While Kushina continued adapting to greater amounts of the Nine-Tails’ chakra and practicing new Kidō spells, Sima Ming wasn’t idle either.
Sitting cross-legged behind her, he focused on a different challenge.
He was trying to combine Reiatsu with Sealing Jutsu.
Since Kushina could learn Kidō despite being a shinobi, he believed he should also be capable of learning the Uzumaki Clan’s sealing techniques.
His theory proved to be correct.
Unfortunately…
There was one major obstacle.
Whenever he attempted to use Sealing Jutsu, he had to borrow the Nine-Tails’ chakra through Kushina.
He couldn’t perform it with his own Reiatsu alone.
After all, chakra was created by combining spiritual energy with physical energy.
Even without considering the God Tree or the Ten-Tails, that basic principle remained unchanged.
The problem was simple.
Sima Ming didn’t possess a physical body.
He only had Reiatsu.
That led him to another idea.
Could he modify Sealing Jutsu so it could function using Reiatsu alone?
The Bakudō branch of Kidō could also be considered a form of sealing technique.
Although it wasn’t nearly as versatile or miraculous as the Uzumaki Clan’s Sealing Jutsu, it still provided a useful point of reference.
However…
Once he actually began experimenting, he quickly realized how difficult it was to modify an already established power system.
He wasn’t a genius like Minato.
Nor was he a researcher like Orochimaru.
More importantly…
Every Kidō spell he knew had been purchased directly from the system.
Aside from the few techniques he used regularly, he had barely practiced the others.
His understanding remained superficial.
Without sufficient knowledge…
And lacking the talent for creating entirely new techniques…
Sima Ming soon abandoned the idea.
If anyone could accomplish such a task…
It would have to be Kushina.
Unfortunately, she had no time to spare.
As the Nine-Tails gradually regained control of its third tail, the negative emotions contained within its chakra increased dramatically.
Although Kushina had previously extended her tolerance…
Her endurance dropped back to only two and a half minutes.
The difference was that within those two and a half minutes…
The power she could unleash had increased tremendously.
Meanwhile, after spending so much time together, the Nine-Tails had gradually accepted one undeniable truth.
Sima Ming was unlike other humans.
He harbored neither fear nor hatred toward the Tailed Beasts.
Influenced by him, Kushina also began treating the Nine-Tails as a genuine friend rather than pretending for the sake of gaining its power.
As a result…
Once the Nine-Tails willingly accepted Kushina, a large portion of the hatred within its chakra naturally disappeared.
Unfortunately…
The remaining negative emotions had already fused completely with its chakra.
Even the Nine-Tails itself had no way of removing them.
“Sima…”
“I remember your sword can absorb emotions.”
As Sima Ming and Kushina prepared to leave the Inner World, the Nine-Tails unexpectedly spoke first.
Its words completely caught Sima Ming off guard.
“My sword?”
“It can absorb emotions?”
Even he hadn’t known that Kyōen possessed such an ability.
Ever since Kushina had unexpectedly repaired the Zanpakutō…
Its Shikai had changed dramatically.
Although the release command remained the same…
Its abilities were completely different from before.
Now, every time he activated Shikai…
He had to draw the sword from Kushina’s chest.
Even though their relationship had already grown incredibly close…
The process still caused Kushina intense physical stimulation, making it difficult for him to practice freely.
The Nine-Tails snorted.
“I wouldn’t mistake something like that.”
“This old man is extremely sensitive to changes in human emotions.”
“The last time you released your sword…”
“It absorbed a considerable amount of the emotion humans call love from Kushina.”
“Perhaps…”
“It can also absorb the negative emotions contained within my chakra.”
Hearing the Nine-Tails speak with such certainty…
Sima Ming couldn’t help feeling tempted.
His only concern was whether Kushina would agree.
Before he could ask…
Kushina spoke first.
“Ming-kun…”
“I can do it.”
Truthfully…
The sensation caused by drawing the sword wasn’t unpleasant.
It was simply so overwhelming that she had struggled to overcome her own embarrassment.
Now that she had fully accepted Sima Ming…
Aside from taking the final step in their relationship…
There was almost nothing left between them.
