vncnus Chapter 405 Little 9's "Tragic" Beastly Life
Chapter 405 Little 9's "Tragic" Beastly Life
Chapter 405 Xiao Jiu's "Tragic" Beastly Life
Amidst the ruins of Konoha Village, Taichi's cry of "Kyuu!" caused Kurama's movements to freeze instantly.
It turned its head with extreme reluctance, meeting Taiyi's slightly turned, calm and unwavering gaze. There was no threat in that gaze, only absolute indifference.
"You caused all of this." Tai's voice echoed directly in Kurama's mind, as calm as stating a simple fact. "You should also make some amends."
These words were like a bucket of ice water, precisely extinguishing the Nine-Tailed Fox's rising anger and its last bit of confidence in trying to resist.
That night, it tore through the seal, went berserk, and the scene of it wreaking havoc in Konoha flashed uncontrollably through its consciousness.
Although it wasn't its intention, and it was also a victim, it had done it, and it wasn't some beast that would deny its actions.
only----
"What Xiao Jiu? You're the Xiao Jiu, your whole family are Xiao Jiu, don't call me Xiao Jiu."
A series of complaints also rang in Taiyi's mind, and the voice returned to its original deep and heavy tone. However, Taiyi couldn't help but purse his lips. This Nine-Tails could only show off at this moment.
But Taiyi didn't tolerate it at all and directly severed the temporary connection constructed by his mental power.
In reality, the gurgling sound in the Nine-Tailed Fox's throat disappeared, and its bristling fur gradually calmed down, making it look as if it had been scolded by Taiichi.
In that moment of distraction, several warm little hands finally managed to touch its proud orange-red fur.
"Wow! So soft and warm!" the little girl exclaimed in surprise, gently stroking the thickest fur on its back.
"It's like a furnace!" The little boy boldly hugged its fluffy tail, burying his face contentedly in it.
Nine-Tails' body tensed instantly, like a stiff stone.
Humiliation! This is an unprecedented humiliation! It, the Nine-Tailed Fox, a being that strikes fear into the entire ninja world, is now being carelessly petted by a group of human cubs as if they were docile pets!
It wanted to roar, to hurl these little devils and this whole ruin together!
However, the chakra of the terrifying human beside him always enveloped the area, like an invisible headband, tightly restraining his impulses.
It could only stand stiffly, letting those little hands rub and knead its precious fur, its eyes tightly closed, as if that would shut it out of this terrible reality.
Life is precious, love is even more so, but for freedom, both can be given up.
Although Nine-Tailed Fox had never heard of this saying before, it understood the principle behind it.
Considering that it is now for freedom, the loss of this small amount of dignity is insignificant.
not to mention----
Gradually, a strange feeling began to spread.
Although those little hands were clumsy in their movements, they carried a warmth and kindness unique to children, pure and unadulterated.
The gentle stroking, following the direction of hair growth, brought an indescribable sense of comfort—a comfort it had almost never experienced in its long life.
The tense muscles relaxed without the animal even realizing it, and a lazy feeling crept up its spine. It couldn't even control itself and let out a very soft, almost pleasurable purr from deep in its throat, a sound it wasn't even aware of.
What made it even more ashamed was that when a little girl gently scratched its chin with her small hand, a strong...
The pleasurable sensation, stemming from its biological instincts, instantly overwhelmed all its psychological defenses.
Almost instinctively, it slightly raised its chin, allowing its little hand to scratch a more comfortable spot. Its tightly closed vertical pupils also narrowed uncontrollably under the impact of this ultimate comfort.
He looked nothing like a tailed beast; he was just a domesticated fox, basking in blissful contentment and dozing off.
This incredibly impactful scene was witnessed by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Homura Mitokado, who rushed over at the last minute.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the third generation, an old man who had weathered many storms and remained unmoved even when Mount Tai collapsed before him, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
His gaze was fixed on the "little fox" in the child's arms, its eyes half-closed, letting itself be stroked, and even swaying its large tail comfortably. Then, he incredulously swept his eyes over the children with innocent smiles on their faces.
This—this is really the Nine-Tailed Fox that roared and tore the sky apart last night, dragging Konoha into hell?
He felt that the worldview he had held onto for decades was now groaning under the weight of his burden.
Mitokado Yan, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, reacted even more directly. He subconsciously adjusted his slipped glasses, his eyes widening behind the lenses, his mouth slightly agape, as if struck by a silent thunderbolt.
He looked at the "harmless" cute creature, then at Hiruzen Sarutobi's equally stiff face. A strong sense of absurdity and the harshness of reality clashed violently in his mind, leaving him momentarily speechless.
