After returning to Konoha, Chiya headed straight back to the Uchiha clan grounds.
He pushed open the front door. The house was quiet, with only the faint chime of wind bells in the courtyard carried by the breeze.
Mikoto should still be at the Military Police Force at this hour.
Chiya went into the kitchen and took out the rice balls Mikoto had made that morning. He ate while turning over the situation in Amegakure in his mind.
'Morita Shin is playing along for now, but that does not mean he will not turn on us later...'
Chiya lay back in the reclining chair in the courtyard, squinting up at the sky.
'If he truly dares to work against Konoha, swapping out Amegakure's leader for someone else is always an option.'
And beyond that, his thoughts stretched even further.
If Amegakure completely lost its value, it would not be impossible to simply absorb it into the Land of Fire outright.
Renamed the "Konoha Amegakure Branch." That would work perfectly well.
Though by that point, they would share a direct border with the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind, with no buffer zone left to work with.
No matter.
Things would sort themselves out. Future problems could wait until then.
"Chiya-nii!"
A clear shout broke through his thoughts.
Chiya raised an eyebrow and turned his head. A red-haired figure came charging into the courtyard.
"Kushina?"
Chiya smiled helplessly.
"I just got back and you already know?"
Uzumaki Kushina stood in front of him, hands on her hips, her red hair gleaming in the sunlight, a proud grin on her face.
"Of course! I had someone keeping watch at the village gate on purpose. The moment you came back, I knew!"
Chiya looked at her proud expression. The scolding he had been about to give her for being too reckless reached his lips and became nothing but an indulgent sigh.
He reached out and caught her wrist, giving it a light tug. Kushina was completely caught off guard and tumbled straight into his arms.
"Ah!"
She let out a startled cry and her cheeks flushed red in an instant, but she did not struggle. Instead she leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Is Mikoto-nee home?"
Chiya shook his head.
The delight on Kushina's face grew a little brighter. She grinned and said.
"Chiya-nii, tell me honestly. Did you miss me while you were gone?"
Chiya laughed softly and pinched her cheek.
"Yes. I missed checking whether you had been training the Rasengan properly."
Kushina pouted.
"Of course I have been training it properly!"
"This morning, I successfully completed the Rasengan!!"
"Really?"
Chiya was a little surprised.
"You do not believe me? I will show you!"
Kushina pushed herself free of Chiya's warm arms and stood up.
She took a deep breath, then held out her right hand.
Her gaze focused intently on her palm.
A moment later, a small deep blue sphere appeared in her hand.
It slowly grew larger. The pull of it lifted Kushina's hair, sending it drifting through the air.
"Not bad!"
Hearing Chiya's praise, Kushina immediately let the chakra fade and the Rasengan disappeared.
She threw herself back into Chiya's arms.
"Chiya-nii, I have been working so hard lately. Is there any reward?"
Chiya ruffled her hair and stroked the soft strands.
"How about Ichiraku Ramen?"
He knew she loved ramen, so he offered.
"Yes! Let's go this afternoon!"
They stayed like that for a good while before Kushina finally leaned close to Chiya's ear and spoke with a little hesitation.
"Lately I have been sensing the Nine-Tails' chakra leaking out. Chiya-nii, could you help me take a look?"
Nine-Tails chakra?
Chiya's eyes sharpened slightly. He nodded.
The next instant, his eyes met Kushina's directly, and their consciousness was pulled into the seal space together.
In the dark space, beyond a massive iron grating, the Nine-Tails' enormous body was curled up. Its crimson eyes flickered in the shadows.
Its claws rested against the seal, its sharp nails dragging across the iron bars with a grinding shriek.
"Hmph. You again, you little Uchiha brat."
The Nine-Tails' voice was deep and full of malice. Its golden vertical pupils were locked onto Chiya.
"Come to watch the old one make a fool of himself?"
Chiya paid no attention to its taunting and instead looked around, checking the integrity of the seal.
The Nine-Tails had only recently been transferred, and the seal was still solid, but its chakra was still slowly eroding at the seal's edges.
"Chiya-nii, it has been this irritable lately..."
Kushina said quietly from beside him.
Chiya patted her head and brought his gaze back to the Nine-Tails.
"Kushina, would you like to harness the Nine-Tails' chakra for your own use, the way Lady Mito did?"
"The Nine-Tails' chakra?!"
Kushina's eyes lit up.
"Like the state Lady Mito used to enter when she drew on the Nine-Tails' power?"
