"That's right. Masamori knows that the Nine-Tails is within me, so he must understand that I cannot easily leave Konoha."
The Third Hokage's expression grew grave. "Lady Mito, you have sacrificed a great deal for Konoha."
"Then why would the Third Elder send this message?"
Mito's eyes took on a distant look. "Masamori is different from the typically straightforward members of the Uzumaki clan. He has been thoughtful since he was young and possesses an excellent ability to judge chaotic situations. In that regard, he is quite similar to Konoha's Nara clan."
"And the camellia," she continued, "often symbolizes death, used to express remembrance and sorrow for deceased loved ones. Masamori used the camellia to hint to me that the situation in the Land of Whirlpools may have changed, and that the Uzumaki clan is in mortal danger."
Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage stood up abruptly. "Is this true?"
Mito shook her head. "I also hope my guess is false, but Masamori has been intelligent since childhood. He must have discovered something to subtly inform me through Kyuushin."
"Ashina and Masamori have very different personalities and have never gotten along. Although Masamori is the Third Elder, all matters within the clan are decided solely by the clan leader. He has no authority to make decisions, and Ashina probably wouldn't listen to him anyway, which is why he resorted to this. Even if Ashina believed him, given his prideful nature, he probably couldn't bring himself to directly ask Konoha for help."
The Third Hokage took two puffs from his pipe, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Your guess is not without reason, Lady Mito. The Uzumaki clan leader did tell me that spies from various countries have been frequently appearing in the Land of Whirlpools recently. If there is indeed some action being planned, it is not impossible."
"However," he continued, "since the Land of Whirlpools has not officially requested aid, Konoha cannot directly send troops. I will have Sakumo Hatake lead a team to the Land of Whirlpools first to investigate. If the situation is indeed critical, we will have time to respond. I will also do my best to arrange for personnel deployment on my end."
The Third Hokage's expression became serious. "The Uzumaki and Konoha are like branches from the same tree. If the Uzumaki truly face difficulties, everyone in Konoha is duty-bound to help!"
Mito nodded; such an arrangement was exactly what she desired. The Third Hokage then asked, "Has the Uzumaki child who was injured in the attack recovered?"
"He has. I have arranged for them to report to the academy tomorrow." Mito, thinking of Kyuushin's strange condition, asked, "You are known as the 'Professor.' Do you know of any jutsu that can remove physical limitations, enhance Chakra control, and improve the five senses?"
The Third Hokage frowned, thought for a long time, and then replied, "In my memory, Konoha has a forbidden jutsu recorded called the 'Eight Gates Released Formation' that can achieve this. However, I have never seen this forbidden jutsu with my own eyes, and according to the scroll, after it is activated, Chakra becomes violent and uncontrollable. It can only enhance the power of taijutsu and does not improve the five senses."
"Additionally, the Hidden Sand and Hidden Cloud villages also have similar secret techniques, but they cannot compare to the Eight Gates, nor do they have the other effects you mentioned."
Mito nodded and did not dwell on the issue. There were countless secret techniques in the ninja world, and as long as this one was harmless for now, it was fine. Afterward, the Third Hokage briefly inquired about Kushina and Kyuushin's situation. As potential candidates for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, it was a matter of great importance that he be well-informed.
As the night deepened, the Third Hokage bid farewell and left.
Early the next morning, while the sky was still dimly lit, Kyuushin awoke. He didn't get up immediately, but instead lay quietly, pondering in the calm atmosphere. Kyuushin was originally from Earth, a fresh university graduate working as a freelancer, living a carefree life. Who would have thought that one day he would wake up and find himself transmigrated into the world of an "infinite horror" scenario? The crucial point was that he had arrived before the main protagonist. Enduring the schemes of a cunning old man on his team, he managed to survive two horror-filled trials, but ultimately, in the third, he was hunted to death by a grim reaper, finally arriving in the world of Naruto.
"Although this world is not as terrifying as the last one, it is still fraught with danger. It is absolutely necessary to strengthen my own power," Kyuushin thought to himself. His current situation was quite good. With his Uzumaki identity, even if he was being trained to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he could at least develop smoothly in the early stages.
With this in mind, Kyuushin ignored Kushina, who was still sound asleep, and got out of bed. After a quick wash, he had a servant lead him to the training ground behind the ancestral home, ready to complete his morning training. Compared to the evening training, which focused on Chakra, morning training was primarily about physical cultivation. Although the Uzumaki clan was famous for its sealing jutsu, they inherently possessed powerful physiques. Over thousands of years, the clan had developed a set of complementary training methods. Because they were coming to Konoha, the clan elders had already informed him in advance of the detailed requirements for each stage of this training.
The thin morning mist drifted across the training ground, and the crisp morning wind still carried a chill, but Kyuushin felt no coldness at all. He was experiencing the process of slowly growing stronger. During his workout, he was amazed by the power of this body. Although he was still just a six or seven-year-old child, he possessed greater physical strength and endurance than he did as an adult in his previous life. In his past life, while not a shut-in, doing a hundred push-ups would have been extremely difficult. Yet, this small body required him to do thousands as a starting point for his morning routine. It made him feel the vast disparity of this world.
After finishing his morning training, the sun had already risen. Though drenched in sweat, Kyuushin only felt a slight fatigue, not utter exhaustion. "It seems my physique has been strengthened by the genetic lock that opened last night," he mused. "Compared to how I felt after morning training in my memories, I still have energy left."
After a brief rest, he went to the front hall. Perhaps Mito already knew he was training, as she had a servant prepare bathwater for him. After washing up, Kyuushin changed into a fitted uniform with soft armor as an inner lining, topped with a clean white outer jacket, looking sharp and ready.
Kushina was leaning against the door. She had also changed, her jacket a bright yellow. Seeing Kyuushin, she pouted. "You're really something, secretly training this morning without me."
"I saw you were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you. Besides, didn't you used to dislike morning training?" In his memories, Kushina was indeed not diligent and often skipped it.
"Weren't you the same before? The Third Elder always had to force you to go." Kushina's face flushed, but she retorted, "How did you become so diligent after coming to Konoha?"
"I was almost killed in that attack. I'm afraid if I don't work harder, I might really lose my life one day." This was Kyuushin's true thought. "You need to work hard too. Don't let me leave you behind."
Kushina also recalled the incident, the memory still sending a chill of fear through her. "Then remember to call me next time."
As they spoke, they arrived at the kitchen, where Mito had already prepared breakfast for them.