Uzumaki Mito maintained her calm and collected demeanor, unaffected by the provocations of the Nine-Tails.
"…Are you afraid, Nine-Tails?"
The beast narrowed its eyes, a glint of malice flashing in its slit pupils.
"Mito, your bravery is meaningless. You sense it too, don't you? This one's chakra aura—it's nearly identical to that of Uchiha Madara. It carries the same ominous weight."
"With such a gifted Uchiha among them, does Konoha still have another Hashirama Senju to balance him?"
Mito raised an eyebrow and fell silent. This was indeed the very question she had been pondering.
The moment she saw Fuma, Mito felt as if she were seeing Madara himself. Her composure, however, concealed her surprise.
For the Uzumaki clan, known for their sensory abilities like the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, a person's most distinguishing trait was not their appearance but their chakra.
"Fuma's chakra is exactly like Madara's… that ominous energy—it's been a long time since I've felt something like this."
"What a predicament… Another individual of such stature has emerged from the Uchiha clan. With only Hiruzen and Danzo to manage, I'm afraid even the current state of affairs will be hard to sustain..."
"Hmm?"
Mito and the Nine-Tails were drawn by sounds from outside. They exchanged a glance, and both directed their attention to Fuma and Danzo's conversation.
As Danzo continued to speak with wild abandon, the atmosphere within the sealed space turned awkward.
The image of Mito, wise and composed, was utterly shattered by Danzo's reckless outbursts.
For someone like him to hold a leadership position in Konoha… it left little confidence in her remaining strength.
With a stony expression, Mito listened while the Nine-Tails smirked, launching into a fresh wave of taunts.
"Konoha these days is impressive, isn't it? This level of shinobi has the gall to be so boastful—didn't anyone teach him proper decorum?"
"If Hashirama knew that shinobi today possessed such qualities, he'd likely be weeping in his grave."
"Entrust it to the village? Where did this fool even come from? I've seen hundreds of years of shinobi warfare, and this guy's foolishness ranks among the highest."
"If only this guy had been born earlier! I'd love to see him ask Madara why he refused to obey the Hokage and chose to betray Konoha."
The Nine-Tails went all out with its mockery, aiming to unravel Mito's composure.
Mito ignored its barks, instead watching Danzo intently.
While the Nine-Tails' words were cutting, they did echo many of Mito's own thoughts.
"Tobirama's disciple has tried to imitate his mentor's methods, but he's merely scratching the surface. He hasn't even captured the basics…"
In a way, it was like Tobirama attempting to confront Madara head-on in the early days of the village—a reckless endeavor.
"Hiruzen might be more adaptable, but ultimately, his talents are limited. His power is average at best; he stands no chance against Fuma."
Wearied, Mito sighed inwardly. After Hashirama's death, her only wish was to preserve his vision of peace for Konoha.
But looking at the current situation, with her two "strategists" in charge, Mito feared that after her passing, they would soon be swept aside.
"At last!"
With a crisp crack, Danzo's head fell to the ground, and the Nine-Tails clapped its paws in satisfaction.
For a long time, the Nine-Tails had sensed Danzo's deep malice toward itself.
It had already made up its mind that if it were ever sealed within Danzo, it would kill him.
Yet, it also realized something crucial:
Even with its perceptive eye, the Nine-Tails could barely keep up with Fuma's speed.
As the strongest of the tailed beasts, the Nine-Tails held itself in high esteem. Among the tailed beasts, only the Eight-Tails warranted even a bit of respect.
This confidence was rooted in its power and honed skills.
Unlike the foolish tanuki who was smug over a few sealing techniques and ninjutsu, the Nine-Tails was fully aware of how vast the shinobi world truly was.
After all, this was a fox that had endured countless battles, even suffering defeat at the hands of Hashirama and Madara.
Since being sealed within Mito, the Nine-Tails had been pondering the path of training.
It recalled the teachings of the Sage of Six Paths, making strides in senjutsu and even drafting a ninjutsu capable of devastating the land.
After being used as a mere pawn by Madara, the Nine-Tails seethed with unbridled rage, reflecting deeply on its own strength.
It vowed never again to suffer such humiliation.
Should a powerful foe attempt to disgrace it in the future, the Nine-Tails would lay down its life to demonstrate the weight of its pride.
However, there was a critical issue: it hadn't yet mastered this technique; it was barely more than a concept!
The Nine-Tails grew anxious. Fuma's show of strength was only the tip of the iceberg, but to a skilled eye like the Nine-Tails', it was enough to see the depths of his power.
If Danzo continued to perform so poorly and Mito decided to seal it within Fuma instead, then it was all over!
"This Fuma… he's an accursed Uchiha, with a body even sturdier than the Senju. It makes my fur stand on end."
"What's worse, I sense the presence of 'Satori' within his flesh. Just what kind of amalgamation is he…?"
"If he continues to grow stronger, the consequences will be unimaginable."
In that instant, the Nine-Tails could almost see Indra, Asura, and the Sage of Six Paths gazing at him, fists raised.
The Nine-Tails steadied itself, keeping a mocking expression on its face so that Mito wouldn't notice its unease, while inwardly it calculated its next moves.
Little did the Nine-Tails know, however, that Fuma had no interest in it whatsoever.
As the largest part of the Ten-Tails, Fuma had no intention of hosting it in his own body—unless, of course, he intended to devour it first.
Mito severed her connection with the Nine-Tails, choosing to ignore the vexing presence of Danzo.
"Given Danzo's temperament, he'll suffice only temporarily as a vessel to contain the Nine-Tails…"
"Hashirama's vision… I truly lack the strength to uphold it any longer. My limit now is merely passing the Nine-Tails down through Konoha."
Mito shook her head in resignation. Nearing the end of her life, she had few cards left to play.
The Nine-Tails spoke again, its voice laced with a sly, manipulative edge, interrupting Mito's thoughts.
"Beyond that chakra akin to Madara's, you must have sensed something unusual in that one's blood and flesh?"
"So sinister, so dark and greedy… even I'm forced to admit defeat."
"I'll tell you—that's the presence of 'Satori', a creature born within the Box of Ultimate Bliss, created by the Sage of Six Paths. It absorbs all negative energy, bringing destruction to the world!"
"Anyone possessed by 'Satori' will be driven solely by a desire for annihilation, forgetting family, friendship, and love, ultimately becoming a puppet of the Box of Ultimate Bliss, consuming the entire world."
"I eagerly await the moment when Konoha, after your death, is forced to face such a formidable beast."
Using its extensive life experience, the Nine-Tails spun its tale, aiming to drive home Fuma's danger, hoping to dissuade Mito from making him a jinchuriki.
Mito narrowed her eyes, considering the Nine-Tails' words about the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Even to her, a relic of the Warring States era, it was an ancient legend.
But she quickly shook her head; she trusted her own senses more than the Nine-Tails' words.
"Although Fuma's flesh indeed contains a highly concentrated negative energy, his mind and chakra remain perfectly stable, with no sign of possession."
Mito pondered the Nine-Tails' words, a spark of realization dawning in her mind. Silently, she withdrew from the sealed space.
"Love, family, friendship…"
"Perhaps little Tsunade could be the one to restrain Fuma…"
The Nine-Tails watched Mito depart, snorting before it resumed its tireless training, preparing for the worst-case scenario.
"Well, you two seemed to be having quite the conversation just now, didn't you?"
Mito's eyes opened, her face wearing a gentle smile as she looked at Fuma and Hiruzen.
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