Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters in this fic. That would be Kishimoto and co. Now if only I had named myself Kishimoto instead of PrinceMittens.. TAT

In the middle of a dark forest, a massive, Chakra-infused paw thundered into the ground. The earth trembled in a ten-kilometer radius. Red tails whipped through the air, throwing immense cyclones tearing through the woods, uprooting even the largest trees from their holdings.

Kurama was on the run. Dead Shinobi littered the trail of destruction behind him. Having been trapped for nearly a hundred years, the Nine-tail's moment of freedom would have been an occasion to celebrate if it weren't so ruined by having his mind and body enslaved to the damnable Uchiha and its thrice-accursed Sharingan.

The Fox grit its teeth in anger. I'm gonna wipe out that shitty clan and their shitty eyes.

He could sense hundreds of Shinobi coming toward him from the direction of Konoha. In fact, the first wave was about to reach him at jutsu distance. They probably wanted to capture and seal him back into the Uzumaki girl's body. Not a chance.

For all the Fox's overwhelming power and stature, the pursuing Shinobi did not falter. Leaping high in to the air and bouncing off trees and debris with Chakra-supported balance, the ninja manage to avoid the worst of the otherwise devastating seismic upheavals. Even the powerful cyclones sent to impede them were simply redirected by exceptional wind-jutsu users.

It appeared this particular squad was a lot stronger than the others - must be ANBU. He could sense Kushina's lover from among them. Thoughts of the red-head's sheer anguish and sorrow at the sight of a very dead Namikaze Minato flashed through the Fox's mind. Kurama grinned.

"COME IF YOU DARE!" Roared the legendary Fox. Its voice thundered all the way back into the distant village. Almost all the villagers, civilian and ninja alike, trembled at its power.

Eight kilometers from the village, the Fourth Hokage and his squad were about to reach the slow-moving nine-tails. If it weren't for its lumbering size, the ninja would never have been able to outpace this beast of seemingly limitless Chakra. As they reached the Eye of the massive storm of devastation, the Hokage signaled the squad to stop. For the second time since they'd begun the chase, the Fourth turned to his wife who was being carried on the back of an ox-masked ANBU. "We're about to approach the Nine-tails. At such close proximity, I'm not sure even our best could fend off its offensive prowess. Please, Kushina, turn back. "

Still weak from childbirth, Kushina shook her head lightly. "I've known the Nine-tails for nearly twenty years now. If anyone can calm its fury and mitigate the damage it could do to the world, it's me. We've already discussed this, Minato. For the safety of our village and all the villages and people of this world, the Nine-tails must be sealed, and he must be stopped. The Nine-tails is essential to this process. I am essential to this process. I must go. Besides, I want to stay with you as long as possible for these last moments we have together."

Minato looked away. He spoke quietly, "If anything were to happen to you-"

"I know. It can't be helped." The redhead uttered softly.

The Fourth Hokage suddenly shook his head and turned to the waiting Fox with renewed determination. Then he turned to the old Third Hokage who was standing with them. "Hiruzen. you know what we are about to do. Make sure that my son is remembered as a hero and not feared and hated for being a Jinchuuriki."

The God of Shinobi nodded. "I shall."

Minato bowed his head. "That's all I ask." Turning to his squad, he nodded. "You know what to do."

The squad spoke in unison. "Yes, Hokage sama."

Up half a kilometer ahead, the Nine-tails could be seen looking toward the squad's direction. Its powerful ears had managed to pick up the exchange happening before it. With its curiosity peaked, the Fox had temporarily stopped its assault to listen to what the Fourth Hokage had to say to its former jailer.

Within a matter of seconds, the squad stood before the indomitable Fox. Kurama's grin was maddening. "You aren't just going to let me go are you?"

"No, we aren't." The Fourth replied. "Nine-tails, your power and your malice is too much a danger to the world to be allowed to roam free. We have no choice."

"Then we are done talking." The Fox lashed an immense cord of chakra straight down onto where the squad was standing, creating a massive trench. The earth shook from the heavy blow.

Kurama's second blow was deflected by the powerful third Hokage, who had to concentrate an unhealthy large amount of chakra into his staff in order to weather the crushing blow. Suddenly the Fox felt a heavy, restraining force hold it down. Gritting its teeth, the Nine-tails lifted a gigantic rod fall across its back. The Third Hokage's summon.. the Fox thought angrily. The monkey leapt to retrieve its shrinking staff and muttered a few words. A mountain bore down on the powerful bijuu.

"WHO DO YOU THINK I AM?!" Kurama roared. With a show of power, the Fox whipped its tails around in all its glory, crushing the mountain. Bits of rock and dust showered onto the Earth, bouncing harmlessly off the Fox's pelt. Then, with a flare of Chakra that would later be felt in distant villages, the Nine-tails shattered the Third Hokage's Genjutsu.

Only then did the Fox notice that Kushina and the Fourth were no longer there. No wonder he didn't sense the redheaded Uzumaki earlier. She was never there to begin with.

