October 9
10:52 a.m.
He felt the floor beneath him shake yet again.
"You have got to be kidding me," Minato muttered. Fortunately none of his secretaries or assistants noticed. They were all too busy grabbing on to something. The Tower, along with the rest of the village, shook for a little more than a minute before the tremors subsided.
Minato judged this one had been a little more violent than the others. It's not good that I'm starting to actually be expert enough to judge these things. Less than a minute later Minato's silent opinion seemed to be proved correct as they heard a dull crash.
One of his secretaries hurried out of his office to the reception area. There she looked out of one of the south windows. That was the direction where the poorer neighborhoods in Konoha were. "I think a building collapsed," she called out. "I see a lot of dust from about four miles away."
"Contact the ANBU immediately and have them perform search and rescue," Minato ordered at once.
"The phone lines are still out Hokage-sama," another receptionist reminded him.
"Ah, never mind," he performed some hand signs. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." A single shadow clone came into existence and then immediately vanished. There were advantages to being a ninja even in non combat situations. Minato looked at the floor around his desk. The reports he'd gotten had fallen all over the place.
A couple of his secretaries gathered them up for him. They were doing everything they could but unfortunately that wasn't much.
"I've never even heard of an earthquake anywhere near the village, and now we get three in one day? Can someone tell me what's going on?" Minato asked out loud. He noticed his secretaries all looking at each other with discomfort. The Hokage was supposed to be the one who knew all the answers. Seeing him so frustrated worried them.
I can't let them see me be worried, Minato reminded himself. Above all else the Hokage was a symbol of Konoha's strength and resilience. So he smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, never mind, whatever the cause we'll deal with it."
Miraculously the first two earthquakes had done no significant damage and there had been only about twenty casualties reported to Konoha hospital, all of them minor. There had been no deaths up until now. But with an apparent building collapse that was likely to change. He could only continue to do the best that he could and hope the worst was now over.
XXXXXXXXXX
11:22 a.m.
His shadow clone had proceeded to the collapsed building to inspect the sight and assist with rescue. Getting the survivors and wounded to safety was the priority, clearing the mess could wait. His bunshin had done what it could. A four story tenement building had simply come crashing down, apparently burying many of its residents. Though only an estimate it looked like between twenty to thirty people might have been killed. While down there he had noticed cracks in the foundations of many of the other neighboring buildings. The buildings had not been designed with earthquakes in mind, and naturally the buildings in the poorer sections were of the weakest construction. When the bunshin dispelled the Hokage got all this information instantly. Knowing more earthquakes were a possibility he made a decision.
"I am declaring a state of emergency," he announced coolly. "Cancel all ninja missions and place all shinobi on standby. All schools are to be closed and have any additional staff report to the hospital. Open the cliff shelters; I want all residents of the poorer neighborhoods to be evacuated."
His secretaries took down his orders and got busy putting them into action. Since most of the phone lines were down a number of ninja had been called to the Tower to act as messengers.
Though Minato did not know it the real emergency had not started yet.
XXXXXXXXXX
11:31 a.m.
"Hokage-sama!" A ninja rushed into his office where seven others were busy working with him trying to manage things. "Hokage-sama! We just received a messenger bird from the city of Akido! The whole city's been destroyed!"
Minato looked at the ninja. A patch on his clothing indicated he was in the communications sector. "You shouldn't announce such things out loud," he told the man quietly. The nin immediately cast his eyes down in embarrassment. Minato then looked around at his staff, some were ninja but most were civilians who normally acted as secretaries. "Let's not have any wild rumors going around." He saw heads nod agreement. He knew rumors would spread soon regardless, but hopefully not for awhile.
Minato took the message and read it. Akido was a city of half a million located about 800 miles north, near the border of Waterfall. If they had suffered from these earthquakes too there was nothing he could do at the moment. When things here were settled he would see about dispatching some help. As he began reading the message he expected it to relate how the city had been closer to the epicenter and suffered for it.
But that wasn't what the message said.
A giant fox with nine tails at least a hundred feet high? He stared at the words. A giant nine tail fox? One made of living fire that had laid waste to the city. "Is this some type of joke? Or is there some possibility the translation was wrong?"
The communications ninja appeared very nervous. "Hokage-sama, I don't believe it to be a joke, messenger birds are too precious a resource to waste like that. And there was no translation, the message was not written in code. It… it almost seemed someone was desperate to get that message out."
