CHAPTER 221: CHAPTER 221: DON’T WANT TO BE DIGNIFIED? I’LL HELP YOU BE DIGNIFIED!

"What’s this event?"

"It’s said to be a village welfare program. Those who live in remote areas and are elderly can come to the village to register, and the Ninja Academy children will deliver some firewood for the winter another day."

"That’s great. Ever since we won the war, the welfare has been getting better and better."

"Yeah!"

Everyone was discussing enthusiastically, praising the village’s good policies. Compared to the past, the benefits provided by the village in the last year were indeed numerous. However, they only thought it was because of winning the war and thus receiving many benefits, but they didn’t know it was also related to the current system reform of the Ninja Academy.

The current academy students, besides training, were also divided into many categories. For example, the swordsmanship class. Practicing swordsmanship alone took effort, and chopping trees also took effort. Wasn’t combining the two killing two birds with one stone? The taijutsu class had a similar line of thought. The price was that the food expenses of the Konoha Ninja Academy were much higher. But this was also to make the children healthier and stronger. It could be said that they spent one sum of money and did multiple things. This was efficiency. In comparison, the past academy system was very redundant and wasteful, squandering the precious years of youth, especially the last three years.

Above, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked again.

"Is everyone here?"

Mitokado Homura said.

"Mm, we specifically called them all over to count the numbers. After all, it’s almost winter now. We’ll count the numbers, so the children can deliver the firewood to their doors in the winter."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a long time. The policy change of the Ninja Academy, he had set the direction at the beginning under the influence of Ryoho Kyohiko. The subsequent framework was basically done by Kyohiko, while the specific arrangements were executed by Mitokado Homura. Looking at it now, the policy reform of the Ninja Academy was undoubtedly very successful! If they still used their old methods, the current academy would definitely not be as prosperous as it was now, and the children would not be as enthusiastic and ambitious as they were now.

Mitokado Homura smiled.

"By the way, the Ninja Academy is now considered relatively successfully established, but the next step cannot be ignored. Tsunade’s side doesn’t have time, so we should start thinking about it ourselves."

"The next step?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback. What next step?

"Yes, have you forgotten? According to Kyohiko’s framework, the Ninja Academy is only the first step. The current academy students are equivalent to being focused on training combat and mission execution abilities, while the education in theory has been relaxed..."

Mitokado Homura spoke of the arrangement at that time.

In the genin stage, it was necessary to further cultivate a part of the ninjas who had command, research, or chunin abilities, allowing them to master more theoretical knowledge and advanced techniques. In other words, a part of the previous six years of genin was split off and moved to the genin stage for study and training.

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s expression was a little dazed. He remembered. There really was such a thing!

"Sigh!"

"Perhaps, I really am old!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed in his heart. Many operations, he could no longer understand at the first instance, only reacting later on. This was a manifestation of aging! Even... Mitokado Homura... the current Homura seemed to be very energetic and full of fighting spirit, feeling younger than himself.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, oh Sarutobi Hiruzen, you have to pull yourself together. You can’t be lazy anymore!"

*

In the Forest of Death.

Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina were a little bewildered—mainly because it was too sudden! Previously, they couldn’t contact Kyohiko. It was Minato who had to directly send a message with the Flying Thunder God to get in touch with him. He hadn’t expected that after Kyohiko returned to the village, he would immediately put this matter on the agenda.

"Kyohiko, this, what’s going on? Don’t we need to prepare?"

Ryoho Kyohiko said.

"Things happened suddenly, there’s no time to prepare. And we don’t have much time, including the Nine-Tails."

Uzumaki Yuki’s side, he had already sent a shadow clone. Now... he had to first do some ideological work with the Nine-Tails.

After Kyohiko finished speaking, he stretched out his hand and pressed it on Kushina’s forehead.

"Kushina-senpai, I need to enter the sealed space and communicate with the Nine-Tails face to face. After all, after today, a part of it needs to be released. I must make some things clear."

Uzumaki Kushina nodded.

"You may."

A moment later, Kyohiko’s consciousness flashed, and he had already appeared in the familiar dark space.

The Nine-Tails grinned.

"Brat, you really want to let me out?"

Ryoho Kyohiko nodded.

"Just a part of you."

"One thing is, Kushina-senpai cannot be completely separated from you. Another is, I’m not very at ease letting you go completely free, because... we’ve had a new discovery."

"Oh?"

The Nine-Tails propped itself up, a trace of eagerness on its face. "Madara is still alive?"

"Very likely. Simply put..."

Ryoho Kyohiko explained the ins and outs of the encounter with Zetsu in detail, so that the Nine-Tails could judge for itself—a Tailed Beast like the Nine-Tails couldn’t fully trust humans yet. Omitting some details and the beginning and end might be counterproductive, making the other party suspect he was fabricating a lie to use it. Speaking the truth was Kyohiko’s way of dealing with the Nine-Tails. It’s just... the truth certainly had its emphasis.