Surrounding him on all sides, the squad that came with the Fourth had managed to position themselves around the massive creature while it was under the Third's Genjutsu. They were about to use the most Chakra-intensive instance of the flying thunder-god to transport the Fox to the target location specified to them by the Hokage.

One of the ANBU, a rabbit-masked girl, said quietly, "For the village."

The Fox and the squad disappeared with the Third Hokage looking on. The rest was up to Minato and Kushina. Although they had all planned for the worst at this final stage, the Third Hokage couldn't help but hope that somehow both Minato and Kushina would survive the Nine-tail's resealing.

-Intermission-

Several kilometers behind the Hokage monument, a small infant lay in a swath of blankets.

Kushina smiled as she looked down at her son, who lay in the center of the sealing array they had prepared for the occasion.

"Naruto. Don't be picky. Eat lots and grow strong. Make sure that you bathe every day and stay warm.

Also.. Don't stay up late. You need lots of sleep. And make friends. You don't need a lot of friends. Just a few. Ones you can really, really trust..

I wasn't very good at it, but keep up with your studies and practice your ninjutsu hard. Remember that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. So don't get too depressed if you can't do something well..

Respect your teachers and upperclassmen at the Academy. Oh, and this is important.. It's about the Three Prohibitions for a shinobi..

Be extra careful about lending and borrowing money. Put your mission wages into your savings account..

No alcohol until you're twenty. Too much can ruin your health, so drink in moderation..

Another Prohibition is women.

I'm a woman, so I don't know too much about this but. All you need to remember is that this world is made up of men and women. So it's only natural to take an interest in girls. But just don't get hooked on bad women.

Find someone just like me..

Speaking of the Three Prohibitions, be wary of Jiraiya Sensei, you know. Naruto, from now on, you're going to face lots of pain and hardship..

Be true to yourself.. Have a dream and have the confidence to make that dream come true.."

Kushina's voice faltered with a sob.

"There's so much.. Oh, so much more that I want to pass on to you.. I wish I could stay with you longer.. I love you."

The redhead looked up at her husband who had appeared during the latter end of her speech. His expression was inscrutable.

"They're coming, Kushina. I hope you're ready."

The redhead nodded. "I am."

Their eyes met and Kushina smiled before falling into a bout of coughs. Blood dribbled down her chin. Her internal organs and Chakra system were irreparably damaged by the birth and the Nine-tails' escape. No Jinchuuriki had ever survived having a Bijuu torn out of its grasps. Not only was the woman frail from childbirth, even with proper medical care, her odds of survival were abysmal. As it stood, it was only her strong will and the Uzumaki's amazing regenerative powers that were keeping her alive.

Uzumaki Kushina was dying.

Without warning, the Nine-tails appeared before them along with the squad responsible for its appearance. Every single one of them were dead from Chakra depletion. Not even given a second to regain its bearings, Gamabunta, who Minato had summoned beforehand, jumped on top of the Fox, pinning the monster's head into the earth with its fork.

Kurama snarled."YONNNNDAIIIMMMEE!"

Gamabunta struggled, and barely managed to hold on.

Swiftly, the Fourth activated the Eight Trigram Seal. "Hakke Fuin."

The Fox widened its eyes in despair. Ethereal chains flew from the belly of the blonde infant before it and bound it in an unbreakable hold. Kurama glared at the blonde Hokage. The hatred in his eyes were unmistakable.

"RELEASE ME AND YOUR DEATH SHALL BE SWIFT AND PAINLESS."

Ignoring the belligerent behemoth, the Fourth turned to his wife. "The Nine-tails' Chakra is too much for the seal. I'm going to have to split it in two. There's only one way I know of that can do this."

Kushina's eyes widened in horror. A lump formed in her throat. "The Dead Demon Consuming Seal."

Minato nodded. "We'd already guessed that this might've been the case. The Nine-tails is powerful."

Kushina sobbed. "No, not you too." She wanted to cry. It was so unfair. Here was the most wonderful man in the world sacrificing his life and soul and for what? Why couldn't someone else do it? Why him? Why did he have to die?

Questions flooded her mind. Naruto was supposed to have a father.

Kushina gulped. "But I could-"

"No you can't." the Fourth cut in. "Your chakra system is all but destroyed. No one else knows how to cast it yet."

His voice softened at his wife's apparent anguish. "It can't be helped. I love you Kushina. The village-"

"Fuck the village." Kushina blurted in an unconventional bout of vulgarity. "Please. I want you to live. Why does it have to be you?"

Minato hopped over his son toward his wife, and gave her a hug. Kushina cried into his shoulders. Her lungs were on fire. Every Chakra point crushing her nerves and her ability to stay conscious. Despite her pain, Kushina fought desperately to remain alive. To convince her husband to not do this. She knew that it was hopeless. She knew that without this sacrifice, her son would likely be killed by the evil known as the Nine-tails. She knew that Konoha would be destroyed and that many more would suffer.

Kushina reached up to cup Minato's cheeks in her hand, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm proud of you Minato. I know you're being strong for me. You don't have to be. I understand. I love you more than you can ever imagine."

