Chapter 31

The Valley of the End — several figures stood assembled, preparing to seal away the Nine-Tailed Fox.

The colossal beast lay pinned beneath the mighty Myojinmon, glaring at Hashirama Senju with deep-seated hatred. If there were ever a ranking for the most resented humans in the world, Hashirama would certainly top the list.

To the Nine-Tails, being manipulated by Uchiha Madara was already humiliation enough. But after regaining consciousness, it was immediately restrained again—this time by Hashirama—for seemingly no reason.

"Nine-Tailed Fox, your power is too great. This is all I can do," Hashirama said firmly, standing before the beast with solemnity.

He had no idea how deeply those words cut.

Hoshikawa Haru couldn't help but feel sympathy. The beast had not only lost its freedom but was about to be sealed away—again. It was a tragic fate.

Upon hearing Hashirama's statement, the Nine-Tails bristled. Its chakra surged violently, shaking the earth beneath them. Its eyes blazed with hatred and defiance, glaring at Hashirama as if trying to burn his face into memory.

Its lips curled into a bitter, mocking grin."How long do you think you'll live? Who will be strong enough to control me after you're gone?"

It wasn't wrong. No matter how powerful Hashirama was, he was still mortal. The tailed beasts, on the other hand, could regenerate by absorbing chakra, even after death. Time was on the Nine-Tails' side.

But Hashirama didn't flinch. He responded with a calm, almost gentle smile.

"That's exactly why I won't leave behind any future threat. Hate me if you must. I've made my decision."

The Nine-Tails suddenly sensed something was wrong.

In the next breath, Hashirama let out a sharp command. The Myojinmon glowed and tightened its grip, sealing away the majority of the Nine-Tails' chakra. The once-mighty beast could do nothing but roar in frustration—it had become powerless under Hashirama's hand, reduced to a shadow of its former self.

"Alright," Hashirama said, giving the signal.

Uzumaki Mito stepped forward. Golden chakra chains extended from her hands, wrapping around the Nine-Tails' limbs and pinning it further. The beast had become like meat on a butcher's block—entirely at their mercy.

"Gossip Seal!""Four Symbols Seal!"

Her hand seals formed one after another, casting powerful binding spells. The layers of sealing techniques crushed the Nine-Tails' resistance.

The beast roared in pain, writhing and growling as it was gradually confined. Its massive body trembled under the binding power, unable to escape the chains that dug into its flesh and spirit.

"Hashirama, you bastard!" the Nine-Tails bellowed, rage erupting from its throat like lava. The humiliation of being bound once again by humans—who once trembled before it—was unbearable.

Meanwhile, Uzumaki Mito began to feel the toll. Unlike Hashirama, she didn't possess overwhelming strength. Her face was pale, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead from the strain. Containing the full power of the Nine-Tails was no easy feat.

Fortunately, the beast had been mostly suppressed. If it had been allowed to unleash its chakra freely, the seal might have failed entirely.

The Nine-Tails' form began to shrink as the seals tightened further, drawing it closer and closer to Mito.

Just before the final step, Hoshikawa Haru stepped forward, raising his hand solemnly.

"Time Prison."

With those words, his chakra flared and boiled, surging toward the Nine-Tails. A network of glowing lines wove through the air—ancient, mysterious, and powerful.

The lines spiraled into the shape of an ethereal cage.

As the illusionary prison settled around the Nine-Tails, its body froze. Time itself seemed to halt. The beast's breathing slowed, its roars fading into silence. It sank into a forced slumber, eyelids drooping against its will.

Uzumaki Mito seized the chance. With one final push, she dragged the Nine-Tails into her body, sealing it inside.

The task was done.

Both Mito and Hoshikawa Haru exhaled deeply in relief.

"It's finished," Hashirama said, supporting the pair—one under each arm.

Hoshikawa Haru's face had turned pale. He had never drawn on so much of his time-based chakra before, and the exertion had nearly drained him. Chakra worked as a medium for his technique, but the cost had been steep.

Uzumaki Mito was in even worse shape. An overwhelming volume of chakra surged inside her—foreign and wild. She felt like she had eaten far too much, and every breath took effort. Fortunately, the Nine-Tails had fallen into a deep slumber, thanks to Haru. Otherwise, it could have spelled disaster.

"Haru… thank you," Mito said, managing a faint smile. Most of her strength was now focused on controlling the chaotic chakra within.

Haru smiled back modestly. "I didn't do much."

Tobirama suddenly stepped forward, his expression unusually curious.

"What was that technique just now?"

Haru answered calmly: "I created a pocket of space and slowed time within it. The Nine-Tails is inside that field, effectively asleep. It should keep him subdued for a few years."

Tobirama's eyes sharpened with interest. This was no ordinary ninjutsu. A technique that could halt a tailed beast without violence—this was revolutionary.

Even Hashirama needed to physically suppress them before applying a seal. Haru's method? Subtle and clean.

Hashirama clapped him on the shoulder. "We'll talk more when we get back. Time to head home."

With that, he helped Mito away, leaving Haru standing there in a daze.

"Teacher! Don't forget about me!" Haru yelled after him, flailing.

Hashirama turned back with a grin. "Let Tobirama handle you. I've got my hands full."

And just like that, he vanished with Mito.

Hoshikawa Haru was left fuming. "You forgot your disciple for your wife?! How could you!"

Before he could continue his grumbling, he suddenly felt his body lift—Tobirama had picked him up without a word.

"Huh??"

Before Haru could even react, Tobirama had already used the Flying Thunder God Technique. In the blink of an eye, they were back in the village.

Time passed, and things returned to normal.

Hoshikawa Haru occasionally went on missions outside the village to gain experience—and see blood. But he never killed without reason. Ever since Xi had appeared, he'd gained the strange ability to see a person's karma—both good and bad.

With this gift, he acted freely.

Some people looked human on the surface but were monsters inside. To rid the world of such creatures didn't weigh on his conscience.

A year passed in this way. Haru had now spent eight years in Konoha.

During that time, Hatake Sakumo was born. But tragedy struck—his mother, Hatake Misora, died during childbirth.

She had treated Haru kindly, and he mourned her deeply. The passing of someone so gentle and warm left a lasting ache in his heart.

Meanwhile, the ninja school system finally took shape and began enrolling students.

The principal? None other than Hashirama Senju himself.

Teachers were selected from the Chunin ranks. And—surprise—Hoshikawa Haru found himself appointed as one of them.

He thought it was strange at first. But after a private talk with Hashirama, he accepted it.

Konoha's education system was now officially on the right track. Other ninja villages began to follow suit, forming their own academies.

Naturally, the old Konoha Academy was disbanded. To mark the occasion, Haru treated everyone to a big celebratory meal.

It cost him a small fortune, and his heart bled at the expense. He moped over it for days.

Still, on that day, his gloom vanished. He was energized, uplifted.

Life can't stay frozen in time. We must keep moving forward.

Because time… waits for no one.