Uchiha Hayashi had never told the Third Hokage that the Nine-Tails was capable of temporarily taking control of its jinchuriki.
This time was no different.
Since Uzumaki Mito had deliberately left a flaw within the seal, she must have had her reasons. Hayashi chose to trust her judgment.
And reality supported that decision. Kushina's relationship with the Nine-Tails had grown… unusual. At the very least, the two were no longer openly hostile toward one another.
Ten days passed like this.
At the Konoha training grounds, only Hayashi and Kushina remained.
After ten consecutive days of relentless training, Kushina had gradually adapted to the Nine-Tails' chakra. At minimum, she could now maintain a one-tailed state without losing herself.
"Hey, Hayashi. Kushina."
A voice suddenly called out.
Hayashi turned and blinked in surprise.
"Minato? You're back already?"
"Yeah."
Minato walked over with his familiar warm smile.
Hayashi frowned slightly. "You've lost weight. Didn't I tell you to bring your bento?"
Minato let out a helpless laugh. "I did. But Jiraiya Sensei woke up in the middle of the night and ate it. Granny Shima caught him, and after that… there wasn't an after that."
"…That sounds rough."
"It's fine," Minato said. "The training results were worth it."
Hayashi raised an eyebrow. "You mastered the Flying Body Flicker Technique?"
"Not mastered," Minato replied modestly. "Barely usable."
Hayashi smiled but said nothing.
He knew Minato well enough to recognize understatement when he heard it. Mastering an A-rank movement technique in ten days was absurd by any standard, even if the technique was still unstable.
Years ago, Minato had already begun studying advanced sealing techniques far beyond a normal Genin's level.
His current arsenal might look simple, summoning jutsu from Jiraiya and Rasengan from Hayashi, but all of it was groundwork for something far greater.
"Hayashi," Kushina suddenly said, seizing the moment. "Fight me. If you lose, you're treating us to dinner tonight."
"Are you sure?" Hayashi asked.
Kushina grinned, confidence flashing in her eyes. "Of course. I've been improving a lot."
Hayashi glanced at Minato. "You're fine watching?"
"Absolutely not," Kushina cut in immediately, stepping back.
Hayashi raised an eyebrow. "So you're not worried about your trump card being exposed?"
She didn't answer. She just smiled.
Hayashi stepped back as well.
Then, in the next instant, he charged.
The clash echoed across the training ground.
As the Nine-Tails' chakra surged, a crimson chakra cloak rapidly enveloped Kushina's body. A bright red tail manifested behind her.
She dodged Hayashi's taijutsu and instantly widened the distance, her speed sharply increased. Her hands blurred through seals.
Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet.
The technique detonated, countless wind blades scattering outward. Dust filled the air as Kushina continued retreating.
When Hayashi did not pursue from within the dust cloud, she exhaled in relief.
Now, just follow what the Nine-Tails taught me.
Her chakra output increased again. The chakra cloak grew denser, more vivid. Signs of a second tail began to form.
"That's enough," the Nine-Tails warned inside her mind. "Any more and you'll collapse."
Her consciousness was already blurring, but she forced her hands to move.
Following the Nine-Tails' instructions, Kushina completed the seals. The chakra cloak vanished, along with one and a half tails, compressing into a violently rotating crimson sphere in her palm.
"The real Tailed Beast Bomb isn't like this," the Nine-Tails muttered with excitement. "But as a toy, it will do."
Decades had passed since it last fired one. This imitation, crude as it was, still stirred something within it.
Kushina barely registered the voice.
The sphere was heavy. Too heavy.
Though the cloak had disappeared, her beast eyes remained. The chakra had not vanished, it had simply been transferred entirely into her hand.
"Throw it," the Nine-Tails urged.
That was her last clear thought.
Kushina hurled the imperfect Tailed Beast Bomb and collapsed backward.
"Minato, move back," Hayashi said calmly.
Minato was still trying to peer through the dust when Hayashi appeared behind him.
Hayashi bit his thumb, formed seals, and slammed his hand onto the ground.
Forbidden Technique: Rashomon.
A massive iron gate erupted into existence, towering over the training ground. Even shinobi stationed far away could see it clearly.
The collision came an instant later.
The impact shook the village.
For a brief moment, even the Third Hokage, deep within the Hokage Tower, thought an earthquake had struck Konoha.
The Rashomon blocked the blast, but the thunderous explosion pierced everything else.
Minato, protected behind Hayashi, lost all sound. Even circulating chakra did nothing to shield him.
When the noise finally faded, Hayashi dismissed the cracked Rashomon.
He turned to Minato.
"Could you block that?"
"…What?" Minato pointed at his ear.
Hayashi leaned closer and shouted, "Minato, you're not deaf, are you?"
"…Let's go check on Kushina."