Wind Release Secret Technique: Void Slash!
Thick Wind Release chakra swirled wildly around the tanto in Danzo's hand, unleashing a pitch-black void-like blade aura capable of severing space itself.
A strong sense of crisis surged within the Nine-Tails.
It could clearly feel just how terrifying the power of this strike was.
But under the combined suppression of eleven Giant Rasengans, even this legendary strongest Tailed Beast could only watch helplessly as Danzo's attack approached.
Without hesitation, Danzo thrust his longsword precisely into the Nine-Tails' forehead.
The strike was like a black thunderbolt piercing through heaven and earth, causing the surrounding space to emit a silent wail.
The surging Wind Release chakra poured into the Nine-Tails' body through the tanto, transforming into countless fine, scalpel-like streams of air that began to meticulously cut through every organ, cell, and tissue within the Nine-Tails.
This sensation was somewhat similar to a human's...
Lingchi torture!
(Trivia: Lingchi, usually translated "slow slicing" or "death by a thousand cuts", was a form of torture and execution used in China from around the 10th century until the early 20th century. It was also used in Vietnam and Korea.)
Even the Nine-Tails couldn't help but let out a howl of agony under this strike.
But since Danzo's attack had destroyed all the muscle cells within its body, the Nine-Tails was now unable to resist.
It could only be tightly bound by the chains controlled by Kushina, completely immobilized!
It must be said, Tailed Beasts are truly fascinating creatures.
Despite being chakra entities composed entirely of chakra, they possess physical structures similar to ordinary animals.
Even within the mental space, they still adhere to some of the most fundamental rules.
Setting these thoughts aside, Danzo pulled out the tanto with one hand and pressed the other firmly on the Nine-Tails' head, shouting to Kushina:
"Now's the time, do it!"
With that, Danzo immediately activated the power of the Preta Path—
Chakra Absorption!
In an instant, a massive amount of the Nine-Tails' chakra was absorbed through Danzo's palm and sealed within his body.
At the same time, Kushina, having received the command, quickly acted.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Once again, she released a large number of golden chains from her back.
These chains, like tentacles, connected to the Nine-Tails' body.
Immediately, the crimson chakra from the Nine-Tails flowed along these chains, rapidly converging into Kushina's body.
Under the combined absorption of Danzo and Kushina, the originally massive and radiant Nine-Tails quickly withered.
Not only did its body become emaciated, but even its fur turned dull and lifeless.
But as a Tailed Beast, the Nine-Tails' regenerative abilities were far beyond what any human could imagine.
In just a few minutes, the muscle tissues that had been destroyed within its body had regenerated and fully healed.
The reawakened Nine-Tails erupted with extreme fury.
It never imagined that it, the strongest Tailed Beast, could be brought to such a state by a few insignificant humans!!
"Damn humans, I'll make you pay!"
The Nine-Tails was truly enraged.
Its terrifying aura caused the entire mental space to tremble.
It first shook Danzo off its head, then condensed the remaining chakra within its body into an enormous Tailed Beast Bomb!
This black Tailed Beast Bomb was not only nearly ten times larger than the previous one, but its formation speed also far exceeded everyone's expectations.
Before they could react, the Tailed Beast Bomb had already fully formed.
"It seems this guy is really desperate."
Seeing the massive Tailed Beast Bomb before him, Danzo quickly assessed the situation.
But a Tailed Beast Bomb of this magnitude was likely beyond the capabilities of even the Sealing Technique: Phantom Dragons Nine Consuming Seals. (Gedo Statue's chakra dragon. Look at Gaara extraction chakra episode in Naruto Shippuden)
"Let's call it a day, Kushina."
Danzo said to Kushina beside him.
If the Nine-Tails successfully released this Tailed Beast Bomb, the entire mental space might suffer severe damage.
In that case, Kushina would likely be affected as well.
Kushina, of course, understood this. She nodded heavily and said:
"I understand."
With that, just as the Nine-Tails was about to release the Tailed Beast Bomb, Kushina decisively thrust her hand into the seal on her abdomen.
With a forceful twist, the chains binding the Nine-Tails tightened rapidly.
The massive molten sphere in the air also unleashed a tremendous gravitational force, pulling the Nine-Tails toward the sky.
