Chapter 4: The Nine-Tails Attack
13 Years Ago...
"There, there Satsuki. Everything's okay." Itachi spoke softly, rocking his baby sister side-to-side in the moonlight. He'd taken the liberty to tend to her himself, giving his parents some reprieve and allowing them at least one night uninterrupted.
It'd also helped him to keep his mind off the events of last month. The image of the Masked Man slashing open his teammate's chest as he'd been unable to stop it still plagued his thoughts, his newly awakened Sharingan regrettably capturing every traumatic detail in perfect clarity. It was only a week later his other teammate had quit, and another week until they'd both been replaced. Itachi looked down at his baby sister's peaceful face, wondering if the day would come when she too possessed the famed eyes of the Uchiha. As he watched Satsuki's small hands ball into fists and her chest rapidly rise and fall with each breath she took, he foolishly hoped it wouldn't.
Itachi turned his gaze to the moon. He couldn't shake the feeling but, something about tonight felt... off.
"Look, can't we just do 'rock, paper, scissors' again?" Kakashi asked, tired from Gai's never-ending enthusiasm. It was nearing 11pm, and he was not about to race around the village on his hands. Not that he would if it was daytime, but that wasn't the point.
Gai pointed at Kakashi accusingly. "And you call yourself my eternal rival?! The springtime of youth calls for us Kakashi! There must be something more exciting we can do!"
Kakashi sighed, "First of all, I don't call myself your eternal rival, you do, and secon-" Kakashi stopped speaking and turned his head, looking into the distance.
"Uh...Kakashi?"
"Does it...?" he mumbled to himself, unsure.
"What?"
Kakashi looked at Gai. "I don't know, does the air feel...weird?"
"The air? The only thing weird here is your attitude!" Gai said, pointing his finger at Kakashi again.
"I'm serious. I don't know, it feels... different."
Hiruzen breathed out the smoke from his pipe. It slowly dissipated into his office as he scanned over the classified document once more.
'A barrier, 10 Anbu, 2 midwives, and Minato monitoring the seal. Yes, the birth should go just fine.'
Hiruzen took another puff from his pipe and settled back into his seat, reflecting on Minato's recent inauguration. He'd been all too willing to finally pass on the mantle of Hokage to someone else. He felt he'd been a leader for far too long, especially so after the Third Great Ninja War. The war with the Hidden Stone Village had been long and arduous, and it had slowly stripped the last of Hiruzen's desire to continue on as Hokage. It was his time to step down and pass on the 'Will of Fire' to the next generation, as Tobirama had done for him. Team Minato, The Sannin and The Uchiha Clan were cited to be the 3 largest contributors to the Leaf's war effort, and so Hiruzen had chosen one person from each body as his potential successor.
Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru of the Sannin and Fugaku Uchiha.
Minato's key victory at Kanabi Bridge and his battle against a thousand Stone ninja had caused him much celebration as a hero. Although he was young, Hiruzen noted it may have been time for a new generation to lead the way forward. After all, he had only been 18 himself when the mantle had been passed to him - during wartime too. As for the Sannin, Hiruzen didn't bother to name Jiraiya or Tsunade. He'd asked Jiraiya once before already, and Tsunade had cut ties with the village shortly after the war had ended. Orochimaru had always been the only one of the three to ever express a desire to become Hokage. Fugaku had been an interesting option. Not someone he was close to, and an Uchiha to boot, Hiruzen had made the choice with an objective mind. It was no secret that the Uchiha Clan had always had a rocky relationship with the Leaf, despite being one of its founders. Madara Uchiha's defection had stained their reputation to this day, and, in comparison to the free mixing of the Senju, it certainly didn't help that they'd chosen to isolate themselves within their compound. Their role as the Leaf Military Police Force had only further alienated the Uchiha from the citizens of the Leaf. However, their part in the war could not be denied. Uchiha fighting side-by-side with their Leaf comrades had near dissolved all previous tension, and, for their efforts, the Uchiha Clan had remarked strongly on their opinion of Fukagu as Hokage.
By the end of discussions with the Shinobi Council, including the Jonin Commander, he had decided it was Minato who would be the one to succeed him. The Fire Daimyo had been all too happy with the choice, his focus more on the public who had been swayed by Minato 'The Yellow Flash'.
