"Kurama, why is Madara still alive?"
"How should I know?"
"Then how did he control you back then?"
"..."
Sure, she was his jinchuriki, and sure, she possessed the Uzumaki clan's core sealing techniques, but did they really have to talk about this? Kurama lay in his seal space and flatly refused to speak. But Kushina had her own ways to force his jaws open.
"If you don't explain, I'm not letting you out later."
"I was planning to tell you later. Since you're in such a rush, I'll say it now. He used the Sharingan to control my mind and forcibly form a Summoning Contract. I am bound to him." Kurama ground his giant teeth as he spat out his darkest history.
He had no choice. If he stayed quiet, this little witch really wouldn't let him out to vent his rage.
Kushina was deeply satisfied. She'd been trying to pry this gossip out of the fox for years without success. She certainly hadn't expected Madara's sudden reappearance to finally give her the leverage she needed. She was also genuinely shocked that an advanced Sharingan could suppress a tailed beast entirely.
Thankfully, the First Hokage had been stronger. Otherwise, with their combined might, who could have possibly stood against them?
The more she thought about it, the more curious she became about how the man had survived. Since Kurama didn't know, she'd probably have to interrogate Madara himself.
Konoha was massive, yet to a shinobi, it wasn't that big at all. To guard against Black Zetsu, the Hyuga Clan had recently joined the village security force. Their patrols were enthusiastic, sweeping the perimeter daily.
"Tsunade-sama, Takeshi-sama, and... uh."
The Hyuga patrollers rubbed their eyes, convinced they were hallucinating. But once their Byakugan sensed the suffocating chakra radiating from the bound figure, they fell dead silent, slipped away, and didn't dare linger.
It was too terrifying. Even someone as legendary as Madara had ended up trussed like a roast pig. The entire situation felt surreal.
"What you do with me doesn't matter. I just want to know, this Black Zetsu you mentioned, who deceived me. What exactly do you know?" Madara's expression remained stoic.
Being stared at didn't bother him. As a famous man, he drew attention wherever he went. What he truly cared about was his ruined legacy. Where had the plan gone wrong?
"Meow~ You want to know? Beg me." Takeshi flicked his tail.
Tsunade gently patted the cat and asked, "Where's Shisui?"
"Let's trade. You tell me about Black Zetsu, and I tell you where the boy is," Madara offered calmly.
"You think we need you to find Shisui? For all you know, that kid's already on his way back to the Land of Fire." Takeshi curled his lip in disdain.
Shisui had his issues, sure, but he was sharp. Madara had likely left one or two White Zetsu behind to monitor him, odds were the boy would sweet-talk those mindless drones into escorting him straight home.
"I branded him with a curse seals. Without me, no one can remove it," Madara threatened.
He was the only one who wielded that specific Cursed seal, and breaking it required a unique method. Forcing it would cost Shisui his life.
However,
"Meow? That seal? I can easily remove it." Takeshi was utterly unconcerned.
It was just a Cursed seal. If necessary, he'd just redeem the exact counter-technique from the system. It would be slightly expensive, but well within his point budget. He refused to let this prisoner threaten him. Making the Uchiha suffer meant farming more points, which he'd earn back eventually.
Besides, placing that nasty seal on those arrogant Otsutsuki bastards sounded like a brilliant idea.
"How could you possibly remove it?"
"Meow~ My clan has already researched that kind of power. What's so strange about us knowing how to unravel a secret technique like yours? You placed it near his heart, right? Tricky, but not impossible."
Takeshi bluffed smoothly. Madara couldn't figure this feline out. He was too strange, seemingly possessed forbidden knowledge, and his talent was absurd. For a moment, Madara was at a total loss. This was his final bargaining chip.
Since Takeshi wouldn't bite, Madara sat in silence, unable to formulate a way to pry open the cat's mouth. As for hunting Black Zetsu directly, that wouldn't be easy. The entity was slippery, hard to sense, and specialized in spirit possession.
Madara had always thought he'd created Black Zetsu and gifted him that very ability. Looking back now, he realized it probably had nothing to do with his own jutsu.
"Meow, since you're sincerely asking, I'll accept your condition. But only after we cover you in fresh seals. Once that's done, I'll tell you the truth."
By then, Kushina had reached the cliff.
Tsunade flinched at the heavy chakra rolling off the redhead. It was so thick with malice that Tsunade briefly feared Kushina was going berserk. Only when she looked closely did she realize Kushina was perfectly lucid, it was Kurama who was losing his mind.
Madara's eyelid twitched. Seeing the Uzumaki gave him a very bad feeling.
Sure enough, crimson chakra flared around Kushina, and Kurama's booming voice erupted from her: "Madara. Look at you now. How's the Sage Art: Gate of the Great God treating you? Doesn't feel so good being pinned to the dirt, does it?"
"Nine Tails." Madara strained to lift his chin.
Layer after layer of intricate seals wrapped around him under Kushina's flying hands. Madara's legend was too daunting, she didn't dare be careless. Every formula she painted was top-tier. The inner core was specifically designed to alert her the second anyone tampered with it.
"What 'Nine Tails'? I'm Kurama!" Kurama roared.
"Same thing. Like it matters." Madara's tone remained flat.
Beaten, captured, and immobilized, yet he still faced the beast with absolute confidence.
"I'll tear you apart!" Kurama's chakra surged violently, nearly manifesting outright before Kushina slammed his power back down by force.
Madara laughed wildly, then sighed. "You're still as arrogant as ever. Don't forget you carry my Summoning Contract. The moment you step out, I control you."
As he finished speaking, his dark eyes suddenly spun into three tomoes. Pinned or not, many of his hereditary kekkei genkai methods were still usable. His mastery of the Sharingan was so deep he knew exactly how to bend his chakra around the fresh seals.
Of course, with the fox safely locked inside Kushina, Madara couldn't actually enforce the contract. It was a pure bluff meant to intimidate.
But Kurama genuinely flinched. He sobered instantly. If he manifested his physical body, he really would fall under the Uchiha's genjutsu.
*Smack.*
"Meow, stop acting cool and behave."
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