"Damn it, you won't seal me away again!"
The Nine-Tails roared, digging its claws into the water's surface in a desperate struggle against the Uzumaki clan's accursed seal.
But how could the seal left by Uzumaki Mito be so easily overcome?
Especially now, with the Nine-Tails having lost a significant amount of chakra to both Kushina and Danzo.
Its strength had been weakened to its lowest point, making it even more powerless against Uzumaki Mito's seal.
Realizing that resistance was futile, a fierce expression flashed across its face.
"If I can't escape the seal, then you won't get off easy either!"
The Nine-Tails' eyes gleamed with murderous intent as it poured its remaining power into the Tailed Beast Bomb.
It aimed the attack at the water's surface below!
"It's going to use the Tailed Beast Bomb to strike here and destroy Kushina's mental space!"
Even the usually calm Minato felt a pang of panic at this moment.
If the mental space were destroyed, Kushina would suffer severe damage.
At best, she'd be left disoriented; at worst, her soul could be shattered!
This was no joking matter.
Seeing this, Minato immediately rushed to the Tailed Beast Bomb at top speed.
He prepared to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport the Tailed Beast Bomb away.
As for where to teleport it...
He hadn't quite figured that out yet.
Seeing this, Danzo let out a light sigh.
Someone like Minato, so devoted to love, it's no wonder he followed Kushina in death in the original story.
Perhaps, as he said, he was Kushina's husband first, and the Hokage of Konoha second.
Just as Danzo was about to intervene, he sensed a peculiar presence.
"This is..."
He suddenly looked toward Kushina, where an elderly woman had quietly appeared beside her.
She wore a white kimono, her hair tied into two buns, with a purple diamond mark on her forehead.
Most notably, her hair, like Kushina's, was a rare shade of red!!
As a disciple of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, Danzo immediately recognized the identity of this elderly woman.
She was the wife of the First Hokage, the first Nine-Tails Jinchūriki of Konoha, and a member of the Uzumaki clan—Uzumaki Mito!
"Did she leave a portion of her chakra within the seal?"
Danzo quickly made a reasonable assumption.
After all, in the original story, both Kushina and Minato had left their chakra within Naruto to assist him at critical moments.
Minato's chakra was used up during the battle with Pain.
Just as Naruto was about to release the Nine-Tails' seal out of hatred, Minato's chakra appeared and stopped him.
Kushina's chakra helped Naruto "steal" the Nine-Tails' chakra, allowing him to master the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
Given this, it made sense that Uzumaki Mito would leave her chakra within the seal as a precaution.
Sure enough, the moment the elderly woman appeared, the Nine-Tails' face immediately showed fear.
"Uzumaki Mito, how are you here?"
It was utterly shocked, but regardless, the Tailed Beast Bomb was already beyond recall!
Facing the Nine-Tails' attack and question, Uzumaki Mito simply smiled kindly.
"After all these years, Nine-Tails, you're still as unruly as ever."
With that, she gently waved her hand.
An incredibly thick golden chain flew out from her sleeve and, to everyone's astonishment, struck the descending Tailed Beast Bomb with unstoppable force.
In just one hit, the surface of the massive Tailed Beast Bomb cracked like a spider's web.
In the next moment, the entire Tailed Beast Bomb shattered like porcelain!
Finally, it dissipated into the air like fireflies, vanishing without a trace.
A terrifying crisis had been averted so effortlessly.
And all of this was thanks to the elderly woman before them.
Once again feeling the oppressive power of the Uzumaki clan, the Nine-Tails' face was filled with resentment.
But against Uzumaki Mito, it stood almost no chance.
With a wave of her hand, the chains binding the Nine-Tails erupted with even greater power.
The chains tightly locked around the Nine-Tails' entire body, pulling it back into the air and re-sealing it onto the massive fireball.
"We'll see how long you can protect them, Uzumaki Mito!!"
As the Nine-Tails and the fireball gradually faded from view, only the Nine-Tails' voice, filled with resentment and killing intent, echoed through the space.
"This little fox is really quite stubborn."
Uzumaki Mito sighed with a hint of helplessness.
Throughout her life, she had sought a way to reconcile with the Nine-Tails.
But her efforts bore little fruit, and even at her death, she could only suppress the Nine-Tails through her sealing techniques.