Fugaku had taken the loss professionally, and Hiruzen suspected his candidacy for Hokage was a view pushed forward more by the clan than its head.
Orochimaru, however...
Finding his secret laboratory, chasing him to the edges of the village, his fight with his former student, and the look in his eyes as Hiruzen descended with a killing blow... the memories were too painful for him to dwell on.
Hiruzen closed his eyes and forced himself to think of happier times.
He'd spent the last year relaxing at home with his wife and son. Said wife was currently occupied with Kushina's birth and his son was likely out with that Yuhi girl again, but Hiruzen found himself at peace with his new life. Less responsibility meant less trouble and less stress, and he'd become closer than ever with his family.
Hiruzen set the document down and made his way to the window, puffing on his pipe once more and looking down at the village below. It'd only be a few hours until Biwako would be home. He'd keep awake until she returned.
It was on that thought, that the sudden mix of his senses firing made his blood run cold. The sound of a monstrous roar assaulted his ears and his eyes darted up to the sudden enormous plume of white smoke, the ominous chakra he could sense hidden inside it meaning only one thing.
The Anbu stationed outside his door ran inside.
"Lord Hiruzen!"
"I know." he spoke. "Send Anbu to the heads of every clan. We need as many reinforcements as possible."
Hiruzen's eyes steeled at the sight before him.
The Nine-Tails had escaped.
"RUN!"
"IT'S THE NINE-TAILS!"
"HELP!"
People poured left, right and centre into any empty streets they could, running as fast as their feet would carry them away from the Fox. The surrounding rubble had trapped some civilians, who were screeching for help, but the sheer terror of the people passing by gave them little reason to stop. Fathers and mothers held their children tight, fearing for their family's lives.
The Nine-Tails' rampage continued on, its gigantic size crushing everything beneath it. It swiped its claws and slammed its tails, destroying countless homes and killing several people, their cries and screams falling on deaf ears.
As it was about to flatten yet another street, the Nine-Tails was hit with a fireball. The lone jutsu barely grazed it, but it caused the Fox's attention to focus on the now rapidly emerging Leaf ninja surrounding it.
"WE NEED TO STALL IT UNTIL LORD FOURTH ARRIVES!" one of them shouted, his hands ready to sign a jutsu.
The Nine-Tails roared, the shockwaves being sent throughout the village, causing the ninja to block their faces as the air pushed them back. With anger, it brought down its claws, only to miss as any ninja below them jumped out of the way.
The turn of attention allowed a window of safety for the civilians, as Leaf ninja tried their best to help as many of them as they could. The others did their best to distract the gargantuan beast, but their efforts dwindled bit by bit as nothing they could do could harm it.
The Nine-Tails pushed forward, ever ferocious in its attack.
Just as the Leaf ninja slowed down their assault, dismayed at the possibility of the village's destruction, a voice called out to them.
"DON'T GIVE UP SO EASILY!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, equipped in his combat uniform, shoulders high and face hardened, walked towards them followed by a defence force of Anbu.
"Lord Third!"
Hiruzen brought his arms up and fastened his gauntlets. "We can't shy away, no matter how powerful the force we face! We have a village to protect! Now is the time to gather our forces and drive this thing out of the village! We won't let it jeopardise the Leaf!"
The ninja looked on with renewed vigour. He was right. This was their duty.
Hiruzen made a half ram seal and his personal summon, Enma, appeared. The Monkey King looked at the sight before him and quickly realised the gravity of the situation.
"Kushina's seal has been broken?"
Hiruzen nodded and Enma's eyes narrowed. "I understand."
There was a puff of smoke and Hiruzen stood with his adamantine staff. He turned to the Anbu beside him and spoke.
"Coordinate a group priority on evacuation, we need to get any and all civilians away from here as fast and far as possible."
The Anbu nodded and jumped away, immediately barking orders at the nearby ninja.
Hiruzen's gaze fixed upon the Nine-Tails. "Enma," he said, "We must push it to the edge of the village, and take the fight away from here."
Hiruzen jumped up upon the nearest building, the Anbu force following him as he aimed his staff directly at the Nine-Tails.
"Draw its attention to me!" he ordered.
The Anbu around him fired off their jutsu, causing the Fox to roar in anger and approach them. Just as it was about to slam down, Hiruzen shouted, "NOW ENMA!".
