"So..."
"Rin, you don't need to worry or be afraid of anything. Even though the Three-Tails is sealed inside you, just get along with it, treat it like a friend, a partner."
"In fact, in my eyes, they're all a bunch of goofballs, and kind of uniquely cute. There's nothing else like them in the world, absolutely no identical species."
Indeed, the nine Tailed Beasts truly had no identical species, and Veigar's words significantly alleviated Rin's fear of the Three-Tails.
It's just that the Three-Tails inside Rin wasn't so good-tempered; it was raging helplessly!
Forcing a strained smile, Rin then heard Veigar continue:
"They're called Tailed Beasts, and their distinctions are based on the number of tails they possess."
"The One-Tail, Shukaku, is a tanuki with cursed seal markings all over its body, resembling a raccoon dog. It possesses Wind Release, Earth Release, and is skilled in Magnet Release sealing jutsu."
"The Two-Tails, Matatabi, is a cat demon covered in blue chakra flames. It possesses Fire Release."
"The Three-Tails, Isobu, is a turtle covered in sharp spikes with three tails. It possesses Water Release, Wind Release, and Ice Release."
"The Four-Tails, Son Goku, is a giant red ape. It possesses Earth Release, Fire Release, and is skilled in Lava Release."
"The Five-Tails, Kokuō, is a pure white beast that is a fusion of a dolphin and a horse. It possesses Fire Release and is skilled in Boil Release."
"The Six-Tails, Saiken, is a gigantic slug with six milky-white tails. It possesses highly corrosive liquid and is skilled in Soap Bubble Ninjutsu."
"The Seven-Tails, Chōmei, is a beetle with six wings and one tail. It has the ability to fly, use scales for invisibility, and disrupt opponents' vision."
"The Eight-Tails, Gyūki, is a giant ox with octopus tentacle tails. It has a wild temperament and possesses sealing jutsu, tail regeneration, and tail substitution."
"Lastly is the Nine-Tails, Kurama, a large orange fox with nine tails. It possesses the ability to sense malice, strong regenerative capabilities, and can allocate its chakra to others."
"These are the nine Tailed Beasts in the entire shinobi world. As for their origins, I also know them, but I cannot tell you."
At this point, Veigar shook his head.
Kakashi and Rin were in a state of extreme shock, unable to believe that Veigar knew so much information about the Tailed Beasts.
Equally shocked was Isobu, the Three-Tails, inside Rin's body. It was stunned by Veigar's statement that he "knew their origins," but then shook its head, thinking Veigar was bragging.
Because ever since they were split into nine portions from the Ten-Tails' chakra by the Sage of Six Paths and each condensed into form, they had never revealed any of this.
However, Veigar's next sentence made Isobu, the Three-Tails, believe him a bit more.
"The names I just mentioned are not actually their true names, but rather names given by people based on their appearance and so on."
"Those who have a Tailed Beast sealed within them are called Jinchūriki. For a Jinchūriki to know the true name of the Tailed Beast within them, they must gain its recognition, and then it will naturally tell its Jinchūriki."
"The Jinchūriki and Tailed Beast share a symbiotic relationship. Once the Tailed Beast is extracted, the Jinchūriki will also die as a result."
"Since the situation is already set, Rin, you just need to get along with it from now on. You don't need to fear it or be afraid of it; just treat it normally. Becoming a Jinchūriki will also be a great help to you."
"If you don't know how to get along with the Three-Tails, you can take the Three-Tails to see sensei's wife."
The intelligent Kakashi immediately understood, his eyes widening as he blurted out:
"You mean..."
Veigar nodded silently.
In an instant, Kakashi's gaze shifted between Veigar and Rin, who was also in shock.
After teaching Rin and Kakashi the method to release and close the Reverse Reaper Death Seal, Veigar sat alone in his chair, his back to the door, staring at Konoha through the window after they left.
Rumble—
A flash of lightning streaked across the sky.
Rain began to fall gently.
It came down harder and harder.
"It's raining, huh?"
Veigar's eyes were filled with coldness.
