"Is this really the only jar?"
Konan curiously approached and knocked on it. The black jar produced a dull sound.
"Is this thing sturdy?"
Yahiko frowned. This jar wasn't exactly the sa as the one Sensei used to pickle vegetables, but it was at least 70–80% similar. It was hard to believe sothing like this could safely seal a Tailed Beast.
"Of course it can. This should be from the Land of Whirlpools."
Nonō, looking confident, stepped closer to inspect it. Ever since she started studying Tsunade's Yin Seal, she had taken an interest in Fūinjutsu. Just as she was about to touch the jar with a smile, an accident occurred.
The previously motionless jar suddenly trembled violently. Startled, Nonō imdiately leaped back several ters. If the office had been any samaller, she wouldn't have known where to retreat.
Even as she steadied herself, the shock on her face hadn't faded.
By then, Nagato was already in front of her, wearing the sa stunned expression.
"This..."
Nonō stared at the now-still jar in disbelief, her heart still pounding. If she had been hit by the Tailed Beast at such close range, her body wouldn't have stood a chance.
"Damn it... what kind of defective thing did Kumo give ?"
Nagato rarely cursed, but he turned and pulled Nonō into a reassuring hug. Yahiko and Konan had also instinctively retreated several ters—only Kakuzu remained unmoved.
"This kind of container loses its sealing power over ti," Kakuzu remarked, unfazed. "It's only natural for a restless Tailed Beast to affect it."
He had seen plenty of similar cases in Takigakure—just different beasts, different jars.
"You an this is normal?"
Nonō finally exhaled, relieved. That had been terrifying. From such close range, even Nagato might not have reacted in ti.
"Hm."
Kakuzu gave a slight nod, a barely perceptible smirk forming on his face. It was rare to see these people panic at the sa ti.
"Shit, that was close."
Konan patted her chest, which had grown considerably in size. If the beast had reacted when she knocked earlier, she wouldn't have fared much better than Nonō.
"How long do you think this thing will last?" Yahiko asked, now realizing the value of having an old veteran around.
"Hard to say. My advice? Deal with it as soon as possible."
Kakuzu shook his head. He couldn't give an exact tifra, nor did he intend to reinforce the seal.
"Then we handle it now."
Nagato's eyes narrowed with resolve. He had kept the jar sealed in a storage scroll the entire trip back, never expecting the situation to be this unstable. Now that Kakuzu had spoken, he knew they couldn't leave this thing in the village—it would keep everyone on edge.
"No objections here."
Yahiko raised both hands in agreent.
"Then where should we release the Two-Tails?"
The Land of Rain was small, and too much commotion would draw unwanted attention from neighboring countries. Nonō frowned, her concern valid.
"Kakuzu, do you know any barrier ninjutsu?"
Nagato had an idea. If they could trap the Tailed Beast inside a barrier, they could end the battle quickly.
"I do, but trapping a Tailed Beast is easier said than done."
Kakuzu sighed. He was from a minor hidden village—did they think he had access to elite barrier techniques?
"So basically, no."
Konan rolled her eyes, exasperated.
Why don't you just go all the way?
"Ask Sensei's wife—there must be sothing in the village."
Yahiko didn't even ntion Kawakaze, knowing that this kind of rare ninjutsu could only co from Tsunade.
"Okay."
Nagato nodded. Seeing this, Nonō imdiately perford the Summoning Technique.
With a puff of smoke, a half-ter-tall slug clone appeared before them.
"Katsuyu, please contact Lady Tsunade for us."
"Yes."
After a brief exchange, Tsunade responded. Without needing further instruction, the slug split into smaller clones, which climbed onto the shoulders of several people.
"What do you need Sensei for?"
Tsunade lounged in a rattan chair at ho, basking in the sun. It was one of her rare days off.
"Sensei, here's the thing..."
Nonō quickly explained the situation.
"Can you use barrier ninjutsu to trap the Tailed Beast?"
Kawakaze, sitting in a similar rattan chair beside Tsunade, perked up. He recalled a barrier that had once restrained the Nine-Tails but couldn't quite rember its na.
"No?"
Nagato looked disappointed at Kawakaze's hesitant expression. If even Konoha didn't have it, finding such a technique would be difficult.
"Of course we have it," Kawakaze said confidently, turning to Tsunade. "Your Sensei's wife definitely rembers."
He believed that, as Hokage, Tsunade should know everything in the Kinjutsu Room.
"Ahem~"
"There are too many kinds of ninjutsu. I can't rember them all."
"Wait here—your Sensei and I will go look for it."
Tsunade abruptly ended the visual connection and smacked Kawakaze.
"Why did you hit ?"
Kawakaze looked at her in shock. What had he done wrong?
"You just threw the responsibility on without knowing for sure."
"How was I supposed to know?"
Tsunade looked completely justified, as if it wasn't absurd for the Hokage to have barely visited the Kinjutsu Room.
"Ignorant," Kawakaze muttered, rubbing his head. This old woman was really unreasonable.
"Move it."
Tsunade didn't argue further, grabbed Kawakaze's hand, and in the next instant, they appeared near the Kinjutsu Room.
After greeting the guards, they stepped inside.
Faced with rows of large bookcases packed with scrolls, both of them felt their heads spin.
"Do you know where it is?"
Speaking at the sa ti, they realized they'd have to search blindly.
Without hesitation, they both turned and started digging through the scrolls.
Who knew how much ti had passed, but eventually, Tsunade was the first to find the appropriate barrier ninjutsu—Four Red Yang Formation.
"Yes, this is it."
Kawakaze, a slow learner, only rembered after seeing it. His long-buried mory suddenly clicked into place.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. If they had known the na from the start, they wouldn't have wasted so much ti.
"Heh heh, I just rembered."
Kawakaze scratched his head sheepishly.
"I want to punch you."
Tsunade sighed, then grabbed Kawakaze's hand again, teleporting them back ho. Without delay, they reconnected to the Slug-brand communication link.
"Did you find it?"
Nagato imdiately asked when they appeared.
"Of course. One of you take notes."
Tsunade spread the scroll open in front of her so everyone could see.
Kakuzu hesitated, torn between curiosity and indifference. If not for his interest, he wouldn't have stayed.
"Okay, Sensei."
Nonō quickly copied the technique onto a blank scroll.
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