Chapter 121: Arrangements for Minato

When a Nine-Tails jinchuriki collects enough Tailed Beast chakra, they can enter a special state known as the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. However, to access this mode, one must possess sufficient strength to seize the vast majority of the Tailed Beast's chakra from the Nine-Tails and store it within their own body. The previous jinchuriki, Mito Uzumaki, was able to enter this state, gaining significant boosts to both speed and power, as well as the ability to perceive goodwill and malice, allowing her to distinguish friend from foe.

"Boss, I feel like I can do anything now. This power is incredible; I could take on ten of my former self!" Kushina said, beaming at Kahn. She had just used her newly acquired ability to sense him, and since there was not a shred of malice in him, she concluded that Minato Namikaze had been talking nonsense.

"In that case, Kushina, let’s have a spar so you can adapt to your new abilities as quickly as possible," Kahn said with a smile. Kushina in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode would surely be a formidable speed-based opponent.

"Alright, but let’s make it a bet. The loser has to do one thing for the winner," Kushina said, full of confidence. Even if the boss’s abilities were strange, she was certain she could win.

"Deal. Let’s begin. Stupefy!"

Before he had even finished speaking, Kahn cast a Stunning Spell at Kushina. However, in this state, Kushina’s speed and sensory perception were boosted several times over. As soon as the spell was cast, she vanished from her spot.

A second later, Kahn instinctively tried to use a Levitation Charm to take to the air for a mobile fight, but before he could, he was sent flying by a heavy punch from Kushina.

*Thud.*

Had it not been for his Armor Charm, Kahn would have been knocked unconscious. Kushina had held back; otherwise, she would have used her Adamantine Chains instead of her fist.

As he was sent flying, Kahn immediately used a Flying Charm, transforming into a dark mist as he maneuvered through the air, then began a barrage of spells at Kushina.

"Stupefy! Confringo! Petrificus Totalus!"

Kahn controlled the power of his spells. For a lethal spell like *Confringo*, he kept the magical output moderate, using it primarily to disrupt Kushina’s movement. He hadn't seen much combat, but Kushina, while her experience was limited, was still stronger than him. In this fight, Kahn’s goal was to hone his own combat awareness and style.

*Bang! Boom!*

Deep craters were blasted into the ground by his spells, but he failed to land a hit. The speed of that "Golden Flash" was simply too fast; Kahn only managed to track her movements thanks to his Sage Mode.

However, sensing her didn't mean he could hit her. Kushina also possessed sensory capabilities, and her speed far exceeded the travel time of his spells. By the time he gathered his magic, she had already dodged. This ability to predict his moves made the fight incredibly frustrating for Kahn.

Yet, Kahn’s Flying Charm also troubled Kushina. He moved like smoke, and his speed was relentless. If she leaped into the air, she couldn't easily catch him, and she would lose her ability to dodge.

"I'm going to use my sealing jutsu, Boss!"

Kushina shouted a warning before eight golden, shimmering chains erupted from her back, striking toward Kahn in the sky with incredible speed.

The Adamantine Chains were a headache for Kahn. Each one could extend dozens of meters, and his Sage Mode warned him that being hit by one of these would be extremely dangerous. Furthermore, Kushina could use the chains to vault into the air, making them highly effective for both defense and offense. With just two chains swirling around her, even Kahn’s *Confringo* spells couldn't get through to harm her.

As time passed, Kushina began to grasp the rhythm between his Flying Charm and spellcasting. She felt that with her speed, she could exploit the opening.

"Confringo!"

*Bang!*

Another Blasting Curse. Kahn was gradually increasing the power of his spells, causing the Adamantine Chains to rattle and sway. Kushina, however, spotted the opening. The moment the spell was blocked, she used the chains as a springboard, launching herself directly at Kahn.

*Snap!*

A crisp sound echoed in the air. The joyful expression on Kushina’s face as she was about to grab Kahn froze; she suddenly felt both her ankles snap from the sheer force of her own exertion.

Overcome by sharp pain, she lost control of the Adamantine Chains and plummeted from the sky. It was a fall of several dozen meters, and the pain and tension caused the Extremis virus to react slowly. Fortunately, Kahn flew over and caught her, bringing her safely to the ground.

"My... my ankles are broken," Kushina said, clutching Kahn’s sleeve.

"I see it. But have you forgotten the effects of the Extremis virus? Don't panic when you get hurt. As long as your head isn't severed, the virus can repair anything."

By the time Kahn finished speaking, the Extremis virus had already slowly mended Kushina’s ankles, and the pain was gone. She stood up and bounced a few times to confirm. Only then did she realize just how terrifying the healing power of the virus was—in just a few seconds, a fracture had been completely repaired.