Just then, the office door opened.
Veigar, now back to his normal expression, turned around.
"Minato-sensei, what brings you here?"
Veigar smiled as he stood up, looking at Minato's golden hair and the hem of his clothes, wet from the rain, and asked as if he had expected him.
With his golden hair drenched by the rain, Minato's face still held a hint of flushed urgency. He walked seriously to Veigar, stared at him, and said with determination, resolve, and composure:
"Veigar, I need you now. Please, help me take charge of the Anbu!"
Please, help me take charge of the Anbu!
Minato, as the Hokage, said such a shocking thing to a mere 13-year-old child at this moment.
This showed immense courage and trust.
Such a scene—
This was exactly what Veigar had been waiting for, but he hadn't expected Minato's resolve to be so great.
Taking charge of the Anbu!
That could only mean Anbu Commander, right?
Veigar had originally thought Minato would only give him an Anbu Squad Leader position; he hadn't expected Minato's resolve to be this strong.
"It seems today's stimulus was truly too great for Minato-sensei."
Anbu Commander.
Ever since the previous incumbent, Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake, committed suicide, this position had remained vacant under the Third Hokage's rule, before the Fourth took office.
It wasn't that Hiruzen lacked suitable candidates; it was that he was unwilling and didn't want to see another "White Fang of Konoha."
And this just so happened to give Minato an opportunity to pull the rug out from under him.
As long as Veigar accepted at this moment, he would become the new Anbu Commander after the White Fang of Konoha.
It also meant directly entering Konoha's power center, becoming one of the few at the pinnacle of Konoha's authority.
The Konoha Anbu, a special assassination tactics unit established by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, abbreviated as Anbu.
This was a force directly commanded only by the Hokage. The unit was composed of multiple departments, and each department had multiple squads. All missions were ultimately communicated and led by squad leaders.
This was also the first special operations organization among the Five Great Nations at the time, later emulated by ninja villages around the world.
All Anbu members were elite ninja screened from the village, primarily responsible for protecting the Kage and preventing foreign enemies from invading the village. Sometimes they also handled reconnaissance and assassination missions. All members wore animal masks during operations, and the nature of their missions and all other information were kept confidential.
Seeing Veigar's silence, Minato, who thought Veigar was about to refuse, gave a slightly bitter smile.
But his face was filled with resolute determination.
"As the village's Kage, since taking office, I've constantly analyzed the village's current situation."
"I also wanted to guide the village's situation in a positive direction, but when I tried to make changes, I found myself so powerless."
Minato sighed, his face full of bitterness.
Ascending to power, becoming the Fourth Hokage.
From the initial passionate fervor, to his current helplessness, and now to this moment of bitterness, what exactly had Minato experienced during this time?
Who knew?
How bad Konoha's situation was now, Minato as Hokage had the most right to speak.
Whatever he tried to do, he would be obstructed at every turn.
Why?
Because he had the title but no real power; he didn't have enough strength to do those things.
He had no one he could fully trust or rely on as a right-hand man.
Root of Konoha was in Danzo's hands.
The Konoha Anbu was in Hiruzen's hands.
As for the various ninja clans, they only knew the Third Hokage. As for the Fourth, did such a person even exist?
Or rather, if the Third didn't approve, would anything the Fourth said be useful?
The encounter at the village gate today made Minato thoroughly understand that he, as the esteemed Fourth Hokage, could barely even protect his own student.
Why?
Because he lacked sufficient power.
He couldn't implement various policies.
Why?
Because he lacked sufficient power.
At the same time, when he returned, he also realized one thing: if he couldn't even protect Rin today, how significant would the impact be?
Anyone could figure it out.
His title as Fourth Hokage would forever live in the shadow of the Third Hokage, making him nothing more than a puppet.
It wasn't that Minato wanted to think that way, but Hiruzen forced him to. The various ninja clans in the village would likely just smirk when they saw him later!
To them, the village hadn't changed at all since the Fourth Hokage took office, except for the face sitting in the Hokage's chair—it had gotten younger!
