Chapter 317: The Secrets of the Tailed Beasts.

After rescuing Gaara, Naruto and his companions successfully returned to Konohagakure. Sunagakure Village also established the deepest friendship with Konohagakure Village due to this incident. After all, Konohagakure Village had saved the Kazekage of Sunagakure Village. In a sense, it could also be said that Konohagakure Village saved Sunagakure Village from the brink of extinction. If other major ninja villages knew that Sunagakure Village had lost both the Tailed Beast and the Kazekage, they would certainly not hesitate to make a move against Sunagakure Village.

"You all did very well on this mission."

Looking at the alliance agreement with Sunagakure_Village in his hands, the Fourth Hokage showed a radiant smile. Even during Sunagakure Village's heyday, he had never taken Sunagakure Village seriously, but after all, it was one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. Even if it was the last in terms of strength, it was not comparable to those smaller ninja villages.

Moreover, for the former Konohagakure, whether or not they obtained the alliance of Sunagakure Village was the same. The Fourth Hokage was now mainly laying a solid foundation for Naruto's future ascension.

Because he was uncertain about what the future of Konohagakure would look like, he wanted to establish a deep friendship while Konohagakure Village was at its strongest.

Hearing the Fourth Hokage's praise, Naruto's face showed a brilliant smile. Clearly, he also very much wanted his father's approval.

"However, according to reliable information we've received, members of the Akatsuki organization are planning to target the other Tailed Beasts. Currently, the Tailed Beasts from Two-Tails to Eight-Tails are all within the Akatsuki's plans."

The next second, Minato's expression turned serious as he spoke.

This reliable information naturally came from Uchiha_Itachi.

"What? It's not enough that they captured Gaara, and now they want to go after the other Tailed Beasts?"

Naruto's tone was also somewhat angry, as he was also a Jinchuriki.

"Should we inform the other ninja villages of this news?"

Kakashi's face also showed a serious expression, as capturing the Tailed Beasts was indeed a big deal.

"I have the same intention, but whether the other ninja villages will take precautions, we do not know." 

Minato felt that most ninja villages would think they were being alarmist, after all, capturing the Tailed Beasts was something that could be described as a wild fantasy.

The power of the Tailed Beasts was well known to everyone in the ninja world. A single ninja village might not have more than three people capable of subduing a Tailed Beast, so even if Konohagakure village told them that an organization was targeting the Tailed Beasts, they probably wouldn't take it seriously.

Even with the bloody lesson of Sunagakure Village before them, they would think it was because the One-Tail and the strength of Sunagakure Village were too weak.

"It's up to them to be on guard against the Akatsuki organization or not. We just need to give them a friendly reminder, that's enough. After all, that's all we can do. To say any more would be overstepping," said Minato.

At this moment, Hatake Satoru also spoke up.

"However, the fact that they have temporarily given up on the Nine-Tails, I must say, is indeed a wise choice."

Having heard Minato emphasize from the Two-Tails to the Eight-Tails, Satoru knew that the Akatsuki organization had not yet focused their attention on the Nine-Tails.

After all, the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki were three, and each of these Jinchuriki was more powerful than the last. Capturing the Nine-Tails successfully would be a very difficult task, and it might even be a one-way trip.

"But I don't think they will give up on the Nine-Tails," Minato said, his fingers crossed and resting on his chin, a profound look in his eyes.

"After capturing the other eight Tailed Beasts, the Akatsuki organization will definitely try every means to capture the Nine-Tails."

Minato wasn't too worried about himself; he believed in his own strength. But when it came to Naruto and Kushina, he couldn't be completely at ease.

Naruto's strength was not enough. Without mastering the power of the Nine-Tails, his chances against the Akatsuki organization were not great.

And although Kushina had mastered the power of the Nine-Tails, her temper was too fiery, too impulsive, and she was easily caught in the opponent's schemes.

"I just don't know what the Akatsuki organization wants to do by gathering all nine Tailed Beasts. Could it be that they want to rule the ninja world?"

Kakashi boldly speculated. If an organization really controlled all nine Tailed Beasts, they indeed had the potential to rule the world.

"No, their goal is the Ten-Tails," said Hatake Satoru, who knew the inside story.

"The Ten-Tails?"

Hearing this term, everyone, including Minato, turned their attention to Hatake Satoru, even the Nine-Tails inside Naruto and Minato perked up their ears, wanting to get more information.

"Aren't there only nine Tailed Beasts? Why is there a Ten-Tails?" Sakura asked in a puzzled tone, which was also the question on everyone's mind.

"The Nine-Tails should know that originally there weren't nine Tailed Beasts, but only one, which is the Ten-Tails."

"What?"

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief, this was the first time they had heard such a thing.

"So how did the current nine Tailed Beasts come about?"

This question was asked by Naruto, perhaps because he was a Jinchuriki himself, so he was more curious about the origins of the Tailed Beasts than others.

"Because the power of the Ten-Tails was too strong and terrifying, Rikudou Sennin used his own power to divide the Ten-Tails' power into nine, which are the current One-Tail to Nine-Tails."

If they had heard this from someone else, they would definitely not believe it, they might even think the other person was joking, talking nonsense, lying, deceiving them.

But since this was coming from Hatake Satoru, they knew it had to be true.

"Hatake Satoru simply disdains to deceive them, and there is no benefit in doing so.

'How powerful is the Ten-Tails, really?'

Minato also asked a key question.

'Well... let's put it this way, currently in the ninja world, anyone other than me who encounters the Ten-Tails will die.'

After some thought, Hatake Satoru gave such an answer.

This was not an exaggeration from Hatake Satoru, but rather the truth. At present, in the ninja world, apart from Hatake Satoru, the strongest should be Namikaze Minato. However, even if Minato were to enter the Hermit Fox Mode, which is the Sage Mode combined with the Nine-Tails chakra mode, he would definitely not be a match for the Ten-Tails.

If Minato had the complete Nine-Tails inside him, perhaps the odds would be two to eight against the Ten-Tails, with Minato at two and the Ten-Tails at eight. This means that in a battle with the Ten-Tails, Minato would not be completely overwhelmed.

'Hiss~ Is it really that powerful?'

Everyone gasped in shock because the answer given by Satoru was beyond their expectations.

(End of Chapter)