Bring death upon me
This is the moment in which hell was born into the life of one man…
Minato finished his string of seals, time freezing in his perception. He stood amid a black expanse; a ghostly figure, only he could see, stood before him. The specter was purple pale skinned with blood red eyes. Horns mounted his forehead, and a dagger was clutched between black teeth. Ironically, this devil held prayer beads in his right hand…a hand tattooed with strange black spots.
Minato stared at the creature unflinchingly and without fear. In his arms was a small wrapped bundle. It stirred slightly, as if sensing the hostile environment.
It started with noble intentions; the belief that he was already making the ultimate sacrifice…
Minato turned his back to the Shinigami, as the ritual for the jutsu demanded. He now saw two worlds: the world of darkness in which he and the Shinigami stood, and the world of reality and life.
The latter, was currently a battlefield of havoc and pain; something Minato was prepared to stop. It was canvassed as a still, none of the figures in the picture were moving. Time was frozen there.
The Yondaime let out a sigh, as he starred at a great red fox. The demon had nine long tails and eyes of fire and blood. The behemoth towered over the forest trees, and stood at even height with the Frog Boss, Gambunta.
Minato looked down at the bundle in his arms, smiling at it fondly. "Take care of your mother while I'm gone." He said, as he bent down to kiss the head of his child lightly.
But how ultimate could his sacrifice be...
His eyes returned to the nine-tailed fox, to the Kyuubi. His electric blue orbs steeled up with determination and resolve.
He pushed his soul from his body, and waited for the Shinigami to grab hold, thus starting the ritual.
If he could make it so easily…
"What are you doing mortal?"
The Shinigami voice boomed in the dark world. Minato felt himself freeze up, as if he were being forced underwater. His soul was shoved violently back into his body, a numb pain blistering through his spine.
This Shinigami appeared in front of him, flashing into existence in a blink.
Minato starred at him confused, eyes wide with surprise.
"You take me and my contract to lightly, mortal." Minato could hear the Shinigami's voice, yet the apparition in front of him did not move its lips. The dagger was still firmly tucked between black teeth.
"I-I…I don't understand." Despite his body's inability to manage even a twitch, his lips worked perfectly.
His ignorance would cost him…
The Shinigami lowered closer to Minato's face. And even though spirits did not breathe, the blonde Hokage could feel a cold breath on his cheeks.
"I'm hungry." Stated the Shinigami's voice.
"Then devour my soul and complete the ritual!" Minato's voice sounded desperate at this point. Panicked could not even begin to describe it. This was his only chance to stop the Kyuubi and save his village.
Finally a feature on the Shinigami changed. The black rows of teeth became more pronounced and wide. The ghost was smiling.
"Noble souls, given so freely…taste bland and empty…they don't satisfy my appetite." He seemed to stare more intently at Minato now, if an emotion could be applied to it, it would have to be anger.
"Fine, then take the Kyuubi as well!" shouted Minato in his attempt to try and appease the Shinigami. Sweat could now be seen falling down his brow.
The Shinigami's smile only widened.
"It seems you don't understand."
Something he was not prepared to pay…
The dagger dropped from the Shinigami's mouth. The Yondaime visibly relaxed, as it meant the ritual was finally going to start. Perhaps he wouldn't even have to burden his son with the demon…perhaps the Shinigami would simply take it away as well…to appease its hunger.
"A soul for a seal; that is the contract you agreed to."
The dagger was raised high, before the spirit plunged it down. Minato closed his eyes in acceptance and waited for his soul to be ripped from his body.
The sound of metal meeting flesh resounded through the Yondaime's ears.
The true ultimate sacrifice…
Minato could feel blood running between his fingers, and his heart beat stopped. He opened his eyes wide and stared blankly at the face of the smiling Shinigami.
Slowly he cast his view down…to the bundle in his arms.
Is something that could never be given willingly…
His arms were blood soaked…
Hell had come to him…
"I choose the soul…and I choose the seal." Minato could only hear the monsters words faintly. He couldn't focus on them…or listen to them. They didn't matter anymore…nothing mattered anymore. "The souls of the innocent are by far the tastiest."
His body seemed to be released from whatever spell he was under and he began to tremble. Tears would not do justice the anguish he felt. He couldn't breath; he couldn't see straight, he was going to pass out.
"And the wicked onto themselves, make the best of seals…"
Minato passed out in that world of darkness. He would be lost in it, even though he would live on in the world he had saved.
He had sacrificed his light.
He had sacrificed…Naruto.
