Uzumaki Kushina grabbed Uzumaki Jiuno's hand and rushed toward the gate of the Ninja Academy.
"Come on, let's go say hi to Tsunade-sama!"
Jiuno blinked.
"Why?"
Namikaze Minato sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
"Kushina, do you really need to drag us into everything?"
He already knew it was pointless to argue.
Once Uzumaki Kushina made up her mind, it was nearly impossible to stop her.
"Forget it." He sighed. "It's not like it's a big deal."
The three of them approached Tsunade, stopping a few steps away and bowing politely.
"Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade reached out and ruffled the red hair of both girls with a warm smile.
"Didn't I tell you two already?" She said playfully.
"Call me sister Tsunade."
Kushina and Jiuno beamed.
"Hee hee! Sister Tsunade!"
Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.
The two girls were from the Uzumaki clan, distant relatives of hers through her grandmother, Uzumaki Mito.
Ever since arriving in Konoha, they had been staying at Mito's residence, so she had met them many times.
She saw them as younger sisters, and she adored them.
Her eyes turned toward Minato.
"Boy, has anyone bullied them at school?"
Minato quickly shook his head.
"No, not at all!"
Of course, that wasn't entirely true.
At first, some students had mocked Kushina and Jiuno for their red hair.
But after a few beatdowns from Kushina, no one dared to provoke them again.
That was how she earned the nickname "Blood Red Pepper."
"That's good." Tsunade smirked. "But let me tell you something…"
As they stood at the entrance of the Ninja Academy, chatting comfortably, parents picking up their children watched from a distance, their eyes full of envy.
"Tsunade-sama…"
They all recognized her.
How they wished their children could stand beside her, casually chatting like this.
"If only my kid could get close to Tsunade… his future would be set!"
While the group talked, Saigoji Youmu remained silent, standing off to the side.
His sharp gaze lingered on the two girls—
But eventually settled on Uzumaki Jiuno's abdomen.
He felt it.
A surge of energy—powerful, yet concealed.
A force of pure destruction, brimming with negativity.
It was sealed so tightly that almost no traces leaked out.
But it couldn't escape his perception.
Years of battles—his superhuman instincts—and the abilities of the Seven Swords System told him the truth.
"So even the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki candidate has changed."
In the original story, the one burdened with the Nine-Tails was Uzumaki Kushina.
But now…
It's Uzumaki Jiuno.
The Monster in the Cage
Deep within a dark and damp cage, a pair of sinister, glowing eyes slowly opened.
A voice, dripping with violence, rumbled through the void.
"Hmph… someone is watching me?"
Kurama—the Nine-Tails—felt it.
Someone was staring, probing, sensing his presence within Jiuno.
Through the bars of his prison, his beastly gaze locked onto a young man standing outside in the real world.
Saigoji Youmu.
Kurama narrowed his pupil-slitted eyes.
"Who the hell is this brat?"
He had never seen this face before.
And yet… this boy's expression was too calm, too collected.
Almost as if he knew exactly what was inside Jiuno.
Kurama scowled.
He was sure that no one in Konoha—aside from the higher-ups—should have knowledge of the Jinchūriki.
And yet…
This boy's piercing gaze seemed to say otherwise.
Kurama snorted.
"Tch. Whatever."
He closed his eyes again, returning to his slumber.
This was not his problem.
It was Konoha's.
In the real world, Jiuno shifted uncomfortably.
Something felt off.
She tugged on Tsunade's sleeve and looked up at her with cautious eyes.
"Sister Tsunade… who is that?"
She glanced nervously at Saigoji Youmu.
"Is that big brother your friend?"
Just moments ago, she had felt his eyes on her.
At first, she thought he was just curious.
But…
There was something about the way he looked at her.
Something… unsettling.