Danzo coughed lightly and said, "Takayama Haru, you must be joking. There's never been such a thing as a Jinchuriki that old in the entire Shinobi world."
Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement. "Exactly, we're not suited for this at all."
Takayama Haru looked at them with a sly smile. "If I say you're suited, then you're suited. Don't you want the chance to become the host for the Two-Tails' Jinchuriki? It's settled."
"What do you mean we?!"
Danzo, Homura, and Koharu's faces all turned sour.
The Two-Tails glanced at the three elders with a look of disgust and blurted out, "Ugh, this old-man smell is unbearable. I refuse!"
Haru gave the Two-Tails a swift kick and scolded, "Cut the crap."
Upon hearing the Two-Tails speak, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu's expressions suddenly brightened with hope.
"See, Haru, you heard that, right?"
"We're not compatible," they echoed.
"Doesn't the Hidden Mist Village have a young girl named Mei you just captured? I think she's a good fit," Homura suggested.
Haru chuckled. "If you won't choose, then I'll choose for you."
Their faces twisted in fury—no one had ever dared to show such blatant disrespect to them like Takayama Haru just had!
What was he trying to make them do?
At that moment, Sakumo Hatake and Minato Namikaze, who had been observing the scene from the side, finally asked what was going on.
They weren't fools. A bit of thought revealed that the issue clearly lay with Danzo, Homura, and Koharu.
In fact, even Shun Nara had long been dissatisfied with Danzo's ideology—the whole "dark roots of the village" philosophy and "sacrifice everything for Konoha" nonsense.
Sacrifice or not, it didn't matter. No one gave them that right.
A sense of foreboding rose in Homura's chest as he turned to Sakumo Hatake and barked, "Sakumo! Is this how your Shadow Division treats the elders of Konoha?! Does Lord Naruto know about this?"
Sakumo cleared his throat awkwardly. "Ahem, Elder Homura… I think Haru is the best sealing expert we have. He sealed the Nine-Tails with ease. If he believes this is the right move, then… for Konoha's sake, I trust him."
For Konoha?
Danzo, Homura, and Koharu stared at Sakumo in disbelief and rage.
"Sakumo, watch your mouth!"
"What's become of Konoha? We're clearly not suited for this!"
"This is how the Shadow Division protects us elders? When Lord Naruto returns, I swear you'll answer for this!"
Haru smiled coolly. He hadn't expected Sakumo to be such a political manipulator too. But with that kind of personality, there was no way he would've just died from public criticism years later. More likely… he was silenced.
"Hmm, I think he made a good point," Haru said. "Aren't you always talking about what's best for Konoha? Then today, do something for Konoha and make a little sacrifice."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than roots and vines burst from the ground beneath Homura's feet, wrapping tightly around his limbs and locking him in place.
"You, Homura—I think you're a perfect match!" Haru declared, raising his fist. "For Konoha!"
Homura's eyes widened in terror. "No! I refuse!"
The Two-Tails also screamed, "I don't want to enter that old man's body, no way!"
"Silence!"
With a swift, eerie punch, Haru smashed the Two-Tails back into the ground.
Danzo recoiled several steps, his face pale with fear, not daring to move an inch.
Koharu actually felt a flicker of relief, especially when she saw Haru raise his right hand, the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—glowing in his fingers as he plunged them into Homura's stomach.
Sealing runes unique to the Uzumaki clan flared to life across Homura's abdomen, ancient and mysterious in design.
"Takayama Haru, stop this! Let me go, I'll agree to anything!" Homura shouted in fear, begging as he turned to Mito Uzumaki. "Lady Mito, please spare me! I've seen the error of my ways. For Master Kurama's sake, please have mercy!"
Kushina Uzumaki looked on in silent satisfaction.
Mito, however, simply shook her head. "Homura, how did you become so short-sighted? I think White Fang is right—everything we do is for Konoha. Your sacrifice is meaningful."
"AHHHHH!"
As Homura's screams echoed, Haru channeled the full force of the Two-Tails into the seal on Homura's stomach.
To ensure stability, Haru reinforced the seal with two additional layers—strong as iron locks.
Just like that, Homura became the new host for the Two-Tails. No more would he be able to recklessly burn chakra as he pleased.
Everyone stared at him with strange expressions.
As soon as the vines released him, Homura let out a furious howl and lunged at Haru.
"Takayama Haru, I challenge you to a duel!"
BANG!
A moment later, Homura was sent flying, crashing to the ground with blood pouring from his head.
But the wound healed quickly.
Such was the power of a Jinchuriki.
Yet the fangs that appeared in Homura's mouth—twisted and sharp like a monster's—gave him the same grotesque look the Two-Tails had when it spoke.
Koharu, seeing Homura's transformation, quietly thanked her luck. If I'd become the Jinchuriki… that would've been my fate!
Then, to her horror, Haru's voice echoed in her mind: "Today… I'll kill you."
He's planning to kill me?!
Cold sweat broke out on Koharu's back.
Just then, a golden staff descended from the sky, slamming into the ground and separating the two sides.
Koharu let out a sigh of relief. "Hiruzen, you're finally here!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi surveyed the destroyed training ground, frowning. "What happened here?"
Sure enough, it was Haru's Wood Release.
Would he use Sage Magic to escape next?
Hiruzen turned his gaze to Haru, listening as the crying Koharu accused him of tyranny.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and other key Konoha figures had also arrived. Each wore a different expression upon seeing Haru.
Orochimaru's eyes glistened with greed. The stronger Haru became, the more he desired Haru's blood for experimentation.
What kind of genetic makeup makes him so powerful?
Jiraiya, on the other hand, contemplated deeply—Was Haru's existence a blessing or a curse for Konoha? If disaster ever struck, he would eliminate Haru, even if it cost him his life.
Tsunade's feelings were more conflicted.
Haru's approach to things was completely unlike that of the Senju clan.
Neither her grandfather nor granduncle had ever been so... volatile.
Could she really entrust the future of the Senju to someone like Takayama Haru?
As Koharu sobbed beside him, Hiruzen gave a bitter smile.
Haru, you really are something else—forcing the Two-Tails and the brigade into Homura's body? Making him a Jinchuriki?
These young people… too reckless.
And yet, deep inside, a voice in Hiruzen's mind whispered: This… was the right decision.
He realized somewhere along the way, Homura and Koharu had changed.
They'd become as shadowy and selfish as Danzo.
Now that Haru had cut them down to size, they dared to cry to him for help?
Hiruzen let out a long sigh. "If you knew it would come to this… why go that far to begin with?"