Autumn passed and winter arrived; three months slipped by unnoticed.
Adorned in silver, a heavy snowfall turned the ninja world into a vast expanse of white.
In Kumogakure (Cloud Hidden Village).
Uchiha Ketsushō and Uzumaki Kushina walked side by side on the street.
Uzumaki Kushina's face was beaming with smiles, exuding youthful vitality.
Uchiha Ketsushō glanced at Uzumaki Kushina and asked, "Kushina, I'm having dinner with Mikoto tonight, do you want to join us?"
Uzumaki Kushina shyly stuck out her pink tongue, "Ketsushō, maybe next time, I still have a mission."
At this, Uchiha Ketsushō could only sigh helplessly.
Ever since arriving in Kumogakure, Uzumaki Kushina had truly let loose.
She immersed herself in missions every day, unable to extricate herself, not even wanting a single day off.
However, Uchiha Ketsushō could understand; after being confined in a cage for too long, now that she finally experienced freedom, she surely needed to vent properly.
Seeing Uchiha Ketsushō sigh, Uzumaki Kushina Actively pull Uchiha Ketsushō's hand.
"Ketsushō, you're not mad at me, are you?"
"Of course not." Uchiha Ketsushō playfully poked Uzumaki Kushina's forehead, "Didn't I bring you out of Konoha precisely so you could live the life you wanted?"
Hearing this, Uzumaki Kushina's eyes narrowed into slits as she smiled. She affectionately hooked her arm through Uchiha Ketsushō's and said no more.
No longer being monitored every move, free to do whatever she pleased... This feeling, it was truly wonderful.
"Brother Ketsushō, Sister Kushina!"
A cheerful voice rang out from behind them. Uchiha Ketsushō and Uzumaki Kushina turned to look, just in time to see Uchiha Obito bowing to a white-haired old woman before running towards them.
"It's Obito." Uchiha Ketsushō stopped, saying blandly, "How's the ninja academy recently? Are you still being called a dead last?"
Uzumaki Kushina patted Uchiha Ketsushō's shoulder and chided, "Ketsushō, don't make fun of Obito. Obito isn't a dead last."
After speaking, she smiled and stroked Uchiha Obito's head, "Obito, have you made any new friends?"
"Sister Kushina really has good judgment." Uchiha Obito proudly puffed out his chest, "I'm quite the popular figure in my class now; many girls even write me love letters."
He had never experienced such treatment when he was in Konoha.
Upon hearing Uchiha Obito's words, Uchiha Ketsushō didn't feel surprised.
The so-called dead last was only relative to people like Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy.
And more often, it was because Uchiha Obito frequently made some rookie mistakes.
For instance, his chewing gum getting stuck in his mouth when using Fire Style, or zoning out even after a duel had already begun... But for most people in the ninja world, Uchiha Obito's talent was actually quite good.
Most importantly... compared to the children in Kumogakure, Uchiha Obito's looks were considered quite outstanding.
Coupled with his Uchiha clan identity and decent talent, it was not surprising for him to become a popular figure in school.
Just as the three were chatting, a loud bang echoed from a distance.
A surge of violent chakra shot into the sky, and people on the street were all taken aback.
"Kushina, our outing ends here. I'm going to check it out."
Uchiha Ketsushō frowned, preparing to move towards the direction of the sound.
"I'm coming with you."
"I want to go too."
Uchiha Ketsushō tucked Uchiha Obito under his arm and said to Uzumaki Kushina, "Then let's go together."
— — — —
Cloud-Thunder Gorge.
In the middle of the undulating mountains was a huge lake.
The massive Eight-Tails thrashed its eight thick octopus tentacles, continuously striking the lake's surface.
By the time Uchiha Ketsushō arrived, the Third Raikage, Ay, Mabui, and others were already there.
"What's going on?"
Seeing Uchiha Ketsushō, Mabui explained, "According to the Anbu's observations, it seems the Eight-Tails and Lord B are having a disagreement."
"Why?"
"Lord B promised the Eight-Tails he would take it out of the village to play, but he broke his promise..."
Ay angrily clenched his fists, complaining, "That idiot, how could he make such a promise to the Eight-Tails?"
"Father, I'll go stop the Eight-Tails."
The Third Raikage glanced at Ay and shook his head, "You're no match for the Eight-Tails. I'll handle it."
Although Killer B and the Eight-Tails had reached a reconciliation, it didn't mean they could always live in harmony.
Once the Eight-Tails went into a rage, it was no different from a normal Jinchūriki losing control.
To stop it, they could only use force to suppress the Eight-Tails again.
This was also why they had Killer B live in Cloud-Thunder Gorge normally.
However, just as the Third Raikage was preparing for the impending fierce battle, Uchiha Ketsushō stepped forward, "Let me handle it."
With that, Uchiha Ketsushō's figure vanished from his spot.
"Roar!"
Looking at the human who had run onto its nose, the Eight-Tails roared furiously at the sky.
Uchiha Ketsushō frowned, displeased, "Gyūki, quiet down!"
The Mangekyō Sharingan pattern appeared in his eyes, and a powerful ocular power forcefully surged into the Eight-Tails' mental world.
The next second, the previously enraged Eight-Tails froze in place.
Inside the mental world.
The Eight-Tails looked at Uchiha Ketsushō's Mangekyō Sharingan, a human-like look of apprehension on its face.
Uchiha Madara, back then, had also used the same eyes to capture it like an animal.
"Gyūki, can you be quiet now?"
Hearing this, the Eight-Tails' bell-like eyes widened in disbelief, "How do you know my name?"
Even Killer B didn't know it was called "Gyūki."
Uchiha Ketsushō said blandly, "I know everything about you Tailed Beasts, and in the future, I will let you live the lives you desire."
"You..." Ancient memories surfaced in the Eight-Tails' mind, and it exclaimed in shock, "Are you the one the old man spoke of, the one who will lead a revolution?"
"Perhaps." Uchiha Ketsushō shrugged, not explaining, "The era of humans and Tailed Beasts coexisting peacefully won't be too far away. Before then, it's best you don't cause me trouble."
Gyūki grumbled with some dissatisfaction, "But I want to go out and play."
"I can fulfill that request. From now on, if anything comes up, have Killer B communicate with me." Uchiha Ketsushō smiled.
The Tailed Beasts had lived for so many years, yet in some ways, they were still like children.
"Then I understand. I won't easily contend with B for body control in the future."
It had already reconciled with Killer B, and now its wish could be granted, so it naturally had no reason to continue making a fuss.
After receiving Gyūki's assurance, Uchiha Ketsushō left Gyūki's mental world.
At the same time, Gyūki's enormous body in Cloud-Thunder Gorge vanished.
Seeing this scene, the Kumogakure ninja who had been standing by in full alert were all shocked, their mouths agape.
Wait... The Eight-Tails' rampage was resolved just like that?