[Konoha2] Chapter 107: Dialogue with the Nine-Tails!

At noon on January 10th, Year 37 of the Konoha Calendar, Hajime and his group finally returned to the Hidden Leaf Village.

Outside the Hokage Residence, just as Hajime was bowing to Hiruzen Sarutobi and about to leave, Hiruzen said,

“Hajime, if you have time, go visit Kushina. She misses her teacher very much.”

Hajime paused for a moment, then nodded.

“Understood.”

Watching Hiruzen enter the Hokage building, Hajime gave up the idea of going home and instead headed for Uzumaki Kushina’s place.

He had understood what Hiruzen truly meant with those words. It wasn’t just a suggestion to go see Kushina—it was also an acknowledgment of his role as her teacher.

Even more, it was an implication that he could—and should—become her official mentor in the future.

“So it’s finally come to this arrangement…”

Removing his mask, Hajime bought a few of Kushina’s favorite fruits on the way, all while deep in thought.

Clearly, his departure from Root wasn't far off.

At the latest, it would be by the time Kushina graduated.

But more likely, he would leave Root earlier, to get used to life as a regular shinobi—or more specifically, as a jōnin leading a team.

“Kushina’s graduating next year... I’ll probably be out of Root before this year ends.”

Hajime mused,

“In the meantime, I should strengthen my influence in Root.”

He had already guided Inuzuka Ryou and Aburame Ryoma, and after spending so long with them, his influence had taken root.

Unfortunately, Aburame Shino and the others had died in battle.

Conveniently, Danzo had just appointed him to oversee temporary Root training. He could use this chance to select a few individuals for focused development.

While thinking, he found himself already standing outside Kushina’s building.

This time, no ANBU came to stop him. A few leaps later, Hajime reached the window of Kushina’s apartment.

Inside, the room was messy—scrolls scattered everywhere. Uzumaki Kushina was lying on her bed, studying something intensely.

Knock knock knock!

Hajime tapped on the window.

Kushina, deeply focused on her sealing technique, was confused for a moment.

ANBU never usually bothered her.

When she turned and saw the figure outside, she froze for a second, then her face lit up with joy.

“Hajime!”

Though he was still masked, she recognized him instantly. She jumped up and ran to the window, throwing it open.

“You look like you’re working hard,” Hajime teased with a smile, handing over the fruit he brought.

Kushina blushed slightly, then quickly took the fruit

“Thank you, senpai!”

“I didn’t expect you to visit!”

“Just came back from the battlefield,” Hajime replied with a smile.

Kushina’s eyes filled with admiration.

“That must’ve been tough.”

“It was,” Hajime stretched, “but I’ll get to rest for a while now.”

“By the way, how’s your Rasengan coming along?”

Kushina quickly put the fruit away, then beamed.

“Of course I’ve got it down!”

She lifted her right hand, and a glowing blue Rasengan swirled into shape.

Hajime nodded slightly. One-handed formation—quite skillful.

He smiled and asked,

“And your Wind Release nature transformation?”

Kushina looked a bit embarrassed.

“I haven’t mastered it yet. I can’t fuse it into the Rasengan...”

“But the Dreamwalker Technique you gave me—I’ve already learned to hypnotize with it.”

Then she leaned forward and whispered,

“Senpai, I secretly hypnotized an ANBU and snuck out for a bit.”

Hajime was startled—but then he understood.

She probably only hypnotized the ones visible on the surface. Powerful guards were most likely still secretly tailing her.

Still, this confirmed that Kushina had some talent for genjutsu.

So Hajime praised her with a smile and suggested,

“Then try hypnotizing me.”

Kushina’s eyes sparkled.

“Okay, senpai, I won’t hold back!”

“Go ahead,” Hajime replied.

Kushina immediately formed hand seals and began the hypnosis technique.

And then—Hajime blinked, and Kushina collapsed on the spot with a thud.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

ANBU agents appeared in a flash.

“It’s alright,” Hajime said with a smile, “she just suffered backlash from the genjutsu—wait, huh?”

Before he could finish, his words were slapped by reality.

Suddenly, tailed beast chakra flared up around Kushina’s body, causing the ANBU to turn pale.

“Don’t worry—it’s just chakra leaking out.”

Hajime frowned slightly, then clapped his hands. From the wooden floor, vines grew and wrapped around Kushina, drawing out the exposed tailed beast chakra.

At the same time, Hajime’s chakra flowed into Kushina’s body and entered her sealing space, where he saw the Nine-Tails bound in mid-air.

The sight was a bit miserable—completely immobilized.

In terms of sealing strength, it surpassed even the Eight Trigrams Seal.

Of course, this method also made it impossible to use the Nine-Tails' chakra for one's own benefit.

It was a pure suppressive seal.

“You again…”

The Nine-Tails looked down and recognized Hajime.

This brat had hypnotized him last time.

And he hated the power that oozed from the boy.

Hajime grinned.

“Hey, Kurama. We meet again.”

“You don’t look so great right now.”

The Nine-Tails snorted.

“Brat, if you’re just here to mock me, then get lost!”

“When I get out of here, I’m going to eat you!”

With that, he let out a roar, creating a terrifying windstorm.

Clothes whipped and hair flew back, but Hajime stood firm, unmoved.

“As expected of the most powerful tailed beast. Compared to the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, even Eight-Tails, you're in a league of your own.”

Hajime praised sincerely.

The Nine-Tails snorted, about to speak, then paused.

“You’ve met them?”

“No—wait… the Four-Tails is inside you?!”

His expression changed.

“Wasn’t the Four-Tails with Iwagakure?!”

Hajime replied casually,

“It was. But I killed the previous jinchūriki and sealed the Four-Tails into myself.”

The Nine-Tails stared at him like he was insane.

Hajime smiled.

“You know I inherited the First Hokage’s power. I can suppress the Four-Tails—and even use its power. So for me, tailed beasts aren’t a danger.”

“Your power is indeed great, but sadly... not your brains.”

“BASTARD!” the Nine-Tails roared with rage.

Hajime calmly fixed his hair.

“Anger clouds reason.”

“I may not say pleasant things, Kurama—but I speak honestly.”

If it weren’t for this seal, Kurama would’ve ripped this bastard apart by now.

Hajime continued,

“Being sealed sucks, I know. But isn’t it better than being dead?”

“As we say: ‘Better a live coward than a dead hero.’”

Kurama sneered.

“Don’t you know? We tailed beasts don’t die. We revive.”

“I know,” Hajime nodded.

“But what if you become part of the Ten-Tails?”

Kurama froze, staring at Hajime in disbelief.

“You… You know about the Ten-Tails?!”

Hajime answered calmly,

“I know far more than you think.”

“For example—Just like I know your true name is... Kurama.”

(End of Chapter)