Chapter 288: Yin Nine-tails: Impossible! Absolutely Impossible!
Star Capital, early morning.
Sunlight sprinkled on the clean and wide streets.
In stark contrast to the barren poverty of the Land of Wind, this emerging city built on the former Capital City of the Land of Bears was filled with vitality and order.
Towering towers and buildings full of a sense of technology were scattered elegantly, with green trees lining both sides of the streets, and even a meticulously planned waterway system running through the city, bringing a touch of coolness.
Pedestrians hurried along, yet their expressions were calm, and the air was filled with a vibrant upward spirit.
Hyuga Clan Territory, inside a residence that blended typical Japanese style with modern aesthetics.
Hizashi Hyuga put down the newspaper in his hand and let out a soft sigh.
The newspaper’s front-page headline prominently featured an emergency notice about the Land of Wind declaring war and the Land of Stars entering a “preparatory war mobilization state.”
The dark cloud of war had finally enveloped this land he had chosen to settle in.
“Father, when can I graduate from the Ninja Academy?” Neji Hyuga, sitting across from him, put down his bowl and chopsticks, his clear voice breaking the silence at the dining table.
At just seven years old, he possessed exceptional talent and had experienced the night of defection, with his Byakugan already showing initial sharpness; the Ninja Academy courses were far too simplistic for him.
He yearned for real combat, yearned to prove his worth.
Hizashi looked at his son’s stubborn Byakugan-filled eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He put down the newspaper, his tone gentle yet firm: “Soon, Neji. The situation has changed; perhaps… even sooner than you imagine.”
He didn’t want his young son to endure the cruelty of war too early, but as a Hyuga Branch Family member who had escaped the ‘cage,’ war was the fastest way to grow and also the quickest way for the Hyuga Branch Family to integrate into the Land of Stars.
After bidding farewell to his wife and child and stepping out the door, Hizashi took a deep breath of the cool morning air.
The Hyuga Clan Territory faced the Uchiha Clan Territory across the street; this deliberate arrangement seemed to metaphorically represent a subtle balance and competition.
“Hizashi senior.” A slightly fatigued but still clear voice came from beside him.
Hizashi turned his head and saw Shisui Uchiha approaching quickly.
Shisui was wearing the deep blue uniform of the Star Ninja Police Force, with a standard jonin vest over it, obvious dark circles under his eyes, but his gaze still sharp and spirited.
“It’s Shisui.” Hizashi nodded slightly, and the two naturally walked side by side toward the Administration Building in the city center.
“Looking at you, you stayed up late again last night? The pressure must be immense after the preparatory mobilization order was issued, right?”
Shisui rubbed his brow, giving a wry smile: “Far more than just pressure… Maintaining order in each county, strengthening patrols, monitoring suspicious individuals, cooperating with the Intelligence Department to screen potential spies, and transferring personnel to reinforce the border patrol teams… There’s just too much to do.”
“Indeed, after all, the Star Country’s police department isn’t just managing one village.” As the deputy minister of the police department, Hizashi felt his temples throb just thinking about the scope of the police department’s authority.
At first, he and Shisui thought it was just managing the Star Capital, but after taking over, they realized how vast and complex internal security was in a country with over 16 million people; the cases handled by the Konoha Military Police Force were mere sesame seeds compared to those of the Star Country police department.
Shisui smiled, then his voice lowered with a hint of worry: “Hizashi senior, I have a very bad premonition… This time, it’s probably not just preparatory mobilization. Real war might come very soon.”
The two walked in silence for a stretch.
They were both ninjas who had experienced the Third Great Ninja War, having witnessed the brutality and ruthlessness of war firsthand.
That oppressive feeling of impending storm was all too familiar to them.
In the emergency conference room on the top floor of the Administration Building, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.
At this moment, a high-level meeting deciding the fate of the Land of Stars was being held here.
The attendees included the core power holders of the Land of Stars:
Uzumaki Kushina, Uchiha Hikari, Miyashiro En, Kisame Hoshigaki, Shisui Uchiha, Hizashi Hyuga, Miroku, Nono Yakushi, Gōta, Yoruya, and several other key department heads.
