Tsunade eyed Namikaze Minato suspiciously.
To her, the necklace was nothing more than her grandfather's keepsake.
How could it possibly have the power to suppress the Nine-Tails?
"If the Nine-Tails goes on a rampage," Minato explained calmly,
"this necklace will automatically activate a sealing effect similar to Kōan Nyūchō Suishu."
"Before the manifestation reaches five tails, it can effectively suppress the Nine-Tails."
"It's a one-time effect—but for anything below five tails, it's more than enough."
"Tsunade-sama, in my world, my son—Namikaze Menma—is also a Nine-Tails jinchūriki."
"I've personally witnessed the Tsunade of my world using this very necklace to suppress a rampaging Nine-Tails."
Minato's explanation was steady and matter-of-fact.
In truth, the moment she heard the name Kōan Nyūchō Suishu, Tsunade had already begun to believe him.
That sealing technique could only be used by Wood Release users—an incredibly powerful method.
And Minato had no possible way of having met the long-dead Senju Hashirama in person.
Which meant the only vessel capable of carrying Hashirama's chakra…
was likely this necklace.
"Brat. Head over here."
Tsunade shot Setsuna an irritated look.
Setsuna, however, stared nervously at the necklace in her hand.
"Uh… can we maybe not put that on me…?"
"A guy wearing a necklace just feels… kind of girly…"
He looked like he was on the verge of tears.
How was he supposed to explain that this thing was basically cursed?
That everyone who wore it—except Tsunade—ended up dead?
Forget explaining it.
Tsunade would beat him half to death, heal him, then beat him again.
"You think my grandfather Senju Hashirama's necklace is 'girly'?"
Tsunade's eyes flashed dangerously as her pale hand clenched into a fist.
"You ungrateful little punk. If I sold this thing, I could trade it for three mountains."
Before Setsuna could protest further, Tsunade forcibly slipped the necklace around his neck.
I feel like Death itself has its hands around my throat…
Setsuna stared at the emerald-like crystal now resting against his chest, his expression twisted.
Everyone who wore it died.
Even the main character Uzumaki Naruto nearly died wearing it.
If not for absurd plot armor, Shippuden would've ended early.
As the "main character's mom—no, dad,"
his luck should be pretty solid too… right?
…Right?
While Setsuna was still spiraling internally, he suddenly felt something warm and soft against his forehead.
He froze.
Tsunade had kissed him lightly on the brow.
The kiss lasted only an instant.
She smiled gently down at the stunned boy.
"Live well, brat."
Great.
I now feel like a general on an opera stage—covered head to toe in death flags.
"When can we start the Eight Trigrams Seal?" Tsunade asked, turning to Minato.
"As soon as Setsuna recovers," Minato replied.
"Any time."
"Then we start in three days."
As Setsuna's primary physician, Tsunade knew his body and recovery speed inside out. She gave him the fastest possible timeline.
And just like that, his fate was sealed—without a single chance to object.
Look, the sealing stuff is fine, but could we please take the necklace back?!
Tsunade stayed a bit longer, then left. As Konoha's head of medical operations, she was far too busy to linger.
Kaoru also stayed with Setsuna for a while before leaving. It was already past midnight, and she still had school the next day.
Soon, only Setsuna and the Namikaze–Uzumaki couple remained in the room.
"Did something bother you earlier, Setsuna?" Kushina asked.
She sat where Kaoru had been, casually picking up an apple from the tray and beginning to peel it.
She could clearly sense Setsuna's dissatisfaction—she just didn't understand why.
From her perspective, reinforcing his seal, teaching him Adamantine Sealing Chains, and securing the First Hokage's necklace were all undeniably good things.
"No… it's nothing. Maybe I was just overthinking."
Setsuna was quiet for a moment before shaking his head.
"Looking at you really makes me feel how strange the world is," Minato said thoughtfully, watching the boy on the hospital bed.
"My wife's counterpart turned out to be a boy."
"What's strange about that? I'M the one who should be shocked!"
"In another world, I'm actually a woman!"
Before Setsuna could finish—
Thump.
Pain exploded across his head.
"You little brat! Sorry I'm a woman or something?!"
Kushina clenched her fist, smiling dangerously as she crushed the apple in her hand.
"Hey!"
"Why are you hitting yourself too?!"
Setsuna clutched his head, glaring at her.
"Speaking of which, you already have kids… so shouldn't I call you… auntie?"
"Ku~shi~na~ A~un~tie~"
Setsuna taunted her shamelessly.
Hey, it's just me vs. me—what's there to be afraid of?
…Hm?
Killing intent.
Setsuna instinctively glanced toward the window—
Oh shit.
Kushina's beautiful red hair had lifted into the air like writhing tentacles. Her once-clear eyes were blazing with fury.
N-no way…
Setsuna shrank back instinctively.
"How DARE you say something that rude to an eighteen-year-old girl!"
"I see you're entering your rebellious phase early!"
"If that's the case, I don't mind educating you properly—on behalf of this world!"
Kushina advanced with clenched fists.
No, sis—aren't you like forty?!
Eighteen, my ass!
"Ah—Kushina, stop!"
"Setsuna's only ten!"
"He's still a child—and he's injured!"
Minato broke into a cold sweat as he rushed forward and restrained his wife from behind.
Then he looked helplessly at Setsuna.
"Setsuna… I'm sorry, but could you please apologize to Kushina first?"
"She's known as the Red-Hot Habanero, after all."
"Su—sumimasen!"
Setsuna apologized immediately and wholeheartedly.
"Hmph!"
"I'll forgive you since your apology was sincere!"
"Remember this—girls are always eighteen!"
Kushina jabbed Setsuna's forehead hard.
"Yes! I was wrong!"
"Girls are always eighteen!"
Minato wiped the sweat from his brow as he watched the two of them.
As expected of Kushina's counterpart…
The personality really was identical.
If Setsuna was like this…
Would Kaoru be the same someday?
…That was something to look forward to.
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