Minato Namikaze fell silent.
After all, he really had faced several Tailed Beasts before. Although Tailed Beasts left a tremendous impact on him, saying that Tailed Beasts were invincible was also incorrect.
Take the Eight-Tails, for example. Back then, the Third Raikage was practically a humanoid Tailed Beast himself. His terrifying strength was said to be enough to suppress a rampaging Eight-Tails single-handedly.
Facing such an existence, even the Eight-Tails would probably have to think twice.
Eight-Tails, Gyūki: …Yeah, I know this one. I couldn't beat him! He couldn't beat me either! But I wasn't afraid of him!
"So, Minato, let's assume that when the Nine-Tails saw Uchiha Madara and sensed his chakra, it immediately recalled the time it was once controlled."
"In that case, if it didn't want to repeat the same mistake while being sealed, then using its own strength to support Kushina would be its choice."
"After all, as long as the jinchūriki exists, it's safe. At the very least, it won't be controlled by the Sharingan's Genjutsu."
Both Minato Namikaze and Kushina fell silent.
Kushina even recalled the situation from that night.
At the time, the seal had become extremely weak due to childbirth, and on top of that, an external enemy attacked. If she remembered correctly, the Nine-Tails' exact words were…
"That's an Uchiha! That chakra filled with hatred is exactly the same as the one who controlled me before!"
"If you keep suppressing me like this, aren't you afraid he'll kill your man, and then kill you too?!"
"No, it'd be better if you all just died! But I refuse to be controlled by him!"
...
Thinking about it this way, what Gekko Chizan said seemed to be right. After sensing that sinister Uchiha power, the Nine-Tails really did make a different choice.
It lent her its Tailed Beast chakra, allowing her to use the Nine-Tails' power to fight.
"Chizan, what you said seems to be right."
"That night, it really was after sensing his chakra that the Nine-Tails temporarily lent its chakra to me."
"That's how I was able to enter partial Tailed Beast transformation. If that bastard hadn't used Naruto to threaten me and made me lose control, I actually could've suppressed it back then."
With that, Gekko Chizan's speculation became quite plausible.
Minato Namikaze fell into deep thought once more.
"Chizan, what do you think?"
"Let Kushina reconcile with the Nine-Tails? Try to truly become the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki?"
Gekko Chizan nodded. The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki would be a pillar of future battles. After all, the Nine-Tails' strength was right there.
Half of the Nine-Tails was enough to fight six opponents at once. The full Nine-Tails would be even more terrifying.
This kind of power had to be utilized, even if the current Nine-Tails' jinchūriki was Kushina rather than the 'prince.'
"Kushina, the Nine-Tails' power has always been sealed because it's too explosive, impossible to reasonably control and use."
"This mission will be very difficult, but once you succeed, you'll become a true jinchūriki and effectively turn the Nine-Tails into the village's power."
Both Minato Namikaze and Kushina fell silent. They knew Gekko Chizan was right.
But the risk was simply too great.
"What? This doesn't sound like you, Minato."
"Difficulties are meant to be overcome. When you went after Danzō, I didn't see you acting like this."
"Do you not trust Kushina, or do you not trust yourself?"
Gekko Chizan looked at Minato Namikaze with a speechless expression. In the current situation, as long as he nodded, everything could proceed smoothly.
After all, convincing Kushina wouldn't be difficult. The main issue was Minato.
"Chizan, how confident are you?"
"How would I know?"
"Sigh, I'm a bit worried."
"Tch, it just depends on whether you're willing to do it. As long as you do, I've got a bit of an idea."
Gekko Chizan grinned. He really had already thought of a corresponding method.
Now, all he needed was the two of them to agree.
"With that look on your face, you definitely already have a plan, don't you?"
"Say it. Stop hiding it!"
Minato Namikaze really wanted to kick Gekko Chizan. Mainly because the way he looked right now was just too punchable.
That mischievous grin—ugh, way too devious.
"There is a way."
"As long as Tsunade is willing to cooperate, everything's negotiable."
Tsunade?
Minato Namikaze and Kushina were both confused, completely unable to understand what Gekko Chizan meant.
"You don't need to worry about that part."
"But Minato, if this works, you have to promise me one thing."
Great, they hadn't even started yet and he was already asking for benefits.
Only Gekko Chizan could pull something like this off.
"Hey, you jerk, you're already reaching out at a time like this?"
"That's going too far!"
"Believe it or not, I'll go back and tell Pakura about this?"
How could Kushina let Minato get bullied? She immediately threatened him with tattling, leaving Gekko Chizan completely speechless.
"Tch, it's not like I'm going to Kirigakure for a vacation."
"The Akatsuki is definitely hiding over there. Probing their intelligence is what really matters."
He was telling the truth. Given the current situation, the earlier they figured out the Akatsuki's depth, the better.
But Minato Namikaze's concern was also reasonable. After all, the Land of Water was an extremely closed-off country, and Kirigakure along with it was even more sealed. Going there so rashly was far too dangerous.
"Chizan…"
"Aiya, whether you agree or not, I'm going anyway. Enough already. I've got plans for Kushina's matter. Let's head back to the village."
Gekko Chizan couldn't be bothered to argue with the two of them and directly took them back to the village.
Soon, Gekko Chizan led the two straight to Konoha Hospital and found Tsunade.
"What? Did the sun rise from the west today? The three of you coming to see me together—did something big happen?"
Tsunade looked at the three of them and couldn't help teasing.
Seeing this, Gekko Chizan chuckled and explained his purpose.
"Tsunade, we've got a bit of a situation right now and need your help."
"Oh no, actually, you don't have to help. Mainly, I need to borrow that thing around your neck."
Tsunade froze for a moment upon hearing this. The thing around her neck?
She casually took off the necklace, revealing a green crystal pendant before the three of them.
"You mean this?"
"This necklace…"
Seeing the necklace, a trace of discomfort appeared on Tsunade's face. This necklace carried very bad memories for her, ones she didn't want to recall.
"The First Hokage's necklace."
"I've seen this in my teacher's notes before. A pendant made from special materials."
"Tsk tsk tsk, Tsunade—don't have any bad thoughts about it."
"This necklace is actually very useful."
Gekko Chizan looked at the pendant. This was the legendary Death Necklace. Anyone who wasn't chosen by fate would die if they wore it.
Just like Nawaki and Dan Katō.