Uzumaki Mito and Kushina arrived at the training grounds, escorted in by elite shinobi from the Administrative Department.
"Lord Danzo, Lord Mito, Lady Koharu, Lord Uzumaki Mito has arrived."
In the center of the field stood Danzo, Mito Menyan, and Koharu.
Beside them was a young girl.
She was the one with twin tails and her hands shackled in iron chains, standing before two large wooden doors. Her face was pale and stiff, as if she had just been crying. Her lips were pressed tightly together.
The formation surrounding her was intimidating to say the least.
"Lady Uzumaki Mito, the chakra of the Two-Tails Jinchuriki is unstable. Should we consider transferring the beast to another host?"
Uzumaki Mito gently pulled Kushina closer, then looked at the terrified girl and frowned. "What are you doing? If you want to avoid an incident, release them immediately."
Kushina couldn't hold back. "They're just kids! How can you treat them like this?"
Koharu snapped, "Silence! Kushina, this is not your place to speak!"
"Release her? What if she goes berserk? Who will take responsibility then?"
Uzumaki Mito looked at Koharu calmly and said, "Kushina is right. What you're doing will only have the opposite effect. Let them go."
Koharu's expression changed. She scoffed, "Lady Mito, if something goes wrong, we can't afford the consequences."
Uzumaki Mito turned a sharp gaze on her. "Weren't you the one who brought this Jinchuriki back? If something happens, isn't it your responsibility?"
"Thank you, Koharu, for showing the wisdom that only years as an advisor can bring."
Koharu bit her lip and said nothing further.
Mito Menyan smiled. "Lady Uzumaki, we didn't mean any offense. It's just that releasing her poses too great a risk. Don't be fooled by her age; her power is significant."
"After all, she's the host of a Tailed Beast."
"We're merely suggesting that the Two-Tails be transferred to another potential host. That other girl has a better chance due to her inherited bloodline."
Uzumaki Mito replied coldly, "Did the Hokage authorize this?"
"The Hokage is currently defending against a Cloud Village incursion. In his absence, the Administrative Department is overseeing such decisions."
"Administrative Department? Where is Choza Akimichi?"
"He fell ill suddenly. The department is temporarily under the supervision of two deputy advisors," Mito Menyan said with a smile. "Everything we do is for Konoha's good, Lady Uzumaki. You have our assurance."
Uzumaki Mito frowned. "You'd better not make reckless transfers. You don't know what could happen."
She stepped forward.
Danzo nodded. "Very well, Lady Uzumaki, we'll leave things to you. Thank you."
As he turned to leave, he looked over his shoulder. "Lady Uzumaki, for the safety of the village, we plan to activate the Four Violet Flame Formation. Do you have any objections?"
Uzumaki Mito gave him a glance and nodded. "Fine."
As soon as Danzo stepped out of the formation's range, four elite shinobi around the perimeter activated their seals.
The barrier sprang to life!
The Four Violet Flame Formation took the form of a rectangular prism surrounded by a translucent purple flame. It expanded in four directions—north, south, east, and west.
Its flaming barrier was impenetrable. Anything touching the walls would be scorched.
Something felt off to Uzumaki Mito, but she moved forward anyway.
She stepped closer, unlocking the girl's chains—only to find the girl drenched in sweat, her body trembling.
The girl looked at her and gasped, "Auntie, hurry!"
Uzumaki Mito's expression changed instantly. "What?"
Before she could respond, a violent surge of dark blue chakra erupted from the girl's body.
BOOM!
A deafening roar tore through the air as Uzumaki Mito released her Nine-Tails form, but was blasted backward.
Her vision swam. When she looked up, a monstrous cat-like beast loomed before her.
It was massive, cloaked in wicked blue chakra. Two tails swayed behind it as it gathered a black-and-white sphere in its jaws.
A Tailed Beast Bomb.
The sheer pressure of the beast forced Kushina to her knees.
Uzumaki Mito stood protectively in front of her, wiping blood from her mouth. Her voice was steady.
"This is bad."
This wasn't a partial transformation. The beast had broken free—this was its true form.
The girl had already fainted. Mito feared her injuries were too severe for her to ever become a Jinchuriki again.
Now, only Kushina could serve as a viable host.
Uzumaki Mito narrowed her eyes. "Could this be Danzo's doing? Damn him… Cancel the barrier! Let Kushina out!"
"Apologies, Lady Uzumaki. The Tailed Beast has been released. We can't open the barrier!"
Uzumaki Mito's fury exploded. "I can subdue it myself! What are you afraid of?"
"I'm sorry, Lady Mito. We cannot do that. This is our duty!"