The staff expanded and extended, catching the Nine-Tails in its stomach and forcing it backwards. The Nine-Tails grabbed the staff and tried to push back, but the staff was unyielding in its advance. Numerous buildings flattened beneath the Fox as it was pushed to the walls of the village. Hiruzen moved in close and the defence force of ninja followed, throwing out whatever jutsu they could to harm it. Swiping at the Nine-Tails with the staff, and moving from roof to roof, Hiruzen used guerilla-style attacks to chip away at the beast before him.
"Lord Third! Choza Akimichi has arrived! I have also received word that reinforcements from the Inuzuka Clan will arrive at any moment! "
Hiruzen nodded at the Anbu's words, noticing the large red-haired man atop a building nearby. 'He made it!'
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Choza said. "Super-Expansion Jutsu!"
With a quick hand sign, Choza jumped into the air and appeared on the other end of a large cloud of smoke, his size now ballooned to nearly 75% of the Nine-Tails. He wrapped his arms around the Fox, crushing its ribs and stopping its motion to the best of his ability, digging his feet and pushing against it.
The Nine-Tails roared in rage but Choza stood his ground. The mix of coloured pills he had taken was dangerous, but the situation was desperate and Choza was not one to shy away in his village's time of need.
"Lord Third! The Inuzuka Clan has arrived!"
Numerous Leaf ninja, joined by their dogs, reached the battle. The tide was turning now. As long as more shinobi could turn up, especially those from clans, the Leaf Village would have a chance.
"Now!" Hiruzen said. "Do it!"
The Inuzuka nodded and started sprinting with their dogs towards the Nine-Tails, the beast fixed in position by Choza. Their bodies rotated in a whirlwind, aimed straight for the Nine-Tails' head.
"Fang Over Fang!"
Numerous whirlwinds struck the Nine-Tails and the beast's aggression paused for a second as it staggered in place. It was the first technique that had worked. With a roar of his own, Choza tightened his grip around the Nine-Tails and threw it to the ground, his body returning to normal size. The Nine-Tails stumbled back to its stance, angrier than ever.
"It looks like that attack damaged the Nine-Tails! But..." an Anbu spoke.
Hiruzen continued attacking with his staff. "But even with that assault, we failed to inflict fatal damage!"
Two ninja, he noticed from the Nara Clan, dropped next to him, "A message from Shikaku, Lord Third! He's almost ready to go ahead with the operation!"
"Good! Don't let up the attack until then!" Hiruzen replied.
Hiruzen rallied the surrounding forces, he had to keep the Nine-Tails occupied until Shikaku was ready. Hiruzen kept on his assault with his staff, aided by multiple fire jutsu and Inuzuka ninja. He was getting tired, but, as a leader, he could not afford to rest. Not when his village was counting on him.
"Lord Third! The Uchiha and the Hyuuga Clan are here! Shikaku is ready!"
Hiruzen nodded at the Nara shinobi. "All right! Launch the operation!"
In the distance, he watched as hundreds of ninja arrived on the battlefield. The Nara stood behind Shikaku, all of them performing hand signs for the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu. 'So this is his plan.'
The numerous shadows snaked through the rubble of the village, joining together and strengthening as they came together as one, binding to the Nine-Tails and paralysing its movements.
Choza made a hand sign and again ballooned to his previous size. He ran towards the Nine-Tails, his footsteps like thunder as he increased in speed. With his shoulders turned, Choza rammed into the Fox, the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu breaking its hold and causing the Nine-Tails to topple onto the ground.
As Choza once again returned to normal size, a voice that belonged to Inoichi Yamanaka zapped into Hiruzen's head. A quick glance at the shinobi surrounding him confirmed everyone else could hear it too.
'Now we'll launch an offensive! Everyone! Get ready to attack it all at once!'
Immediately, there was a burst of chakra, as every Leaf ninja in the village made the hand signs shinobi of the Fire Country were well known for. A dim blue hue lit up the Leaf forces, the chakra in the air so heavy and dense it was starting to give off light.
Inoichi's jutsu allowed two-way communication, and Hiruzen heard the commanding voices of Fukagu Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuuga speak through it.
'Uchiha!'
'Hyuuga!'
The two largest clans of the Leaf provided the last piece the attack needed.
