C3 Ninetails

Time slipped away like a quiet stream.

Before he knew it, Russell had already spent two months in the company of Minato and Kushina.

Their nurturing care had soothed Russell's heart, easing the panic that once gripped him.

In time, his true personality began to shine through.

Throughout these months, Russell's training was relentless, his dedication intensifying.

As a result, his abilities improved, even without acquiring any new cards.

Host: Russell

Strength: 6

Speed: 5

Physique: 5

Spirit: 22

Chakra: 5

Talent: Space Talent Level 3

Skills: Basic Shuriken Level 2, Basic Taijutsu Level 1, Chakra Extraction Technique Level 1

Seeing the slight increases in his strength, speed, and physique, Russell couldn't help but smile contentedly, a hint of cuteness in his grin.

Namikaze Minato had taught him the Basic Taijutsu, and he was just beginning to grasp it.

The Chakra Extraction Technique, on the other hand, was a legacy from his father, the reason Russell possessed Chakra at all.

He had come to realize that the system's Chakra was a measure of capacity, not the current level.

A Chakra of five was like a cup; it remained a five whether it held water or not.

When the system's Chakra increased, it was akin to enlarging the cup, boosting its capacity!

"Xiao Chen, dinner's ready!"

Kushina's voice rang out, accompanied by the tantalizing aroma of food.

"Coming!" Russell called back, his short legs carrying him quickly toward the room.

He didn't need to see or ask; the scent alone told him it was Minato's culinary handiwork.

Kushina was a decent cook, but lacked the innate gift, her skills plateauing at satisfactory.

"Let's eat!"

Russell washed his hands in a flash and dug in with gusto.

Minato and Kushina exchanged a warm smile, joining him in the meal.

It's worth noting that while Russell had been taken in, he wasn't Minato and Kushina's son, but their little brother.

This was the outcome Russell had fought so hard to achieve.

"Clatter!"

The sudden sound of utensils hitting the floor made Russell look up, only to see a red mist enveloping Kushina. Her eyes were closed, her fingers moving in a sequence.

Minato was at her side in an instant, his right hand on her abdomen where a complex seal had formed.

"Nine-Tails Chakra!" The thought sprang to Russell's mind immediately.

But as he watched Minato and Kushina's deliberate movements, he felt no need to panic. The Nine-Tails might be formidable, but it couldn't escape Kushina's control, especially with Minato's assistance.

Something, though, seemed off. Russell sensed a space, unguarded and inviting. It felt like he could step right into it with the slightest effort. And so, he did.

As he stepped forward, it was like walking through a veil of water, blurring his vision. Unseen by him, his foot had crushed a card glowing with purple light beneath him.

When his eyes adjusted, he was met with three bewildered faces—Minato, Kushina, and the Nine-Tails.

"How did you get in here?"

In a flash, Minato was in front of Russell, shielding him. It took a moment for Kushina and the Nine-Tails to catch up.

Kushina approached Russell, while the Nine-Tails let out a haughty snort from its cage, ears perked, listening intently.

"I—I'm not sure. I just felt this space and... found myself here," Russell admitted, clearly perplexed about his unexpected entrance into Kushina's inner space.

Minato's eyes gleamed with insight. "Russell, are you saying you sensed a space and just... walked in?"

"Yes!" Russell confirmed, offering no evasion.

With a spark in his eyes, Minato turned to Kushina. "We've resolved what we needed to here. Let's head back and discuss this further."

Kushina, momentarily taken aback, nodded in agreement, and her figure began to fade away.

Minato led Russell toward the dark passageway.

Before they departed, Russell glanced curiously at the Nine-Tails, only to find his gaze irrevocably captured.

Beside the Nine-Tails lay a vast array of cards in various hues—whites, blues, and purples among them!

But in an instant, both he and Minato began to fade away.

Regaining his composure, Russell found himself still seated in the same spot, having not moved at all.

A theory formed in his mind.

If he could contain a colossal entity like the Nine-Tails within his body, then the beast must be imprisoned within a special space.

And his ability to access it was undoubtedly due to his Level 3 Space Talent.

Following a thorough discussion, Minato acknowledged that Russell's spatial abilities were on par with his own, which delighted him.

He resolved to teach Russell the Flying Thunder God Technique once he reached Jonin level.

Yet, Russell remained unaware of these plans.

While confirming his talent, he also learned some disheartening news.

Despite his Space Talent, he couldn't freely enter the Nine-Tails' prison.

He could only access it when the Nine-Tails became enraged.

This realization dashed any hopes of challenging the Nine-Tails and its myriad of cards.

Post-dinner, Russell retreated to his room alone.

He had kept a close watch on the Ninja Realm; the three wars had finally concluded.

Now, the ninja villages were quietly healing and growing stronger in the shadows.

All the inevitable events had transpired: Uchiha Obito was dead, and calls for Minato's aid were growing louder.

A heavy sense of urgency weighed on Russell. Unlike the rest, he was privy to the future.

The stage was set for major players like Orochimaru and the impending Nine-Tails' night, mere years away, with the Uchiha clan's demise on the horizon.

And once the story unfolded, even those at Shadow Level would be outmatched!

These were no small matters, and Russell's current strength left him no room to intervene.

His initial plan was simple: survive and gradually grow stronger. But now, with Minato and Kushina in his life, he was determined to keep them safe.

This endeavor demanded considerable power to achieve.

"Minato is presently twenty-one. He ascended to the title of Hokage at twenty-two and perished in the Nine-Tails' attack at twenty-four."

"That means I need to attain Shadow Level strength within three years!"

The thought alone was enough to make Russell's head spin!

Achieving Shadow Level was no small feat; if it were, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't be renowned as the Third Hokage.

With his goal set, Russell started to strategize.

At just five years old, his physical prowess and Chakra were his greatest shortcomings, gaps that only the system could bridge.

In Konoha, the person most likely to yield a physical attributes card was none other than Might Guy!

Next up was Chakra, most abundant in the tailed beasts, with the Nine-Tails topping the list.

Thus, Russell set his sights on the Nine-Tails, though he knew he had to implement his plan methodically.

Ninjutsu, on the other hand, was a simpler matter. With so many practitioners, he could easily gather a wealth of techniques!

Moreover, he could bolster his skills through self-study, tackling it from both ends!

"Might Guy is probably at the training grounds!"

No longer content to wait, Russell bid Kushina farewell and dashed off toward the training grounds.