The two stood frozen in place, like two stone statues frozen in place, their mouths twitching uncontrollably, unable to speak for a long time.
In the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent thoughts, and turned to Taiichi, who had just finished treating a wounded soldier.
His voice was hoarse from suppressed emotion: "Taiyi—" He paused, seemingly searching for the right words, his gaze sweeping once more over the glaring orange-red mass, "This—is this what you meant by 'absolutely controllable'?"
Taiyi met the scrutinizing gaze of the Third Generation, his face devoid of any superfluous expression, only a calm and composed demeanor.
He nodded, his voice clear and steady: "Yes, Third Hokage. Its current form and power are within absolute control. And with our promise—"
Taiichi didn't finish his sentence, but Hiruzen Sarutobi already understood.
He and Mitokado Yan's self-light involuntarily drifted towards Namikaze Minato.
The young Fourth Hokage, with a wry smile on his face, met the gazes of the two advisors and nodded slightly, which was considered an endorsement of Taichi's actions.
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent. His wrinkled hands gripped the pipe tightly, his knuckles turning white.
His gaze lingered between Taiichi's calm face, Minato's helpless smile, and the "little fox" whose eyes were half-closed and almost asleep as the child stroked it.
The Nine-Tails has already been sealed inside Minato's body; that's a fait accompli. If the agreement is torn up now and someone tries to renege, this seemingly docile little thing will instantly revert to its original form and rebel wildly inside Minato's body.
That would be tantamount to personally pushing Minato and the future of Konoha into an abyss of no return.
Konoha holds the Nine-Tails' freedom card, and the Nine-Tails—Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze once again falls on those innocent children, on those squinting, seemingly harmless little creatures—this Nine-Tails seems to have subtly "grasped" Konoha's weakness.
An absurd yet incredibly realistic tacit balance was achieved silently and eerily.
Hiruzen Sarutobi finally let out a long sigh, a sigh so heavy it seemed to crush his spine.
He stopped looking at the eye-scratching scene, turned around and walked towards another rescue area that needed his command, his shadow stretching long in the setting sun.
Mitokado Yan pushed up his glasses and followed without a word, though his steps were slightly unsteady.
This is a silent compromise.
As the last dangerous ruins were reinforced by Orochimaru's Earth Release, the last group of seriously wounded were rescued in Taiichi's green light, and the location of the last missing person was confirmed (whether alive or dead), the setting sun sank once again into the distant mountains.
Taiyi finally slowly released the chakra that had been continuously outputting from his palm. The long-term, high-intensity medical ninjutsu had taken its toll, and even he felt a deep sense of fatigue.
He rubbed his slightly swollen temples and looked at Minato, who also looked tired but still stood up straight.
"Let's go, Minato." Taichi's voice was slightly hoarse. "Let's go see Kushina."
A glimmer of light instantly appeared in Minato's tired eyes—a light that reflected the concern of a husband and the expectations of a father.
He nodded without saying anything more. The two walked side by side, stepping over the rubble and the lingering dust, toward home.
The orange-red "little fox," which had been forced to work all day, was now listlessly perched on Taiichi's shoulder, too lazy to even flick its tail.
Even if you feel very comfortable, by the end of the day, you feel completely drained, leaving you with nothing but despair after being overly "ravaged".
Pushing open that familiar door, the scene inside made Minato and Taiichi pause slightly in surprise.
Kushina was standing in the center of the living room, holding a water glass in her hand.
She was no longer the pale, dying woman she had been the night before. Her vibrant red hair had regained its vitality, and her pale cheeks now had a healthy glow. Although a trace of weakness from recovering from a serious illness still lingered between her brows, her overall spirit and energy were completely different.
"Kushina!" Minato appeared beside his wife in a flash, carefully supporting her arm, his voice filled with surprise and lingering fear, "How did you get out of bed? How are you feeling?"
"It's alright, Minato!" Kushina flashed a bright smile, patted her husband's hand, and said in a clear voice, "I was so stiff from lying down! I feel much better!"
Her gaze then passed over the water gate and landed on Taiichi at the door. Her smile was full of gratitude. "Thanks to Taiichi!"
Your sealing technique is truly amazing!
Taiichi simply glanced at her twice, his powerful senses instantly sweeping over Kushina's body.
"Hmm," Tai nodded, a gentle smile appearing on his face, "The life force is stable, and the seal is perfectly integrated."
Congratulations, Kushina-neechan, the most dangerous phase is completely over.
He turned to Minato, his tone resolute, "Don't worry, Minato, she's perfectly fine. The Uzumaki clan's vitality is indeed powerful; her life force is no longer being lost, and she recovers incredibly quickly."