With a 'Charge!' from Hiruzen, the night sky was illuminated with a thousand fireballs. They cascaded upon the Nine-Tails, burning, singeing and exploding upon its body. The Eight Trigrams Air Palm further stoked the flames and intensified the blazing heat. An explosion of fire and wind forced the Fox back to the ground, the fire's illumination dying out and returning back the darkness.
As Hiruzen watched the final attack on the Nine-Tails, he knew there was but one thing yet to do, and possibly only one man who could do it.
'Minato, where are you?'
A yellow seal transcribed itself onto the Masked Man's chest, its arms reaching out from a central spiral and curving around his cloak.
"What is this? A contract seal?" he asked, his voice sharp and his lone Sharingan creasing in anger behind the mask.
Minato's cold blue eyes stared through him. "The Nine-Tails is no longer yours."
The Masked Man jumped back and chuckled, "It seems I underestimated you. When you hit me with your Rasengan, you placed a Hiraishin Seal on me, didn't you?"
Minato didn't answer, as much as he wanted to finish him off, as much as he felt the need to quell the danger this man posed, he knew today wouldn't be the day the Masked Man would be defeated.
"Sharingan, genjutsu powerful enough to subdue the Nine-Tails, and the ability to enter the Leaf undetected. It seems impossible, but I only know of one man capable of launching an attack of this magnitude. Tell me, are you Madara Uchiha?"
The Masked Man chuckled again. "You really are the prodigy of your generation. I may have lost today, Fourth Hokage, but I'll be back for the Nine-Tails another time. Why rush? After all, there are so many ways to go about it."
With that, the Masked Man's body swirled into a vortex, its epicentre at the Sharingan visible through his mask, and disappeared.
Minato's tense body relaxed. He was gone.
His mind whirled to Kushina and Naruko back home, but he steeled himself. He still had one thing left to do. Focusing his chakra, he too disappeared from the landing.
The Leaf ninja watched as the Nine-Tails dragged itself up from off the ground one more time. Hadn't they finished it? Wasn't it enough? How could the Fox take so much punishment and still be standing?
The Nine-Tails planted its arms and legs into the ground and moved its head upwards. It opened its mouth and a sudden burst of condensed chakra formed into a small purple ball, growing in size as more and more chakra poured into it.
The Tailed Beast Bomb.
As much as the Leaf ninja numbered, they knew there was no way they could stop it, and neither could they outrun it in time. Even Hiruzen and Shikaku were at a loss. The Tailed Beast Bomb was the pinnacle of jutsu, its destructive power was unmatched and the devastation from the fallout would surely spell the end of the Leaf.
As the Tailed Beast Bomb grew in size, and fear gripped the shinobi watching it, a giant plume of smoke appeared directly above the Fox.
It was the Fourth Hokage, riding the head of his personal Toad summon, Gamabunta, the boss of the Toads.
"Not so fast ya' wretched beast!" shouted Gamabunta as it crashed onto the Nine-Tails' back, flattening it into the ground once more. The Tailed Beast Bomb dissipated into nothing, its formation disrupted.
Minato jumped down onto the Fox, placing one hand on its body and the other speeding through a number of hand signs. With a flash, the Nine-Tails, Minato and Gamabunta were gone.
Hiruzen looked incredulously at the sudden disappearance, "Minato... you teleported the Nine-Tails with you?"
Minato's breath was heavy, and Kushina's was even heavier.
"I must erect a barrier immediately." he said, struggling to even get the words out. 'My chakra, it's almost...'
"I can still do it, Minato." Kushina spoke, her weak voice betraying her facade.
Kushina bit her lips and winced in pain. As she gathered her focus, a sudden explosion of golden chains erupted out of her back, wrapping around the Nine-Tails' body, neck and limbs, before locking it in place and keeping it secure. The physical exertion weakened her further, forcing her body to start wracking with coughs as she spit blood out onto the floor.
"Kushina!" Minato exclaimed with worry.
The sudden raise of voice woke up Naruko in his hands, her cries drawing Kushina's attention.
Kushina's face softened, and even through her pain, her maternal instincts kicked in, bringing a slight smile to her face. "I'm sorry, Naruko. Did I wake you up?" she asked with a caring voice.
Her face turned towards Minato, "I'm going to draw the Nine-Tails with me to my death. So we can delay its revival. I'll be able to save all of you with what little chakra I have left." Kushina forced her face into a warm smile. "Thank you, for everything you've done for me."
