Chapter 2: Confrontation Begins
Minato stumbled forward, breath ragged, hands clenched into tight fists. His gaze moved over the overturned furniture and scattered papers.
Silence hung heavily in the air. The masked man was gone, leaving only the echo of his sinister laughter. Kushina was nowhere to be found. Despair took hold, and he slumped against the wall, shoulders sagging as he tried to catch his breath.
"None of this makes any sense," he muttered as he struggled to compose himself. His heart pounded harder when his gaze fell on the nurse. Biwako Sarutobi, the Third Hokage's wife—lying in a pool of her blood. Her throat had been slit, her chest punctured by a single, precise stab wound, piercing her heart. Minato stood frozen for a heartbeat, the sight of her lifeless body twisting his stomach in a sickening knot.
"No…" Minato whispered, his voice trembling with shock and anger. "Why? If the whole reason for this attack was to take Kushina, then why kill Biwako?"
The room remained still, offering no answers—just the hollow echo of loss.
Moments before, the room had been filled with life and tension, but it now felt like a tomb.
Silence wrapped around Minato like a heavy cloak, cold and oppressive, the air thick with an unsettling dread. His breath came in short, uneven bursts, the weight of panic pressing down on his chest. Every beat of his heart echoed in his ears, deafening in the suffocating stillness. His hands trembled for a brief moment before his training took over. He had to find Kushina.
Without hesitation, his fingers flew through the familiar motions, deftly forming a seal as he activated the special mark on her wrist—his failsafe to reach her in an instant. His muscles coiled as chakra surged through his body, but his mind was a storm of frantic thoughts. Please, let her be safe.
The jutsu took hold, pulling him through space in a blinding flash of yellow lightning. Desperation coursed through his veins, his body tense as if anticipating the worst. He barely registered the crackle of energy around him, the world distorting and bending as he moved through the void between moments. The sensation of weightlessness vanished just as quickly as it came, and he landed firmly on the ground.
His pulse quickened as his eyes darted wildly, scanning every inch of his surroundings with desperate urgency. His hands instinctively clenched into fists at his sides, ready to defend.
But then his heart seemed to stop, his body frozen in place.
The sight that greeted him made his blood run cold.
Kushina's head lifted weakly, her eyes dull but still holding a flicker of defiance. "Minato..." she rasped, her voice barely a whisper. "You shouldn't have come... it's a trap."
Minato dropped to his knees beside her, his heart pounding as his hands hovered over the glowing chains. "I'll get you out of here," he said, his voice trembling with equal parts rage and fear. "Just hold on."
She shook her head slightly, wincing as the chains tightened in response. "He's too strong... you need to leave, Minato. Save yourself."
"Never," Minato whispered fiercely, his hands crackling with chakra as he prepared to break the seal. "I won't leave you."
Kushina chuckled weakly, though the sound was hollow, devoid of her usual fire. "Don't bother," she murmured, her gaze drifting downward to her exposed abdomen. Black ink oozed from the shattered remnants of the Five Elements Seal, its glow fading into darkness.
Minato followed her gaze, and what he saw there chilled him. The ink, once a symbol of protection, now dripped down her belly like lifeblood, the seal's intricate markings slowly unraveling like a painting caught in the rain.
His breath caught in his throat. "No…"
"It's… it's already… too late," she whispered, her voice faltering, fragile like glass on the verge of breaking. "Most of her is… already gone."
Minato's hands trembled as he stared at the broken seal, the weight of her words sinking in like a blade piercing his chest.
Her head drooped to the side, and she struggled to lift her gaze. Each shallow, labored breath betrayed her strength against overwhelming pain. "Minato…" she rasped, her voice exhausted yet fierce, a flicker of defiance glimmering in her eyes. "Get away from here… you can't help me. You… had to find her before… before she destroys the village."
Before he could respond, a slow, mocking clap echoed through the clearing, slicing through the heavy tension that enveloped them. The sound reverberated ominously, drawing both of their attention.
A swirling vortex materialized in the air, pulsating with dark energy, its edges crackling like a thunderstorm. From its depths, shadows twisted and coiled, forming the shape of a figure that stepped forth with deliberate slowness.
"How touching," the masked man mocked, a twisted grin spreading across his face from behind his mask. "But I wouldn't advise getting too close, Hokage-sama. You might not like what happens next."
Minato turned his gaze to their captor, fury burning in his eyes. His fists clenched at his sides, muscles taut with tension. "Let her go!" he snarled, his voice a fierce growl that sliced through the heavy air.
As he spoke, a surge of chakra radiated from him, causing the very air around them to tremble. The temperature dropped, the atmosphere thickening with his killing intent, making it feel like a storm was brewing. Shadows deepened, and the surrounding foliage seemed to wilt under the weight of his rage, leaves trembling and branches creaking as if the earth itself recoiled from his fury.
He stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Kushina, as if his presence alone could shield her from further harm. "I promise you, whoever you are, you won't get away with this." Each word was punctuated by a flare of chakra and killing intent, crackling in the air like static electricity.
The masked man chuckled softly, tilting his head as if considering Minato's words. "Oh, but I think I already have. And your time is running out." His voice dripped with sinister amusement.
Minato's mind raced as he struggled to piece together the implications of the masked man's taunts. What is he talking about, and where is the Nine-Tails? Anxiety tightened his chest as he recalled the immense power of the beast. The seal on Kushina had shattered, and yet the monstrous chakra of the Nine-Tails wasn't rampaging through the village.
