It turns out,
the Nine Tails isn't that hard to get along with. As long as you understand what it likes and what it wants, communication between man and beast becomes possible. After all, it's a Tailed Beast with its own thoughts.
At first, it didn't trust Senju Yukika. But after watching him rescue Uzumaki Mito—even though she was arguably more terrifying—the Nine Tails began to calm down. It didn't make a fuss. It waited quietly for everything to play out. Though, that last howl it let out was definitely cathartic.
Yukika kept his word and didn't reseal the Nine Tails. When the contract was formed, the relevant information entered its mind.
A master-servant contract.
Basically, it meant being a dog. For ten years.
Still, Yukika hadn't lied about that part either. Ten years of servitude was nothing compared to decades locked in a seal. Its lifespan was near infinite—ten years was a blink.
Yukika had kept his word, and in return, the Nine Tails decided it would show its loyalty. Being a dog was fine. Better than being locked away.
As for the "Senju" prefix, Yukika had said the Nine Tails could choose to keep the name in ten years or drop it. The foundation of trust had been laid. Everything else was a matter of time.
What the Nine Tails didn't know was that Yukika had plenty of ways to make it want to stay. The contract could be renewed. And ten years from now, Yukika wouldn't even need the Nine Tails' power. Ten years was more than enough.
He cradled Kurama's ears as the beast lay calmly, then looked ahead. Sarutobi Hiruzen had arrived, flanked by his two advisors, and he looked eager. Yukika saw it all.
But Hiruzen didn't realize that when the Nine Tails' chakra surged earlier, he had already fallen into Yukika's web.
Previously, Yukika had needed to address two issues. Externally, it was the fear of Konoha's upper echelon and their endless conspiracies. But with the Nine Tails now under his command, that fear vanished.
Couldn't use the Nine Tails' power? Ridiculous. Did they think the system's contract was just for show?
Even the perfected Nine Tails Chakra Mode wasn't far off for Yukika. With his blade in hand and the Nine Tails Chakra Mode activated, no one in the village—not even Hiruzen—could stop him.
The only cards Hiruzen had were his mastery of all five nature transformations and the Reaper Death Seal. But Yukika wasn't afraid of ninjutsu. With Nine Tails Chakra Mode, he could block it all barehanded.
As for the Reaper Death Seal… he wanted to use his Zanpakutō to ask the Shinigami whether it would even work in their world. Zanpakutōs could target the soul directly. That trick wouldn't work—not against him.
The second issue was internal. Even though the Senju clan had returned, most still regarded Konoha as their true home. That loyalty wasn't inherently bad—but Yukika couldn't have them be pawns. They needed to see Konoha's true face.
There were two phases.
First, Yukika made arrangements after leaving the frontlines. Danzo, supposedly recalled to the village, had instead been steered by Yukika into leading the Senju forces he "borrowed" into a secret mission in another Hidden Village.
Second, Yukika needed to display true strength. Not just the kind that beat Hanzo of the Salamander—but godlike power that crushed everything in its path. Danzo himself would build the stage for this.
Yukika knew Danzo. That kind of man wouldn't return quietly after humiliation. He'd strike back. And the target would be the Senju.
Plus, Yukika had dropped hints to Orochimaru. The stage might already be set.
Finally, this was Yukika's moment to purge the traitors in the Senju. Don't assume the clan was united. Many had been brainwashed by the Third Hokage and served him instead.
Traitors had to die.
Two plans, two phases.
Not perfect, but they didn't need perfection. These people weren't worth it.
Yukika stepped forward, holding Kurama in his arms, and faced Hiruzen.
"Do you want him?"
Kurama was stunned. Then, baring his teeth, he glared at Hiruzen.
You want me? Who do you think you are?!
But in Yukika's arms, Kurama's snarl looked more adorable than threatening.
"The Nine Tails belongs to the village, not you, Senju Yukika," Hiruzen said coldly. "That was the First Hokage's final safeguard. You are not an ideal jinchūriki."
"I believe handing over the Nine Tails is best for you and the village."
"Oh? That's what the First said?" Yukika looked at the Hokage monument, gazing at his grandfather's face.
"Then let me, the current clan head, declare something new."
Calmly, he motioned to the girl beside him. The Wooden Golem, unsure of what was happening, was suddenly pulled into Yukika's embrace.
This man was so domineering! She rolled her eyes—but resisted nothing. He was holding Kurama, after all. What could she possibly do?
Even the Two Tails within her was stunned.
"From now on, the Senju clan will reclaim all Tailed Beasts that Senju Hashirama once distributed. There will be no compensation."
"Those beasts protected other villages for years. That was payment enough."
"The reclamation begins today."