"Oh no! Kushina has lost control of her mind!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three immediately assessed the situation upon seeing the Nine-Tailed's cloak erupting from Kushina's body.
"With Grandma Mito's ability, sealing the Nine-Tailed should be easy, right?" Utatane Koharu frowned, "Why is this happening?"
The Third Hokage looked worried: "Because Grandma Mito intends for Kushina to complete the final seal herself. This way, she might be able to control the Nine-Tailed in the future."
"She's only 7 years old. Even if she can use Adamantine Sealing Chains, she's still far from sealing the Nine-Tailed. It's too dangerous," Homura Mitokado said with concern.
"The Adamantine Sealing Chains are too strong. If Kushina doesn't have the key to open them, she won't be able to use the Nine-Tailed's power," Danzo Shimura said in a low voice, "For the Village's future Tailed Beast deterrence, taking the risk is worth it."
For the Village!
These four words silenced the worried individuals.
"Hiruzen!"
Just then, Uzumaki Mito's eyes suddenly opened, and she said, "Bring Hyuga Arima !"
"What? Who?"
Danzo and the other two were surprised.
The Third Hokage frowned: "Grandma Mito, how can a member of the Hyuga Clan's branch family be involved in this matter?"
Danzo glanced at him with an inscrutable look.
Someone from the Hyuga Clan's branch family being mentioned at this time, and the Third Hokage clearly knowing him, this was interesting…
"He can fill the void in Kushina's heart," Uzumaki Mito shouted, "Do you choose a puppet who is completely controlled but cannot use the Nine-Tailed's power, or a Jinchuriki who cannot be controlled but can protect the Village?"
The Third Hokage's expression changed. After only a brief pause, he vanished from his spot with a whoosh.
Konoha cannot lose the Tailed Beast deterrence, even if she is not completely controlled…
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
The Third Hokage leaped out of the cave like a monkey, appearing high above Konoha with several Body Flicker Techniques.
"Sensing Secret Technique!"
He suddenly took a deep breath, searching for Hyuga Arima 's Chakra throughout Konoha.
"His scent should be… Found him!"
Hyuga Arima barely had time to react before he was grabbed by the shoulder by the suddenly appearing Hiruzen Sarutobi, then moved at high speed, his world spinning.
When he stopped, he found himself standing in a cave, with Danzo's chilling gaze sweeping over him from head to toe.
"Here…"
Before Arima could speak, the Adamantine Sealing Chains in front of him suddenly split open on their own.
"Arima , come in, Kushina needs you!" Uzumaki Mito urged.
"Kushina?!"
Hyuga Arima hadn't even understood what was happening before he darted through the crack, came to Kushina's side, and knelt down, asking urgently, "Grandma Mito, what do you need me to do?"
"Wake her up… Tell her you won't leave… You'll always be by her side to protect her…"
Uzumaki Mito said, "Fill the void in her heart, and she will be able to escape the influence of the Nine-Tailed's evil thoughts."
By this time, Arima had clearly seen Kushina, seeing the horrifying sight of crimson Chakra gushing out from her body.
Was she being corroded by the Nine-Tailed's Chakra? The void in her heart… Was it because of their breakup?
"Kushina…"
Hyuga Arima gently took her soft, delicate small hand and whispered in her ear, "Kushina, I'm here. I… will always be by your side…"
"Who…"
"Who's calling me…"
Inside Kushina's body, in the sealing space.
The little figure wrapped in the Nine-Tailed's Chakra slowly opened her eyes, and a bewildered look appeared in those terrifying crimson eyes.
"I think I heard… Arima 's voice…"
Uzumaki Mito was delighted: "He's here, right by your side now!"
"Really…?"
The Nine-Tailed's Chakra on Kushina's body dissipated at a visible rate, and the expressions of the four outside the Adamantine Sealing Chains varied.
The Third Hokage was pleasantly surprised: "It really works!"
"The relationship between this child and the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki…" Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado were delighted but also worried.
Danzo was expressionless: "The Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki cannot fall into the hands of the Hyuga Clan."
"Roar!——"
The Nine-Tailed inside Kushina sensed its influence being repelled and roared in anger: "You brat! You're asking for death!"
The remaining Nine-Tailed Chakra on Kushina's body suddenly converged on her eyes, and she abruptly opened them.
"Kushi… Ugh…"
Hyuga Arima 's surprised cry had just escaped his lips when the terrifying fox eyes, reflected in his own, filled his entire vision.
Evil mental power instantly invaded his mind, like being struck by a large hammer, causing his mental power to rapidly collapse.
"Oh no! The Nine-Tailed's mental backlash! This child will become an idiot from the shock!"
The Third Hokage frowned and shouted, "Grandma Mito, let me save him."
Uzumaki Mito saw Hyuga Arima 's blank expression and confused look and couldn't help but sigh softly.
The seal in front of the Third Hokage gradually opened. He was about to step in, but his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
"Wait."
Danzo's gaze was profound: "If this child dies now, wouldn't it kill multiple birds with one stone?"
The Third Hokage's brows furrowed, and he slowly said, "You want to use his death to provoke Kushina?"
"Such pain will surely unleash her greatest potential," Danzo said calmly, "And it will also keep her away from the Hyuga Clan."
For a moment, the cave fell silent.
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu's expressions struggled for a moment, then gradually became indifferent: "Danzo's words… make sense…"
Uzumaki Mito noticed their actions, and obvious disappointment flickered in her eyes.
Hashirama… Tobirama… Is this the result of your will of fire being passed down…
"No."
The Third Hokage suddenly cut in: "He did nothing wrong. The Village cannot abandon him!"
Danzo's brows furrowed: "Hiruzen, this is not the time for your indecisiveness."
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, then said, "He is first and foremost a part of the Village, and only then, a member of the Hyuga Clan's branch family."
"To burn oneself and protect the new green leaves, that is the duty of a Hokage, that is the will of fire!"
Seeing him walk in, Danzo sneered: "Pedantic! Foolish!"
But at this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped again.
"What? Changed your mind again?"
Danzo was about to mock him when he noticed Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu's expressions were off.
Their eyes were wide open, as if they had suddenly seen the Third Hokage streaking, utterly shocked.
Danzo immediately looked back, then his eyes widened slightly: "Sha… rin… gan…"
When the evil mental power crushed into his mind, Hyuga Arima 's own mental power instinctively resisted, but was rapidly defeated.
Under this pressure, the Sharingan almost spontaneously activated, feeding a cool, strange mental power back into his mind.
Not only did it quickly quell the mental power rampage, but even the Nine-Tailed's evil thoughts were instantly repelled.
The power of the Uchiha has always been the bane of Tailed Beasts!
"Huff, huff…"
Hyuga Arima panted heavily, his crimson Sharingan meeting Kushina's demonic eyes.
Gradually, the tomoe began to spin.
"Give Kushina… back!"