His heart pounded in his chest, and a cold sweat formed on his brow as he considered the devastation the beast could unleash. Why isn't she running rampant through the village?Thoughts whirled chaotically in his mind. The village they had fought so hard to protect remained eerily quiet, and that unsettling calm only deepened his dread.
Was it possible that the Nine-Tails had not fully manifested? Or was something else keeping it at bay? Minato's protective instincts flared as he considered the implications. He needed to understand the situation fully, not just for Kushina's sake but for the entire village.
With that thought lingering in his mind, Minato's gaze hardened as he locked onto the masked figure just a few feet away, his eyes narrowing with determination. The air crackled with tension, heavy and charged, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Every instinct within him screamed to prepare for the worst.
As a powerful sensor, he was adept at reading chakra; he could discern its elemental type and purpose through sheer sensation. The swirling energies around him felt chaotic.
He focused intently, sensing the energy swirling around the masked man. The malevolence radiating from him felt thick and suffocating, as if the air itself promised death and chaos. This guy isn't just a threat; he's a disaster waiting to happen, Minato thought, adrenaline surging through him.
As he calibrated his senses, he could feel the remnants of the Nine-Tails' chakra pulsing nearby, echoing with desperation and rage. The duality of emotions—his wife's pain and the beast's fury—created a tempest within him. I need to figure out what he's planning, and fast, he realized, urgency clawing at his mind. Every second spent in uncertainty only drew the village closer to danger, and the stakes had never felt higher.
"Where is the Nine-Tails?" Minato asked cautiously. He had the beginnings of a plan, but he needed to feel this guy out and figure out what his true intentions were. "Because if you've got him stashed in your back pocket then you're crazier than I think you are."
The grin behind the man's mask widened. "Crazy? Oh, Hokage-sama, you're mistaken. I am very much in my right mind, and this is just the beginning."
With that, he raised his hand, his lone visible eye gleaming as the last wisps of the Nine-Tails' chakra escaped Kushina's seal and swirled around his fingers. "Prepare yourself, because you're about to witness the true power of the strongest Bijū."
In that moment, Minato's heart sank, and every plan he could have processed evaporated. "No! You can't do this!" he shouted, his voice laced with desperation. "You have no idea what you're unleashing!" He clenched his fists tightly, muscles tensing as he prepared to spring into action.
He's insane, Minato thought, panic surging within him. The chilling realization settled like a stone in his stomach: with the Bijū freed, the life of his wife was running out.
"Please, just let her go!" Minato pleaded, his voice raw with emotion. "She's done nothing to you! You don't have to do this!"
The masked man chuckled darkly, a sound that sent chills down Minato's spine. "Oh, but you see, I have to do this. It's not just about her; it's about unleashing chaos and proving a point." He stepped closer, the shadows swirling around him. "The Nine-Tails will be free, and with it, the true power will rise. You can't stop it, Hokage."
Each passing second brought Kushina closer to a fate he couldn't bear to imagine, her vitality slipping away with the chaotic energy that surged around them. He could almost hear the ticking clock, the urgency mounting as he fought against the dread creeping into his heart.
"I won't let you take her from me!" he declared fiercely, determination igniting within him. "I'll fight you with everything I have."
The masked man's grin widened beneath his mask. "Then come at me, Hokage. Show me what you're made of. But know this: you will fail."
With that, a final, menacing pulse reverberated through the air as the massive form of the Bijū slowly manifested behind him.
"Do you like my new pet?" he asked, his voice dripping with malice.
The Nine-Tailed Fox was a colossal force of nature, its very presence radiating power and menace as easily as a person breathes. Its fiery orange fur shimmered with an otherworldly sheen, every movement sending ripples of energy through the air. Behind it, the nine massive, bushy tails swirled like storm clouds, each one brimming with enough raw strength to shatter mountains or level entire landscapes in an instant.
"Do you really think you can stop this?" the masked man taunted, his voice laced with mockery. "In case you haven't noticed, you're already too late."
Minato looked at the gigantic fox, shock etched across his face. "Have you lost your mind? Did you release it just so it could kill everyone—including yourself? How do you plan on controlling that thing?"
The masked man's response came with a chilling calmness, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "With this," he said, his voice smooth yet laced with malice, the words dripping with anticipation.
As he spoke, his lone visible eye morphed from black into the unmistakable form of the Mangekyō Sharingan. The swirling patterns within the eye pulsed with dark energy, emanating an ominous aura that seemed to distort the air around him.
With a slow, deliberate motion, he tilted his head, allowing Minato to fully absorb the menacing sight before him. "You see, Hokage," he continued, his tone almost taunting, "this is the true power of the Uchiha. With the Nine-Tails at my command, I can reshape this world into one of my own design."
The atmosphere thickened, charged with an unsettling power that made the hairs on the back of Minato's neck stand on end. Shadows flickered and danced around the masked figure, as if they were drawn to him, further enhancing his menacing presence. "You can try to stop me, but know this: your efforts will be in vain."
"Well, fuck," Minato swore, feeling the weight of the situation crash down on him. The realization that he faced an opponent with such power sent adrenaline coursing through his veins. The ground trembled beneath him as the Nine-Tails loomed large, and he knew this wasn't just a battle; it was a looming catastrophe.
Clenching his fists, Minato steeled himself. "You think you can control that beast?" he challenged, his voice steady. "You're underestimating the chaos you've unleashed!"