Minato's eyes watered, and Naruko's cries died down to whimpers. "This child I have in my arms, our child... Kushina, it's because of you that I'm the Fourth Hokage! You made me a man! And you made me this baby's father!" Minato's voice cracked.
"Don't give me that look!" she replied, the warm smile on her face still etched onto her beautiful features. "I'm happy that I got to know you, that you loved me. And... today... is Naruko's birthday. If I were to imagine me alive, and our future together, the three of us as a family... I can't see us having anything but a happy life."
Minato's eyes watered further, and a single tear rolled down his face.
"If I were allowed just one regret," Kushina continued, her eyes glancing back to Naruko, "It's that I won't be able to see Naruko grow up. How I wish I could see that."
Minato steeled his voice. "Kushina, there's no need for you to die with the Nine-Tails. Lady Biwako gave her life to protect us, to protect you. Preserve what little chakra you have left. I'll take care of this." Minato wiped his eyes, "I'll seal half of the Nine-Tails within Naruko using the Eight Trigrams Seal. Then I'll take the other half, and seal it within myself using the Reaper Death Seal."
"Minato! The caster of that jutsu will-"
"It's the only way that works." Minato interrupted. "Sealing a power this immense is physically impossible. Naruko is only half-Uzumaki, she won't be able to bear the full power of the Nine-Tails. And sealing the full Nine-Tails within you would be strategically unwise. If you take the Nine-Tails within you when you die, there won't be a Jinchuuriki around when it reemerges. Taking it away would also upset the balance of the Tailed Beasts amongst the Five Great Villages. The Reaper Death Seal will seal one half away with me forever, never to come back. As for the other half... I'll seal it within Naruko using the Eight Trigrams Seal."
Kushina's face dropped, as she tried to fight back her tears.
"I know what you want to say," Minato said, "But remember what Master Jiraiya said about world upheaval, that the Shinobi World will face a grave crisis. One thing was confirmed for me today - that the Masked Man who attacked us is a harbinger of disaster! The Child of Prophecy... I can't confirm it, but, I know that the one with the power of the Nine-Tails will be the one to stop him, this child will be the one to stop him!"
Kushina's silence gave him the answer he needed.
Both parents knew that what they were about to do, about to let happen, was a fate none of them wished for their daughter. Only a few hours old, and she would carry the burden of a Jinchuuriki.
Minato gently placed Naruko on the ground, wrapped in her orange blanket, right under Kushina. He stood up to turn to the Nine-Tails, ready to do what was needed. Just as he was about to start the signs for the Reaper Death Seal, he heard the sound of someone landing behind him.
"Minato!" called out the gruff voice of Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Wait!"
Minato and Kushina both looked to see where the voice was coming from, "Lord Third!"
Hiruzen stood in his battle uniform, the Monkey King Enma beside him and what seemed to be a child wrapped in a bundle of black cloth. "I know what you're planning to do Minato, Kushina. But after such destruction, the Leaf cannot afford to lose either of you. I have another solution."
"Another solution?" Minato asked.
"Yes. Kushina is weak, and your daughter cannot bear the full brunt of the Nine-Tails' power. Such a problem concludes that one of you must give your life. But I cannot allow this! You must live on! For the greater good of our village!"
Minato knelt beside Kushina, placing a hand on her back and looked up to Hiruzen. "There's more to this attack, Lord Third. It wasn't an accident. It was planned, deliberate. Whoever did this... he's a wielder of the-"
"Sharingan?" Hiruzen asked. "Yes, I saw it in the Nine-Tails' eyes. But I, as I am sure you do too, do not suspect it was someone from this village. Fugaku would never allow such insurrection to take place within his clan."
"He's extremely powerful," Minato continued, "He has access to space-time jutsu that may even outclass mine. The only reason I even had a chance was because of my Hiraishin."
"That it is all more the reason the Leaf needs you alive. I do not doubt he will try to take the Nine-Tails again. We will surely need its power in the future to come. But its power does not need to come at the cost of your life. This child I have in my arms is the answer to our problem."
Hiruzen stepped forward, uncovering the cloth to reveal a baby not so much older than Naruko. "His name is Jun Taki."
"Taki? Of Uzushiogakure?" Kushina asked.