Minato stared at the man a moment before looking back at the paper again. He had a real emergency on his hands right now; he didn't have time for bizarre mysteries that were happening hundreds of miles away.
And yet… there was something about that description, a nine tailed fox, that was vaguely familiar. There was some story that included a fox with nine tails. He couldn't remember anything more than that, but something about this bothered him. He dismissed the ninja who'd brought the message. He considered just putting this out of his mind in order to concentrate on the crisis at hand. But some instinct told him not to.
He looked to one of his secretaries. "It's probably nothing, but dispatch two full ANBU squads to Akido to investigate this, and make sure they have messenger birds with them." And having done that he did one other thing.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Hey Kushina," Minato said as he walked in through the front door of his home.
"Minato-kun honey, what are you doing back?" Kushina asked. "I thought for sure you'd be in the Tower for the rest of the day."
"Well I am in the Tower right now, the real me is. I'm just a bunshin."
Kushina smiled at him warmly. "Were you worried about me?"
Minato looked embarrassed and began to rub the back of his head. "Well… actually I came here to do some research in the private library."
Curious to see just what sort of research would divert him in a time like this Kushina waddled along behind him as he went to the stacks and pulled out several books. She read the book titles and raised an eyebrow. "Ancient Fables, Stories of the Past, Of Heroes and Monsters," she looked at her husband's clone. "Just what are you researching?"
"I remember a story from when I was a child about a monstrous fox with nine tails. I've just gotten a report about it and I wanted to find out whatever I could. I'm almost sure Kaede read me a story with it when I was little."
"If she read it to you why don't you ask her about it, she might remember."
He looked at his wife with embarrassment. "Ah, I didn't think of that."
Kushina grinned at him. "How did you become Hokage again?"
XXXXXXXXXX
"The nine tail fox? You mean the Kyuubi?" Kaede asked in her usual calm manner.
"I don't remember if that's the name of it, but yes, I need to know about it. Do you remember the story?" Minato asked.
"Certainly," she replied. She glanced at the books Minato had on the table. "But you won't find it in any of those books." She promptly went to a different section of the small library. She searched for a particular title. When she found it she pulled it down and brought it out to him. Minato was surprised to see it was a history book entitled, 'The Battles of the First Hokage.' She opened it to section near the back. After flipping a few pages she nodded and handed the book over to him. "Here you are Minato-sama."
Minato took the book from her and was surprised to see an illustration of a fire breathing fox with nine tails and a rider on his back. "This fox was at a battle fought by the First Hokage? You mean he isn't out of some myth?"
"No Minato-sama," Kaede answered. "He was a monster summoned by Uchiha Madara at the Battle of the End. He is as real as Gamabunta. I remember my mother telling me the story when I was a little girl. It seems to have been forgotten over the years though."
Looking down at the illustration he got a very bad feeling.
XXXXXXXXXX
2:09 p.m.
"Hokage-sama!" The same messenger ninja arrived again.
"Yes?' Minato answered warily.
"I have another message!"
"From Akido?"
"Uh, no Hokage–sama. It's from somewhere else."
Minato took the message and read it.
'A giant monster is destroying Okazaki! Please send help at once!'
There was no mention of it being a fox or any tails, but unless there was now a horde of giant monsters loose in the country side it had to be the same creature. Now where exactly is Okazaki? "Tell me, was this message sent in code?"
The ninja shook his head. "No Hokage-sama it was in plain language. It was probably sent by a civilian."
"Someone get me a map."
One of his secretaries had a large map of Fire country. When he found Okazaki on it he began to get a sick feeling in his stomach. It was located about a hundred miles south of Akido. The Kyuubi seemed to be heading south. In the general direction of Konoha.
"Get me Sarutobi, Tsunade, Hiashi and Fugaku," he said. "Tell them I am calling an emergency meeting here in the Tower."
XXXXXXXXXX
2:40 p.m.
"The Kyuubi?" Sarutobi asked. "Are you certain Minato? I have not heard of it since the Battle of the End, when I was still a child."
Tsunade nodded. "My grandfather the First Hokage told me stories about it. A huge monster of living fire, no ninjutsu, and no weapon could harm it."
"The First won the battle so he must have found a way to deal with it." Minato argued.
Tsunade nodded. "Well it turns out it was vulnerable to my grandfather's mokuton techniques. He able to drain away the creature's chakra."
"Any chance you have those techniques?" Minato asked hopefully.
Tsunade shook her head. "I'm afraid not, and I am the last of the Senju clan so I'm afraid that blood line has gone extinct." (Note: At this time Tenzo aka Yamato is a child and his abilities have not manifested.)