The masked man chuckled darkly, his expression hidden behind the mask. "Oh, but you have no idea what I'm capable of, Hokage-sama. This is just the beginning."
As Minato scanned the masked man's face, a chilling thought struck him. *Could this be the work of an Uchiha traitor?* A dark suspicion crept into his mind. *Has the Clan turned against the Leaf or is this guy from a lost branch looking for revenge?* The Sharingan, the manipulation—it all pointed to an Uchiha whether he came from within the village or not wasn't important right now.
"Who helped you?" Minato demanded, his voice laced with urgency. "What have we done to bring this on us? Why have the Uchiha turned against the village?"
The masked man merely smirked, clearly enjoying Minato's growing frustration. "You'll find out soon enough. Let's just say the bonds of loyalty have grown weak. It won't be long before you see the true face of betrayal."
Minato's heart raced, both with anger and urgency. "I won't let you destroy everything we've built! Whoever you're working with, I'll make them pay!"
"Oh, really?" The masked man stepped forward, a wicked grin spreading beneath his mask. With a flick of his wrist, the chains binding Kushina tightened, and a sharp gasp of pain escaped her lips. "I'm going to destroy that village you call home," he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "And when I do, you'll know that it was your precious bonds that made it so easy. How sweet it will be to watch everything you love burn to the ground."
He leaned in closer, the glint of sadistic pleasure in his lone eye sending chills down Minato's spine. "You thought you could protect them, but you've failed. "They'll all suffer because of you."
The words hung heavily in the air, filling Minato with a cold dread. He tightened his grip on his kunai, desperation coursing through him as he thought of Kushina.
He glanced between the masked man and the looming threat of the Nine-Tails, calculating his next move while his heart raced with the need to save his wife.
The masked man stepped closer, a cruel smile creeping across his face. "Just imagine the chaos that will unfold, Hokage. Friends turning on friends, families torn apart. You will be the architect of their destruction, and you'll have no one to blame but yourself."
"You underestimate me," Minato said, his voice steady and quiet, yet laced with urgency. The confidence in his tone stood in stark contrast to the chaos around him.
With a burst of chakra, Minato hurled his kunai toward the masked man, but just as it flew, the man vanished into a swirling vortex. The kunai clattered uselessly to the ground.
"Too slow," the masked man taunted, reappearing beside the Nine-Tails, his hand resting on its fur like a master petting his obedient dog. "You can't touch me, Hokage. This is over before it even began."
Minato stood still for a moment, his expression unreadable, before slowly lowering his hand. "You're wrong," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is just beginning."
In a flash, Minato vanished, the world blurring around him as he reappeared beside Kushina. His fingers brushed her cheek for the briefest of moments, his heart aching at her pained smile. "Hold on," he whispered.
Then, he was gone again, reappearing in front of the Nine-Tails. His chakra flared like a beacon, illuminating the darkness around him.
The masked man narrowed his eyes. "Bold… but futile."
Minato remained silent, for words were unnecessary. No matter what his unseen opponent might say or do, his resolve was unshakable. Failure was not an option—not when the lives of his village, his wife, and his newborn son hung in the balance.
With that weight on his shoulders, his mind worked with the precision of a finely tuned machine. Every thought and calculation was deliberate, focused solely on the gravity of the situation.
There could be no misstep, no hesitation; each decision he made from this point forward had to be flawless. There was no room for doubt and no margin for error.
His mind sharpened, narrowing in on the only path forward—victory.
As if in response to his steely resolve, time itself seemed to stretch. Minato crouched low, preparing to face the masked man. Every breath felt heavier, the charged atmosphere crackling with tension as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Above them, the Nine-Tails let out an earth-shattering roar. Their colossal form towered over the battlefield like a force of nature, a looming shadow of destruction that threatened to engulf everything in its path. The stakes had never been higher.
I can't afford to hesitate, Minato thought, his heartbeat quickening but his mind sharp. This isn't just about me… The entire village depends on what happens next. He glanced at the towering form of the Nine-Tails, its fiery eyes blazing with hatred. Naruto. Kushina. Their faces flickered through his mind. I promise I will protect you both, no matter the cost.
His gaze shifted back to the masked man, the figure's eerie calmness only amplifying the suffocating tension in the air. Minato's sharp eyes scanned him, noting the slight shift in stance, the way the masked figure's lone eye flickered with deadly intent.
Who is this guy, and why does he hate the village so much? The questions raced through Minato's mind, but he couldn't afford to dwell on them. There was no time for questions—only action. Every breath, every heartbeat felt like a countdown.
Minato's body coiled with tension as he calculated every possible angle for attack, reading the masked man's chakra flow, mapping out potential feints, counters, and defenses in an instant. He mentally marked the distance between them, noting how the masked man's chakra signature flared ominously with each passing second.
Whatever his motives, I can't let him win. I have to be sharper, faster, Minato silently vowed, his mind locking onto a plan, his instincts screaming to take the offensive.
A gust of wind swept through the clearing, sending leaves scattering across the ground, the world around them blurring in the anticipation of their impending clash. Thankfully, when it came to speed, the Yellow Flash was never in short supply. His fingers twitched, already itching to hurl his signature kunai, ready to teleport in an instant and strike before the masked man even had time to react.
While Minato prepared himself for battle, the man with the lone visible eye stood unnervingly still, his presence like a shadow that stretched over the battlefield, oppressive and cold. His silence was not one of hesitation or uncertainty but of calculated menace, amplifying the already suffocating tension in the air.