"Yes, the very same. Most of the clan has disappeared throughout history after their exile. However, his relation to the Uzumaki will help him to control the Nine-Tails's power."
Minato shook his head, "I'm sorry, Lord Third. But I cannot possibly choose another child over my own. As a father I-"
"I understand Minato. But you are more than a father, and a shinobi, you are the Hokage! It is your duty to make the choice that is best for the village."
Minato stayed silent. He knew Hiruzen was right.
"I will perform the Reaper Death Seal, and seal the beast within him." Hiruzen said.
"Lord Third! You can't! The caster of that jutsu will be sealed within the Reaper forever!"
"I am old, Minato, and I have many regrets. But this is not one of them. My duty to the leaf commands me to do so. I saw Biwako... I know what happened to her."
Kushina apologised but Hiruzen interrupted again. "There is no need to apologise. As my wife did what was best for the village, so must I. I only ask that you take care of Asuma for me. You too, Enma."
Enma nodded "Of course."
With that Hiruzen walked past Minato and Kushina, placing Jun down in front of him. He looked up at the Nine-Tails, its body confined by Kushina, before preparing himself.
Hiruzen sped through the signs of the Reaper Death Seal, before exclaiming it out. A ghostly, translucent cloud bubbled out from him and exploded outwards to take the form of the Reaper. With deep purple skin, long white hair, razor-sharp teeth holding a blade and red prayer beads in its left hand, the Reaper floated behind Hiruzen in a white cloak, its right hand pulling out and holding up Hiruzen's soul as it bound it to itself.
"Seal!" shouted Hiruzen. Black marks appeared on the Reaper's left arm, and, prayer beads in hand, it snaked through Hiruzen's soul and through Jun's body before entering the Nine-Tails itself. The Nine-Tails roared as Kushina's chains returned to her body, but still, it could not move. The arm pulled back and with it came the chakra of the Nine-Tails, snaking back through Jun's body as it was sealed into him. The sound of steam hissed and a black spiral seal with 8 arms imprinted onto Jun's abdomen, his cries reflecting the pain he was feeling. The arm continued to snake back out, finally going back through Hiruzen.
The seal was complete.
Hiruzen was overcome with numbness and he dropped to his knees.
Minato quickly picked up Jun and ran over. "Lord Third!" he shouted, catching him and placing him on his back.
Hiruzen looked at his successor, a small smile on his face as he knowingly completed his final duty to his village. "Minato," he started, his voice uncharacteristically weak, "It is done. The Nine-Tails has been sealed within the boy."
Minato looked at Hiruzen in pain. "Thank you, Lord Sarutobi. You saved our village. You saved me. You gave me the chance to see my daughter grow up." he said, his voice caught in his throat.
Hiruzen shook his head. "It was my duty."
Enma and Kushina knelt by his side, Naruko swaddled in her mother's arms.
"Take care of the boy." Hiruzen said. "He is a Jinchuuriki, but let him live childhood as any other. He has a great burden on his shoulders, the fate of a Jinchuuriki is not an easy one." he said, glancing at Kushina. "Keep an eye on him, but do not be so close that his status would be revealed to our enemies."
Hiruzen turned to Enma. "Asuma will no doubt be angry at us, but give him time. Grief has never been simple. I trust you to explain to him what his parents died for, and I trust you to protect him as you did me."
Hiruzen then turned his gaze to the night sky, illuminated by a thousand stars. "I can feel my soul slipping away. Protect the Leaf, and pass on the 'Will of Fire' to the next generation. They are our most valuable asset."
The Sandaime Hokage's eyes closed shut. His chest stopped rising and his body became still.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was gone.
A lone man covered in bandages walked amidst the rubble, his cane clacking against the ground with every step he took. He stopped beside the body of a shinobi, noticing the red and white fan stitched into the back of his shirt. He prodded the body with his cane and spoke to the men behind him.
"Take his eyes. And take the eyes of any others you find."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
So that was long. Sorry about the wait, been caught up with life as we all do from time to time. Also was a bit confused about how I was gonna sell the sealing of the Nine-Tails. I hope that was adequate!
I'll probably start to publish multiple chapters at a time. Longer waits but you'll have more to read? I'm thinking maybe I should've written the whole story or at least a massive chunk before publishing but oh well. I've planned out every chapter so far, so I have a guideline on how the story will take place.
Thanks for being patient! I hope you enjoy!