Nine-Tails Aftermath I (Please Subscribe)

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched as Hyuga Mirai and Uzumaki Ayaka took away half of the Nine-Tails. The two Anbu he had brought were dead, Minato lay in his arms, and nearby were Kushina, who had had the Nine-Tails extracted from her, and the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Under these circumstances, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not dare to give chase. Moreover, tonight’s Nine-Tails’ Rampage might be connected to the Uchiha Clan.

When the Nine-Tails had attacked the village, at least a hundred people had clearly seen the conspicuous Sharingan in its eyes. It had obviously been under someone’s control.

The casualties within the village had yet to be counted, and the Uchiha Clan remained a potential threat. The one who had controlled the Nine-Tails had surely come from that clan. Perhaps someone within the Uchiha Clan had colluded with Hyuga Mirai, leading to this Nine-Tails’ Rampage.

There was also the replacement of the Jinchuriki, the Fourth Hokage’s death, and the need to conceal the information so the other Ninja Villages could not uncover the details.

All these matters combined gave Sarutobi Hiruzen a massive headache.

Fortunately, Hyuga Mirai had not intended to take the Jinchuriki away. Otherwise, even if Sarutobi Hiruzen had to stake his life on it, he would have kept the Nine-Tails behind. But since the Jinchuriki was safe, his resolve to risk his life weakened somewhat. More importantly, he was not confident he could keep them there, especially with others beside them.

Faced with a Jinchuriki who could wield the Nine-Tails’ power immediately after being sealed and someone capable of defeating Jiraiya in Sage Mode, even Sarutobi Hiruzen found them extremely troublesome. Deep down, he even felt a trace of fear.

The Fourth Hokage was already dead. If he went forward and died fighting those two as well, what would become of Konoha?

Therefore, he could not risk his life against them. As long as they did not take the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki away, there would be another chance later. By gathering Konoha’s strength, they could certainly eliminate Hyuga Mirai, that Rogue ninja.

Not long after Hyuga Mirai left, the other Konoha Ninja arrived.

"The Fourth Hokage…"

The first Ninja to arrive trembled upon seeing Namikaze Minato lying on the ground. There was a hole through his chest, and he had no breath left. One look was enough to tell that he was dead.

Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately shouted, "Get the Medical Team here, now!"

"Yes, Lord Third Hokage."

The Medical Team soon arrived as well. After checking them over, they discovered that Uzumaki Kushina was the only injured person present, so they prepared to take her back immediately.

"Lady Kushina, leave the child to us—"

"I’m staying with Naruto!" Uzumaki Kushina immediately refused, her attitude utterly resolute and her tone somewhat cold.

Tonight’s events might have dealt her the greatest blow. She had faced death several times, watched her husband die before her eyes, and had even been saved by someone following Uzumaki Ayaka.

Uzumaki Kushina had seen it clearly. Perhaps Minato’s death should not be blamed on Hyuga Mirai. Once Minato had used the Reaper Death Seal, his death had already been predetermined. He had simply placed more weight on his responsibility as Hokage and chosen to use his last bit of strength to take the enemy away.

Uzumaki Kushina, who had dreamed of becoming Hokage as a child, now felt differently about that position. Because of her status as a Jinchuriki and because of the Hokage’s responsibilities, her family had suffered so much.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward to persuade her. "Kushina, you should listen to the Medical-nin. Treating your injuries is the most important thing right now. That Rogue ninja Hyuga Mirai may have done something to you, so we must examine you carefully."

"No. Naruto has to stay with me!"

Kushina’s attitude was unwavering. No one could separate her from Naruto.

Helpless, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only have the Medical Team take Kushina and Uzumaki Naruto back together.

Afterward, he had people collect the bodies of Namikaze Minato and the two Anbu. Once they had handled the aftermath, they returned to Konoha.

He likely would not be sleeping well for the next few days. Konoha had suffered such a devastating blow, and it was fortunate that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was still there. Otherwise, the losses would have been impossible to estimate.

Once he returned to the village, even more matters awaited Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Rescuing people, moving the wounded, settling the injured, tallying losses, and maintaining order within Konoha. Not only Sarutobi Hiruzen, but even the Anbu had not rested.

It was only after daybreak that Sarutobi Hiruzen barely managed to finish handling some of the matters.

"So many casualties…"

After the Anbu handed Sarutobi Hiruzen the compiled casualty list, his heart ached after reading it.

One hundred and thirteen Chunin and sixteen Jonin had died. Those were only the registered Ninja. The clan Ninja must also have suffered many casualties in this Nine-Tails’ Rampage. When the time came to placate those Ninja Clans, there would be another long round of wrangling.

The Fourth Hokage had also died. He had been Sarutobi Hiruzen’s most favored choice for Hokage. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had been replaced, and even the Nine-Tails itself had lost half its power.

The number of civilian casualties had not yet been counted, but it surely would not be small. Konoha’s Shelters had been filled with Ninja and Ninja families, leaving little time to look after the civilians.