"So how do I deal with an immensely powerful monster that can't be harmed by any weapon or ninjutsu?" Minato asked.
Neither Sarutobi nor Tsunade had a suggestion.
"Hokage-sama," Fugaku spoke. "Are you really worried about something you have only heard about from some panicked civilians?"
"I hate to say this," Hiashi spoke as well. "But Fugaku does have a point. How much stock can you put in civilian reports?"
"I agree that we do need more information," Minato said. "I've already sent out two ANBU squads, but they couldn't have gotten far enough north yet. That is why I've asked you both here. I want to send out two more patrols, and I want them to be made up of Uchiha and Hyuuga members. They would likely give me the best information given their blood lines."
"If you need a special patrol Hokage-sama then I will personally lead a squad of my clansmen north." Hiashi offered.
Hearing his arch rival make such an offer Fugaku responded immediately. "Then I will lead a squad of Uchiha. I will find this threat Hokage-sama and inform you how dangerous it really is."
Minato had not expected to have two of Konoha's most powerful clan heads to go out on patrol for him, including his best friend. But since they had volunteered he could not refuse their aid.
XXXXXXXXXX
3:37 p.m.
A fourth earthquake struck Konoha. This one was easily the worst of the day. It lasted close to two minutes. When it was over nine buildings had collapsed, all of them in the poorer section of Konoha. Fortunately due to the mandatory evacuations earlier there were no casualties despite the heavy property damage.
XXXXXXXXXX
5:02 p.m.
Two messenger birds came in, both from a town called Kochi. These had been placed in code. They were from a semi retired ninja who still acted as an informant. This was the first message received from a source considered reliable.
'Kochi being attacked by some type of monster. Appears to be a huge fox approximately a hundred to a hundred and twenty feet. Has nine tails and seems to be made of fire. Has an immense chakra tainted with a palpable evil. Is able to breathe huge amounts of fire.'
Both messages were exactly the same. Apparently the old ninja had wanted to try and make sure his message got through. Minato wondered if the man who sent it had survived.
Having now gotten a message from a former ninja the threat appeared far more serious. He again looked at the map. Kochi was less than five hundred miles away. With three plot points to work with something else was clear.
The Kyuubi really was heading for Konoha.
XXXXXXXXXX
Ten kage bunshins were pouring over the books and scrolls of his library. It was clear to Minato that if ninjutsu would not affect this thing then the only other option was to seal it somehow. The problem was how to seal something as powerful as this fox seemed to be. If he tried to seal something like this into a scroll the jutsu was bound to fail. No scroll seal could possibly restrain something which could level whole cities. There had to be something else.
From the doorway to the library Kushina watched nervously. She had seen Minato go into battle and not appeared even slightly nervous. Now his clones all gave off an aura of worry bordering on panic. Seeing him this fearful made her worry as well.
XXXXXXXXXX
7:41 p.m.
He received the first, and last, message from the ANBU he had originally sent out.
'Have found nine tailed demon fox outside town of Morioka. Creature seems to possess immeasurable chakra with some sort of evil residue. Have attacked with no effect, seems utterly impervious to harm. Long Live Konoha!'
Reading those last three words chilled him. It was something that was only said when the people knew there was no hope of survival. Two full patrols, eight brave ninja, were dead.
Morioka was only about three hundred fifty miles away. At the rate it was going it would reach Konoha in about seven hours.
XXXXXXXXXX
8:02 p.m.
A force of one hundred left the village and headed north. Their mission was to try and engage the Kyuubi as far away as possible and delay it for as long as they could. Minato needed time to find the answer.
By this time there were rumors flying that some kind of demon had created the earthquakes and was now coming to attack the village. It was also at this time that Minato ordered mandatory evacuations for all non essential civilians. The whole village was to be evacuated to the cliff shelters except for the ninja and the civilians working in the hospital and other vital places.
XXXXXXXXXX
9:25 p.m.
He received a message from Hiahsi and Fugaku. That they both signed it was proof of how important they thought their message was.
'The Kyuubi is real and more powerful than could be believed, our attacks had no effect at all. Fugaku and I agree Kyuubi cannot be killed with regular jutsus no matter how powerful. Will trail and follow, is heading for Konoha.'
Hiashi and Fugaku survived the encounter and were able to track the nine tail fox. Whatever would be said about them in the future no one would ever question their physical courage.
XXXXXXXXXX
9:50 p.m.