"It seems you’re still getting used to this power. That wasn't even your full speed; if you had gone any faster, your ankles might have snapped clean off," Kahn analyzed, then smiled at her. "So, who won that match?"

Kushina blushed, stammering and unable to speak. She wanted to back out of the bet, but couldn't bring herself to say it. And if she admitted defeat... if the boss asked for something excessive, like a massage or something even more embarrassing... just thinking about it made her shy.

...

After returning, Kushina bid farewell to Kahn, her mood bright. Although she was now a jinchuriki, the long-standing gloom in her heart had been swept away. She now possessed power equal to Mito Uzumaki, speed comparable to space-time ninjutsu while in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, and had learned Tsunade’s monstrous strength. With that combination of speed and power, surviving a single direct hit would be a miracle.

As he watched Kushina leave, Kahn didn't deactivate his Sage Mode, sensing several Anbu operatives lurking around the house. Still, the harvest today had been substantial. If there were a progress bar, Kahn would see Kushina’s favorability at 90%. A complete Nine-Tails jinchuriki, an Extremis virus host, a Wood Style bloodline wielder, and a future master of Sage Mode and sealing arts—this was an investment that would yield nothing but profit.

As Kushina returned home, someone else arrived at the Hokage’s office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, annoyed. He had been about to sleep when Jiraiya forced him to put on his Hokage hat and return to the office. He couldn't exactly let a boisterous guy like Jiraiya talk business in his own home.

"Jiraiya, you've been out for so long. What useful information have you gathered?"

Hiruzen asked. Besides him and Jiraiya, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu were also present in the room. Due to the war, they had little time to rest and were effectively living in the Hokage building.

"Harvest... well, there’s plenty."

At the mention of this, Jiraiya felt a bit guilty. He couldn't exactly tell them he had been lingering in the most famous pleasure districts in the Land of Hot Water.

"I’ve found out the reason why the Cloud Village and the Mist Village have gone to war."

Danzo frowned upon hearing this and asked immediately, "The reason? Isn't it just because the Land of Lightning's Daimyo ordered it due to the Mist Village’s frequent harassment of their borders? What other reason could there be?"

"Of course, that is the main reason for the war, but why would the Mist Village frequently attack the borders of the Land of Lightning? After all, the two villages had no friction in the last Great Ninja War."

Jiraiya nodded. He hadn't returned empty-handed this time; if he couldn't get information from ninjas, he would find it from commoners.

"The Mist ninjas are highly disciplined. Their targets were exclusively the shipping ports, fleets, and merchants of the Land of Lightning. Now, the merchants of the Land of Lightning can no longer set sail normally due to the Mist's harassment."

Homura, who often dealt with merchants, immediately saw the Mist’s intent. "Jiraiya, are you saying the Mist is attacking the Land of Lightning purely for the sake of maritime navigation?"

Jiraiya said with a solemn expression, "Yes, but it doesn't look like an order from the Water Country’s nobles or Daimyo. At least in the Land of Hot Water, the shipping ports are almost entirely controlled by the Kahn Trading Company from the Land of Waves, while the Water Country's shipping is rarely seen."

*Kahn Trading Company...*

Upon hearing that name, the expressions of Danzo and the others shifted slightly. Danzo tapped his cane on the floor. "This man again. Not only did he break the agreement by selling medicines to other ninja villages, but now he is inciting war between the Cloud and the Mist... Hiruzen, if you really can't handle him, leave this matter to our Foundation."

"Danzo, I already have arrangements. Don't even think about this matter."

Hiruzen refused without a second thought. As his longtime teammate, he knew exactly what Danzo was going to say next—nothing more than demanding the Nine-Tails jinchuriki be handed over to the Foundation for training. Honestly, when Kushina had shown signs of rebellion, he had been tempted, but after thinking it over, he dismissed the idea. A disobedient jinchuriki only affected the village's power, but if he handed her over to Danzo, it would threaten his own position as Hokage. On this, he would never yield.

Afterward, following some further arrangements regarding Jiraiya’s intelligence, Danzo and the others left the office.

"Jiraiya, don't leave the village for now."

As Jiraiya prepared to leave, Hiruzen called him back. "The war has already begun, and the Land of Earth is becoming restless. I intend to form a squad with Minato Namikaze and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. I need you, as his teacher, to keep an eye on Minato."

The Ino-Shika-Cho clans had a sworn alliance with the Sarutobi clan, but the fact that Hiruzen was pairing them with Minato showed how much he valued him. Even his three disciples hadn't received such treatment—Tsunade didn't need it, but Orochimaru and Jiraiya never had the chance, even as their reputations in the village grew.