The Mangekyō Sharingan that pulsed from the man's single visible eye throbbed with dark energy, its distinctive swirling pattern a symbol of untold power. The red and black of the Sharingan spun slowly, almost hypnotically, as if drawing in the very light around it. Each curve of the design hinted at the devastating abilities contained within—abilities that Minato knew had the potential to bend space, control minds, or summon destructive forces beyond comprehension.
Though his face was hidden behind the mask, the aura of malevolence surrounding him was palpable, like a coiled serpent waiting to strike. The Sharingan wasn't just a tool—it was a weapon of precision, capable of reading every movement, every intention before they even manifested.
Every fiber of Minato's being screamed of the danger that lingered in that stillness, the calm before the storm. The masked man's unnerving stillness wasn't the absence of movement—it was the promise of something far worse: devastation, delivered with lethal accuracy.
He's waiting for me to make the first move, Minato realized, his instincts screaming at him to act before it was too late. Well, if that's the case, who am I to disappoint?
In a split second, he was gone. Minato Hiraishined, vanishing from sight and instantly reappearing in front of the Nine-Tails. The shift was so fast it was almost imperceptible. Then, the beast's crimson eyes immediately locked onto him, burning with a fierce, predatory gleam.
Minato's heart pounded, but his mind remained calm, and his sharp gaze quickly assessed the situation. There, just out of reach, stood the masked man, his hand resting casually on the Nine-Tails as if controlling the monstrous creature with nothing more than a thought. He has too much control over it. I have to break his hold—and fast.
The masked man's laughter echoed through the clearing. "You're quicker than I thought, but it won't be enough. The Nine-Tails is mine now, and you're powerless to stop me." Though he said that, his lone visible eye couldn't help but briefly widen at the sight of the Yellow-Flash using his signature jutsu so effortlessly.
Minato's eyes narrowed, "I wouldn't be so sure of that," he warned, his voice low but resolute. He had to act quickly. Using his exceptional control over his chakra, his hands blurred as they formed multiple hand seals.
The masked man's gaze flickered with surprise but quickly turned to scorn. "You still think you can fight me? The power of the Nine-Tails will soon be mine, and with it, I'll bring your precious village to its knees."
Oblivious to the man's words but instinctively understanding their intent, Minato's hands moved with practiced speed, his chakra surging as he completed the final seal. "Whatever your goals, I will not let you succeed," he declared. In a flash, he activated a new technique—one that would harness the full potential of his chakra and his will to protect the village. "Wind Release: Fūjin Retsumetsu (Wind God's Annihilation)
The air around him vibrated with raw energy as a massive vortex of wind blades erupted from his position, spiraling outward with a ferocious roar. The blades shimmered with a silvery hue, slicing through the atmosphere and creating a deafening howl. The ground trembled beneath the force of the jutsu as the razor-sharp winds surged toward the masked man, who stood unmoving in his dark aura.
As the vortex approached, Minato directed its path with a swift motion, honing in on the massive form of the Bijū. The chaotic energy surrounding the Nine-Tails pulsed, but the powerful wind blades cut through the darkness, creating a clear path.
The masked man's eyes widened, and he realized the impending threat. "What?!"
In a desperate attempt to maintain control, he attempted to summon his own defenses, but the sheer force of Fūjin Retsumetsu overwhelmed him. The vortex twisted and turned, slicing through shadows as it separated him from the Nine-Tails, pushing him back and forcing him to stagger.
Minato's heart raced as he saw the Bijū's form destabilize under the onslaught of wind blades, creating a momentary disruption in the chaos. The swirling vortex encircled the Nine-Tails, driving the malevolent chakra away and allowing a glimpse of the beast struggling against the binding energy.
"Now!" Minato shouted, channeling more chakra to intensify the jutsu. The winds howled louder, and with a final surge of power, the vortex expanded, completely engulfing the masked man, pushing him further away from the Nine-Tails.
The masked man staggered back, caught off guard by the ferocity of the attack. "You think this will stop me, Hokage?" he snarled, his tone dripping with venom as he struggled against the winds.
Instead of answering, Minato seized on his opponent's momentary distraction by hurling one of his three-pronged kunai toward the masked man, teleporting directly behind him in a heartbeat. With a precise strike, he aimed to incapacitate his foe, but the masked man was quick to react, dodging the attack with a twisted grin.
"You're more determined than I gave you credit for," the masked man sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "But it won't be enough to save your village." With that, he darted forward with incredible speed, kunai flying from his hands. Each blade was aimed with deadly precision, but Minato was faster. He Hiraishined, disappearing in a flash of yellow light, only to reappear right behind his opponent, kunai in hand, aiming for the masked man's back.
But he was ready. The masked man's body flickered, phasing out of reality as Minato's blade passed harmlessly through him. Without missing a beat, he spun, his hand crackling with a swirling vortex of dark chakra. "Kamui," he muttered, the space around his one visible eye distorting into a spiraling void, threatening to pull Minato into another dimension.
Minato's reflexes kicked in, and he twisted out of range just in time, his mind racing. Quickly, he formed a hand seal and slammed his palm into the ground. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu! (Summoning Jutsu)" he called, and in a puff of smoke, Gamabunta, the chief toad, appeared beneath him. The massive toad towered over the battlefield, unsheathing a blade large enough to cleave mountains.