The Nine-Tails listened quietly, looking emotionally calm, but its claws were already uncontrollably scratching the gate of the "prison." It was very angry, and very excited!

"Brat, you’re not lying to me, are you?"

"Everything I said is the truth."

Kyohiko spoke of his conjecture.

The Nine-Tails nodded repeatedly, then grinned.

"Well then, one thing is certain. That black thing, it is a kind of chakra life. In fact, that kind of possession state, we Tailed Beasts also have similar abilities."

Ryoho Kyohiko picked up the conversation, and at the same time, it was to satisfy the Nine-Tails’ desire to show off.

"Tailed Beast Transformation?"

Sure enough, Kurama grinned and said disdainfully.

"Tailed Beast Transformation?"

It snorted coldly.

"The Tailed Beast transformation you know of will cause great damage to oneself."

Ryoho Kyohiko deliberately interjected.

"That’s right. But the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails are not injured after their Tailed Beast transformations."

The Nine-Tails held its head high.

"Heh, one is that they are too weak. The other, naturally, is that they have long since surrendered and actively help humans. And I will absolutely not submit to you!"

"Even now, my relationship with you is at most one of cooperation, not submission."

Ryoho Kyohiko smiled.

"That’s natural. It can be seen that as the Nine-Tails, your strength far exceeds theirs."

The Nine-Tails snorted, muttering things like "of course." But soon, it reacted.

"Brat, are you trying to get information out of me?"

Ryoho Kyohiko smiled.

"Where? I’m telling the truth."

The Nine-Tails stared at Kyohiko, not speaking for a long time. The truth? It didn’t dare to believe a single word. This brat had the strength of Senju Hashirama, and at the same time, the black heart of Hashirama’s younger brother. He was much more difficult to deal with than Hashirama and Madara. After calming down, the Nine-Tails began to doubt this and that again...

Ryoho Kyohiko smiled.

"Your worries are unnecessary."

The Nine-Tails looked up at Kyohiko, its eyes filled with vigilance. It didn’t speak, but its gaze seemed to say everything.

Ryoho Kyohiko continued.

"After the summoning contract is sealed, I will take you to see the body I mentioned. Although it’s not a chakra life form, it’s different from the First Hokage’s but extremely similar. You should be able to tell the difference."

The Nine-Tails spat out one word.

"Alright."

If it could see the kind of flesh and blood the other party mentioned, it would believe that what Kyohiko said was true.

Ryoho Kyohiko nodded, his consciousness withdrawing. He opened his eyes. Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina had anxious looks on their faces.

"How was it?"

Ryoho Kyohiko nodded.

"We can begin."

Namikaze Minato was a little surprised.

"Uzumaki Yuki..."

"She has already arrived."

After he spoke, a Flying Thunder God fluctuation was felt. Then, Uzumaki Yuki appeared beside the three of them. The current Yuzuki had grown a lot compared to when she first arrived in Konoha. Although she hadn’t become a ninja, her physical fitness and basic conditions were too good. Without much training, she had learned how to use the Adamantine Sealing Chains just by relying on the books Kushina had recorded in detail.

He had already explained roughly what needed to be done before. Uzumaki Yuki stood to one side.

Uzumaki Kushina’s eyes were filled with worry.

Ryoho Kyohiko said.

"Don’t worry. Actually, we don’t need her. Bringing her over is on one hand a safety measure, and on the other, to let her see what a Tailed Beast is, and..."

He paused for a moment, not continuing. But the two from the Uzumaki clan knew very well what he was going to say. And why the Uzumaki clan was destroyed!

Ryoho Kyohiko went up and fired a signal flare. Bang! The signal flare exploded. In an instant, a huge barrier spread out. This barrier was not the Four Violet Flames Formation, but just a combination barrier to isolate presence and space, which could seal off the movements and presence of the Forest of Death.

The four people present were all masters of perception. The moment the barrier rose, they sensed it. Namikaze Minato opened his eyes.

"Let’s begin."

Uzumaki Kushina quickly composed herself, adjusting her emotions to their best state. Then, hand seals, unseal! In an instant, a vast chakra presence emanated from her body, quickly filling the entire forest. Unlike the slow extraction before, this time, the Nine-Tails’ chakra directly devoured Kushina, and in an instant, transformed into a giant Tailed Beast.

"Uchiha Madara!" Decades of accumulated resentment filled its heart, making the Nine-Tails just want to go on a rampage and vent.

Uzumaki Yuki on the side was stunned. The Tailed Beast is so huge! She looked up dazedly at the massive red beast, the shock on her face unconcealable. Such terrifying power is sealed within Kushina’s body at all times! And... such terrifying resentment... Uzumaki Yuki bit her lip. She suddenly felt that Kushina was actually not that happy. In Konoha, she was like a living prison, just to imprison this terrifying beast. At this moment, she wanted to contribute.