The most eye-catching was the man with brilliant golden hair and a gentle, handsome face sitting to the right of the main seat: Minato Namikaze.
“Everyone, please take your seats.” Minato’s gentle smile dispelled a bit of the tension.
“Yes! Lord Minato!” Shisui Uchiha, Hizashi Hyuga, and the others who had just entered bowed slightly to Minato.
For the high-level officials of the Land of Stars, this Fourth Hokage who had arrived via Reanimation Jutsu and held a “supreme emperor”-like special status was no longer a secret.
In particular, Shisui Uchiha and Hizashi Hyuga, after the initial shock, couldn’t help but speculate about Lord Shura’s true identity.
However, out of reverence for Lord Shura, everyone tacitly remained silent and avoided mentioning the topic.
When Menma was not in the Star Capital, most daily government affairs were actually handled by Minato Namikaze.
Initially, Minato thought it would be like his time as Hokage in Konoha, with main focus on ninja missions and village defense.
However, when he truly began engaging with the comprehensive governance of a country with over 16 million people and expanding territory, he deeply realized its heaviness and complexity.
Every day, just reviewing documents submitted from various counties and government departments piled up like mountains, covering politics, economy, military, diplomacy, livelihood, and more.
Fortunately, the Land of Stars had a far more efficient and professional administrative system than the ninja village era; the Government Affairs Department and its subsidiaries handled the vast majority of daily affairs, submitting to him mostly major issues involving strategic decisions, usually with detailed analysis reports and multiple contingency plans, greatly easing his decision-making pressure.
Even so, Minato often felt the weight of responsibility.
For some matters with broad implications and profound impact that even he struggled to quickly weigh pros and cons, he could only set them aside temporarily, handing them to Menma’s shadow clones or waiting for Menma’s return to decide personally.
Minato had once asked Menma why, with his shadow clones spread throughout the country, he didn’t dispatch more for government affairs.
Menma replied that it was to let his father better understand the differences between this country and others, and that not everything could be left to shadow clones—what if he wasn’t around?
This experience of “proxy governance” gave Minato a completely new and deeper understanding of ruling a country.
At this moment, as Minato Namikaze looked at Uzumaki Kushina in the main seat and heard her announce in a clear and calm voice that “the Land of Wind has formally declared war on our Land of Stars,” he instinctively frowned.
War… This word carried too many heavy memories for him.
He had personally experienced the cruelty of the Second Great Ninja War and led Konoha’s defense and counterattacks in the Third Great Ninja War.
He had witnessed countless ninjas and commoners lose their lives in the flames of war, homes turned to scorched earth, and chains of hatred linking one after another.
Deep in his heart, he had a natural vigilance and rejection toward war.
What worried him more was whether this conflict between the Land of Wind and the Land of Stars would, like the Land of Rain back then, become a massive powder keg, ultimately igniting the Fourth Great Ninja War engulfing the entire Ninja World?
“According to Lord Shura’s latest command,” Uzumaki Kushina’s voice pulled Minato back from his thoughts: “The Land of Stars formally enters a full-scale war state effective immediately!”
Her voice echoed in the silent conference room, each word weighing a thousand pounds.
“All registered ninjas, as well as quasi-military personnel such as the Police Force, will undergo full mobilization and accept unified command and dispatch by Military Minister Uchiha Hikari. National economy, livelihood, and all other aspects will simultaneously shift to wartime control tracks.”
Then, Kushina picked up a prepared document and began reading out the specific wartime decrees one by one:
“Implement unified grain control and rationing system, prioritizing supplies for the army and important strategic materials production.”
“Effective immediately, restrict all non-essential entry and exit activities, strengthen border controls.”
“All chakra energy storage devices nationwide implement wartime rationing, prioritizing defense barriers, communication networks, and military uses.”
“Curfews implemented around major cities and important facilities; specific times to be announced by local security departments.”
