That night, Konoha Village remained as peaceful as usual.
However, just as most people fell into sweet dreams, outside the village, Kushina was giving birth.
To prevent the seal from loosening due to childbirth, the delivery room had been set up outside the village.
The midwife was Hiruzen Sarutobi's wife, Biwako Sarutobi.
The Fourth Hokage stayed by his wife's side throughout the entire process.
In the Hokage building of Konoha Village, Rinjin sat leisurely on the sofa in the Hokage's office with his legs crossed, a massive bowl casually placed beside him.
Across from him, Hiruzen Sarutobi paced back and forth anxiously, unable to sit still.
For some reason, he felt this night was eerily too quiet.
"Uncle Hiruzen, stop pacing. Something's definitely going down tonight—trust me."
Hearing this, Sarutobi rolled his eyes irritably, having no intention of acknowledging Rinjin.
Seeing this, Rinjin continued:
"Uncle, I'm not bragging, but I know more intel than your entire Konoha combined.
You think all these years I've spent lurking in various villages were for nothing?
Listen to me—make the trade!
Otherwise, forget the jinchūriki—even the Fourth Hokage might not keep his life."
Silence. Still silence.
Sarutobi's brow furrowed deeply. Earlier that day, Rinjin had approached him, requesting a trade with Konoha:
One-Tail for the Nine-Tails.
Obviously, this was a very unfavorable deal.
Setting aside strength differences, just Shukaku's motor mouth alone made him a pest that no one would want even for free!
Moreover, jinchūriki die without exception when their tailed beast is extracted. He couldn't possibly trade Minato's wife's life.
After a long silence, Sarutobi suddenly moved closer to Rinjin, staring into his eyes with utmost seriousness:
"Rinjin, give me the absolute truth!
What exactly will happen tonight?
Who's pulling the strings behind this?
Are you involved?"
Hearing this, Rinjin waved his hand dismissively, as if insulted:
"Involved?
A small fry like me—what qualifications do I have to participate in something this big?
You think old man Madara would even notice a small-time nobody like me?"
Inside his body, the kitty watched Rinjin's sarcastic performance, grinning and nodding repeatedly.
Oh right, right, right~
You only smashed his turtle shell to pieces, stole one of his eyeballs, and tore off his arm~
Outside, Rinjin ignored Sarutobi's increasingly dilated pupils and patted the urn-like crystal bottle beside him.
"Uncle Hiruzen, you stuck your neck out to keep Riyi and me back then.
I won't forget that favor, and I won't lie to you.
Let me be straight—the ANBU you sent to protect the Fourth's wife probably won't be much use.
You need to understand, your current opponent is Uchiha Madara, someone who could go toe-to-toe with Lord Hashirama.
Listen to me—Nine-Tails for One-Tail. It'll save the Fourth's wife's life and make the enemy's plans fall flat.
With the Nine-Tails in my hands, all that pressure, both open and hidden, transfers to me.
And I'm not taking it for free!
At minimum one year, maximum three years—I'll return the Nine-Tails to you. That thing's just a one-time deal for me."
As his words fell, the office plunged into prolonged silence once again.
After what felt like an eternity, Sarutobi still couldn't make up his mind and shook his head.
"Rinjin, the village isn't mine to decide anymore."
If it were up to him, honestly speaking, he might actually agree to Rinjin's proposal.
His feelings toward this kid were too complicated.
From initial admiration, to later wariness, to the current indifference after stepping down.
He'd dealt with Rinjin too many times and had to admit—doing business with Rinjin truly resulted in win-win situations!
This guy always gave him a feeling of riding favorable winds.
It was as if everything he did went with the flow, and he always managed to profit and gain advantages.
Just look at what the once broken-down Hidden Rain Village had become.
Now, even the gate guards of Hidden Rain Village were the once-famous White Fang of Konoha and Uchiha Kagami.
Not to mention the village was full of redheads.
You had to know, the Uzumaki clan were the best candidates for jinchūriki—bar none.
What others desperately sought, they had in abundance.
And this kid had somehow convinced Kagami to abandon Uchiha traditions and find a little redhead daughter-in-law!
That child called Shisui had red eyes and red hair.
And he had to admit, that boy called Uchiha Shisui had truly powerful genes.
However, just as Sarutobi hesitated, a piercing explosion echoed far through the dark night.
His ears twitched, and Sarutobi instantly rushed to the office window, his gaze immediately turning toward the direction where Kushina was giving birth outside the village.
There, flames soared into the sky.
Rinjin, sitting on the sofa, let out a quiet sigh, his eyes dark and unreadable.
It had begun.
Obito: Naruto, uncle held (exploded) you when you were little~
Predictably, the Nine-Tails would appear next, and Iruka's father was probably done for too.
Shaking his head, Rinjin spoke leisurely:
"Now even if you begged me, Uncle, there's nothing I can do!
The Nine-Tails has probably already been extracted. That jinchūriki girl is likely gone."
The moment his words fell, Sarutobi instantly turned his head and roared toward the empty space:
"Someone come! All ANBU assemble and prepare for battle!"
The instant the serious command was issued, a earth-shaking, terrifying roar resonated through heaven and earth.
Sarutobi whipped around, his pupils dilating to their absolute limit.
Following his gaze, not far outside the village, a massive crimson fox with nine wildly thrashing tails howled at the moon.
The Nine-Tails had been released!
At the same time, Rinjin's listless voice suddenly rang out in the office:
"Let's go, Uncle. What are you waiting for?!"
"You're going too?" Sarutobi reflexively asked.
Hearing this, Rinjin nodded slightly, tapping his dark blue jōnin vest helplessly with his index finger:
"Yeah, who told me I'm also a Konoha jōnin~"
To avoid suspicion, Rinjin planned to stay glued to Sarutobi's side tonight.
As for why there would be suspicion, it was actually simple.
Given his strength, there weren't many people who could silently eliminate the ANBU guarding Kushina and engage Minato in battle.
He was one of them.
Though he could bear this blame, still!
No matter who it was, being randomly slapped with a scapegoat label would feel extremely unpleasant!
Rinjin might lack principles, but he still had bottom lines.
He didn't want to be framed, especially not to take the fall for Obito, that master-killing, mother-murdering bastard.
So he'd been loitering in the Hokage's office early today to prove his innocence.
At this thought, a bold idea suddenly popped into Rinjin's head.
"Uncle Hiruzen, how about I drag out Grandpa First and Grandpa Second for a little stroll???"
Hearing this, Sarutobi immediately saw black lines across his forehead.
Heh heh~
You little bastard, trying to get me beaten up by sensei again!
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