The masked man leaped back, his Sharingan eyes narrowing as he raised his hands. "Uchiha Kaenjin! (Uchiha Flame Circle)" he shouted, and a massive wall of black flames erupted in front of him, roaring with intense heat and sinister chakra.
Gamabunta hesitated, eyeing the menacing flames warily. Minato, atop the toad's head, furrowed his brow. "This won't hold him off for long." Reaching into his pouch, he pulled out a handful of kunai marked with the Hiraishin seal. In a smooth motion, he threw them, each one landing at precise locations across the battlefield.
The masked man remained calm, his Sharingan tracking the movement of every kunai. "Hiraishin again," sigh. "How… predictable," he muttered.
Minato smirked. "Predictable? Let's see about that."
In an instant, Minato Hiraishined again, teleporting between each kunai so quickly that he became a blur, shifting from one position to another faster than even the Sharingan could follow. He moved like lightning, his afterimages had afterimages and they all flickered around the battlefield, confusing his opponent.
Frustrated, the masked man called out, "Kamui!" The space around him twisted once more, the vortex expanding as it sought to draw Minato in. But the Fourth Hokage was already gone, Hiraishining out of the vortex's reach.
Purple eyes flashed with determination as he formed a single glowing orb of chakra in his palm. "Rasengan!" he called, the swirling ball of energy humming with deadly intent. He dashed forward, aiming the Rasengan directly at the masked man.
But once again, the masked man's body flickered, becoming intangible as the Rasengan passed through him harmlessly. But this time, Minato had anticipated the move. As his attack phased through his opponent, he released a Hiraishin kunai, marking the masked man's body with the seal.
The unknown man's lone eye widened beneath his mask as he realized his mistake. Damn it! He tagged me.
In the blink of an eye, Minato Hiraishined to the mark, appearing directly behind his opponent. "It's over," he whispered, Rasengan blazing in his hand. Before the masked man could react, Minato drove the spinning orb of chakra into his back. The swirling mass tore through his defenses and sent him crashing into the ground.
Before Minato could capitalize on his downed foe, the masked man phased through the ground, vanishing from sight. Moments later, he reappeared several feet away, his chest rising and falling heavily. A groan of pain escaped him as he clutched his side, but despite the apparent strain, he slowly rose to his feet. His breath came in shallow, labored gasps, yet behind his mask, his eyes gleamed with malice.
"You're fast, Hokage," he muttered, his voice dripping with frustration. "But speed alone won't save you. You won't win." He straightened, his tone darkening as his gaze burned with menace. "For I, Madara Uchiha will destroy your petty resistance with a power your feeble mind cannot even begin to comprehend."
Minato's heart plummeted the moment the attacker's identity reached his ears. It can't be... Madara, his mind screamed, reeling from the impossibility of it. His pulse quickened, disbelief warring with the icy grip of dread tightening around his chest.
Minato's heart sank as the newly revealed assailant began a series of rapid-fire hand signs. Dark clouds gathered overhead, swirling ominously as the air grew thick with malevolent chakra.
"You'll need more than speed to stop this." Madara yelled, thrusting his hands skyward, calling forth his next jutsu. "Kuchiyose: Gedō Mazō!" (Summoning: Demonic Statue of the Outer Path), he roared.
The ground beneath them cracked and trembled as a monstrous figure erupted from the earth. The Gedō Statue, a nightmarish giant, loomed over the battlefield, its hollow eyes glowing with an eerie light. Its very presence exuded death, an overwhelming aura of despair.
Minato's mind raced. This is bad… I've got to end this now, or everything is lost.
With grim determination, he formed another Rasengan, but this time, he channeled wind chakra into the swirling sphere, causing it to grow larger and sharper. "Fūton: Rasengan! (Wind Release: Spiraling sphere)" he shouted as the ball of chakra roared to life in his hand, the winds whipping around him with violent intensity.
With a final burst of speed, Minato Hiraishined once more, teleporting directly in front of the masked man. The Sharingan flared in response, but Minato was too fast, driving the Fūton Rasengan forward with all his strength.
At that moment, the Gedō Statue's massive arm shot out, its enormous hand aiming to crush Minato. But the Yellow Flash was quicker, teleporting out of harm's way and reappearing above the statue's head. With a determined cry, he slammed the Rasengan into the Gedō Statue's skull.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield, the sheer force of the attack reverberating through the air and shaking the very ground beneath them. Dust and debris flew in every direction, carried by the violent winds generated by the Rasengan. The Gedō Statue, a towering monstrosity of immense power, let out a deafening roar of agony as the wind-infused Rasengan tore through its head, leaving cracks and fractures splintering across its grotesque form.
Madara's control wavered, his grip on the statue faltering as the connection between them destabilized. The behemoth stumbled, its massive limbs struggling to maintain balance as it teetered on the brink of collapse. The ground quaked beneath its weight, sending tremors across the landscape.
From a distance, Madara watched the scene unfold, his narrowed eyes betraying his growing frustration. He clenched his fists, and then, without a word, he stepped back, his body fading into the shadows, retreating from the battlefield like a specter disappearing into the night. The darkness swallowed him whole, leaving only the echoes of his presence behind.
"This isn't over," the masked intruder snarled with fury when he felt his connection to the Gedō Statue and the Nine-Tails sever. "I will be back, and this village and the people you hold so dear will smolder beneath my feet when I do. This. I. Swear."