Minato let out a long sigh of relief, his tense nerves finally relaxing completely, and his eyes were filled with heartfelt gratitude as he looked at Taiichi.
However, Kushina's bright blue eyes suddenly froze when they swept over Taichi's shoulder.
That wilted, orange-red, fuzzy ball of fur—a feeling both incredibly familiar and utterly strange seized her instantly.
As a former Jinchūriki, and someone who spent over a decade living and fighting against the Nine-Tails' chakra, she had an unforgettable connection to that power and that aura.
But this shape? This size? This—this state of being able to be kneaded (at least it looks like it)? The huge contrast caused her mind to short-circuit instantly.
"This—this is?" Kushina looked at Minato, then at Taichi, her eyes filled with extreme confusion and disbelief. Her finger unconsciously pointed to the orange-red mark on Taichi's shoulder. "Minato? Taichi? It—"
Taiichi didn't keep her in suspense. Meeting Kushina's questioning gaze, he calmly nodded and directly revealed the answer: "You're right, this is the Nine-Tails."
The anticipated fear, anger, and hatred did not materialize.
The confusion and shock on Kushina's face vanished as quickly as a thin mist in the sunlight the moment the confirmation was received.
Instead, it's replaced by a kind of adoration that young girls feel when they see cute, furry creatures!
"Nine-Tails!"
Kushina's voice suddenly rose, filled with surprise, and her eyes instantly curved into crescents, sparkling with excitement. "Is it really you?"
She completely ignored her husband Minato's concerned outstretched hand and Taiichi's calm gaze; all her attention was completely captured by the wan orange-red mass on Taiichi's shoulder.
The next second, this female ninja, who had just struggled back from the brink of death, displayed a speed that rivaled that of an elite Jonin.
She screamed and, like a burning red flame, rushed forward with boundless enthusiasm, her goal clear: to hug that furry creature tightly!
"You wretched woman! Stay away from me!"
Nine-Tailed Fox instantly bristled and bounced awkwardly off Taiichi's shoulder, its fluffy tail standing upright like a startled feather duster.
Its golden vertical pupils were wide open, filled with terror (what it perceived as majesty) and resistance.
It tried to escape, but its shrunken body and similarly compressed strength greatly reduced its agility.
"Let me hug you!" Kushina's blue eyes shone brightly, her face showing undisguised affection and an excited smile that seemed to say, "I've finally caught you."
She moved with lightning speed, blocking the Nine-Tails' path as it tried to jump onto the cabinet with a sidestep, then pounced on it again, arms outstretched. "You've lived in my belly for so many years! Consider it rent!"
"Rent? Bullshit!" Nine-Tailed Fox was so angry that her fur was trembling all over. She jumped up and down among the limited furniture in the living room to avoid those "claws" while roaring wildly in a childish voice.
"It was you bastards who locked me up inside your belly for so many years! I'll bite you to death!" It bared its teeth fiercely, revealing its small teeth, trying to intimidate.
"Oh dear, you stingy little thing!" Kushina was completely unfazed by the threat and was instead amused by its "fierce yet adorable" appearance.
She spotted an opening when the nine-tailed fox landed, lunged forward, and precisely caught the tip of one of its swinging tails with both hands.
"Awooo—!" The Nine-Tails let out a short, sharp cry as its entire body was pulled to the side.
"Let go! You crazy woman!" It twisted its body, trying to scratch Kushina's hand with its claws, but its tail was too long and it couldn't reach it, so it could only kick its hind legs in vain.
"I won't let go! I haven't collected enough rent yet!" Kushina said smugly, taking the opportunity to reach out her other hand, aiming straight for the Nine-Tailed Fox's furry belly, which looked absolutely wonderful to touch.
"Don't even think about it! I'll fight you to the death!" The Nine-Tailed Fox struggled and rolled with all its might, its small body bursting with amazing twisting power. It finally broke free from the grip of its tail and crawled to hide behind the sofa, never to come out again.
Minato Namikaze and Taichi stood a little distance away, quietly watching this chaotic and lively scene.
He watched his wife, full of energy and vitality, chasing after the "little fox," as if the tragedy and despair of the previous night were just a distant nightmare.
Seeing Kushina so lively and noisy again was the greatest comfort to him.
A faint smile played at the corners of Taiyi's lips. This absurd yet heartwarming scene before him was precisely the balance he had hoped to see.
Confine destructive power within a harmless shell, allowing hatred to dissipate through peculiar coexistence and everyday frolicking.
In the living room, Kushina's energetic shouts and Kurama's furious roars continued.
Minato then took Taichi to the small hut next door to see his newborn child.