“Fully activate underground civil defense facilities nationwide, formulate detailed civilian evacuation and shelter plans.”
“All domestic newspapers, broadcasts, television, and other news media must have 100% review by the Government Affairs Department Propaganda Division for all content released. Temporarily limit the proportion of non-war-related social and livelihood news reports.”
“Activate highest anti-espionage contingency plan; Anbu and Police Force joint operations to severely strike all infiltration and sabotage activities by hostile forces.”
…
One decree after another was clearly stated, outlining a harsh picture of full-scale war.
The ministers present all had extremely grave expressions, but they also harbored a desire for military achievements, especially the recently joined Uchiha Clan and Hyuga Clan of the Land of Stars.
Since its establishment, the Land of Stars had experienced military actions such as annexing surrounding small countries and exterminating Snow Ninjas, but the scale and intensity of those battles were utterly incomparable to the impending full-scale war with the Land of Wind, one of the Five Great Nations.
This was the first true major power war test since the founding of the nation!
After hearing this series of decrees, Minato Namikaze’s worries deepened.
These measures were undoubtedly to concentrate national strength against the war, but they would also massively impact ordinary civilians’ lives, potentially even sparking social unrest.
He couldn’t help but speak up, his voice carrying a barely perceptible urgency:
“Kushina… Men… uh… Lord Shura, how much longer until he returns?”
During this over-a-year period of “proxy governance,” Minato had witnessed the Land of Stars’ miraculous rise firsthand.
Especially after annexing the Land of Swamps, Land of Shadows, and Land of Snow, he saw how those commoners once impoverished under noble exploitation and displaced by warfare received their own land in this new nation, escaped heavy taxes, and saw their lives improve visibly.
The entire country brimmed with upward vitality, a hope belonging to the broad masses of ordinary people that he had never felt in Konoha.
This nation created single-handedly by his son exhibited a new atmosphere of breaking old orders and pursuing equality and development, deeply moving him and Kushina.
From initial shock and bewilderment to gradual understanding and recognition, and now, a strong desire surged deep in Minato’s heart.
He wanted to protect this country, protect this hard-won, hope-filled scene.
Uchiha Hikari took over: “Lord Minato, Lord Shura is currently still in the ‘Sea of Death’ within the Land of Wind borders. He is suppressing the Ten-Tails there. It was precisely because of this that they encountered an elite force dispatched by the Sand Village, sparking the conflict that led to the Sand Village’s declaration of war.”
“Ten-Tails?!”
This unfamiliar term exploded like thunder in the conference room!
Everyone, including Minato, showed expressions of shock and confusion.
Those present either hailed from major ninja villages or were well-informed, naturally aware that Tails were ultimate weapons revered by each village.
But common knowledge held Tails from One-Tails to Nine-Tails—what was this suddenly appearing “Ten-Tails”?
Minato Namikaze’s shock was especially intense!
Because half of the Nine-Tails’ chakra—the Yin Nine-Tails—was sealed within him!
He immediately sensed the violently fluctuating emotions of the Yin Nine-Tails in his mental world!
‘Impossible! Absolutely impossible!’ Behind the sealed gate, the Yin Nine-Tails’ roar exploded in Minato’s mental world, its massive fox face filled with disbelief and near-panic rage.
‘The Ten-Tails died long ago! It can’t possibly reappear! Nonsense!!’
Minato suppressed the stormy waves in his heart and urgently asked in his consciousness: ‘Kurama, does the Ten-Tails really exist?’
‘…’
The Yin Nine-Tails fell silent for a moment, then roared even more furiously: ‘That thing existed a thousand years ago, even more ancient than the Sage of Six Paths! But… but it was long ago…’
Its words cut off abruptly, as if realizing it had said too much, then it changed tack, viciously emphasizing: ‘Anyway, it’s long dead! Vanished completely! How could it appear now?!”
The Yin Nine-Tails’ words were three parts true, seven parts false.
It concealed the core secret that the nine great Tails all split from the Ten-Tails, vaguely mentioning only the Ten-Tails’ antiquity and “death.”
