Once Kushina left the barrier, a Yamanaka clan shinobi would enter her mind with a secret technique?
This barrier resembled the one from the Minato Chronicle—specifically designed for Kushina.
When the Third Hokage asked for Yako's opinion, Yako replied, "Lord Hokage, Lord Yellow Dog, I believe this barrier may carry certain risks."
Yamanaka Inoen turned to look at Fox. He couldn't ignore Fox's judgment.
He still remembered him clearly from the battlefield in the Land of Rivers.
The Third Hokage asked, "Oh? What risks?"
Yako said calmly, "I believe a Jinchūriki should be considered a person with two souls within one body.
"The Jinchūriki has a soul, and the tailed beast has a soul as well.
"If someone enters Princess Kushina's mind recklessly, to her it may simply be a warning from the village. That's acceptable.
"But to the tailed beast… it may perceive it as an intrusion. An invasion of its territory.
"Beasts possess powerful territorial instincts.
"And without question, the Jinchūriki's body is the tailed beast's domain."
The Third Hokage nodded repeatedly. Fox's reasoning made sense.
After a moment of thought, he turned to Yamanaka Inoen.
"What Fox says holds merit. But the Nine-Tails Barrier is necessary.
"As Kushina grows stronger, she may escape ANBU surveillance. Division captains like Fox cannot follow her forever.
"If ordinary ANBU lose track of her, the consequences would be severe.
"Inoen, conduct a test of the Nine-Tails Barrier. We must determine whether it provokes the Nine-Tails."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Yako observed the Hokage's focus and thought quietly: The events in the Land of Grass probably hadn't reached the village yet.
Even with messenger hawks, it would take about three days.
Yako gathered all four squads of the Fox Division and moved toward Kushina's location.
Tsunade was about to lead Kushina and her teammates to the training ground when she suddenly glanced sideways.
On a raised platform stood the Third Hokage, Yellow Dog, and Fox.
Seeing Fox eased her slightly, and she ignored them.
As they passed an intersection, Tsunade suddenly turned back.
Kushina clutched her head, clearly in pain.
A voice echoed inside her mind.
"Princess Kushina, this is the boundary of the Nine-Tails Barrier. Please do not cross it!"
If it had only been a warning, it might have been tolerable.
But the next instant, a terrifying roar erupted.
It felt like a massive, blood-soaked maw dozens of meters wide growling directly into her ear.
"Get lost."
Kushina's eyes instantly turned into slit pupils like those of a demonic fox.
The fox found the disturbance irritating.
What dared interrupt its slumber?
Inside the Barrier Unit, a Yamanaka shinobi collapsed backward and fell unconscious.
Yamanaka Inoen rushed over. After checking, he confirmed a powerful spiritual backlash had struck his subordinate.
Only the Nine-Tails could have done that.
He couldn't help thinking: As expected of Fox. His judgment had been correct.
Kushina herself might remain calm—but the Nine-Tails was the most terrifying beast in existence. It had been angered.
Orange-red chakra began to leak outward, visible even to the naked eye.
The Third Hokage took a slow drag from his pipe.
"Fox was right. This method provokes the Nine-Tails."
He pointed toward Kushina.
"Go. Don't let this escalate."
Yellow Dog and Yako vanished instantly.
They arrived near Kushina just as Tsunade moved.
From her chest, Tsunade pulled out the First Hokage's necklace and pressed it against Kushina's forehead.
With some unknown sealing technique, the rampaging Nine-Tails chakra vanished instantly.
Tsunade turned, slipping the necklace back into her cleavage while glaring at the ANBU.
"What are you people doing? Are you trying to trigger a rampage?" she shouted. "What if I hadn't been here?"
The Third Hokage appeared with a flash of the Body Flicker Technique.
His pipe burned brightly as he arrived too quickly, forcing him to cough after taking a harsh drag.
"Tsunade," he said once he recovered, "the village has established a dedicated barrier for Kushina.
"Starting today, her movement range will be limited to within three kilometers of the Senju district.
"The barrier has issues, but the Barrier Unit will continue refining it.
"Kushina's safety is paramount. You must cooperate."
"Three kilometers? Only three kilometers? Kushina is my student, not a prisoner!"
"Watch your wording," the Third Hokage said firmly.
"Do not use words like 'prisoner' in front of Kushina.
"The village has no better option. As her strength grows, ordinary ANBU surveillance will become ineffective.
"We must know her movements at all times."
Tsunade argued back, but the Hokage remained unwavering.
Regarding the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, he would accept no risk.
"Tsunade. Leaving the Nine-Tails Barrier is dangerous. Do not test it recklessly."
Seeing Kushina unconscious, Tsunade clenched her teeth and carried her back to the Senju district.
When Kushina woke, she found herself inside the clan compound.
After learning what had happened, she felt deeply guilty.
"Numa, Chamy… sorry. Because of me, we couldn't train today."
Senju Numa smiled gently. "It's alright, Kushina. We can train inside the compound from now on."
Suddenly, the door burst open.
Tsunade stormed in, heels striking the floor sharply.
"No! The village has gone too far!"
"The village fears the Nine-Tails so much? Then let them see what the Nine-Tails really is!"
Half an hour later, Yako—monitoring the Senju compound—felt his heart pound.
"Blossom Deer! Go notify Lord Yellow Dog immediately!"
Yako rarely bothered his superiors. If he could handle something himself, he always would.
Unless…
Unless the situation was spiraling beyond control.
Yellow Dog had just returned to the ANBU base and opened a scroll when Blossom Deer rushed in.
"Lord Yellow Dog! Division Captain Fox requests your immediate presence. Something's wrong with the Nine-Tails!"
Yellow Dog froze.
This was the first time Fox had requested intervention mid-mission.
"What happened?"
Blossom Deer answered urgently, "Captain Fox says Princess Tsunade has partially released the Nine-Tails' seal!"
"What?!"
No wonder Fox believed he couldn't handle it alone.
It had been less than a month since graduation, and Tsunade was already tampering with the seal?
Yellow Dog stood.
"Go notify all ANBU. Assemble around the Jinchūriki immediately.
"And inform the Hokage Tower—… no. Never mind. The Third Hokage will sense the disturbance himself."
By the time Yellow Dog arrived, the Third Hokage appeared soon after.
Behind the Senju compound, an open field had become Kushina's personal training ground.
Kushina's upper clothing had been lifted, exposing her abdomen.
Black sealing formulas marked her stomach.
Orange-red chakra surged violently around her, sending stones skidding across the ground.
"Why so tense?" Tsunade said casually. "I'm just teaching Kushina to control the Nine-Tails.
"Lord Third, isn't this what you wanted? Kushina will master its power quickly."
Yako thought silently, This reckless woman… her gambler's nature is acting up again.
Just like in the original story—when Akatsuki hunted the Nine-Tails, Tsunade's solution had been to send Naruto straight into battle. If the enemy died, no one could capture the Nine-Tails.
Watching Kushina unconscious, Yako noted how rough Tsunade's unsealing method looked.
The Third Hokage's expression darkened, but he could do nothing against Tsunade.
The next evening, Yako watched as Kushina finished training and entered the rear gate of the Senju compound.
An ANBU landed beside him.
"Captain Fox! Urgent message! Lord Hokage requests your presence at the Hokage's office immediately!"
Yako thought, Has news from the Land of Grass finally reached Konoha?