Chapter Text
A: *grumbling* I hope that this new information that you have is worth dragging us all the way out to Tetsu no Kuni in the middle of summer.
Madara: Considering that it says that Dokuzetsu is in Tetsu no Kuni, I’d say that it is.
Taichō of Tetsu no Kuni: What!!
A: So that’s why we’re here!
Ishikawa, Tsuchikage: And the shinobi of Iwagakure no Sato stand ready to fight it. I have no intention of allowing us to be manipulated into a war with the other Elemental Nations. We are happy to be left alone. We can provide for ourselves.
Reto, Kazekage: I would see it gone as well. This thing tried to trick us into attacking a bijū and sealing it into a baby. It was only the warning carried home by my ambassador that led us to take a closer look at the seal that we were planning to use and find issues with it.
A: Oh? And what was wrong with it?
Reto: *throws a scroll on the tatami between them, it falls open, unrolling* See for yourself.
Namika, leader of Uzushio: *leans forward, tracing the lines with a finger* This seal is imperfect. Like a container with leaks, it would have allowed the bijū to access the mind of its jailer. The two would have bled into each other.
Reto: *nodding at Shamon* After much research, that is the conclusion of my best seal master as well. That would have driven whoever it was sealed into insane, unless they were of extremely strong will. Considering that the plan was to seal it into a baby, the chances of that would have been small.
Madara: Thus leaving you with a bijū in an insane person, and all the attendant problems of such a combination.
Reto: Exactly. It’s not worth it, not when the bijū who makes its home in Kaze no Kuni seems content with its temple.
A: It never leaves? Demands no worshipers?
Reto: Never. It doesn’t welcome petitioners either.
A: A pity.
Reto: *bristling slightly* We have no intention of letting anyone attack it. If it was possible to seal it, that would have been one thing, but this way, I won’t take that chance. Who knows what it would do if provoked? As I recall, your effort to capture a bijū did not go well either.
A: *wry twist of his mouth* No. The destruction was… considerable. We had hoped, like you, to seal it but it didn’t work.
Byakuren, Mizukage: What seal would you have used?
A: C! Show them.
C: Sir. *places a rolled up scroll on the tatami*
Namika: *touching it* May I?
A: I wouldn’t dream of denying a beautiful lady.
Namika: *sweet smile at him* Thank you.
Namika: *picking up the scroll* Tobi? Take the other side will you?
Tobirama: *holding the other end* Certainly, Uzumaki-sama.
Namika and Tobirama: *unroll the scroll together*
Namika: *looking at the scroll which is considerably bigger than the Kazekage’s* This one is a little better.
Tobirama: *points* See here.
Namika: *nodding, pointing at another part* And this.
Tobirama: But this part.
Namika: *grimacing* Yes.
A: *impatiently* Does anyone want to explain to those of us who aren’t seal masters?
Shamon: There is an open path of communication between the bijū and the person whom it is sealed into. All doors open both ways.
Namika: *respectfully* I could not have put it better myself. Any seal that allows the person bound to the bijū to access its power, also allows the bijū to take over. It becomes a matter of willpower and strength of mind. Additionally, removal of the bijū would cause death to the person bound to it.
A: What!
Madara: This is why you don’t mess with the bijū.
A: *sighing* Fine, you’ve made your point. I won’t be trying it again in any case. I’m not enough of a gambler to throw good money after bad, unlike some people.
Hashirama: *standing behind Madara, smiles sunnily*
Tobirama: *rolls up the scroll, hands it back to the Raikage* Raikage-sama.
A: *taking the scroll* At least you’re polite, unlike your husband.
Madara: *wraps a hand around Tobirama’s wrist, drawing him away from the Raikage* Stop flirting with my yome.
Byakuren: This is wasting time. We have agreed that Dokuzetsu is a threat. It has attempted to manipulate all of us in different ways. We are all willing to band together to kill it. Let us do so.
Reto: I agree. Where is it?
Madara: in the caves under Shirane volcano.
Taichō of Tetsu no Kuni: But we have never seen it.
Madara: Deep under. Along with many other things that Tobirama says feel just like it.
Reto: Bunshin?
Madara: I have no idea.
Byakuren: I dislike going into a fight with so little information.
Ishikawa: As do we all. But we do what we must.
A: Unless we can trick someone else into doing it for us.
Everybody: *looks at him*
A: What! It’s true!