But... Ryoho Kyohiko was already prepared.

"Minato, after I perform the jutsu, you directly use the contract seal to seal its summoning contract with Uchiha Madara."

"Mm."

Namikaze Minato nodded, his face filled with anxiety.

At the same time, on the other side, the shadow clone that was being petrified in amber suddenly disappeared along with the amber. Ryoho Kyohiko’s body instantly showed the sage markings. After quickly forming hand seals with both hands, pine trees grew from all directions. In an instant, countless resins flowed out, freezing the Nine-Tails’ claws and tails. As the Nine-Tails struggled, the amber also spread rapidly.

Sage Art: Amber Encasement!

Enhanced by Sage Art, the strengthened amber, like chains, sealed the Nine-Tails’ tails, hands, and head.

"AWOOO!" The Nine-Tails struggled with all its might. But the lock formed by the amber held it tightly, even showing signs of sealing it inside.

"Minato!"

"Mm."

Namikaze Minato had already started forming hand seals. The next moment—Swish! He instantly used the Body Flicker Technique, arriving on the Nine-Tails’ head. The Nine-Tails looked up...

Bang!

A hand suddenly slammed down. Ryoho Kyohiko maintained the seal with one hand, while the other directly transformed into a giant wooden hand, pressing the Nine-Tails’ head to the ground. Although the Nine-Tails had indicated it would cooperate, from its current attitude, it clearly still wanted to show off its strength. Then he couldn’t be blamed for being impolite!

One punch. The Nine-Tails was smashed into the ground. Minato instantly landed on its head, and then his right hand instantly pressed on the Nine-Tails’ head. The jutsu formula spread out. One by one, sealing formulas spread all over the Nine-Tails’ body. A special symbol appeared in both of the Nine-Tails’ eyes at the same time. This was the summoning contract between Madara and the Nine-Tails. After the seal took effect, the contract in its eyes was instantly severed.

The next moment, Namikaze Minato returned to Kyohiko’s side.

"How is it?"

"It’s a success. The contract between Madara and it has been sealed. But why is it still in a rampage state?"

"What rampage? It just wants to show off its strength," Ryoho Kyohiko sneered. There were no Uchiha clan members around.

Then, he shouted loudly.

"Nine-Tails, I know you can control your senses. If you don’t retract your power, don’t blame us for being impolite!"

The next moment, without needing Kyohiko, a series of chains grew out from within the Nine-Tails, directly locking it up. And then—Kushina emerged from its body.

"Damn Nine-Tails! I thought you really went on a rampage. Turns out you were trying to trick me, deliberately pushing your resentment towards me?"

The Nine-Tails finally spoke.

"I’ve been sealed for too long, my resentment is too great. I really couldn’t control it for a moment."

However, its voice revealed its lack of confidence. Clearly, just now, it did have the intention of venting and showing off its power, and at the same time, testing to what extent Kyohiko had reached. The result was, in terms of Wood Style and strength, this brat was indeed not as good as Senju Hashirama, but this strange, continuously generating, and sustained sealing jutsu made it really uncomfortable. Unless it could instantly shatter all the amber, the amber would continuously regenerate. Facing a Sage Art-level seal... unless the Nine-Tails could use all its power, it couldn’t directly break it for now. And now, its power was essentially only half. The other half was controlled by Kushina’s seal. This woman... is so hateful! the Nine-Tails cursed in its heart.

Namikaze Minato’s face was cold.

"Nine-Tails, you have to fulfill your promise."

For him, the Nine-Tails’ joke was not funny. After all, it concerned Kushina’s life and death.

The Nine-Tails said.

"Don’t worry, I will fulfill my promise. But you also have to release them, otherwise how can I split my power?"

Ryoho Kyohiko sneered.

"No need, I can do it too!"

Don’t want to be dignified? Then I’ll have to help you be dignified!

The next moment, he formed hand seals with both hands. Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique! As Kyohiko’s constitution and Wood Style proficiency improved, he could have used the Wood Dragon Technique long ago, let alone now that he was in Sage Mode. In an instant, a wood dragon flew out from his palm, instantly wrapping around the Nine-Tails. Then, the Tailed Beast chakra was rapidly absorbed from the Nine-Tails, forming two tree fruits under his control, and the Nine-Tails also slowly shrank from its huge body. Finally, amid its unwilling roars, it shrank back into Kushina’s body.

Kushina’s face was pale, but she was very angry.

"You lied to me, so I’m sealing you up again!"

In the dark space, the Nine-Tails, with less than half its power left, was speechless. This time... it had really lost face! It had originally wanted to show off its strength and make these juniors of the shinobi world take it seriously. It never thought it would screw up and instead give that brat Kyohiko a chance to teach it a lesson. How embarrassing! The Nine-Tails lay on the ground, sighing repeatedly.