"Exactly."
Chiya nodded.
"If you can do it, your strength will increase dramatically."
"ROAR!"
The Nine-Tails erupted with sudden fury. Its massive claws slammed against the seal and the entire space shook.
"You little Uchiha brat! How dare you scheme over my power right in front of me?!"
The Nine-Tails' roar was deafening. Its raging chakra swept outward like a hurricane.
Chiya's brow furrowed. The Mangekyō Sharingan activated in his eyes in an instant, and the crimson dojutsu power bore down on the Nine-Tails like something physical.
"Settle down!"
The cold voice, backed by the Mangekyō's power, brought the Nine-Tails to a sudden halt, as if an invisible force had seized it by the throat.
Its pupils contracted. The savagery in its eyes was forcibly suppressed. A low, resentful growl rumbled from its throat.
"You..."
The Nine-Tails gnashed its teeth, but could not resist the Sharingan's suppression.
Chiya withdrew his gaze and looked at Kushina, his tone serious.
"So, do you want to try?"
Kushina bit her lip. A flash of hesitation crossed her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resolve.
"I do! I do not want to be suppressed by it forever. I want to master its power!"
Chiya smiled with satisfaction.
"Good. Then let's try."
He turned back to the Nine-Tails, his eyes cold.
"Nine-Tails, you heard that. Cooperate. It will be better for everyone."
The Nine-Tails gave a cold laugh.
"Cooperate? Why would I cooperate with the likes of you?"
"Because of this."
Chiya raised his hand. The Mangekyō's pattern began to slowly turn.
"If you do not cooperate, I have no problem using genjutsu to keep you very quiet for a while."
The Nine-Tails' pupils contracted. It knew all too well how terrifying the Sharingan was, especially Mangekyō-level dojutsu, which could trap it in endless genjutsu torment.
"...Hmph!"
In the end, the Nine-Tails gave a cold snort and turned its head away. That was as close to agreement as it was going to get.
Chiya wasted no more words and spoke directly to Kushina.
"Place your hand on the seal and try to make contact with the Nine-Tails' power using your own chakra.
Remember, do not resist it. Guide it."
Kushina took a deep breath, reached out her hand, and pressed it lightly against the iron bars of the seal.
In an instant, crimson chakra surged forward like a tide, coiling up her arm.
Her body trembled faintly, but her eyes were steady, without a hint of retreat.
"Good. Take it slow..."
Chiya stood behind her, ready to intervene at any moment.
The Nine-Tails' chakra was violent and full of malice. One moment of carelessness and Kushina could be swallowed by the negative emotions.
However, Chiya had underestimated Kushina's Uzumaki constitution. Golden chains flew out from Kushina's body and bound a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra in place.
Thread after thread of the Nine-Tails' red chakra flowed into Uzumaki Kushina's body, wrapping around her like a cloak.
The Nine-Tails' power was truly beginning, little by little, to be guided by her.
Chiya steadied himself inwardly.
Gradually, her hair began to drift without any wind. A faint, eerie red light flickered in her eyes.
"I... I did it!"
She looked at Chiya with stunned delight.
Chiya nodded, but did not ease his vigilance.
"This is only an initial contact. You can only draw on a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra for now. Completely mastering it will still require a long period of adjustment."
The Nine-Tails watched them coldly. Something dark passed through its eyes, but it did not make another move.
When their consciousness returned to their bodies, Kushina lifted her hand and looked at the thin layer of Nine-Tails chakra clinging to it like a coat, and jumped with excitement.
"Chiya-nii! I really felt the Nine-Tails' power!"
Chiya smiled and ruffled her hair.
"Do not celebrate too early. This is only the beginning. You will need to practice every day from now on until you can control it freely."
Kushina nodded hard.
The crimson Nine-Tails chakra on her body slowly faded.
"Yes! I will work hard!"
She suddenly leaned toward Chiya and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, then ran off with a red face.
"That is my thanks!"
Chiya paused for a moment, then laughed.
He watched her retreating figure, and his gaze gradually grew deeper.
'The Nine-Tails Chakra Mode...
If Kushina can fully master it, Konoha will have one more trump card when war comes.'
He lay back in the chair and closed his eyes to rest.
The breeze passed through the courtyard. The wind bells rang out with a clear, delicate chime.
'Though that Nine-Tails will definitely not cooperate willingly. After all, it is its chakra being drawn on.
Helping Kushina keep building her strength and fully taming the Nine-Tails for good is the right path...'