Minato found a way. At least a possible way. In one of his oldest texts he read about an ancient master who claimed to be able to call on the power of a shinigami to aid him. There was no specific jutsu or seal, but the symbols provided gave him enough for a seal master to fill in the rest.
He had also found a long forgotten tome about, 'Biju' tailed beasts. He found a seal that could be used to bind a Biju to a human new born. Apparently only a human baby with an undeveloped chakra system was capable of successfully holding such a powerful being. The only problem with the seal in this situation was that he didn't believe it would work on the Kyuubi unless he could be rendered unconscious or weakened. According to the text about Biju it seemed even this seal would not work on a Biju who was at full strength and able to resist.
But if he could somehow combine the power of a shinigami with this seal he thought it might be possible to overwhelm the Kyuubi. But he had to invent a brand new jutsu in a matter of hours. And also it would require a human baby to act as a prison and a human sacrifice to access the Shinigami's power.
XXXXXXXXXX
11:41 p.m.
He received a message from the force of one hundred ninja he had sent out.
'Have attacked the nine tailed fox with all our might. It seems to be playing with us. We will press on. We are one hundred and forty miles north of the village. Long Live Konoha!'
The next day three of those one hundred would make it back.
XXXXXXXXXX
Reading that message he now knew there was only one choice. He called in Sarutobi and handed the reins of power over to him. He needed to go home and talk to his wife. Some things had to be said in person, not through a clone.
XXXXXXXXXX
Kushina looked at him and turned pale. "What… what did you say?"
"This is the only possible way Kushina. Even so it only gives us a chance; there is no way for me to know if the jutsu will actually work until I use it. But if it fails everyone will likely die anyway. This is our only hope."
"For you to die?!" She yelled at him. "And for our child to have a demon put into him?! My kami how can you even suggest this! How can you do such a thing to our son?!"
"It is because he is my son that it has to be him." Minato said. "He is Namikaze and of my clan. One day when he comes of age he will be the clan head. Like it or not that birthright comes at a price. As my son and as a member of this clan it falls on him to make the sacrifice needed to save the village."
"Since when is he a Namikaze?!" She demanded furiously. "He'll be born an Uzukmaki right?! Then why should he have to be sacrificed? You're talking about dying Minato! Isn't your life enough?!"
"Kushina…"
"No! Hell no!" She clutched her hands over her belly. "You are not using him for this! That's final! Let some other family make this sacrifice!"
"How can I do that?" He asked her calmly. "How can I ask some other family to make this sort of sacrifice when I refuse to? I don't want to do this Kushina, but it has to be. It's the only way."
She looked up at him and began shaking. Hot tears began to flow down her cheeks. "How… how can you talk like this? How can you be so calm?"
Her shaking grew worse and Minato gently wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry Kushina," he whispered tenderly. "I'm so sorry, I love you and I love our baby more than anything. But when I became Hokage I took an oath to guide and protect this village."
"You… you took an oath when we… we married too," she spoke through her sobs.
He held her a little tighter and nodded. "Yes I did," he said. "I swore to love you and protect you until the day of my death."
"Don't say that!" She wailed and clutched at him. "Oh Minato-kun honey, I love you! I love you so much! I can't bear to know you're going to die!"
"I love you too Kushina, I love you my red haired girl. When I do this it will be to protect you too."
She shook and buried her head against his chest. He was so warm, so alive; his loving arms were wrapped so tightly around her. How could she ever manage without him? He was her heart. How could she lose her heart and go on living? Through her tears she looked up at him. He was crying too.
"This… this really is the… the only way huh?"
He nodded. "It is."
"Oh Minato-kun, then… then I'll do what you ask. I'll let you use Naruto to hold this fox."
"Thank you Kushina," he leaned down and kissed her. "I promise you my sacrifice and our son's will not be in vain."
I know," she sobbed. She reached up and took his face into her hands. "Kiss me again Minato-kun honey, kiss me and kiss me and kiss me, give me all the kisses you can. Take my kisses with you into the next world and remember me until I can come and be with you again."
He did kiss her. He kissed her with all the love and devotion he had in his heart. This was their final goodbye.
I could never forget you my darling, he thought. Even if it is karma that I spend all eternity in the shinigami's belly I will never forget you.
During their many kisses midnight came and went. Neither of them noticed or cared that it was now October the tenth.
XXXXXXXXXX
October 10
12:11 a.m.
