Kushina didn't expose him. However, the Nine-Tails' chakra aura around her intensified—like a spark igniting into a blazing fire.
In less than a minute, the once tranquil surroundings transformed into a tense battlefield.
Dozens of ninjas appeared silently like phantoms. Their presence caused no sound, yet the pressure they exerted blanketed the area like a suffocating fog.
Ordinary civilians had no idea what was unfolding.
Even if someone happened to pass by, the incident would be covered up immediately. No news would spread. No whispers would escape. Life in the village continued as usual.
But around Kushina's residence, everything had changed.
Six ANBU in masks crouched in complete stillness, their hands pressed firmly to the ground. Under their combined efforts, a transparent barrier surged into existence—a shimmering, dome-like shield that quickly enclosed the area. It shimmered faintly, like a heat mirage, yet gave off the weight of an indestructible wall.
The purpose of the barrier was singular: contain the Nine-Tails.
If the beast rampaged, the consequences would be catastrophic. Kushina would be in grave danger—but more importantly, Konoha itself could be wiped off the map.
Among the gathered figures, the presence of the Third Hokage stood out clearly.
His face was grim, his brows deeply furrowed as he silently observed the situation from a distance. No one had noticed when exactly he arrived.
In stark contrast, none of the other high-ranking officials of Konoha were present.
"What are you all doing just standing there?" the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, barked with authority. "Be on alert! If the Nine-Tails loses control, your mission is to stop it from reaching the village! Do not let its power spill into the residential zones!"
His shout snapped everyone into motion. The ninjas fanned out quickly, surrounding Kushina in a circular formation, placing her at the center like a caged beast.
"Sister…!"
Xuanwo Yunnai watched the scene unfold, unease blooming in her chest. For the first time, she questioned whether her sister's decision to live in Konoha had been the right one.
She didn't know much about Jinchuriki—but she'd heard the legends of the Nine-Tails. It was a monster born of pure chakra, capable of massive destruction. And now, that power seemed on the verge of breaking free.
Yet, she had no place in this affair. It was internal Village business. She had neither reason nor justification to intervene.
When Kushina, the princess of Whirlpool Country, left their homeland and joined Konoha, it was as if her ties to the clan were cut clean.
"Uncle Zhen, take me up there—higher, somewhere we can get a better view!" Jaxon called out, his face lit up with excitement. His body tingled as if a warm current surged through his veins, making him feel completely invigorated.
"This is what it means when they say, 'A flower planted carefully may not bloom, but a wild one might thrive!'" Jaxon thought.
Originally, his reason for being here was simple—just to collect something from the mother of a future protagonist. He hadn't expected this turn of events. The way things were spiraling now, it was more dramatic than anything he could've hoped for.
Kushina's body was undergoing rapid transformation.
A tail—formed entirely from chakra—appeared behind her. It wasn't flesh and blood but a manifestation of the Nine-Tails' power.
The air around her shimmered with oppressive chakra. Her aura burned like a wildfire, and it felt as though it could consume the entire world.
Compared to the future Naruto, Kushina was on a different level entirely.
That boy was brash and impulsive. Despite being a child of the Uzumaki clan, he couldn't even use basic sealing techniques. His raw potential was there, but his early talent was lacking.
But the woman before them now—Kushina—was something else.
She was a sealing master of legendary caliber. Alone, she had the ability to break the seal and release the Nine-Tails. Alone, she had the potential to bring mutual destruction to the entire village.
A tailed beast is already considered a nuclear weapon in shinobi terms.
And this was the strongest of them all—the Nine-Tails.
"Young Master, are we really just going to stand by and watch?" Whirlpool Zhen stood behind Jaxon. Though his posture was calm and composed, his heart raced. As an elite Jonin from the Whirlpool Clan, he found it hard to remain indifferent.
Jaxon, however, stayed composed. He gave a relaxed smile and said, "What's the hurry? This is the perfect opportunity to observe Konoha up close. Besides, this has nothing to do with us."
He was right.
Kushina had no intention of destroying the village. Not now, at least.
She still had things she cared about. That meant she wouldn't act recklessly.
The Third Hokage understood this well. The old man had calculated everything in advance.
Though Zhen and Jaxon didn't fully understand Kushina's emotional attachments, they knew when to step back. Neither interfered with what was clearly Konoha's internal struggle.
The atmosphere in the area grew tense, nearly explosive.
Ninjas stood like statues, but beneath the surface, they were coiled springs—ready to strike at any moment. Their hands hovered near their weapons. Their chakra fluctuated with unease.
These were not average fighters.
They were Konoha's elite Jonin—veterans with both power and experience. A lineup like this could devastate any minor country with ease.
They stood together, radiating killing intent, like blades unsheathed.
But amidst them all, one figure stood out—a flame in a sea of steel.
Kushina.
Her chakra flared wildly. The red aura around her twisted like a storm. Her once kind and calm features were now twisted in rage, her eyes glowing with crimson fury.
"Kushina, calm down! Don't let the Nine-Tails control you!" a voice rang out.
In a flash of yellow lightning, Minato Namikaze appeared beside her. His voice trembled slightly with urgency and fear.
But Kushina didn't respond.
Her eyes were locked in a deadly trance, her mind overtaken by the beast inside.
Suddenly, she swung her arm.
A red claw of pure chakra lashed out at Minato with terrifying speed and force.
Minato barely dodged the blow, but the aftershock of the strike sent him flying through the air, crashing into the ground.
Even as he hit the dirt, Kushina's body underwent another transformation.
A second chakra tail formed.
The corruption was deepening. The Nine-Tails was taking over.
With the second tail, her aura doubled in intensity. The pressure in the air became almost unbearable. Several Jonin broke out in cold sweat.
She wasn't just losing control.
She was becoming the Nine-Tails.
The flames of her chakra twisted and roared, the wind whipping around her like a cyclone. She let out a feral scream that echoed like a demon's wail, shaking even the hearts of the ANBU.
The Third Hokage clenched his fists. His heart weighed heavy with dread.
"She's approaching the tipping point…" he thought grimly. "If a third tail appears, we'll have no choice but to activate the emergency suppression seal—even if it kills her."
From a distance, Jaxon watched it all with fascination. There was no fear in his eyes—only awe.
"She's more powerful than I expected," he whispered. "This is... thrilling."
"Jaxon, if she loses control completely, won't this entire village fall?" Zhen asked, finally voicing the fear they both shared.
Jaxon nodded slowly. "Yes. But she won't. Not yet. There's still something—someone—holding her back."
Just as those words left his mouth—
Minato stood back up.
Blood stained the corner of his lips, but his gaze was unwavering.
He vanished in an instant—appearing directly in front of Kushina. Instead of attacking, he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Kushina," he whispered. "I'm right here. Come back to me."
For a moment, the world stood still.
The howling wind slowed. The oppressive chakra stalled.
And then—
The third tail began to fade.
Her aura weakened.
The crimson in her eyes dimmed, slowly returning to their original hue.
She fell forward—unconscious, but no longer consumed by the beast.
Minato held her gently, his arms trembling.
The Third Hokage sighed in deep relief. The seal had held—barely.
Around them, the other Jonin lowered their weapons. The danger had passed, but the tension would linger in everyone's hearts for a long time.
From his vantage point above, Jaxon leaned against a tree, arms crossed.
"Interesting," he muttered. "Very interesting. Konoha truly is a nest of monsters."
Ãdvåñçé 60 çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)