Before Minato could respond, the masked man vanished into a swirling vortex, the space around him distorting and collapsing into itself until nothing remained but silence. The battlefield stilled for a brief moment, yet the tension in the air remained palpable.
Meanwhile, far from the chaos of the fight, Kushina clung desperately to the last remnants of her willpower. Each breath was a painful, labored struggle, her body weakening as the life slowly drained from her. Yet, despite the searing pain that coursed through her, something more profound—something unbreakable—kept her grounded. She wasn't done. There was something she needed to say, words meant for Minato alone.
Once Minato was certain "Madara" was gone, he rushed to his wife and focused on releasing her from her chains.
He gently lifted her from the jagged rock, his movements tender and deliberate despite the urgency of their situation. The glowing chains fell away as he channeled his chakra, releasing the sealing technique that bound her.
With careful hands, he lowered her to the ground, cradling her as if she were the most fragile thing in the world. Her fiery red hair lay in disarray around her pale face, and he could feel her shallow breaths against his chest, each one a reminder of just how close he had come to losing her.
He adjusted her position, ensuring she was as comfortable, his eyes never leaving her pale face. Every motion was filled with an aching tenderness, reflecting the depth of his love for his wife.
With a trembling effort, she turned her head slightly, her vision blurred and darkening at the edges. Her body felt heavy, almost foreign, but the fire within her spirit flickered just enough to push her through the haze of agony. Minato needed to hear her, and she refused to let the darkness take her until she'd said everything.
"Minato," she rasped, her voice barely above a whisper, "I'm too weak from the forced extraction… to have the Nine-Tails resealed in me, so… you have to seal it in our son instead." She winced, her body convulsing slightly from the sheer effort of speaking. "Seal all of my chakra and mana in him… and all my knowledge too. Kazue, the Nine-Tails, will protect him… like she did for me. You must seal all of her power within him, not half… Here, use this seal."
Her trembling hand reached for a folded paper tucked beneath the bloodied folds of her robe. This parchment had been prepared long ago in the event that she and Minato would ever have to face this nightmarish scenario. The sealing matrix on its unrolled surface was intricate and ancient, a design passed down through her family for generations, meant only for such dire moments.
He also noticed that the ink that had once bound the Nine-Tails to her stomach seemed to ripple faintly in harmony with the matrix on the scroll.
She placed the fragile parchment in Minato's hand, her fingers brushing his for just a moment.
At first, Minato stood frozen, stunned by both Kushina's condition and the enormity of what she had just asked him. His eyes widened, the words echoing in his mind, but the full weight of her request didn't immediately register.
His breath caught in his throat, and his hands clenched at his sides as if trying to grasp the enormity of the situation. However, Minato was a genius, and it took only a few heartbeats for the pieces to click into place.
"Wait, what…" he murmured, shaking his head slightly, his brows knitting together in confusion. He leaned closer, his voice faltering. "I… understand you want me to transfer your chakra to Naruto."
Minato's gaze dropped momentarily to the ground before snapping back to her face as he reflected on her request. Though, in hindsight, that actually makes a lot of sense, especially since his chakra coils will be significantly enlarged and reinforced by becoming a Jinchuriki. But... what the hell is 'mana'? I've never heard of such a power before.
Kushina's lips curled into a faint, sad smile, her hand trembling as she raised it to touch his chin. With a weak but insistent gesture, she tilted his head up, forcing his gaze to meet hers.
"I... I know what you're thinking, Minato," she rasped, her voice frail and strained as she fought against the pain. Her breath shuddered, and her body convulsed slightly as she held back a cough. "Mana is—" she paused again, her breath hitching, her chest rising and falling in labored movements. "It's... a form of energy my family discovered centuries ago."
Seeing the strain on her face, Minato instinctively reached out, his hands gently encircling her shoulders. "Kushina, wait, don't—"
She shook her head, the movement weak but resolute. Her fiery spirit flickered through her pain as she fixed him with a fierce, determined glare. Her grip on his hand tightened as much as her strength would allow. "I need to explain this... and you need to shut up, listen and understand." Her fingers loosened, falling to her side, but her eyes bore into his, the threat inherent in her message unmistakable.
"Mana," she continued, her voice gaining a fragile strength as she leaned slightly toward him, "is unlike chakra. It's purely spiritual, drawn from the ethereal forces that flow through the world."
Minato's fingers trembled as they gently brushed a strand of crimson hair away from her face. He could feel the weight of her words, the finality of this moment sinking in. His throat tightened, but he forced himself to remain still.
Kushina's breaths were shallow, but she pressed on, determined. "Mana... harnesses the unseen," she explained, her voice barely more than a whisper as she leaned against him, resting her head lightly on his chest. "The currents of nature, the pulse of the elements, even the forces of time and space itself."
His mind whirled with possibilities and, because of who he was, even more questions burst from his imagination. But one in particular pressed to the forefront. "What will he... what will Naruto be able to do with this… mana?" he asked softly, his voice catching as he gently stroked her hair, trying to offer her some small comfort.
Her lips parted in a faint smile, her voice fragile and faint. "As he grows..." she whispered, her hand weakly reaching up to touch his cheek. "He'll be able to do... anything."
Anything.* The word reverberated through Minato's mind as he gripped her hand, holding onto every ounce of her remaining warmth. His heart raced with possibilities, but he forced himself to stay grounded, to focus on her.
His questions would have to wait. One glance at her fading strength told him that now was not the time to press. Maybe... just maybe, he'd find more answers in the scroll.