And when the Nine-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Bomb into Konoha, Namikaze Minato had used the Flying Thunder God Technique to transfer it away. But the buildings destroyed along the Tailed Beast Bomb’s path had directly caused many deaths within Konoha.

"Hyuga Mirai. Uchiha."

Sarutobi Hiruzen solemnly spoke the two names. Hyuga Mirai was manageable enough. It was now certain that Uzumaki Ayaka was connected to Hyuga Mirai, and all they had to do next was have the Anbu search for them with full force.

But they absolutely had to investigate the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails’ eyes. Otherwise, if someone could extract the Nine-Tails once, they could extract it a second time. If that person unleashed another Nine-Tails’ Rampage on Konoha, no one in Konoha would be able to stop the Nine-Tails then.

Knock, knock!

"Come in."

After Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, the three Advisors, entered together.

"You’re here." Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke wearily. It was good that the three had come; they could help him shoulder some of the burden.

"Hiruzen, what exactly happened? Why was the Nine-Tails released? And where are the Fourth Hokage and Kushina?" Utatane Koharu fired question after question at Sarutobi Hiruzen like a machine gun.

Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly said, "Minato sacrificed himself to seal the Nine-Tails."

"Seal the Nine-Tails? Then why did I see a hole in Namikaze Minato’s chest? Who injured him?" Danzo frowned as he asked. After the Anbu brought Minato’s body back, Root had received the news as well. Upon learning this, Danzo could not suppress his delight and went to inspect Minato’s corpse.

He was one of Konoha’s higher-ups, and he merely wanted to look at Namikaze Minato’s body, so the Anbu did not dare stop him. After examining the Anbu corpses as well, Danzo was eighty percent certain that the wound in Namikaze Minato’s chest had been made by Sarutobi Hiruzen’s Adamantine Staff.

Other than that monkey, no one in Konoha used a staff.

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s face darkened as he said in a deep voice, "That happened later. It was connected to Hyuga Mirai."

"Hyuga Mirai?"

Utatane Koharu froze for a moment, then immediately asked, "Why is he involved? Wasn’t the Nine-Tails controlled by an Uchiha Sharingan?"

"After Minato transferred the Nine-Tails outside Konoha, I followed after them…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and described what he had seen, though he altered the details slightly. He had not accidentally killed Namikaze Minato. Rather, Hyuga Mirai had controlled Namikaze Minato and made him crash into his Adamantine Staff.

He then told Utatane Koharu and the other two about Uzumaki Ayaka, how she had sealed half of the Nine-Tails inside herself, and how Hyuga Mirai had treated Uzumaki Kushina’s injuries.

"That damned bastard actually stole half the Nine-Tails! Hiruzen, how could you just stand there and watch them leave?" After hearing this, Danzo angrily struck the ground with his cane and spoke to Sarutobi Hiruzen in great dissatisfaction.

Sarutobi Hiruzen replied heavily, "Danzo, Kushina and Minato’s child were there as well. If I had pursued them, they would have been in danger. It was to protect Kushina and Minato’s child that I did not chase Hyuga Mirai."

"Hmph!"

Danzo snorted coldly in disbelief. Then, thinking of the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he immediately said, "Hiruzen, give the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to me. I guarantee I’ll train him into the finest Ninja."

"Give up on that, Danzo. Kushina is still alive. No one is taking Minato’s child away."

Danzo raised his voice slightly. "He is first Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and only then Namikaze Minato’s child. Are you planning to let the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki go to waste because of old feelings? When war breaks out, are you going to take the battlefield yourself?"

Danzo’s words made Sarutobi Hiruzen’s expression turn even uglier. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura beside him also agreed somewhat with Danzo’s view. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was an extremely important fighting force for Konoha. If he were allowed to languish, it would be a huge loss for Konoha.

"Hiruzen, Danzo has a point."

"That’s right, Hiruzen. We cannot neglect the Jinchuriki’s training because of Minato. Konoha has suffered heavy losses this time. If we lose the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in the future, then when war breaks out again…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen understood the logic, but Kushina was still alive. There was no way she would hand Minato’s child over to Danzo. Even if Kushina were not around, Sarutobi Hiruzen would never allow it to happen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen knew Danzo’s extremism all too well. If Danzo were allowed to control the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki as well, then it would be uncertain who truly called the shots in Konoha.

"I have my own considerations regarding this matter. I will speak with Kushina later. For now, let’s discuss the other matters first."

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s tone allowed no argument. After hearing this, the other three knew it would be difficult to persuade him further. However, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had already achieved their purpose. It would be best if Sarutobi Hiruzen himself took responsibility for training the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Neither of them wanted the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki in Danzo’s hands either. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura shared the same understanding of Danzo: he was only suited for Root, eliminating all of Konoha’s enemies from the shadows.

Fourth update. There may be one more update later, so readers should get some sleep first. Don’t stay up late.

One more thing: everything the protagonist did was not to help Konoha, but to make Konoha lose all support, gather the conservatives together in the end, and sweep them straight into the trash.