"Clang!"
A crisp sound of metal scraping echoed as a multitude of chains, emitting brilliant golden light, emerged from Mito Uzumaki's sleeve, sealing off the entire room.
"If I could seal it with the Four Symbols Barrier, it would be simple. But Shadow Clones divide the本体's chakra. To ensure the Nine-Tails' power remains intact, I can only make do with the Adamantine Sealing Chains for now!"
"But I don't expect any problems!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes twitched as he observed the effect of the Adamantine Sealing Prison.
"With this level of sealing jutsu, I probably couldn't break it even with all my strength."
"So, in your esteemed opinion, it's merely 'making do'?"
After many years, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally experienced again the immense power of those old figures who had dominated the Warring States period.
"However..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Amaru, who stood beside Kushina Uzumaki, and asked hesitantly,
"Lady Mito, wasn't it said that the Nine-Tails' next vessel would be Kushina?"
"This child..."
Mito Uzumaki looked tenderly at the two young girls and sighed softly.
"There's a very troublesome issue involved..."
"When Orochimaru returns, let him tell you!"
"This situation happened too suddenly. Right now, this is the only solution I can think of!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned, unable to comprehend why Mito Uzumaki had called the two children in.
"What solution?"
Mito Uzumaki placed her hand on her lower abdomen, drawing out all the power from the Eight Trigrams Seal.
"I promised the Nine-Tails that I would help it resolve a small problem!"
"Therefore, I will now split the Nine-Tails into Yin and Yang halves!"
"One half will be sealed into Kushina's body as originally planned, allowing her to inherit the Nine-Tails' power."
"The other half..."
Looking at Amaru, whose small face was tensed, Mito Uzumaki's eyes were filled with guilt.
This child, after enjoying less than two months of familial care, was now being forced by her own hand to bear a destiny she shouldn't have to.
"I intend to seal the other half of the Nine-Tails into Amaru..."
"Mito, you wish!"
The Nine-Tails' enraged voice boomed from within Mito Uzumaki's abdomen, a colossal amount of chakra surged out, instantly forming a head before Mito.
The Nine-Tails bared its fangs, glaring fiercely at the two little girls, then turned its angry gaze towards Mito Uzumaki.
"Sealing me into that brat Kushina is one thing; that's something I promised Orochimaru. But you actually want to split my chakra in two! Do you believe I'll break the seal and destroy Konoha the moment you die?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression drastically changed, and he immediately shielded the two girls behind him, his hands forming the hand seals for a summoning jutsu.
"Hiruzen, stop!"
Mito Uzumaki commanded, looking shamefully at the Nine-Tails.
"I'm sorry, Nine-Tails!"
"As I said before, this is the only way to resolve that matter!"
"Unless you want to experience today's events again, then..."
The Nine-Tails' angry expression froze, and it became flustered.
"When Orochimaru made his promise, he never mentioned anything like this!"
"I want to speak to that brat Orochimaru myself when he returns!"
Mito Uzumaki shook her head helplessly.
"Orochimaru might not have anticipated this situation either."
"Nine-Tails, you yourself mentioned how potent that power is against you. If your chakra isn't sealed separately, then the next time..."
The Nine-Tails' pupils contracted, its expression shifting violently. After a moment of serious consideration, it gritted its teeth and said resentfully,
"Mito Uzumaki, you can split my chakra if you must, but I will only agree to be sealed in half of a body at most!"
"The remaining half must be given my freedom, just as Orochimaru said!"
"Otherwise, I'd rather become Orochimaru's summon than be sealed entirely within two brats!"
With the hope of freedom so close, the Nine-Tails fought desperately for any possibility.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the Nine-Tails in shock, almost unable to believe his ears. It wasn't strange for a high-level summon, like his King Enma, to speak human language. But why did the Nine-Tails' tone, though appearing angry, feel so familiar? Yes, it was like the conversations between those foul-smelling politicians among humans. And the Orochimaru the Nine-Tails kept mentioning – was it the same Orochimaru he knew? Why did the Nine-Tails speak his name so casually and naturally? What unknown events had transpired here?
