Chương 117: Human, You Smell Divine

Zhen Dongye had no desire to become the Hokage, nor did he expect that to change. If he ever grew weary of the shinobi life, he planned to retire and wander the world, embracing a nomadic existence in the vein of Jiraiya. He viewed the Hokage's seat without rose-tinted glasses—when a seat could be occupied by gamblers and perverts, and eventually leave a Nine-Tails-bearing Uzumaki kid looking like a husk of a man, it was a terrifying prospect.

So, if he wasn't looking to inherit the mantle, what was the point of joining the Guard? The benefits, as it turned out, were substantial. He could study the Flying Thunder God technique under Minato—a god-tier spatial jutsu that was the ultimate survival tool for traveling, brawling, or making a quick exit. If Jiraiya had known it, he could have left a marking in every women's bathhouse in the Five Nations. Furthermore, he could master high-level Sealing Arts.

With the Uzumaki Clan having long since been "offered up to the heavens" as a collective sacrifice, the premier sealing expert left in the world was undoubtedly the "Tomato" known as Kushina Uzumaki. It certainly wasn't Nagato; that boy was likely descending into madness, and a well-raised child like Zhen knew better than to invite that kind of "pain" into his life. Minato and Kushina were known for their warmth and generosity. They didn't hoard knowledge; if you had the talent and the drive, they would teach.

However, Zhen never lost sight of his original purpose. He had experienced one failed life—failed not in terms of wealth or status, but in the failure to truly taste the joy of living. Having been reborn into this world, he treated every day as a gift. He cultivated his strength so that he could live well, ensuring he would never be some nameless casualty swept aside by the whims of the powerful. When he was weak, he never dreamed of interfering in the tragedies of others.

As his power grew, his philosophy shifted to a casual wait-and-see: it would depend on his mood and whether his hands were strong enough at the time. But he would never be foolish enough to leak unexplained intelligence to try and change the future. That was a one-way ticket to getting his family and friends killed. Faced with the impending "Night of the Nine-Tails," what would he choose? Zhen fell into deep thought. In terms of raw power, he was qualified to intervene.

Obito's fundamental strength wasn't overwhelming; it was his spatial ocular jutsu, Kamui, that made him a nightmare. Fortunately, the man's obsession with Kakashi meant he hadn't reclaimed his other eye—the "engagement gift" he'd left behind—otherwise, the fight would be truly unfair. In terms of character, Minato was a good man—upright, brilliant, and lacking the darkness that often plagued leaders. It would be a tragedy to let him die. As for the world? Zhen didn't need a static script to thrive.

Truth be told, the moment he drew breath in this world, the timeline he remembered had already begun to fray. Unless he spent his life as a hermit until the Fourth War ended, every breath he took and every person he killed was a deviation from the original story. Since the butterfly had already flapped its wings, he might as well fly a little higher. There was a spark of anticipation in his heart. Of course, the prerequisite was ensuring Minato and Kushina survived—and that would require a flawless plan.

In the Uzuki kitchen, the preparations were complete. Kushina, still riding the high of mastering a new recipe, suddenly felt a disturbance from her tenant. Within the seal, the usually bellicose Nine-Tails wore a look of profound confusion, its massive, canine snout twitching rhythmically. Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

"So fragrant..."

"Nine-Tails, what are you up to now? What's 'fragrant'?" Kushina asked mentally.

"It smells divine. It's making me hungry!"

"Eh? No way! Has my cooking improved so much that even a Tailed Beast can't resist it? But wait, I thought you guys didn't need to eat, you know!" The Nine-Tails suddenly snapped back to reality. Realizing it was speaking far too civilly to its jailer, it let out a thunderous roar.

"Foolish Kushina! I am the strongest of the Tailed Beasts! Unlike you pathetic, weak humans, I have no need for sustenance!" With a flick of her will, Kushina tightened the restraints on the fox. Seeing the great beast show such a human side was a first.

"Then what did you mean by 'fragrant'?"

"Curse you... Loosen the seal slightly and go outside, and I'll tell you."

"Why should I listen to you? Grandma Mito told me you were incredibly cunning and to never let you deceive me."

"If you do it, I promise I won't disrupt your sleep at night ever again."

"Fine! Deal!" She was heading out anyway. If she could trade a moment's curiosity for a quiet night without having to constantly reinforce the seal, it was a bargain. As the dishes were laid out, the group began their meal. Kushina took her seat next to Minato, her internal guest whispering again.

"I see it. The one sitting across from you... he smells divine. He looks... delicious." Kushina froze. Sitting across from her was Zhen Dongye.

"You Tailed Beasts do eat people! You really are monsters!"

"Idiot! We don't eat humans, and we aren't monsters! That's just the propaganda of your kind!"

"But you just said he looked delicious, you know!" The Nine-Tails went silent. It couldn't explain why a human suddenly smelled so alluring; perhaps it had simply spent too long in the darkness of the seal and was finally losing its mind. But the scent was real. If it could just reach out and take a single lick... Minato noticed his wife's strange behavior. Why are you staring at the boy like that? Am I not handsome enough?

He had mentioned his plan to bring Zhen's team into the Guard, so he assumed Kushina was simply sizing up the young prodigy—the boy who had surpassed even Kakashi's legend during the war. Kushina was never one for subtlety. Everyone at the table noticed her peculiar gaze fixed on Zhen. Zhen endured the scrutiny for a moment before touching his cheek and asking innocently, "Senior Kushina, do I have something on my face?"

"No! Uh, wait, that's not what I meant! You... you're Zhen, right? I heard you've been studying Sealing Arts. How's it going? Want me to teach you? I'm the best there is, you know!"

"Eh? You'd be willing to teach me? That would be amazing!"

"Of course! The Guard is supposed to protect Minato, so the stronger you are, the better!" Your 'Sun' is the fastest man in the world, Zhen thought. He doesn't need protection; who could even catch him?

"Does that mean... I can only learn if I join the Guard? Is this a trade?"

"No, no! It's not a trade! How could you even think that, you know!" Zhen's expression immediately shifted to one of solemn righteousness.

"Senior Kushina, you underestimate my Will of Fire. As a shinobi of the Leaf, protecting the Hokage is our sacred duty. We would lay down our lives without hesitation. I cannot allow such a holy duty to be tainted by talk of a 'transaction'!" Jiro, Megumi, and Unami all felt a collective headache coming on. Kushina rubbed her temples, feeling as though she'd been played, yet unable to win the argument. But when did the "Red-Hot Habanero" ever rely on words?

She practiced "Virtue through Might," and her fist was her virtue. She slammed a hand onto the table.

"Brat! Stop the chatter! I'm asking you one last time: do you want to learn Sealing Arts from me or not, you know?!"

"I'll learn!"

"Hmph. Was that so hard? What a troublesome brat." Since becoming a Jinchuriki, Kushina rarely appeared in public, so few knew her true temperament. The onlookers were stunned to see the Fourth's wife possessed such a fierce streak. Minato could only offer a sheepish laugh. What can I say? I'm a victim too! As the successful dinner wound down, the Hokage and his wife prepared to depart. Kushina, shedding her tigress persona, patted Zhen on the shoulder like a doting older sister.

"Zhen, if you run into anything you don't understand, come find me anytime!"

"I will. Thank you, Senior Kushina." Minato smiled at Unami Gekko.

"Jonin Unami, I'll leave the remaining arrangements to you."

"Rest assured, Lord Hokage. Consider it done." Neither of them asked if Zhen would join the Guard. Kushina had already sealed the deal. Or, at the very least, it appeared that she had.