"If you accept the position of Anbu Commander, I will give you one hundred percent absolute trust. Everything in the Anbu will be decided by you."
"Whatever you wish to do, I will absolutely support it. I will stand in front of all opposition and block it one by one."
"I only ask for one thing: that you devote yourself wholeheartedly to Konoha."
"Please!"
Unimaginable sincerity, an unimaginable scene, it was hard to imagine what kind of situation Minato was in to say such words.
Minato, as a teacher, actually bowed to his student. This was enough to show how resolute Minato's heart was now, and how great a decision he had made.
"You're too kind, Minato-sensei."
"As a student, it's my duty and only right to help my teacher with his worries."
Veigar took a step to the side, not accepting Minato's bow.
"You mean..."
Minato, straightening up, his eyes filled with anticipation, stared unblinkingly at Veigar.
"Anbu Commander, I accept!"
"From now on, I will protect Konoha under its sunlight."
"From now on, Konoha has me!"
Minato had given him such a grand gift, so Veigar naturally declared his stance on the spot.
"Veigar, thank you! On behalf of Konoha, thank you!"
Rumble—
Another flash of lightning streaked across the sky.
The rain was lessening.
In Konoha's residential district, at Koharu's large estate.
Under the rainy night, Konoha's "Four Elders" gathered.
"He truly believes he's the Hokage now!"
Danzo shifted his gaze from Koharu, his expression grim, to Hiruzen.
By now, Koharu's forearm, severed by Veigar, had been reattached, though not by Veigar himself, but by Root ninja arranged by Danzo for her treatment.
Without Veigar's personal healing, even though Koharu's hand was reattached, restoring it to its previous state was naturally impossible.
Koharu was already half-crippled!
At this moment, Danzo's heart was filled with rage.
Hiruzen's gaze also moved away from Koharu's hand. Looking at Danzo, who sat there with a grim expression, he slowly said:
"He always was the Hokage."
Shaking his head, a worried look flashed in Hiruzen's heart.
As he left the Hokage Residence and headed towards Kohar's estate, he had thought of many things along the way.
Such as Minato, and Veigar, and also the Anbu.
He had seen Minato's will.
He had also seen the qualities in Veigar that were suited for working in the shadows.
Conflict was about to be laid bare.
However, Hiruzen wasn't overly concerned about this, because he always stood in an unbeatable position.
Third Hokage, retired.
These were his protective amulets.
Subtly, a hint of regret flashed in Hiruzen's heart regarding what he had done at the village gate today.
He regretted personally getting involved then.
If he hadn't been present, and everything had been handled by Danzo, the outcome might not have escalated to this point.
In the depths of Hiruzen's gaze, as he looked at Danzo, there was an indescribable meaning.
"Old friend, you have to hold on!"
He didn't need to think to know what kind of tactics Veigar, soon to enter the Anbu, would employ.
It was just that Hiruzen had never expected Veigar's methods to be even more intense than he imagined.
Just as he hadn't expected Minato to appoint Veigar as Anbu Commander.
Frowning, Danzo looked at Hiruzen and said:
"Hiruzen, you've changed!"
As companions who had gone through decades of trials and tribulations together, from strangers to acquaintances, then to confidants. From teammates to comrades, and then to rivals.
How could Danzo not understand Hiruzen?
At this moment, Danzo saw in Hiruzen an indication that he no longer intended to support him.
Hiruzen silently lit his pipe, took a deep drag, and retorted:
"I haven't changed. You have!"
Having clashed with Danzo for decades, Hiruzen suddenly felt a bit weary.
His long-time friend before him—Hiruzen had more or less guessed the unknown things he did in secret; he just didn't want to say more or expose them.
"I've changed?"
"Perhaps. Probably so."
Hearing this, Danzo no longer had any desire to continue talking with Hiruzen. He stood up and slowly walked towards the door.
Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura, sitting together, watched Danzo's receding back in silence.
"Sigh..."
All three sighed in their hearts at the same time.
Drifting further and further apart...