Chapter 130 : Chapter 130 Hiruzen Sarutobi Returns
"He really doesn't make things easy."
Minamikawa Yuu shook his head as he watched Hiruko leave.
"You were right once again."
On Minamikawa Yuu's shoulder, the mini Nine-Tailed lay there, speaking with interest, "But is it really alright to just let him take my cells like that?"
"It's not that easy for an ordinary person to devour my cells like you did."
"Don't worry."
Minamikawa Yuu's expression was calm. "I intentionally tampered with that sample; there won't be any danger."
"Although it contains your flesh and blood, the concentration is very low. Even if he fails, it won't matter much; it's just to give him a taste of that feeling."
"You even predicted that?"
The Nine-Tailed continued, "What if he succeeds?"
"Then let him try again."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly, "But based on my understanding of him, the chance of him succeeding on the first try is slim."
Theoretically, it was possible to continue devouring Nine-Tailed cells on top of having already devoured the Wood Release Bloodline Limit, but the actual operation was extremely difficult.
Given Hiruko's conditions, Minamikawa Yuu did not think he had any chance of success.
Ultimately, Minamikawa Yuu's own success was thanks to the Kaguyas Seal Power within his body.
With the Kaguyas Seal Power, he naturally possessed the ability to integrate all Bloodline Limits and Tailed Beast powers.
But Hiruko did not have those conditions.
The final outcome was hard to say.
As expected by Minamikawa Yuu, Hiruko disappeared for several days.
When he reappeared a few days later, his entire being had become withered.
His face was pale, and he looked listless, clearly having suffered a great deal.
When he entered, Minamikawa Yuu was working in the laboratory. He wasn't surprised by Hiruko's state at all, and his movements didn't stop for a second.
"Failed?"
He spoke softly, not finding Hiruko's condition surprising in the least.
"Yes."
Hiruko's expression was somewhat unsightly, but in front of Minamikawa Yuu, he ultimately said nothing.
"Since you failed, just focus on your training."
Minamikawa Yuu's face was calm. "In your current state, you do not possess the ability to tame the Nine-Tailed's cells. If you still want to continue trying, the only end is death."
"I understand."
Hiruko's face was pale, and he finally nodded silently.
The difficulty of devouring the Nine-Tailed's flesh was far beyond his imagination.
Even though he had made many preparations beforehand, he still failed in the end. His consciousness retreated during the contact, nearly being devoured by the terrifying instincts remaining in the Nine-Tailed's cells, almost turning into a demon with only its own consciousness.
Fortunately, the arrangements Minamikawa Yuu had left behind saved him, causing the Nine-Tailed's power to dissipate at the critical moment, preventing him from dying on the spot.
This also made him understand Minamikawa Yuu's intention: he was just letting him try so that he would know when to back off.
"Teacher..."
Standing beside Minamikawa Yuu, he hesitated before finally asking, "How did you tame the Nine-Tailed's cells?"
The difficulty of taming Nine-Tailed cells was not ordinary.
That feeling could only be understood after experiencing it personally.
So he was very curious now: what method did Minamikawa Yuu use to overcome the backlash of the Nine-Tailed's cells and successfully master the Nine-Tailed's power?
"I have a unique method, but that method is only suitable for me, not for you."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly, "If you want to achieve it, you'll have to find your own way to try."
"However, there is only one real chance to try. If possible, it's better not to try at all."
"Otherwise, with one slip-up, you might really die."
Hiruko didn't speak, but his face wore an expression of refusal to give up.
Clearly, he hadn't abandoned the idea yet.
To this, Minamikawa Yuu was not surprised.
He never expected the other party to give up on anything.
As long as he didn't act recklessly and throw his life away for nothing, Yuu would be satisfied.
After staying in the lab for a while, he turned around, preparing to leave.
"Teacher."
Behind him, Hiruko's voice rang out.
He looked at Minamikawa Yuu's back, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Thank you."
Hiruko was not a dense person like Jiraiya.
On the contrary, because of his experiences growing up, his mind was very sensitive, so he clearly understood what Minamikawa Yuu had done for him behind the scenes.
With his extreme personality that would sacrifice everything for power, if Minamikawa Yuu hadn't been looking out for him over the past few years, he would have died many times already.
This thanks represented his heartfelt gratitude.
"You're welcome."
Minamikawa Yuu's face was calm, and he just smiled. "You are my student; this is only natural."
With those words, he turned and left the area, heading toward his residence.
Hiruko didn't speak further, just quietly watching his back.
After returning to his residence, Minamikawa Yuu was deep in thought.
There were only a few days left until his wedding with Tsunade.
This was a critical moment for him.
Therefore, he was also considering another matter.
"It's about time to release him..."
This thought flashed through his mind, and then his hands formed seals.
Summoning Jutsu!
A giant coffin appeared on the spot, summoned directly by him.
When the coffin opened, a man lay there quietly, with traces and the aura of war still lingering on him.
It was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"It really has been a long time."
Minamikawa Yuu looked at the figure of Sarutobi Hiruzen before him and sighed softly.
In that battle back then, he hadn't finished off Sarutobi Hiruzen.
At heart, Minamikawa Yuu didn't like to take things to the absolute extreme.
When circumstances allowed, sparing the other party's life was more in line with his habits.
After all, emotionally speaking, the man had actually taken quite good care of him over the years.
The reason he had acted against him was simply because he was in the way.
And by now, the man was no longer an obstacle.
So, it was time to let him see the light of day again.
As Minamikawa Yuu formed seals, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes twitched inside the coffin.
Finally, as the Sealing Techniques were undone, his body began to recover.
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly opened his eyes.
He looked ahead, freezing instantly upon seeing Minamikawa Yuu, his face showing a look of vigilance.
Though a long, long time had passed since they last met, his mind seemed to still be stuck in that year, without much change.
"You are... Yuu?"
He looked at Minamikawa Yuu before him, his eyes filled with doubt and also vigilance. "You seem to have grown a lot?"
"Is this... the other world?"
"This is not the world of the dead."
Meeting Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze, Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly, "Welcome back to Konoha."
"Lord Hiruzen."