Tsunade met her at the hospital lobby with Shizune. The hospital was fully staffed but there was nothing going on at the moment. All the casualties from the earthquakes had been treated and were resting. But everyone felt the sense of doom approaching. The evacuation order, the dispatch of the one hundred, and the assembly of every available ninja had told people the worst was still coming. The rumors of a monster approaching were running wild, and she of course knew the truth. That there really was a monster coming. She also knew what Minato intended to do. He had informed both her and the old man. They had both pleaded with him to find some other way. But he'd told them he had no other way and they had none either.
As she and Shizune wheeled her up to the operating room she tried to sound cheerful.
"As soon as we have you ready I'll cast a jutsu to induce labor. The baby is fully developed and you are strong and healthy so you should both be fine."
Kushina looked up at her and seemed exhausted, she didn't seem to have any emotions left. "What was it like when Dan died?"
"Wha… what?" Tsunade gasped.
"Minato is going to die and there's nothing I can do to save him," she said in a weary and broken voice. "I'm going to lose the only man I will ever love. How can I bear that?"
Tsunade looked lost. She didn't have an answer. She was still trying to find some way to bear that herself. "I don't know," she finally said. "But you're going to have another man in your life soon that you'll love too right? A tiny little man who is going to need you."
Kushina looked down at her belly and slowly nodded.
XXXXXXXXXX
1:58 a.m.
The Kyuubi was only ten miles away now. The glow from its body could be seen lighting the western horizon. Every able bodied ninja went out the gate to make a desperate last stand to buy their Hokage the time he needed to complete the jutsu.
XXXXXXXXXX
2:19 a.m.
In his library he put the last symbol down on the most complex formula he had ever come up with. He hoped it would work but there was no way to know until it was used.
"Minato," Sarutobi spoke in desperation. "I beg you to let me take your place. Let me do this! Konoha needs you far more than me!"
"Thank you for the offer," Minato said gratefully. "But as Hokage this is my burden to bear. Besides, I have no time to teach it to you. But there is one last thing you could do for me."
"Anything Minato!"
"My last wish is for the village to see my son as a hero. I know the kind of burden he will have to bear, but please, as a final favor to me do whatever you can for him and for Kushina."
Sarutobi nodded sadly. "I will, I swear it."
Minato gave him a wan smile. "Thank you Sarutobi." He gave him a last deep bow which Sarutobi returned. "Goodbye." He disappeared in a flash of yellow.
XXXXXXXXXX
2:24 a.m.
He stood outside the operating room as his son was born. He watched as Tsunade handed him over to his mother and she spoke comfortingly to him. He carefully entered the operating room.
"Kushina I have to take him." He said, pain and regret racking him as he spoke. He would never see her beautiful face ever again. He would carry his memory of with her into the next world.
She looked up into his face. "No," she begged. "I take it back! You can't use him for this! Please Minato I beg you! Not for this! Isn't it enough that you're going to die? Must you do this to your own son?" Her voice was breaking.
"Whose child shall I choose?" Minato asked sadly. "How can I ask some other parent to make a sacrifice that I am not willing to make?"
"I don't care!" She wailed and held him closer. "It's too much to ask it's not fair!"
"No Kushina it's not." He agreed sadly. "But it must be done."
"I am sorry Kushina but you have to go into surgery right now." Tsunade put a needle in her arm and injected her.
"No… don't… don't…" Kushina closed her eyes.
Namikaze Minato, the Yondaime Hokage of Konohagakure took his new born son into his arms. He wept unashamedly. "Forgive me my darling wife; forgive me my beloved son for what I must do now." He looked at Tsunade. "Will she be all right?"
"I hope so but I can't guarantee it."
He nodded. He prayed that both she and Naruto would be all right. But he knew that whatever happened he would not be there to see. "Please tell her that I love her and am truly sorry, but this is the only way."
"I will tell her." Tsunade promised. But she knows all ready.
He looked at his crying son. "They'll see you as a hero my son. They will honor you for the sacrifice you make for their sakes."
He took his son out of the operating room before vanishing in a flash of yellow.
XXXXXXXXXX
2:33 a.m.
The western Horizon was filled with light, night had become day. The Kyuubi was now only a couple miles from the gate. Looking out he could see it clearly, all nine tails were whipping about. He could sense the immensity of its power and its evil even at this distance. On the table in front of him his son was crying. Minato wondered just how much the child understood, if on some instinctual level he knew the danger. He had drawn the seal on his boy's belly. It would only suppress half the demon's chakra, his son would have the chance to slowly incorporate and use the other half. He had faith his son would grow up strong and loyal to the people of Konoha. He had an unshakable faith that his boy would use the Kyuubi's power to safeguard the village. He performed a single hand sign. "Seal!"
