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The mountain-sized Nine-Tails was firmly bound by the Adamantine Sealing Chains, unable to move.
“Uzumaki Mito, I’ll kill you!”
The Kyuubi roared in fury.
Sealed within Mito for decades, it naturally harbored immense hatred towards its container.
Mito ignored the Kyuubi’s threats, focusing all her energy on suppressing the beast.
“Sealing Team, now’s your chance! Use the Sealing Jutsu!” Hiruzen yelled.
They had to seize this opportunity. If the Kyuubi broke free, even Hiruzen wouldn’t be able to stop it.
Hiruzen was a Kage-level Shinobi at his peak, one of the strongest in the world, but he was no match for the Nine-Tails.
He had mastered ordinary Jutsu, but against a Tailed Beast, those Jutsu were ineffective.
Unless he used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, but that was a suicidal Jutsu. Would he risk his life?
“Hurry! Don’t let the Kyuubi use Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Ball)!”
Mito yelled to Hiruzen. She was losing control.
Extracting a Tailed Beast drained the host’s life force. And Mito was already nearing the end of her lifespan. She couldn’t hold on much longer.
If they didn’t seal the Kyuubi now, while she was still alive, Konoha would face a catastrophe.
The Sealing Team didn’t disappoint. They worked together to seal the Kyuubi into Akiko.
“Four Symbols Seal!”
Mito, her life fading, used the last of her strength to apply the Four Symbols Seal, leaving a mark resembling the Uzumaki Clan symbol on Akiko’s stomach.
Akiko had fainted, but her steady breathing indicated she was fine.
Mito closed her eyes. After applying the seal, she breathed her last.
Hiruzen sighed, then ordered the Anbu to take Akiko back to the village and protect her.
Now a Jinchūriki, Akiko could no longer leave the village for missions.
Unless it was absolutely necessary, Hiruzen wouldn’t allow her to leave. She was now Konoha’s weapon.
Three days later, Konoha held a funeral for Mito. The entire village attended.
Tsunade, who had been deployed to the border, returned for the funeral.
“Tsunade’s not taking this well, is she?”
Shin watched Tsunade, who had been silent since returning from the funeral. He wanted to comfort her, but he didn’t know what to say.
He wasn’t good at comforting people.
“I knew this day would come… but it still hurts.”
Tsunade slumped over the table, her emotions a mix of grief and anger.
The Nine-Tails transfer, such a major event involving her grandmother, and they hadn’t even informed her. She didn’t even get to say goodbye.
Shin looked at Tsunade, unsure how to help. He shook his head and left the room, giving her some space.
“Weren’t you going to comfort her? Why are you back?”
Kushina, who had been chatting with Mikoto, asked Shin.
“I’m not good at that kind of thing,” Shin said with a helpless shrug.
…
Two days passed. Tsunade was no longer consumed by grief. News of Mito’s death had spread throughout the Shinobi world.
“Are you sure Uzumaki Mito is dead?” The Third Kazekage asked the reporting Shinobi.
“Yes, Kazekage-sama. They held a funeral for her a few days ago. Konoha wouldn’t joke about something like this.”
“Chiyo, what do you think?”
The Kazekage turned to the woman standing beside him. This was Chiyo, Suna’s advisor, around the same age as Hiruzen.
“Suna has been preparing for so long. We haven’t attacked because the timing wasn’t right. I believe now is the perfect opportunity to strike Konoha.”
Chiyo said seriously.
Suna had been facing off against Konoha at the border for months, waiting for the right moment. And now, the opportunity had arrived.
A few days ago, they had finally convinced the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, to join them in attacking Konoha.
And with Mito’s death, Konoha’s strength had been significantly weakened.
Mito was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. This wasn’t a secret. Now that she was dead, and with the new Jinchūriki still adjusting, the Nine-Tails was effectively out of commission. It was like their nuclear weapon had been temporarily deactivated. This was their chance.
“By the way, have we reached an agreement with Amegakure?” Chiyo asked.
“No. Hanzō refuses to cooperate. He wants to forbid us from entering the Land of Rain.”
The Kazekage was furious. Hanzō might be strong, but that didn’t give him the right to disrespect Suna.
“If Hanzō refuses to cooperate, then we’ll ignore him. I don’t believe that little Amegakure would dare oppose Suna.”
Chiyo’s eyes flashed with determination. She wasn’t the frail old woman she would become in the future.
“Then I’ll leave this to you, Chiyo.”
The Kazekage said. He wouldn’t be leading the forces from the front lines. As a Kage, he wouldn’t participate in battle unless it was absolutely necessary.
Chiyo nodded. After the Kazekage returned to the village, she and her brother, Ebizo, led the Suna forces across the border into the Land of Rain.
They had already agreed with Ōnoki to attack the Land of Fire from the Land of Rain. The Land of Rain would become the battleground for the three Great Nations.
As for Amegakure’s opinion? They had no say in the matter. The weak were always at the mercy of the strong.
After months of stalemate, the Second Shinobi World War finally began, initiated by Suna.
Chiyo sent a team of elite Jōnin to launch a surprise attack on the Konoha forces stationed at the border.
Caught off guard, Konoha suffered heavy losses.
Then the main Suna force arrived, led by Chiyo herself. Konoha was forced to retreat.
After months of stalemate, the Konoha Shinobi had grown complacent. That was why they were so easily defeated in the surprise attack.
Suna occupied Konoha’s former base and seized a large amount of supplies. They had gained a significant advantage.
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