With one hand cradling his wife's head, Minato carefully examined the elaborate sealing matrix that kept the scroll tightly closed. Intricate patterns drawn in chakra-infused ink glimmered faintly in the dim light, each symbol resonating with an ancient energy.
This seal is complex, he thought, his curiosity rising, far more intricate than any I've encountered before. I think this must be in the ancient Uzumaki style. If that's the case, I wonder how old this thing is?
It took him a full thirty seconds to run through everything he'd ever learned about the ancient Uzumaki script before he found the solution.
With his free hand, he sent a pulse of chakra at a specific frequency directly into the seal. Focus. It's all about precision, he reminded himself, feeling the familiar rush of energy course through him as he honed in on the patterns.
The air crackled with energy as the Hokage's chakra flowed through the intricate designs, gradually activating the sealing matrix. The tension in the atmosphere was palpable, each pulse of energy heightening his focus.
Come on, just a little more, the blonde urged through clenched teeth, willing the seal to respond. He could feel the weight of time pressing down on him, amplifying his desire to complete his task.
Then finally, with one final burst of chakra, he heard a resonant crack, and the seal shattered. Brilliant arcs of light erupted from the broken patterns, illuminating the surrounding area in a dazzling display that momentarily blinded him.
As the brilliant light gradually subsided, fragments of energy spiraled outward like shards of crystalline glass, each one bursting into motes of shimmering luminescence that danced gracefully through the air before fading into nothingness. The scroll unfurled with a soft, almost reverent flutter.
There it is… Minato thought, a surge of hope intertwining with a knot of anxiety as the scroll's contents revealed themselves to his eager gaze. Ancient symbols and intricate diagrams glowed softly, pulsing with a rhythmic energy that seemed to resonate with the very essence of his being.
This could hold the key to sealing the Nine-Tails and saving both Kushina and Naruto. The very thought ignited a flame of hope within him, filling him with a fierce determination that quickened the beat of his heart. The possibility of resealing the Bijū without sacrificing anyone was a glimmer of light in the encroaching darkness.
However, as he examined the intricate seal matrix more closely, a sense of dread washed over him. His eyes widened in horror and sadness as he noticed a detail that sent a chill down his spine.
There, etched into the edge of the parchment, was a stipulation that threatened to undermine what little hope he'd managed to grasp. If he followed through with his wife's request, the consequences for their son would be dire.
The realization hit him hard; he had only just come to terms with the possibility of losing his wife, grappling with the thought of a future without her warmth and laughter. But now, to be faced with the nightmarish choice of willingly depriving their child of both parents in a single night felt catastrophic.
The weight of that decision bore down on him, each heartbeat echoing with the profound implications of his impending choice.
He leaned forward, pressing his lips gently to hers, his kiss filled with all the emotions he couldn't put into words. Tears welled in his eyes as she whispered her final, soft words.
"I love you, Minato Namikaze…" Her voice was barely audible, like the last breath of a breeze. "Kami, please… protect Naruto in his life. I beg you."
Her hand fell limp, and Minato could feel the warmth of her touch fading, slipping away like sand through his fingers. The ache in his chest grew unbearable as the weight of her impending death settled deep within him, suffocating the air from his lungs.
He held her hand for a moment longer, unwilling to release it as though clinging to the last fragile thread of hope that she might somehow remain with him.
Minato's sorrow-laden eyes lingered on her, searching for any sign of life, any flicker that could defy the inevitable. Her once-vibrant crimson hair, now damp and tangled with sweat and streaked with blood, clung to her pallid face.
The woman he loved, once so full of fire and fierce determination, was slipping away before his very eyes, leaving only the echoes of her warmth behind.
He tore his gaze from her frail form and closed his eyes for a moment, drawing a shaky breath, before he finally opened them, his heart heavy but resolute.
"Kushina," Minato began, his voice cracking with sorrow and unshed tears. "My love… please hang on a little bit longer. There's… there's something you need to know."
Minato's hand still held hers, his grip tightening ever so slightly as if by holding on, he could somehow tether her to the world just a little longer. His gaze remained fixed on their entwined fingers, watching the way her once-strong hand now lay weak and fragile in his. His heart thundered in his chest; each beat a painful reminder of the time slipping away.
He knew what he had to say would break Kushina's fragile heart, shatter the last bit of strength she was clinging to. But there was no turning back now.
His hands trembled slightly as he held her close, already mourning what he had yet to tell her. The weight of the decision pressed heavily on him, more unbearable than the battlefield wounds he had suffered over the years.
The words hovered on his lips like a bitter poison, each syllable a wound waiting to be inflicted. He struggled to find the right way to deliver such unbearable news, knowing that nothing could soften the blow.
Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself, his voice wavering between sorrow and resolve. "Kushina… according to this scroll, to do what you want to be done and seal the Nine-Tails, I'll need to place two additional seals on Naruto." He hesitated, the weight of his next words pressing down on him like an unbearable burden. "And one of them… will cost me my life."
Kushina's eyes, though dimmed by pain and fatigue, flared with a fierce and desperate light. Her grip on his hand tightened, her voice strained but resolute. "No, Minato. You can't do this. If you sacrifice yourself too, Naruto will be left completely alone. He'll have no one. I can't... I can't bear the thought of him growing up without either of us. Please…" Her voice trailed off weakly.
Minato's heart twisted at her words, but the crushing weight of their reality bore down on him, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation.