The ink on his son's stomach glowed for an instant and then became permanent. He carefully lifted the child up. "My brave son," he whispered. "My precious boy. You are a hero." He gently placed a kiss on his forehead. "I love you."
He performed his jutsu and together they vanished in a yellow flash.
XXXXXXXXXX
2:36 a.m.
"The Yondaime is here!" The cry rang out and the weary frightened ninja drew fresh hope. Their hero had come. The man who was the best of them.
"All ninja retreat to the village!" He shouted. Holding his newborn with one hand he bit down on the thumb of the other. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
With a massive puff of smoke the boss toad summons appeared. "Minato!" Gamabunta boomed what's going on here?" Gamabunta stared at the fearsome nine tail fox that was just across the field from him. "What the hell is the Kyuubi doing here?"
"You know him?" Minato asked.
"I know of him," Gamabunta said.
"He wants to destroy my village I have to stop him."
Gamabunta grunted. "Kid, I hate to say this, but I'm no match for him. In raw power I am just not in his league."
"That's all right, I have a plan."
Gamabunta noticed the child in Minato's arm. "You're going to work a sealing jutsu aren't you? You know what it'll cost you right?"
"I know," he said. "And I am ready to make the sacrifice."
"Damn it," Gamabunta growled. "All right, if you're willing to do this then I guess I can't not do my part."
"Thank you Gamabunta; just get me as close to him as you can."
"Right!" With that the toad summons raced in.
Up until this moment the Kyuubi had seemed to be at play. A massive cat tormenting a whole army of helpless mice. As Gamabunta approached the Kyuubi's head snapped up and a feral grin filled it's malevolent face. What's this? A little frog come to play with me?
"I'm a toad!" Gamabunta roared furiously. As he did so he drew his sword and tried to strike at the fox's head.
Laughing the Kyuubi made no attempt to dodge. The sword struck cleanly, it also broke cleanly. The Kyuubi's right claw shot out and tore into Gamabunta's face. Blood poured out from a deep wound. A wound that would likely leave a scar.
Stupid frog, do you think you're a match for me?
"He is not the tone you need to be worried about!" Minato shouted. "I am the Fourth Hokage of Konoha and I will stop you right here and now!"
The fox put back its head and roared out with laughter. Only the damn Uchiha or one of the Senju could do me any harm and you are not either. Fourth Hokage you say? Well after I eat you I'll eat everyone in your village too. There won't be a Fifth Hokage.
"There will be," he said. "As long as there is a village there will be someone else who will guide and protect it. I am Namikaze Minato the Yondaime Hokage of Konohagakure and I will give my life to save my home and my people." He worked the seals. "Shiki Fujin no Jutsu!" Behind him the skeletal apparition took shape. "I summon a god of death to aid me in my task! Take my life and in exchange work my will!"
The Kyuubi stared at the death god, a demon he was able to see it clearly. The Shinigami reached out and placed a hand on the Kyuubi's forehead. Instantly the Kyuubi was held fast in place. Before the death god a human image appeared seeming to be made of mist. This was Minato's soul. The mist began to be consumed; Minato could feel his life beginning to fade away.
The Kyuubi's body began to dissolve into a fine red mist. As he was forced to watch helplessly his tails and legs vanished. The mist flowed from him to the human. It was drawn as if through a vortex into the seal on the baby's stomach, vanishing as it touched.
What is this! I am a Demon Lord! You cannot do this! The Kyuubi howled.
"Even a demon is no match for a death god it seems," Minato said. "So long as I pay the price required of me my contract with the shinigami will be fulfilled. You will be trapped within my son for a human lifetime, and then you will die."
The Kyuubi was horrified. Already about half of his corporal body had vanished. Wait! I will make a bargain with you Fourth Hokage! Stop this and I will leave here never to return!
"It's much too late for that," Minato said. "You should never have come."
The Kyuubi howled and cursed as he slowly vanished.
At last all of him was gone. His chakra and essence were now within Naruto.
Their bargain complete the shinigami hurriedly devoured the last of Minato's soul. "Gamabunta… please… get my son… to the hospital."
"I will Minato, don't worry I'll see him safe."
With his last strength he gently put his son down on Gamabunta's head. "Goodbye my son, I love you."
Those were the last words of the Yondaime. His soul consumed in payment he closed his eyes and died.