After all, though its relationship with Minato had eased considerably from the start, it was far from the level of complete trust and even joint combat, unlocking Nine-Tails Chakra Mode for him, as in the original during the Fourth Great Ninja War.
The Yin Nine-Tails instinctively guarded, unwilling to reveal too many secrets concerning their Tails’ origins.
Yet, even this vague, half-true information was enough to massively shock Minato Namikaze!
A thousand years ago?
More ancient than the Sage of Six Paths who founded the Ninja Sect?
This terrifying existence that left almost no trace even in legends—how did Menma know of it?
Not only did he know, he was even trying to capture it?!
Minato knew his son held many secrets, but this was too…
Just as the conference room’s atmosphere turned exceptionally oppressive due to the words “Ten-Tails,” an internal phone on the table in front of Uzumaki Kushina suddenly rang “ding-ling-ling,” breaking the silence.
Kushina immediately picked up the microphone: “This is Uzumaki Kushina.”
A respectful report came from the other end.
Kushina listened, her grave expression easing slightly. She put down the microphone, her gaze sweeping over everyone present, her voice carrying a sense of relief:
“Everyone, we just received a report from the military zone police department…”
She paused, then said:
“Lord Shura has returned.”
The meeting immediately adjourned.
All high-level personnel, led by Uzumaki Kushina and Uchiha Hikari, quickly left the Administration Building and headed to the nearby military zone.
In front of the grand main gate of the military zone, constructed from sturdy rock and metal, the guarding Star Ninjas stood tall, their eyes filled with reverence and fervor for the one about to arrive.
Menma’s figure stood there.
He still wore that black-based, red-edged miko robe, his expression calm, as if he had just returned from an ordinary trip.
In his arms, he held a red-haired little boy with heavy dark circles under his eyes, currently looking around somewhat uneasily—Gaara.
Beside him stood two women.
One was Shizune, holding a pink-and-white little pig, appearing somewhat nervous and curious.
The other was Tsunade, with dazzling golden hair, an impressive figure, and a gaze of undisguised curiosity and scrutiny, examining the distinctive buildings around her that blended practicality with a futuristic feel.
Menma was saying to Tsunade: “Then we’ll part ways here. The Star Capital is not small; you can visit freely, as long as you avoid military restricted zones and other clearly prohibited areas. But lately due to the situation, curfews might be in place; in a few days after things settle, it should return to normal.”
His tone was flat, seemingly unwilling to let the war excessively disrupt the normal operations and vitality of this country.
In his heart, he already had a plan to quickly end this war, even considering how to make the Land of Wind pay for this provocation, such as ceding some territory.
At that moment, Uzumaki Kushina, Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Hikari, Shisui Uchiha, Hizashi Hyuga, and other Land of Stars high-level officials had arrived at the main gate.
“Lord Shura!” Led by Uzumaki Kushina and Uchiha Hikari, everyone bowed deeply to Menma, their attitudes extremely respectful.
Uchiha Hikari’s gaze first fell on Gaara in Menma’s arms, a flash of doubt in her eyes.
But when her sight shifted to the golden-haired, excessively busty, beautiful woman beside Menma, an undisguised hostility instantly rose from her!
Her Sharingan involuntarily activated, the three tomoe even slightly accelerating their spin!
Who was this woman?
Why was she with Menma?!
However, Tsunade’s shock at this moment far exceeded Uchiha Hikari’s by a hundredfold!
She could understand Shisui Uchiha and Hizashi Hyuga being here, but she couldn’t understand that golden-haired figure in the crowd!
Her gaze, as if attracted by a magnet, locked dead onto that familiar yet strange, gentle and handsome face, and that signature brilliant golden hair…
“F-Fourth… Fourth Hokage-sama?!!” Shizune couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.
【PS: Recently stocking up on drafts, will burst a wave on Thursday when it hits the recommended spot, guaranteed at least 30,000 words, and more if I have extra drafts.】
【PS: Today’s illustration, 80s art style Sakura】
