Chapter 296: Breaking the Seal
Fingers that could move began attempting to slowly form seals, but the body's interior was completely empty—unable to mobilize even a trace of chakra.
Kushina thought somewhat irritably, emotion having completely overwhelmed rationality at this point. The Eight Trigrams Seal restraining her was executed with extreme ingenuity and firmness. If she were alive, she dared assert that aside from Minato and herself, absolutely no third person in Konoha Village could easily break it.
Unfortunately... the Nine-Tails is no longer in my body... I also can no longer use its chakra to...?!
She instinctively thought of that habitual method of using Nine-Tails chakra to break through restraints, only then suddenly realizing that after death, she was no longer a jinchuriki.
However, just as this thought flashed through, deep within her body, a familiar warm current actually responded to her call—weak yet clear!
This is... the Nine-Tails' chakra?
Kushina felt somewhat uncertain. This sensation, this unique chakra nature—it was indeed the Nine-Tails. However, it was completely different from that crimson energy full of violence and hatred she'd felt when forcibly borrowing it while alive. The chakra responding to her now was abnormally gentle, compliant.
She didn't understand the current situation... but right now, with her own chakra completely sealed, this power's arrival was practically timely assistance in snow!
She carefully guided this gentle Nine-Tails chakra. Gradually, stiff arms could move with greater range. Her hands finally pressed together with difficulty. However, the sensation transmitted through movements—that rough yet hollow feeling like sand grains grinding—once again cruelly reminded Kushina: You're already dead. This isn't your true body.
But having already reached this point, intense desire burned her soul like flames. No matter what, Kushina wanted to go out and see! That longing and surging maternal love suppressed for too long nearly swallowed her whole.
Just one look... as long as I confirm he's doing well... I'll immediately go find Minato... I promise...
She comforted herself this way, seeking reasons for her inappropriate "willfulness." Her hands began slowly forming familiar seals. With that gentle Nine-Tails chakra's help, the seal-breaking procedure was reconstructed step by step.
"Eight Trigrams Seal: Release."
The final seal was finally complete! Kushina frantically thanked her past self who'd painstakingly studied sealing techniques in her heart, pursuing extremes.
Crack...
Something shattered. Before her eyes was no longer complete darkness—finally, faint light appeared. Though outside still seemed a gloomy location, that bit of illumination was already enough to fill Kushina with tremendous excitement and anticipation.
As the seal released, that power constantly dragging her toward sleep's abyss also retreated. Kushina hurriedly moved her body, movements gradually becoming smooth from initial stiffness. Accompanied by faint sounds like sand grains rustling to the ground, she finally emerged somewhat staggeringly from that sealing cocoon restraining her.
"This place is..."
Kushina steadied herself, puzzledly surveying this room. Gloomy surroundings filled with various scrolls, the air permeated with the smell of aged paper and dust. Before her stood two other large cocoons similar to where she'd just been, labeled with characters reading "First" and "Second" respectively.
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"Old man, you still haven't let go?"
"Sorry, Jiraiya—only this I cannot agree to. Everything this old man does is for Konoha."
"Stop clinging to the past... Can't you, as Hokage, make a decision on this matter?"
"No, Jiraiya! This cannot be handed to you! Right now, I'm still Hokage!"
"But, old man, you must understand!" Jiraiya retorted without yielding. "People who can't abandon anything ultimately can't change anything!"
"But this has absolutely nothing to do with being Hokage! You think I don't know your little schemes? Don't even think about this! I don't want to hear rumors that Konoha's Fifth Hokage is a peeping tom!"
The Third finally couldn't bear it any longer. He snatched the crystal ball back from the desk, shouting loudly in exasperation.
"Tch..." Jiraiya clicked his tongue reluctantly, his gaze still following that precious crystal ball capable of observing various locations in Konoha with reluctance.
Just moments ago, after Naruto left, the two had begun discussing matters regarding succeeding as next-generation Hokage. Initially everything went smoothly. After all, aside from his lechery problem, Jiraiya possessed all qualities befitting a Hokage—even the jonin vote was merely a formality.
However, when the Third used the Telescope Jutsu to check post-war Konoha and shelter conditions, searching for areas requiring priority handling... that earlier dispute over the crystal ball's ownership occurred.
Watching the lecherous expression resurface on his disciple's face, the Third helplessly rubbed his brow, supplementing: "Also, so-called Hokage orders like 'allowing white-haired old men free entry to hot spring women's baths' will absolutely never be approved."
Jiraiya immediately deflated like a punctured balloon. The Third watched his appearance, only able to sigh silently inwardly. His three disciples all had somewhat troublesome problems... However, compared to squandering fortunes in casinos and indulging in feminine charms, at least these were far more acceptable than walking the path of missing-nin.
"Alright, the village still needs our efforts now." The Third spoke seriously, pulling the topic back on track. "One last matter—after your succession ceremony ends, immediately formally announce Naruto's lineage in the Hokage's name."
Jiraiya froze upon hearing this. The Third explained in a heavy voice.
"These years... the village has indeed owed Naruto far too much. Villagers need some excuse for past behavior—better to give them a target for venting... This responsibility, I'll bear."
Jiraiya fell into silence. He understood the Third Hokage did indeed bear responsibility in this matter... But what about himself? As a teacher, not caring about his deceased disciple's orphan for so many years... Sigh, this couldn't be easily brushed aside with just a scolding.
Just as the atmosphere in the office grew heavy, the Hokage office door was suddenly pushed open! An ANBU member rushed in with hurried steps, reporting urgently.
"This is bad, Hokage-sama! The seal... the seal has been broken! There's a dangerous situation! We can't stop her at all!"
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