The moment the Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb exploded, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in his office, nearly shattered his pipe in shock. The two advisors beside him also changed color, staring in alarm in the direction of the blast.
"Hiruzen, that power... could it be..."
Kouan looked grimly at the document in her hand. She exchanged a glance with Homura, a bad premonition rising simultaneously in their hearts.
"Isn't Kushina that girl, studying with Tsunade?"
"How did she end up outside the village, and even release the Nine-Tails?"
"Did something go wrong with Orochimaru?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded solemnly and rose abruptly from his seat. He reached for the Hokage's robe hanging beside him, draped it on, and issued a stern order to the on-duty ANBU.
"Summon the ninja of the Sealing Squad. Accompany me to suppress the Tailed Beast."
"Yes!"
The on-duty ANBU didn't dare to delay and immediately flew off to deliver the message.
Hiruzen Sarutobi placed the Hokage hat on his head, called out to his two old friends, and shunshined towards the forest east of Konoha.
"Kouan, Homura, it's time for us to fight side-by-side again. Come with me, and let's fight for Konoha one more time!"
The two advisors seemed to have their long-dormant spirits ignited by Hiruzen's decisive actions. They nodded vigorously and leaped after Hiruzen.
...
"Releasing a Tailed Beast Bomb near Konoha, Nine-Tails..."
"Are you going to break the agreement you made with Orochimaru?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding his staff, shouted loudly and leaped out of the forest, radiating killing intent.
The Nine-Tails, who was watching the spectacle, had its fun interrupted by the sudden shout. Upon seeing it was Hiruzen Sarutobi, it scoffed and turned its head away, continuing to instigate Nonoyu to bully Kushina.
"Keep tickling her, grab her hair, choke her neck, don't let her move..."
Its instigation, however, caused Nonoyu to stop. She pushed Nawaki, who was helping to hold Kushina's arms, away and pulled her distressed friend up from the ground.
She then pulled Kushina behind Orochimaru and stuck out her tongue at the Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tails, finding no entertainment, felt disappointed. It slowly turned its body and bared its teeth at Hiruzen and the two advisors.
"I did release the Tailed Beast Bomb!"
"You guys, do you want to fight me?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at this one, then at that one. Aside from the huge crater gouged out by the Tailed Beast Bomb in the forest, there didn't seem to be any other significant traces of destruction.
"Orochimaru, this...?"
"What is going on?"
Ignoring Hiruzen's confusion, the two advisors were even more astonished. This talking fox before them was the Nine-Tails?
If the Nine-Tails had escaped its seal, how was Kushina's child still alive?
"Hiruzen, this Nine-Tails..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi gently shook his head.
"I'll explain when there's time."
"It seems the Nine-Tails' seal is not damaged. You two should go back for now!"
The two advisors exchanged glances, their eyes filled with complexity.
They hadn't gotten to fight the escaped Nine-Tails, and they couldn't quite tell if they were disappointed or relieved. As for the matter of this Nine-Tails, as Hiruzen said, they could discuss it later!
After a false alarm, the two advisors remembered that Konoha ninjas would be arriving soon and dared not delay any longer. They nodded to Orochimaru, then hurried back to stop the Sealing Squad ninja and ANBU rushing from the village, and returned together.
"Teacher, this matter is my fault."
After seeing the two advisors off, Orochimaru offered Hiruzen Sarutobi an apologetic smile and recounted the process of teaching his disciples.
"So that's how it is..."
"Orochimaru, you truly gave this old man a scare..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed with emotion, and the Ruyi Staff in his hand transformed into the true form of Enma, the King of Monkeys, with a *bang*.
"Hiruzen has trained three excellent disciples in you, Tsunade, and Jiraiya, earning him the title of Professor of Ninjutsu in the ninja world."
"Orochimaru, the fact that you could come up with the idea of using the Nine-Tails' power to teach your disciples truly broadens my horizons!"
"What? My boy, are you impatient to take his title before Hiruzen retires?"
Enma crossed his arms, grinning broadly as he teased the master and disciple before him.
Orochimaru chuckled and shook his head at Enma.
"Senior Enma, you jest!"
"Compared to Teacher's mastery of the Five Elemental Ninjutsu, I am still far behind."
"It's just that my disciple is quite talented in observing and developing ninjutsu. I, like my teacher Hiruzen, hope that my disciples will forge their own paths."
"Therefore, I made this somewhat reckless decision."
"I apologize for disturbing Teacher and Senior!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed heartily, his eyes filled with relief as he looked at Orochimaru.
"Excellent!"
"Orochimaru, I never expected you to learn not only the Will of Fire but also my philosophy of teaching disciples."
"I am truly proud of you!"
Orochimaru smiled humbly and shook his head gently.
"Hiruzen, it's rare for you to summon me. Why don't we take this opportunity to see how much this child Orochimaru has grown recently?"
Enma, being inherently battle-hungry, saw no fight available but didn't want to leave immediately. An idea sparked in his eyes to help Hiruzen test his disciple.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his short beard and nodded, clearly tempted.
"That's true..."
"Orochimaru, your teacher hasn't paid much attention to your training for a long time."
"Why don't we have these youngsters see how much strength this old man still possesses today?"
"So that this girl Kushina doesn't go around saying I became Hokage solely by virtue of my age, wouldn't you agree?"
Hiruzen said, winking at Kushina.
Kushina felt no guilt and stuck out her tongue at Hiruzen.
"Hee hee..."
Orochimaru gently patted Kushina's small head and pushed her behind him. He glanced at Nawaki, who was standing there blankly.
"It would be good for these children to witness the strength of the older generation!"
"Otherwise, after learning a trick or two that isn't quite up to par, they might develop some unrealistic ideas."
Nawaki looked around curiously, only then realizing that his teacher was referring to him. Recalling how he was defeated by Minato after activating the Eight Inner Gates due to his carelessness, he let out a sheepish laugh, scratched his head, and ran with Minato to the side of the two girls.
"A spar?"
The Nine-Tails raised its head with great interest, nudged closer to Orochimaru, and said with a sly grin:
"Orochimaru, bring me along!"
"There are two of them, and with me, we'll be two!"
"That way, the fight will be fair!"
"I promise, I won't hold you back!"
As soon as the Nine-Tails spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Enma on the opposite side stiffened simultaneously.
Damn it, are these words spoken by a human?