Chapter 6

Kushina maintained a firm posture, and her eyes were locked onto Minato's, displaying an unwavering certainty that seemed to defy the reality of the situation. "He's not loose," she insisted, her voice conveying a confidence that contrasted with the moment's turbulence. There was a slight tremor in her speech, a subtle dissonance that Minato, with his sharp intuition and years of experience by Kushina's side, immediately picked up. It was almost imperceptible to any inattentive listener, but to Minato, it was a clear sign that things were not as simple as Kushina was trying to present.

"Kushina..." The word came out of Minato's mouth in a low tone, laden with a mix of concern and acknowledgment. He knew his wife well enough to detect the nuances in her expressions and understood that there was something more behind her firm words. The realization that Kushina was hiding something was like a sharp blade cutting through the tension in the air.

Realizing the need to corroborate her claims, Kushina made a subtle nod to the other clone at her side. "Watch this," she instructed. With impressive synchrony, the two Kushina clones began to change shape, assuming a golden cloak. Kurama's chakra radiated intensely from the clones, the golden, pulsating aura was so oppressive that even the most experienced ninjas present felt a chill run down their spines. The demonstration was tangible proof of Kushina's influence over the Nine-Tails' chakra, a manifestation of the truth she was trying to communicate.

"See, this proves that I'm not lying," Kushina stated, keeping her gaze fixed on Minato's blue eyes. The conviction in her voice was now accompanied by a glimpse of despair, a need for Minato to understand the urgency and complexity of what was happening.

"Resolve this quickly, I'm sensing multiple chakras approaching," Kurama's voice echoed in Kushina's mind, a persistent reminder of the pressure of time and the dangers that were drawing closer.

"I've already sensed it," Kushina replied in thought, maintaining her unchanged expression to not reveal the internal conversation she was having with the Kyuubi. "I'm doing what I can. I still don't trust you," she admitted mentally, still cautious regarding Kurama's true intentions.

"Don't ask, just resolve it, or things won't be so peaceful," Kurama warned, his internal voice carrying a tone of urgency that reflected the gravity of the situation.

The tension was palpable among the powerful ninjas gathered, each weighing the consequences of their next moves. Minato looked at his wife with a mix of concern and trust. "Kushina," he began, his voice low and controlled, "he's not going to cause any trouble?" There was a veiled urgency in his question, a need to ensure the safety of everyone present.

Kushina, with her firm and determined posture, replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "No," she said, "he will just keep his distance." In her heart, she fervently hoped that Kurama would indeed not cause any trouble. She knew, however, that this hope was tenuous and that the unpredictable nature of the beast could subvert her intentions at any moment.

Minato's concern was echoed by the Third Hokage, who expressed his doubts with paternal severity. "Minato,"You're not thinking of letting her release it, are you? She's valuable to the village." His voice carried the weight of his position, reminding everyone of the value that the Nine-Tails represented for Konoha.

Minato, steadfast in his conviction, responded with unshakable calm. "I... I believe my wife's word." He said, and Kushina smiled faintly, touched by her husband's unconditional support.

The Third Hokage sighed, his experience as a leader made him aware that there was more at stake than it appeared. "I understand," he said slowly, "but I think there's more at stake here, Minato. I don't think you're unaware."

Meanwhile, Kurama's patience was wearing thin, and his voice resonated in Kushina's mind with growing urgency. "My patience is running out..." Kurama's warning came with an oppressive feeling, as if an imminent storm was about to unleash.

The surrounding ninjas, with their sharpened attentions and senses focused on Kushina and Kurama, felt an involuntary shiver when the beast's large red eyes narrowed, and its tails began to sway slowly, hypnotically. It was a menacing sign, an omen that the beast's patience was indeed coming to an end and that the thin thread of control Kushina held could snap at any moment, plunging everyone into a catastrophic conflict.

Minato, with the gravity of the situation etched into every line of his countenance, rose with the posture of a leader forged in the harshest adversities. His eyes, reflecting the depth of his thoughts, met those of Kushina, which shone with a mix of entreaty and determination. "I will take responsibility for any outcome of this situation," he said, his voice resonating with a firmness that seemed capable of supporting the very sky. In Kushina's expression, he saw a silent petition, imploring him to trust in the strength and control she held over Kurama's tempestuous nature.

"Yes!" Kushina's response was a whisper barely audible, filled with restrained emotion. A slight nod of her hand, tremulous and shy, yet laden with meaning, emerged as a sign of triumph in the face of suffocating tension. A sense of relief, as faint as the light of dawn after the darkest of nights, spread through her being, the tension in her shoulders dissolving with the prospect that the threat of a Kyuubi attack on the village had been averted.

Meanwhile, in a quiet and unfathomable corner of Kushina's mind, Kurama's deep voice echoed with an assertiveness that left little room for doubt. "I need to distance myself now. The chakras approaching... I know who they are. I don't want to meet them yet," the beast said with a note of caution in his speech. There was a sense of anticipation in Kurama's voice, an aversion to a premature confrontation that could unleash the savagery he struggled so much to contain.

"Wouldn't it be better to stay?" Kushina questioned mentally, her concern shining through every thought. But before she could even finish her plea, Kurama was already in motion, his imposing silhouette fading into the distance, his presence dissipating like a shadow at dawn.

The ninjas witnessing the event remained motionless, as if an invisible hand had frozen time around them. Their gazes, filled with uncertainty and surprise, oscillated between the departing figure and the two supreme authorities of the village, Minato and the Third Hokage. A palpable hesitation hung in the air: should they vocalize the concern growing in their hearts, warning that Konoha's most powerful weapon was withdrawing? Yet, the presence of their leaders, witnessing the same spectacle, imposed a respectful silence. Minato and the Third Hokage were there, their penetrating gazes following the same path that Kyuubi had taken, as if they could glimpse the invisible threads of fate stretching out ahead.