If the Zanpakutō could truly help her adapt to the Nine-Tails’ chakra more quickly…
She had absolutely no reason to refuse.
Since Kushina had agreed, Sima Ming wasted no time.
He immediately recited the Shikai release command.
The two left the Nine-Tails’ Inner World together.
Standing behind Kushina, Sima Ming reached over her shoulder and grasped the invisible hilt.
At that exact moment…
The Nine-Tails warned them.
“Be careful.”
“This old man is about to begin.”
The instant those words fell…
A translucent orange cloak of chakra began flowing from Kushina’s body.
Her pupils instantly narrowed into vertical slits.
Even after all her training…
She was still far from becoming a Perfect Jinchūriki.
The influence of the Nine-Tails’ chakra remained overwhelming.
The moment Sima Ming sensed that Kushina had reached her limit…
He decisively drew the Zanpakutō.
A soft gasp escaped Kushina’s lips.
Almost immediately…
The overwhelming urge to destroy…
To kill…
To give in to hatred…
Rapidly diminished.
Although the lingering negative emotions still made her uncomfortable…
She no longer felt in danger of losing control.
Two and a half minutes passed.
Then another.
And another.
Yet Kushina remained completely conscious.
Standing quietly in place, she carefully experienced the corrosive influence of the Nine-Tails’ chakra.
At the same time…
Her extraordinary Uzumaki vitality continuously adapted to that overwhelming power.
Without the concealment barrier surrounding the courtyard…
The terrifying chakra would probably have thrown all of Konoha into chaos.
Although the rest of the village remained unaware…
Kaorui and little Karin, who lived in the same house, felt everything.
The instant the Nine-Tails’ chakra appeared…
Both mother and daughter froze.
The immense malice contained within that chakra awakened an instinctive terror buried deep within their blood.
Little Karin’s swaddling clothes quickly became soaked.
She was so frightened she couldn’t even cry.
Kaorui wasn’t much better.
Her entire body trembled uncontrollably.
Cold sweat poured down her face.
Within moments, the wooden floor beneath her feet had become noticeably damp.
Curiously…
Naruto reacted completely differently.
Lying beside Karin…
He wasn’t frightened in the slightest.
Instead, he giggled happily.
It was as though he had discovered something amusing…
Or perhaps he instinctively sensed that his mother’s strength was growing.
Ironically…
It was the Nine-Tails that first noticed Kaorui’s fear.
It immediately warned Sima Ming and Kushina.
Only then did they reluctantly stop their training.
As the Nine-Tails’ chakra faded away…
Kaorui’s legs finally gave out.
She collapsed onto her knees.
The terror in her eyes lingered long after the oppressive aura had vanished.
She tried to stand…
But her limbs had gone completely weak.
At that moment…
Karin finally burst into tears.
Hearing her cry…
Naruto stopped laughing and immediately began crying as well.
The sound pulled Kaorui slightly out of her panic…
Though it still wasn’t enough for her to regain her strength.
“I’m so sorry.”
“That was my oversight.”
Kushina hurried over.
Rather than picking up Naruto immediately…
She first helped Kaorui onto the nearby sofa.
Only afterward did she lift Karin in one arm and Naruto in the other, gently rocking them until they gradually calmed down.
“N-No…”
“It’s alright…”
“I was simply too weak…”
Kaorui lowered her head in embarrassment.
She couldn’t even withstand a mere trace of the Nine-Tails’ aura.
Yet Kushina carried that terrifying power sealed inside her own body every single day.
Although they both belonged to the Uzumaki Clan…
The difference between them felt immeasurable.
No wonder there had always been distinctions between the clan’s elite and its ordinary members.
Then another thought struck her.
Earlier…
She had completely lost control out of fear.
Not only had she soaked the wooden floor with cold sweat…
She had also left the sofa cushions damp after collapsing onto them.
They would probably need to be washed thoroughly.
Her face flushed crimson with embarrassment.
Looking toward Kushina, who was gently comforting the two children…
Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the empty space behind her.
She wondered silently,
“Will Lord Ming-kun think I’m pathetic?”
“To be frightened so badly over something like this…”