Chapter 70: The Nine-Tails is About to Be Released
Hearing that Naruko also wanted to snuggle into Yu's lap, Sasuko immediately bristled. She tightly hugged Yu's neck, warning the person across from her with her eyes.
How dare you?!
Naruko looked up at Yu with pitiful eyes, her golden twin-tails drooping down, appearing both pitiful and adorable.
Yu stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment, then gently moved Sasuko to the cushion beside Naruko.
"Being held really isn't good for focusing on lessons." He gently smoothed down Sasuko's bristling hair. "After we finish the practical section, whoever does best will get one small request granted." He secretly winked at Sasuko—after all, she'd studied all morning, giving her a natural advantage.
"Any request is okay?" Sasuko's eyes instantly lit up.
"Can't be too outrageous though." Yu smiled and pinched Sasuko's soft little cheeks.
"Oh..." Sasuko appeared calm on the surface, but her heart was already leaping with joy.
With her head start advantage, how could she lose to a dead-last? Once she won, she'd make Yu...
Her small face unconsciously flushed as her fingers unconsciously twirled her hair ends.
Sasuko acted reluctant, but thinking of her lead, couldn't help but hum lightly.
With such a huge advantage, how could she lose?
But Naruko instantly ignited with fighting spirit, her small fists clenched tight: "I'll definitely win!" This was the first time she'd felt such strong competitive drive toward ninjutsu study.
During the following lesson, both girls showed unprecedented focus.
Naruko's big eyes followed Yu's fingertip movements without blinking, even repeatedly confirming the most basic spatial coordinate formulas: "Yu, what does this conversion coefficient mean?"
Sasuko muttered quietly beside her: "Even asking such questions... dead-last is dead-last." But her fingers gripping the pen secretly tightened as she silently noted down every question Naruko asked and its answer.
Being able to ask such basic questions... looks like winning is guaranteed!
However, when Yu began explaining chakra conversion formulas, Sasuko was surprised to find Naruko could actually draw inferences: "So it's like twisting a rubber band as tight as possible then suddenly releasing it?"
"Very close." Yu nodded approvingly. "But in actual practice, pay attention to..."
Sasuko's sense of crisis immediately intensified.
Did this dummy unexpectedly have talent for space-time ninjutsu?
Yu was very satisfied with both girls' attentiveness.
Now this was more like it. Having Naruko study together seemed like a wise decision.
Competition breeds motivation—perhaps from now on during lessons, Naruko should often come along.
"Next, we'll practice chakra circulation." Yu rolled his sleeves to his elbows, his slender fingers slowly tracing along his arm's meridians. "Watch carefully the trajectory of chakra flow..."
His fingertips glowed with a pale blue light, winding down along the meridians: "Starting from the dantian... remember this circulation rhythm."
"Now try guiding your chakra."
"Remember to keep it steady like a stream."
Sasuko immediately closed her eyes to concentrate. Initially somewhat unfamiliar, her brow furrowing slightly, but she quickly grasped the pattern as pale blue chakra circulated smoothly.
Naruko imitated her, circulating her chakra, but every time it reached critical acupoints, it stagnated as if obstructed by invisible forces.
Yu noticed the abnormality and said gently: "Relax, I'll help you guide it." He lightly placed his palm on Naruko's back, channeling his own chakra into her meridians.
A violent red energy suddenly rebounded, directly disrupting the chakra circulation.
He frowned slightly: "Naruko, open your mind. Let me see what's wrong."
Naruko nodded obediently, trusting Yu completely. Yu's Mangekyo Sharingan quietly manifested as his consciousness dove into Naruko's mental world.
In the endless darkness, massive iron bars stood grimly.
A crimson demon fox crouched inside the cage, nine tails thrashing wildly, scarlet chakra spreading like blood mist.
The demon fox opened its vertical pupils and let out a deafening roar:
"Get out—you Uchiha brat!"
Yu stood amid the surging torrent of malice, his clothes billowing. He stared at the scarlet chakra seeping through the seal's cracks, finally understanding the root of Naruko's training obstruction.
The Nine-Tails stared at those bewitching Mangekyo Sharingan and the ominous aura emanating from the youth, unconsciously backing up two steps, chains clanking with its movements.
Seeing Yu suddenly appear beside her, Naruko called out in delight: "You can come here too?"
Yu smiled warmly at Naruko, then turned toward the Nine-Tails.
His gaze was calm as still water, yet made the massive demon fox's fur bristle as it let out a threatening growl.
This oppressive feeling... was even more terrifying than Uchiha Madara from years ago!
The Nine-Tails bared its fangs but didn't dare approach rashly.
Scarlet chakra churned restlessly at the cage's edge, then retreated warily into darkness.
Yu gently placed his hand on Naruko's shoulder, his voice calm and steady:
"Looks like we need to deal with the tenant's issue first."
Yu's words made the Nine-Tails particularly wary as humiliating memories of being controlled by Uchiha Madara resurfaced.
These damned Uchiha clan members, always using those evil eyes...
"Brat, what do you mean?" The Nine-Tails growled with bared fangs.
Yu gazed at the violent demon fox.
He knew this was the calamitous being sealed by the First Hokage, and had heard tales of it ravaging Konoha, but he had no interest in delving into those old matters.
"Do you want freedom?" Yu suddenly asked.
The Nine-Tails let out a mocking laugh: "Hmph, another one trying to covet this old man's power?"
Yu didn't explain further, walking straight toward the cage's seal.
Naruko hurriedly grabbed his sleeve: "Yu, isn't this a bad idea..." She'd never dared touch this seal for fear of being swallowed by the Nine-Tails' malice.
"Don't worry." Yu ruffled her golden hair. "It'll be fine."
The instant his fingertip was about to touch the seal runes, the Nine-Tails suddenly fell silent, its scarlet vertical pupils fixed intently on the youth.
Its breathing became suddenly rapid, decades of sealed years surging through its mind. This time, with freedom so close at hand, could it truly regain freedom?
Yu pinched a corner of the seal talisman and slowly peeled it away. The talisman paper made soft tearing sounds as the cage's glow gradually dimmed.
Just as it was about to be removed, a dazzling golden light suddenly flashed.
"Please wait!"
The golden light condensed into a blonde-haired young man wearing Hokage robes.
He appeared out of nowhere in the seal space, his expression anxious yet still gentle: "Young man, please don't break the seal!"
Naruko was startled and hid behind Yu, peeking out to look at this suddenly appearing stranger.
This mental space that had only ever contained her and the big fox was surprisingly lively today!
"Namikaze Minato!" The Nine-Tails let out a deafening roar. "How dare you—"
Yu stopped his motion, glancing indifferently at the newcomer.
The young man sighed in relief and bowed elegantly: "I am the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and also Naruko's father." He looked at the bewildered Naruko, tenderness welling in his eyes. "Though meeting this way is somewhat sudden..."
The Nine-Tails' claws frantically struck the cage: "Hypocritical human! You sealed me back then, and now you want to interfere again?! You truly deserve death!!!"
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