Mito Uzumaki sighed helplessly at the Nine-Tails' petulant behavior.
"Nine-Tails, you know Orochimaru isn't in the village right now, that's why you're deliberately saying you want to be his summon, right?"
"And then use it as an opportunity to escape Konoha?"
The Nine-Tails' angry expression faltered, and it let out an unnatural scoff.
"Hmph!"
"Nonsense, I keep my word! I'm not saying it deliberately!"
Mito Uzumaki gave a wry smile and shook her head gently.
"My time is running out. If you can't accept being sealed, and if that person discovers you, what do you think your consequences will be?"
Sensing that Mito Uzumaki's chakra was beginning to dissipate, the Nine-Tails' expression shifted. It gritted its teeth and stubbornly declared,
"I don't care! If I'm split in half and sealed, I'll have to endure twice the darkness and loneliness. You can only seal half of me anyway!"
Mito Uzumaki's eyes suddenly brightened, a slight curve forming on her lips. With a smile, she asked,
"Are you truly decided that you'd rather be Orochimaru's summon than be sealed entirely?"
The Nine-Tails' heart leaped with joy. Thinking its threat had worked, it let out a triumphant snort.
"Of course! I always keep my word!"
Mito Uzumaki nodded, took a blank sealing scroll from the bookshelf, and reached out, grasping at the Nine-Tails' spectral form.
"Don't resist. Inject a wisp of your origin chakra into the scroll."
The Nine-Tails looked down in confusion as Mito Uzumaki reached into its body and asked hesitantly,
"What do you need my origin chakra for? Didn't I already give some to Orochimaru before?"
Mito Uzumaki rolled her eyes and said as if it were obvious,
"Naturally, to create your contract scroll!"
"You don't want Orochimaru to leave a contract in your soul like that person, do you?"
The Nine-Tails' expression froze, and it muttered sheepishly, turning its head aside.
"That's definitely out of the question!"
"But Orochimaru isn't here now. Even if you make it, what's the point!"
Mito Uzumaki ignored its protests and urged it on. The Nine-Tails was reluctant, but it had already boasted, and backing down now would be a loss of face.
"Here!"
Seeing Mito Uzumaki transfer that wisp of origin chakra into the scroll and nimbly craft a respectable summoning contract, the Nine-Tails chuckled inwardly.
"Heh heh, so what if you made it? Orochimaru isn't here now anyway. The moment you die, I'll destroy the scroll and escape Konoha."
"What good is the Rinnegan?"
"The ninja world is vast. Without a summoning contract, I don't believe Madara Uchiha can find me!"
"Hmm, let me think, where should I go after leaving Konoha?"
"Should I go to the Land of Wind to see that scoundrel Shukaku? That stinky tanuki must miss me terribly!"
"Heh heh, it's decided!"
Looking at the contract scroll in her hand, Mito Uzumaki nodded with satisfaction and turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was still in shock.
"Hiruzen, go and bring Orochimaru back."
"He is currently at..."
Closing her eyes and sensing for a moment, Mito Uzumaki chuckled lightly.
"The Hokage's office!"
"Time is limited, be quick!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked out of the room with a look of disbelief, neglecting to greet Tsunade, who rushed up to inquire about the situation. He immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to rush towards the Hokage's office.
"The Nine-Tails actually agreed to be Orochimaru's summon?"
"This world is changing too fast; I feel like I'm dreaming!"
...
The Nine-Tails felt utterly miserable.
Only after Hiruzen Sarutobi had sped away, and it sensed that Mito Uzumaki's dissipating chakra had stopped flowing at some point, did it realize it had been tricked by that woman.
"Mito Uzumaki, you..."
"Despicable!"
After thinking for a long time, with its limited vocabulary, the Nine-Tails uttered a harmless curse before falling into a funk.
Mito Uzumaki looked at the Nine-Tails with amusement and gently comforted it,
"Nine-Tails, Orochimaru is different from others. He promised to grant you freedom in the future, so he won't use you as a tool."
"Following him, you might truly understand humans."
"At the very least, it's much better than being sealed away, right?"
The Nine-Tails was rendered speechless, its fox face contorted into a shape of grievance.