She was never able to truly reconcile with it and become a perfect Jinchūriki.
It was precisely because she knew the Nine-Tails' unruly nature that she had left so many safeguards within Kushina.
To prevent the Nine-Tails from breaking free and wreaking havoc.
Having easily resealed the Nine-Tails, Uzumaki Mito turned to see Kushina, her eyes already brimming with tears.
This child, who shared her lineage, was looking at her with tear-filled eyes, saying:
"Grandma Mito!!"
Kushina could no longer contain her emotions and rushed forward to tightly embrace Mito.
She had been brought to Konoha as a child to be trained as the next Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
In this unfamiliar village, Kushina was often bullied because of her red hair.
Though she always managed to beat those bullies into submission, she still felt lonely inside.
It was Uzumaki Mito who gave her the care and love she needed.
Mito taught Kushina the meaning of life, passed on the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, and showed her how to become a proper Jinchūriki...
In many ways, Uzumaki Mito was Kushina's only elder in Konoha.
So, seeing Mito again, Kushina couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with emotion.
"My dear, you've grown so much."
Uzumaki Mito smiled kindly, using her slightly rough hands to gently wipe away Kushina's tears.
She looked at Kushina, seeing her own youthful self reflected in the girl's eyes.
Then she turned to Minato.
"You must be Kushina's husband, right?"
Minato nodded shyly and introduced himself:
"Greetings, Lady Mito. I am Kushina's husband, Minato Namikaze!"
Uzumaki Mito examined Minato and nodded with satisfaction:
"You seem like a fine young man."
Kushina immediately puffed out her chest and proudly declared:
"Of course! Grandma Mito, Minato is now the Fourth Hokage of the village!"
Uzumaki Mito chuckled lightly, patting Kushina's hand as she said:
"It seems you didn't achieve your dream of becoming Hokage, but Minato did it for you."
Kushina grinned at this.
Then Mito turned to Danzo.
"I never expected you to master the Wood Release left by Hashirama, and even possess the Uchiha clan's Sharingan."
When looking at Danzo, Uzumaki Mito's gaze carried a hint of scrutiny.
After all, Danzo's reputation as the "Darkness of the Shinobi" had existed even during her lifetime.
As one of the village's founders, she had never fully approved of Danzo's methods.
But when Hiruzen Sarutobi took office, the situation was turbulent, and someone like Danzo was indeed needed to handle certain matters.
Thus, she had turned a blind eye to his actions.
But now that he was involved with the Nine-Tails, Mito couldn't help but be cautious.
Danzo understood this caution and took the initiative to explain:
"Indeed, I obtained the power of Wood Release by transplanting Lord Hashirama's cells."
"Additionally, I also transplanted Kagami's Mangekyō Sharingan."
Hearing this, Uzumaki Mito's expression shifted slightly.
As the wife of Hashirama Senju and a descendant of the ancient Uzumaki clan, Mito knew all too well just how terrifying the powers of the Senju and Uchiha clans were.
Her husband and Madara Uchiha were prime examples.
And now, with this man known as the "Darkness of the Shinobi" having obtained such immense power, even Uzumaki Mito couldn't predict what kind of existence he would become.
Uzumaki Mito stared at Danzo for a long time before finally speaking with deep meaning:
"Danzo, I hope you will not betray Tobirama's expectations of you."
It wasn't that Mito didn't want to learn more, but her current capabilities were severely limited.
After all, she was merely a remnant of chakra left behind before her death.
The act of resealing the Nine-Tails had already drained most of her energy.
What little remained could only be used to reinforce the Nine-Tails' seal.
But confronting Danzo was out of the question.
Not that Uzumaki Mito wasn't powerful, but the amount of chakra she had left was insufficient to significantly impact the real world.
Thus, whether Konoha was in a good or bad state now held little meaning for her.
Because she could no longer help...
Fortunately, Danzo's attitude was quite respectful.
"Lady Mito, rest assured. I will not betray my teacher's expectations and will always prioritize the village's safety."
Just as he finished speaking, Danzo's brow twitched.
He sensed disturbances coming from the real world.
A cold smile spread across his face:
"But it seems someone isn't too keen on letting the village remain peaceful."
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