And yet...
Kakashi Hatake slowly raised his right index finger and lightly traced the mark on his neck.
Aside from a faint cold sensation, he felt absolutely nothing.
It was as though the seal itself were rely an illusion.
Even the chakra traces that ordinary sealing techniques usually left behind could not be detected at all.
How was that possible?
Kakashi frowned deeply.
As far as he knew, throughout history the Nine-Tails had always been viewed as a natural disaster by the ninja world.
Ever since it was brought under Konoha's control, its abilities had been thoroughly researched and recorded.
However—
Not a single record had ever indicated that the Nine-Tails possessed any aptitude related to sealing techniques.
And although he had been caught off guard earlier, he had still maintained vigilance the entire ti.
Yet even his Sharingan, capable of suppressing tailed beasts, had failed completely.
More terrifying still—
Even under the enhancent of the Sharingan, he had been utterly unable to perceive how the Nine-Tails placed this seal upon him.
Kakashi tried several more experints, carefully testing the limits of the seal's effects.
Eventually, he reached a rough conclusion.
First, the seal seed directly linked to his intent.
The mont he attempted to speak about the Nine-Tails to soone else, the seal would react imdiately.
And judging from what had happened earlier, if he actively tried to reveal information regarding the Nine-Tails, he would fall into a strange state of forgetfulness.
It was not mory alteration.
Rather—
It resembled sothing closer to a puppet manipulation technique.
According to Kakashi's understanding, it was sowhat similar to the chakra threads used by Sunagakure's puppet masters.
At its core, both appeared to utilize chakra to interfere with human actions.
The only difference was that the seal left by the Nine-Tails made no effort whatsoever to conceal itself.
It existed openly upon his neck, easily discoverable.
"Is the Nine-Tails simply inexperienced with sealing techniques..."
"Or is this rely a warning?"
Kakashi dared not jump to conclusions.
But one thing was certain—
This was absolutely not good news.
Sealing techniques were already among the rarest arts in the ninja world.
Very few shinobi ever had the opportunity to learn them.
The reason Kakashi possessed any understanding of sealing arts at all stemd entirely from his past.
He had once been the disciple of Minato Namikaze.
And the Fourth Hokage's mastery over sealing techniques had been extraordinarily high.
Thus, the portions of sealing arts Kakashi understood were knowledge personally taught by Minato back then.
Yet even with his current level of proficiency, Kakashi could not comprehend the principles behind the seal on his neck.
Nor could he determine the true purpose behind the Nine-Tails placing such a seal upon him.
Did it not realize this action only exposed its own existence further?
Regardless—
He first needed to think of a way to bypass the seal and sohow notify the Third Hokage.
After all, for the village, any information regarding the Nine-Tails was never sothing to be taken lightly.
However, just as Kakashi prepared to use indirect thods—such as written records—to leave behind information without verbally recalling it himself...
He suddenly stopped.
He thought of Naruto Uzumaki.
The pen in his hand began tapping rhythmically against the paper.
Ink slowly spread outward.
Everything the Third Hokage had done...
Was for the sake of granting Naruto freedom.
A Six-Year-Old Nine-Tails Jinchūriki capable of escaping unhard from an elite Jonin's assassination attempt—
Within the village, no one would be able to threaten him anymore.
Everyone would acknowledge him as a once-in-a-generation genius of Konoha.
But—
That was only under one condition.
He had to be safe.
Not rely Naruto's own safety.
But also—
He absolutely could not beco a danger to the village itself.
That was the Third Hokage's true goal.
What he hoped for...
Was for Naruto to acknowledge and inherit the Will of Fire.
To beco a protector of the village through the power of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
But if Kakashi reported the existence of the Nine-Tails' consciousness...
Then the mont the village once again perceived the threat of the Nine-Tails' return—
Everything would collapse.
Even Naruto's life...
Would beco an expendable option.
Minato-sensei's only child left in this world—
Or the safety of the village.
Kakashi fell silent.
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