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The mountain-sized Nine-Tails was firmly bound by the Adamantine Sealing Chains, unable to move.
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"Uzumaki Mito, I''ll kill you!"
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The Kyuubi roared in fury.
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Sealed within Mito for decades, it naturally harbored immense hatred towards its container.
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Mito ignored the Kyuubi''s threats, focusing all her energy on suppressing the beast.
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"Sealing Team, now''s your chance! Use the Sealing Jutsu!" Hiruzen yelled.
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They had to seize this opportunity. If the Kyuubi broke free, even Hiruzen wouldn''t be able to stop it.
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Hiruzen was a Kage-level Shinobi at his peak, one of the strongest in the world, but he was no match for the Nine-Tails.
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He had mastered ordinary Jutsu, but against a Tailed Beast, those Jutsu were ineffective.
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Unless he used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, but that was a suicidal Jutsu. Would he risk his life?
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"Hurry! Don''t let the Kyuubi use Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Ball)!"
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Mito yelled to Hiruzen. She was losing control.
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Extracting a Tailed Beast drained the host''s life force. And Mito was already nearing the end of her lifespan. She couldn''t hold on much longer.
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If they didn''t seal the Kyuubi now, while she was still alive, Konoha would face a catastrophe.
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The Sealing Team didn''t disappoint. They worked together to seal the Kyuubi into Akiko.
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"Four Symbols Seal!"
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Mito, her life fading, used the last of her strength to apply the Four Symbols Seal, leaving a mark resembling the Uzumaki Clan symbol on Akiko''s stomach.
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Akiko had fainted, but her steady breathing indicated she was fine.
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Mito closed her eyes. After applying the seal, she breathed her last.
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Hiruzen sighed, then ordered the Anbu to take Akiko back to the village and protect her.
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Now a Jinchūriki, Akiko could no longer leave the village for missions.
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Unless it was absolutely necessary, Hiruzen wouldn''t allow her to leave. She was now Konoha''s weapon.
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Three days later, Konoha held a funeral for Mito. The entire village attended.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
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Tsunade, who had been deployed to the border, returned for the funeral.
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"Tsunade''s not taking this well, is she?"
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Shin watched Tsunade, who had been silent since returning from the funeral. He wanted to comfort her, but he didn''t know what to say.
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He wasn''t good at comforting people.
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"I knew this day would come... but it still hurts."
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Tsunade slumped over the table, her emotions a mix of grief and anger.
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The Nine-Tails transfer, such a major event involving her grandmother, and they hadn''t even informed her. She didn''t even get to say goodbye.
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Shin looked at Tsunade, unsure how to help. He shook his head and left the room, giving her some space.
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"Weren''t you going to comfort her? Why are you back?"
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Kushina, who had been chatting with Mikoto, asked Shin.
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"I''m not good at that kind of thing," Shin said with a helpless shrug.
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...
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Two days passed. Tsunade was no longer consumed by grief. News of Mito''s death had spread throughout the Shinobi world.
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"Are you sure Uzumaki Mito is dead?" The Third Kazekage asked the reporting Shinobi.
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"Yes, Kazekage-sama. They held a funeral for her a few days ago. Konoha wouldn''t joke about something like this."
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"Chiyo, what do you think?"
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The Kazekage turned to the woman standing beside him. This was Chiyo, Suna''s advisor, around the same age as Hiruzen.
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"Suna has been preparing for so long. We haven''t attacked because the timing wasn''t right. I believe now is the perfect opportunity to strike Konoha."
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Chiyo said seriously.
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Suna had been facing off against Konoha at the border for months, waiting for the right moment. And now, the opportunity had arrived.
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A few days ago, they had finally convinced the Third Tsuchikage, ōnoki, to join them in attacking Konoha.
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And with Mito''s death, Konoha''s strength had been significantly weakened.
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Mito was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. This wasn''t a secret. Now that she was dead, and with the new Jinchūriki still adjusting, the Nine-Tails was effectively out of commission. It was like their nuclear weapon had been temporarily deactivated. This was their chance.
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"By the way, have we reached an agreement with Amegakure?" Chiyo asked.
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"No. Hanzō refuses to cooperate. He wants to forbid us from entering the Land of Rain."
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The Kazekage was furious. Hanzō might be strong, but that didn''t give him the right to disrespect Suna.
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"If Hanzō refuses to cooperate, then we''ll ignore him. I don''t believe that little Amegakure would dare oppose Suna."
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Chiyo''s eyes flashed with determination. She wasn''t the frail old woman she would become in the future.
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"Then I''ll leave this to you, Chiyo."
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The Kazekage said. He wouldn''t be leading the forces from the front lines. As a Kage, he wouldn''t participate in battle unless it was absolutely necessary.
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Chiyo nodded. After the Kazekage returned to the village, she and her brother, Ebizo, led the Suna forces across the border into the Land of Rain.
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They had already agreed with ōnoki to attack the Land of Fire from the Land of Rain. The Land of Rain would become the battleground for the three Great Nations.
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As for Amegakure''s opinion? They had no say in the matter. The weak were always at the mercy of the strong.
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After months of stalemate, the Second Shinobi World War finally began, initiated by Suna.
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Chiyo sent a team of elite Jōnin to launch a surprise attack on the Konoha forces stationed at the border.
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Caught off guard, Konoha suffered heavy losses.
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Then the main Suna force arrived, led by Chiyo herself. Konoha was forced to retreat.
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After months of stalemate, the Konoha Shinobi had grown complacent. That was why they were so easily defeated in the surprise attack.
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Suna occupied Konoha''s former base and seized a large amount of supplies. They had gained a significant advantage.