Tsunade, granddaughter of the First Hokage.
She was kneeling before a door, face filled with pain and grief.
Her red eyes and tear-streaked cheeks said everything.
The Nine-Tails.
No—Mito. Something had happened to Mito.
As her former mentor, Hiruzen knew her well.
Tsunade wasn't weak. She was tough inside and out.
But if she was crying…
It could only mean one thing—
she'd lost family.
"My dear student," Hiruzen said softly, masking his excitement.
"Why are you crying?"
Tsunade looked up in surprise, startled.
She quickly wiped away her tears.
"Sensei… Hiruzen? What are you doing here?"
He smirked inwardly.
Now she remembers I'm her teacher?
"Yukika lost control of the Nine-Tails just now," Hiruzen said. "Did I say you were crying? I didn't say that."
"I wasn't crying!" Tsunade forced a grin that looked worse than a sob.
"It was just the wind. Got in my eyes."
What a lousy act.
Yukika must've told her to put on a show.
Hiruzen chuckled.
He was convinced now—Mito was dead.
He'd been wondering if he should use a drug—like the ones Orochimaru experimented with—
something to destabilize a tailed beast.
Sneak it into Mito's food.
But now?
He didn't need to.
Old age… was the real enemy.
Even gods could die.
And once Mito was gone, Yukika would lose his last shield.
"Grandma Mito!!"
Suddenly, a familiar figure rushed in.
Kushina, eyes filled with tears, dashed in and threw herself into Tsunade's arms.
"What happened, little one?"
But Kushina—she looked fine.
She didn't carry the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Nor did she show any signs of residual fear.
Which meant… she wasn't the new jinchūriki.
Then who?
Could it be—
Senju Yukika himself?
Has he lost his mind?!
Hiruzen smirked coldly, hiding his suspicion.
He asked gently, "Why are you crying, Kushina?"
"I'm not crying!" she sniffled. "I ran too fast and the wind got in my eyes!"
Same excuse, huh?
But… didn't she yell "Grandma Mito!" just now?
This level of acting—it was insulting to his intelligence.
Hiruzen scoffed internally.
He was now certain Mito was either dead… or something worse had happened.
Since Kushina wasn't the jinchūriki,
that left only one option—Yukika.
A foolish move.
The Nine-Tails didn't belong to the Senju!
It had to stay under the Hokage's control.
He could see Yukika's strategy—
Trying to become the jinchūriki to secure power.
But all he'd done was give Hiruzen a reason to strike.
As Hokage, he had full authority to handle dangerous jinchūriki.
Once Mito was gone, there'd be no holding back.
Yukika had lost before the fight even started.
"Why all the noise?"
Creak—
The door finally opened.
A boy with a scarred face stepped out and stood before them.
Senju Yukika.
Hiruzen smirked, puffed his pipe slowly.
The fun part was just beginning.
"Oh, pretending to be confused? Nine-Tails' chakra just leaked out. We're the village leadership, and you've kept us waiting this long?"
Koharu snapped.
Yukika raised an eyebrow, glancing at her.
She looked bitter and tired—far from the sharp kunoichi she once was.
And did she forget the last time she and Homura came here?
He'd hung them upside down from the gate.
"We have a question for you!"
Homura shouted, voice sharp.
"Shhh."
Yukika put a finger to his lips.
"You. And you."
He pointed at both advisors.
"If I hear your mouths again… watch your heads."
A genuine threat.
The advisors stiffened, suddenly remembering their earlier humiliation.
They exchanged a glance—and stayed silent.
Then they looked at Hiruzen.
Time for him to speak.
"You're carrying the Nine-Tails' chakra," Hiruzen said. His eyes narrowed.
He could sense it—raging, potent.
Yukika didn't hide it.
"Yeah. So?"
"You're the jinchūriki?" Hiruzen pressed.
Yukika didn't flinch. "That's right."
Exactly what he wanted to hear.
That meant—Mito was dead.
"You feeling okay?" Hiruzen asked, pretending to care. "I bet the Nine-Tails is thrashing around inside you, right?"
Of course he was.
A new jinchūriki?
The Nine-Tails wouldn't sit still.
Yukika must've been burning through chakra just to suppress it.
Perfect.
"Humans are terrifying."
A deep, growling voice echoed.
Creak—
The door opened again.
A chubby little fox waddled out, muttering curses.
Fluffy ears, big round eyes, soft paws…
Tsunade and Kushina's eyes immediately lit up.
Wait—this was the Nine-Tails?!
Was this a plush toy?
"Who let you out?" Yukika sighed.
The fox glared.
"Someone called me 'uncle' earlier."
He sat down, pointing at himself.
"From now on, call me Uncle Kurama."
"Or call me by my full name—
Senju Kurama."