Red Haired Supremacy

Chapter 212: Ch-212 Make Your Choice.

Four giant pillars were now pinning all four legs of the Nine-Tails to the ground. This was the Four Pillar Sealing Technique, created by Raphael using the knowledge of Shanks. Once the Nine-Tails was firmly restrained by the iron pillars, Shanks released the adamantine chains that had been binding it—chains that extended from behind his waist. The moment he let go, they snapped back, retracting smoothly and vanishing into his body.

As soon as this was done, just outside the house, the Fourth Hokage, Minato, appeared. He looked toward Shanks, bowed slightly, and said, "Lord Uzukage."

Shanks acknowledged the bow with a brief nod. At that moment, Minato asked, "Why did you come here to Konoha, Lord Uzukage?"

Shanks looked at Minato steadily. Since Minato was not addressing him as his brother-in-law but instead as the Uzukage—the head of Uzushiogakure—Shanks decided to respond in kind. "Lord Hokage, if I hadn't arrived here," he said calmly, "wouldn't my sister already be dead? I had no choice but to come." His gaze sharpened. "And who created the sealing technique integrated into Konoha's barriers—the one interfering with the use of space-time ninjutsu to directly teleport into the village?"

Minato replied without hesitation, his voice controlled. "It was created by me. After all, we need to guard against the abilities of the Uzumaki siblings to use space-time ninjutsu to teleport to any location." He paused briefly before continuing. "Almost half of the Uzumaki siblings have been confirmed to possess this ability. Precautions needed to be taken."

Shanks nodded slowly as he listened. His earlier suspicion was confirmed—it truly was Minato who had created that sealing technique. Looking directly at him, Shanks said, "I can understand your caution regarding the Uzumaki siblings' ability to teleport. And considering that our relations are not exactly good, preventing any of them from entering Konoha directly is a sensible move."

His tone hardened. "But there is also a premise—you were supposed to protect Kushina from any danger that might arise. And this," he continued, gesturing faintly toward the aftermath around them, "is how you protect my sister?" His eyes flicked briefly toward the sealed Nine-Tails. "The Nine-Tails was extracted from her body. It ran amok through Konoha, completely beyond your control. My sister is dying due to the extraction of the Nine-Tails. What is your explanation for all this?"

Hearing these words, Minato felt a heavy weight settle in his chest. Shame was written clearly on his face, because what Shanks said was the truth—he had failed to protect Kushina. Shanks noticed the guilt in Minato's expression and spoke again, his voice firm but no longer accusatory. "There's no use feeling guilty now. I've already sealed Kushina's vitality, using Vitality Sealing technique, and she is currently in a state of suspended animation." He paused, the air between them tense. "I'm waiting for you to decide what to do next. Because what I want to do next requires your consent."

Minato, after listening to Shanks's words, felt a wave of relief wash over him—first and foremost because Shanks had stabilized Kushina's condition. As for the vitality-sealing technique itself, Minato had never heard of it before. He didn't know its exact workings, nor how it functioned in detail. But if Shanks was saying that Kushina had been placed into a state of suspended animation and that her vitality had been sealed from leaking away, then that alone was an immense blessing. Looking toward Shanks, Minato asked quietly, "What decision do you want me to take?"

Shanks met Minato's gaze and said, "The person who attacked you today will definitely attack Konoha again in the future. I can tell you that much with certainty—and their goal will be the Tailed Beasts. Specifically, the Tailed Beast you have in Konoha: the Nine-Tails. They will continue to come after it." He paused briefly before continuing. "In Kushina's current state, the entire Nine-Tails cannot be put back inside her. That is impossible. At most, perhaps half of it could be sealed back into her—but I don't even want to do that. With my mastery of Yin-Yang Release, I can heal Kushina even without transferring the Nine-Tails back into her."

His voice lowered slightly. "The problem is that she will most likely lose her ability to be a shinobi. The damage caused inside her body due to the extraction of the Nine-Tails is something I cannot fix. That damage will remain." Shanks exhaled slowly. "It will force her to live as an ordinary woman—an ordinary mother, an ordinary wife. And even if half of the Nine-Tails were returned to her, she might still struggle to control it."

He continued, "So here is my proposal. Half of the Nine-Tails should be sealed inside your son. As for the remaining half, you decide where it goes. Perhaps into yourself. You are a master of sealing techniques—you can handle the Nine-Tails far more easily than most. You could even guide your son in controlling it, freeing Kushina from this entire cycle involving the Nine-Tails."

Shanks's eyes sharpened slightly. "Honestly, I doubt there would be much difference for Kushina either way. Until now, she has lived like a vase ever since becoming a Jinchuriki—protected, confined, rarely allowed to leave Konoha. And on the few occasions she was permitted to go out, it was only because she was needed as a deterrent against other Tailed Beasts or Jinchuriki." He looked directly at Minato. "You understand what I'm saying."

"As her husband, this decision rests solely with you," Shanks continued. "Either we divide the Nine-Tails in half—one half sealed inside Kushina and the other inside your son, since he is an Uzumaki, even if only half—or the Nine-Tails is divided between you and your son. Whatever you choose, make the decision quickly. I need to begin Kushina's treatment as soon as possible." His gaze flicked briefly toward the distance. "And many of your so-called advisors are already on their way. From my point of view, their advice will only become a hindrance."

Minato did not take long. After thinking for only a few moments, he spoke with resolve. "Very well. Let's go with the second option. Half of the Nine-Tails will be sealed inside me, and the other half will be sealed inside my son. Kushina," he added softly, "who never wanted to be a Jinchuriki, will finally be free from it."

After hearing this, Shanks nodded once. "You made a wise choice."

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