Kushina looked somewhat nervous.
Although she had been called the "Red Hot-Blooded Habanero" during her time at the Ninja Academy and was known for her fiery temper… seeing so many of Konoha's high-ranking figures all at once was an entirely different matter.
Minato, by contrast, appeared much more relaxed.
At the side, Kurama Genshin was also sizing up the blond boy with the gentle smile through the corner of his eye, sighing inwardly: 'An incredible kid…'
Along the way, he had heard how Minato had comforted Kushina.
—"Just listen to the Third Hokage later. He's my grand-sensei, so he can count as your… grand-sensei too. If he says Konoha is your home, then Konoha definitely is."
At such a young age, he already knew to firmly grasp Konoha's most crucial element—the Hokage!
In terms of combat ability, he was also said to be a genius…
Thinking of the situation within his own clan, Kurama Genshin could not help but feel anxious and despondent.
The physiques of the Kurama clan's descendants were growing weaker and weaker, and the number of clansmen awakening the Kekkei Genkai was also rapidly decreasing.
However, he had recently heard that the village was carrying out sweeping reforms and placing great importance on ninjutsu research…
If he could find an opportunity to speak to the Hokage about the Kurama clan's difficulties, perhaps they might receive some help?
Genshin looked at Hiruzen's upright and powerful figure and thought to himself: 'I must perform well!'
"Kushina, have you been doing well staying in Konoha?"
Hiruzen did not immediately talk about sealing techniques. Instead, he said in a gentle tone, "I've been rather busy and wasn't able to go see you personally, so I could only ask Koharu to go see you on my behalf."
"But if you run into any hurdles in your training or in daily life, don't keep it bottled up and say nothing, all right? Konoha is your home. Even though I'm the Hokage, I'm also your elder—there's no need to hold yourself back with formalities."
Kushina suddenly felt her eyes sting, and she nodded hard.
In her eyes, the Third, gentle in tone yet carrying a sense of strength, was like the sun… warming her heart.
Minato blinked.
"Kushina, calling you here this time is because the village is going to launch a retaliation operation against Kumogakure! It's for your sake, but it's not only for your sake."
"Every enemy who has offended the village—Konoha will certainly smash them with an iron fist!"
"As for the 'Iron Armor Seal' technique, have you studied it?"
Kushina's heart trembled. Was this what it felt like to be protected by the village?
She said in quick succession: "Third-sama, I do! This technique can seal a large amount of chakra. The main body is very sturdy, but there are flaws in the details that cause chakra to slowly leak out."
Orochimaru gave a slight nod.
Slowly leak out? Then that was the reason the Kumogakure jinchūriki was always going berserk.
"Kushina, can you dismantle this sealing formula? The village needs to understand its structure."
Hiruzen's eyes lit up.
If Kushina did not know, he had been considering contacting Uzumaki Mito ahead of time.
But of course, the best outcome would be to produce tangible results first, and only then approach that person, to demonstrate his efforts at amends and his sincerity.
"No problem, Third-sama!" Kushina agreed readily, though her gaze drifted.
Where should she dismantle it?
Hiruzen pointed toward the tactical command board at the center of the conference room.
"Go up there."
"Third-sama, I also have some thoughts on this sealing formula!" Minato raised his hand.
"Then do it together." Hiruzen nodded.
Kushina and Minato went up together and began sketching and outlining the "Iron Armor Seal" on the command board.
Kushina was drawing the main framework, while Minato annotated the principles and functions of each sealing structure.
In Hiruzen's view, sealing techniques were among the most difficult types of jutsu.
Studying complex sealing structures was somewhat like the mortise-and-tenon networks of ancient architecture—every link had to be flawless, and chakra also had to be used to give it concrete form.
'A rare talent. Kushina's physique and bloodline are there… but Minato clearly has a special aptitude for sealing techniques.'
'His reserves aren't as deep as Kushina's, but he's extremely perceptive.'
'This kid needs exposure to more techniques and targeted training.'
Hiruzen thought to himself.
Discovering talent was, of course, also part of his performance as Hokage.
"That's all!" Minato and Kushina bowed slightly to everyone.
"Very well explained. Do you have any issues on your side?" Hiruzen turned his head and asked.
"Hehe, there really are more and more talents in the village," Orochimaru said with a smile. "The answer is already laid out right in front of me—if I still couldn't understand it…"
"Then what Jiraiya spouted while drunk might actually come true."
This referred to a gathering at Hiruzen's home, when Jiraiya, in his drunken state, had said that although Minato was young, it wasn't impossible for him to become the Fourth.
"Hmph…" Jiraiya shot Orochimaru a sidelong glance and muttered under his breath, "Holding a grudge, as always."
"Genshin, can your genjutsu be effective against a jinchūriki?" Hiruzen asked. "Don't feel pressured—just speak truthfully."
"If I go all out, holding the tailed beast back for a short while isn't a problem," Genshin said seriously. "But if the jinchūriki can draw on the tailed beast's chakra, then it becomes troublesome… chakra formed from the combination of the two is a natural enemy to any interference-type genjutsu."
"Then what if the jinchūriki is poisoned or under the control of a cursed seal?" Danzō's voice was hoarse.
"Then there's absolutely no problem—I can guarantee it!"
Genshin almost laughed as he said it. So it was going to be such a resource-rich battle?
"The Kurama clan may not be as renowned as before, but our techniques aren't just for show."
Hiruzen slowly rose to his feet.
His gaze swept over everyone. He raised one hand and clenched it tightly.
The conference room fell silent.
"Our Konoha shinobi stand united—no enemy before us can withstand a single blow!"
Hiruzen's voice rang out, firm and resolute.
"Danzō, you will lead the Anbu to eliminate the sentries and open a secure withdrawal route."
"Orochimaru, you are responsible for assassinating the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki. Bring the body back."
"Jiraiya, take Genshin and infiltrate to rendezvous with Orochimaru. Control the situation."
Hiruzen enunciated each word clearly: "This time, we will make the enemy feel fear. Silently and without a trace, kill their jinchūriki."
"Use the enemy's blood to write blood for blood in their village!"
"Plunge them into chaos—into madness!"
Hiruzen let out a cold smile inwardly.
Several of Konoha's top experts against an immature Eight-Tails' jinchūriki…
Blue B might well take pride in dying this way!
Kumogakure, long plagued by constant friction with the other hidden villages, had a notoriously poor reputation across the shinobi world.
The Eight-Tails dying violently within the village was something every hidden village would be glad to see…
And a powerless Kumogakure would, at most, bluster and accuse every suspected party with empty ferocity.
And that—was precisely the stage Hiruzen wanted.
It was time for everyone to rediscover Konoha—and to rediscover a hardline Hokage!
"Gentlemen, prepare to act!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Outside the window, the setting sun burned like fire, pouring into the room.
It was as if flames were kindled upon them, reflecting the battle intent blazing in their eyes.
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