Minato smiled, giving his wife a quick peck on her forehead. "And I you." He turned to his son. "Goodbye Naruto. Remember your mother's words. I hope-" he paused, choking back tears. "I hope you live a long and happy life even without us to be there for you."

Kushina pulled her husband toward her and the couple shared a last kiss before the Fourth gently detached himself from his wife to face the Nine-tails. Kurama, enthralled by the drama, had sat through the entire scene without visibly struggling. Whether or not he knew it to be true, Kurama had a lot more interest in the lives of the 'petty' humans before him than he'd ever be willing to admit.

"You cannot seal me." He argued. "Let me go. If I break free on my own, I swear that your village and all its people will be wiped clean off the face of this planet. Let me go. Now!"

The Fourth Hokage shook his head. "I cannot." He made several hand seals for the Dead Demon Consuming Technique, clapping his hands together for the final seal. "Shika Fuin."

A massive Shinigami loomed out of the ground and plucked Minato's soul from his body. The Hokage chuckled. "That was a lot easier than I thought." His body slumped to the floor, no longer housing his soul. The last thing he saw was Kushina smiling at him, giving him her tacit approval while tears continued to stream down her porcelain cheeks. "Good bye, Minato.. Naruto.." Kushina collapsed, closing her eyes one last time as she succumbed to the pain and exhaustion that she had been feeling since the Nine-tails had been ripped out of her body.

The Nine-tails struggled valiantly, but to no avail. If he had had more time, he could have overloaded the seal with his Chakra and broken its hold, but time was something he did not have. If only the little couple could have dragged out their farewell just a little bit longer. The Fox sighed. Being trapped under the power of the Eight Trigram seal, it couldn't do anything but watch as the Shinigami tore its Chakra in two and sealed it along with the soul of the Fourth Hokage.

"Well shit.." muttered the powerful beast.

With its power and consciousness cut in two, the Nine-tails could no longer hold the Eight Trigram seal at bay. The Bijuu was instantly funneled into the small, infant body of baby Naruto.

-Intermission-

The Third arrived with Hatake Kakashi and a small squad of ANBU in tow. Quickly analyzing the situation, the former Kage took command.

"Check to see if any of them are still alive. Secure the boy. His Jinchuuriki status and his parentage must be kept hidden. Consider this an S-ranked secret until further notice."

Seconds later, the team of ANBU returned with a small bundle in their arms..

"Sandaime sama.." Reported a pig-masked woman.

The Third urged her on in trepidation. "Go on."

"The boy lives. The others are dead, and the Nine-tails is gone."

The Third nodded. He had been expecting the worst. "Good work. Take the boy to the hospital. Get him under care. Prepare orphanage registrations for him. Leave the bodies to me."

Without a word, she raced in the direction of Konoha with the rest of the ANBU squad following closely behind. Kakashi remained.

After several moments, they arrived at the scene. Seeing the bodies of both the Fourth and his wife on the floor, he would have fallen into grief if not for his years of Shinobi experience and training. "Things ended up worse than I thought they would. If only we had more time to plan this out, maybe we could have averted all these casualties." croaked the Third Hokage.

Kakashi simply stood next to him, staring in wide-eyed disbelief at the husks of the Fourth Hokage and his wife.

"I've failed them." The boy whispered as the rest of the squad left the scene.

"No," the Third stated grimly. "There was nothing you could have done."

Kakashi clenched his fists angrily. "Why am I so weak?"

The Third put a hand on the boy's shoulders. "You are not weak. If you had not strove to do your utmost. If it weren't for your will of fire, the outcome would undoubtedly have been much worse. We've managed to avert the worst of the crisis. The village is saved but at the cost of many lives. All who served this night are heroes, and that includes you."

The Third paused for a second. "We'll have to put these bodies in temporary storage and carry them back. You remember how to do that don't you?"

Kakashi nodded.

The Third continued. "I'll take care of Minato." And with that the two set to work.

As the Third was preparing the seals for the Fourth, a sudden thought occurred to him. Minato's body was in perfect condition. He was absolutely certain that the man could be revived if his soul were returned to his body. I'll have to preserve the body somehow.

The Third gazed apologetically at the young Hatake as he was drawing up Kushina's body-scroll. It was best if the boy didn't know of these plans. Knowing him, Kakashi would make releasing Minato's soul his life-mission and lose sight of himself. It would be cruel to give him false hope.

The Third skillfully drew the storage seal of indefinite preservation and infused a permanent portion of his Chakra into it. At the same time, the Third laid out a second scroll with his other hand, and he drew out the more generic body storage scroll. Then, with a silent jutsu, he infused the scroll with a perfect copy of the Fourth's body. It was done. The old man gave Kakashi a quick glance. Now all he had to do was master the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and see if he could make any progress in retrieving the Fourth's soul.

All this happened in less than 10 seconds. Kakashi was still working on Kushina's body scroll. The Third got up slowly and stretched his tired bones before making his way to the bodies of the Fourth's personal ANBU detachment.

-A/N-

1/6/2016 - Apparently I was a terrible writer when I started out. I alternated between past and present tense like it didn't matter. Now.. now I know better. I'm on the path to becoming a better writer!