Perhaps Uzumaki Mito and Kushina Uzumaki had already known the real reason behind the Uzumaki clan's destruction.
Yet even if they had known the truth, with only Kushina and the elderly Mito, there was simply no way they could resist it.
And if the matter had been exposed openly, Konoha might have chosen to suppress them instead—turning the remnants of the Uzumaki into nothing more than tools of war, weapons that only knew how to kill. That would have been a far more tragic fate.
So even if they did know, the only option may have been to pretend they didn't.
Of course, whether Mito and Kushina were ever informed of the truth behind the Uzumaki clan's annihilation remains unverified. Both had long since passed away, and even if the truth were known now, it would be meaningless.
After being sealed inside Naruto, the Nine-Tails' existence was still far from comfortable—but compared to its time inside Kushina, it was undeniably freer. At the very least, its movements were no longer completely restricted.
The price, however, was the loss of its Yin Chakra, which had been separated and sealed away.
"You brat… what exactly are you trying to do here? Do you intend to control this old man as well?"
As Sharingan spun in Ash's eyes, the Nine-Tails' beastly pupils instantly filled with bloodshot fury.
Toward the Sharingan, the Nine-Tails harbored a hatred carved deep into its bones.
Mokuton and the Sharingan were the two abilities the Nine-Tails despised the most.
Especially the Sharingan—no one could tolerate the sensation of having their will forcibly overridden.
"How should I put it?" Ash shrugged lightly. "I'm bored. So I thought I'd chat with you."
He wasn't lying. At the moment, there was nothing in Konoha that truly interested him.
"But I am surprised," the Nine-Tails continued, narrowing its eyes as it stared at Ash's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
"After that man—Uchiha Madara—I never expected anyone else to possess eyes like those."
"You're wrong," Ash replied calmly.
"More than one person has awakened the Mangekyō. If we're counting properly, I'm not even the first to defeat you."
"There are two people who could fully control you… and one more who could manage it, albeit barely."
Hearing this, Ash found a spot and sat down, leaning his back against the iron gate of the seal.
Right now, the Nine-Tails was the only one who could help him pass the time.
"Three people?"
The Nine-Tails clearly didn't believe him—but considering Ash's strength, it also didn't seem like a lie meant to deceive.
The people Ash referred to were himself, the masked man, and Uchiha Itachi.
Of the three, Itachi's control would have been the weakest—only lasting a few minutes at most. The severe backlash of the Mangekyō made prolonged use of its power impossible.
"Yes," Ash said flatly. "These days, Mangekyō Sharingan aren't nearly as rare as you think."
By the latter stages of history, even Sasuke Uchiha would awaken it.
"Speaking of Minato," Ash continued, examining the structure of the Eight Trigrams Seal,
"he really was meticulous. Using this seal not only restrained you, but also gave Naruto the chance to master your chakra in the future."
Looking closely, Ash could tell that while the Nine-Tails was sealed, its chakra was deliberately allowed to leak into Naruto's system.
On the surface, this made Naruto's chakra control worse—but in reality, it was a lifesaving mechanism.
In moments of true crisis, even the Nine-Tails would be forced to relinquish chakra to save Naruto.
After all, if the host died, the tailed beast would perish as well—rebirth was possible, but it would take years.
"Hmph. That Fourth Hokage…" the Nine-Tails snorted coldly.
"If he ever appeared in front of this old man again, I'd tear him apart. Sealing me inside this kind of cursed prison…"
"Maybe you'll get the chance," Ash replied softly.
As his Sharingan spun, his gaze lingered meaningfully on the two distinct chakra signatures hidden within the seal.
"That guy Minato," Ash murmured,
"even sealed his own chakra into the Eight Trigrams Seal. Was it to help Naruto control you in the future… or to teach him Flying Thunder God?"
Ash sensed something unusual.
Aside from the Nine-Tails' chakra, there was another chakra signature lingering within the seal—one unmistakably belonging to Minato.
The realization left Ash mildly puzzled.
When the Nine-Tails heard Ash mention it, it was equally confused. After all, the Fourth Hokage had long since died—how could there still be chakra left behind?
"Let's stop here for today," Ash said calmly. "I'll see you again, Nine-Tails. But next time… we'll probably be enemies."
Feeling that his time was running short, Ash prepared to leave. Before departing, he tossed those final words behind him.
He wasn't worried about the Nine-Tails telling Naruto about this encounter.
The Nine-Tails knew better than anyone that even if Naruto did know, it would be meaningless. In terms of strength, Naruto simply wasn't on the same level as Ash—not even close.
"Tch… damn brat. Always watching from the shadows."
After Ash left, the Nine-Tails couldn't help but curse under its breath.
Soon after, it resumed leaking its chakra into Naruto's body—not to help him, but to erode the seal little by little, waiting for the day it could finally break free.
Hokage Tower
"Miki Yechi… why would that guy appear at this time? Does he have some hidden objective?"
The Third Hokage frowned as he recalled Kakashi's report from a few days earlier. He raised his pipe and took a slow drag, his expression heavy.
"Should we stop the Chūnin Exams?" Joe asked after a moment, turning toward him.
Joe, along with Homura Mitokado, Danzo Shimura, and Koharu Utatane, were all considered Konoha's senior elders and advisors—veterans from the same era as the Third Hokage himself.
In the past, Konoha hadn't even had such a system.
But after the death of the Second Hokage, the then-young Third Hokage lacked the authority to fully command the village on his own. To stabilize Konoha, the Elder Council and Root had been established.
What no one had expected…
was that these very measures would one day become parasites gnawing at Konoha from within.
(End of Chapter)
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