Tails had nothing but hatred for the descendants of Asura.

Especially that girl.

Uzumaki Kushina.

A wicked child!

Aside from Uchiha Madara, who had forced it into battle, Kushina was the one it despised most.

All the others it had hated were long gone—reduced to ash by its Tailed Beast Bombs.

...

Seeing the Nine-Tails fall silent, Mito waited a little longer. When she sensed its hatred had slightly cooled, she finally released the bind on its mouth.

"Today, I need to borrow your chakra to test the potential of the next generation. He's a gentle soul... I hope the two of you can one day get along..."

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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