He inhaled deeply, steadying his trembling voice, thick with sorrow. "I'm sorry, my love, but there's no other way." His hand rose to the bridge of his nose, pinching it as he exhaled a long, tired sigh.
""To make the seal you gave me work, alongside the Eight Trigrams Seal, I must also invoke the Reaper Death Seal." Minato's voice wavered, his throat tightening as he forced himself to continue. "I'll have to summon the Shinigami—the death god."
He paused, allowing the weight of those words to sink in, watching the flicker of confusion and dawning horror in Kushina's eyes. The finality of what he was saying settled between them like a heavy shroud, suffocating the small hope they had clung to.
"My soul will be the price required to seal the entirety of the Nine-Tails' chakra into Naruto." He swallowed hard, the gravity of his next words nearly choking him. "If I don't… Naruto will be cursed with crippled chakra coils and stunted physical growth. His future… everything we wanted for him… would be stolen before it even begins."
The silence that followed was suffocating, the weight of his decision looming like a dark shadow over them both. He could feel her tremble slightly in his arms, the heartbreaking realization crashing over her, and all he could do was hold her tighter, wishing for a miracle that would never come.
He paused, choking back the flood of grief rising in his chest, his breath catching as the weight of his next words bore down on him. His hand trembled slightly as he held hers, the warmth of her touch slipping away with every second. "The other seal," he continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "is the 16-Prong Beast Absorption Seal. This seal is special and will do more than just keep Kazue—the Nine-Tails—contained."
He swallowed hard, fighting against the lump in his throat. "It will also strengthen Naruto's bond with her. This will ensure that one day, he will be able to harness her power as an ally instead of as a warden."
His gaze dropped to their joined hands; the sadness etched deep in his features. "I'm doing this, so he won't have to bear this burden alone. With these three seals, Kazue will be more than a simple protector. Without us there to protect and guide him, she will be the friend and partner he will need to survive the trials life will throw at him."
Kushina's lips trembled as she struggled to respond, but she was too weak. A tear slipped down her cheek as the reality of his words sunk in—Minato was planning to join her in death.
Minato gently wiped the tear from her face, his thumb lingering against her cheek as he cradled her fragile form. "This is the only way," he whispered, his voice thick with sorrow. The tremble in his hand betrayed the depth of his anguish, but his gaze remained steady, filled with the fierce love and duty that had always defined him.
Kushina's tear-soaked eyes searched his face, clinging to every word, even as her heart shattered.
"I won't let our son bear this burden alone," he continued, his voice softening as he leaned closer, pressing his forehead against hers. "But know this, Kushina—no matter what happens, even in death, our seals will be what protects him. We will be there with him, guarding him, guiding him."
His thumb traced her cheek tenderly, as if trying to memorize every detail. The softness of her skin, the warmth of her touch—it was all slipping away too fast. His heart clenched with the weight of the moment, knowing this might be the last time he could hold her like this.
His other hand gripped hers tightly, refusing to let go, as if by sheer will he could keep her with him. The warmth of her skin seemed to slip through his fingers like sand. His breath hitched, but he forced himself to stay calm for her sake.
"This is the only way," he whispered, his voice thick with sorrow yet firm with determination. The words were hard to say, but there was no turning back now. "I won't let our son bear this burden alone. But know this..." His voice softened, and he leaned closer, his forehead resting gently against hers.
"Our seals will protect him," Minato continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "Our love, our strength, everything we are... it will live on through Naruto." His thumb moved softly over her cheek once more, committing every sensation to memory.
He squeezed her hand, his final vow spilling from his lips with unwavering certainty. "He'll never be alone, not truly."
Kushina's hand gripped his weakly, her eyes filling with the silent plea that echoed in her soul. But Minato knew she understood—he could see it in her fading gaze. He leaned down, pressing his forehead gently to hers, his heart breaking with the finality of their choices.
"I'll always love you," Minato whispered, the weight of his sacrifice already upon him. "But our son… he deserves a future. And I'll make sure he gets it."
With one final glance at her peaceful face, Minato steeled himself for the irreversible path he was about to walk. He would do whatever it took to protect their son, even if it meant giving up everything.
Kushina's eyes fluttered closed as she drew her final breath.
Minato carefully lifted his wife's fragile body into his arms, her form limp and cold against his chest. His heart clenched painfully, but there was no time to grieve—not yet. With a deep breath, he gathered his chakra, the familiar hum of power coursing through him. In an instant, he disappeared in a brilliant yellow flash, the space around him warping as the Hiraishin transported them away.
When Minato reappeared, the familiar walls of his home surrounded him. The soft glow of candlelight flickered against the darkened room, casting long shadows that danced along the walls. The air was filled with the loud, piercing cries of his newborn son.
Naruto's wails echoed through the house, raw and insistent, pulling Minato from the whirlpool of grief threatening to consume him. His body trembled as he gently laid Kushina on their bed, her lifeless form looking so out of place in the warmth of their home. His hand lingered on her cheek for a moment, his thumb brushing against her skin one last time.
But the sound of his son's cries cut through the haze. Minato turned his head toward the cradle, where Naruto lay, tiny fists flailing, his face red with distress. Minato's heart broke anew, knowing that this innocent child—his child—was already burdened by the cruel weight of destiny. He inhaled deeply, trying to steady his breath, before walking over to his son, his legs feeling heavy with the weight of what was to come.
As he reached the cradle, Minato looked down at Naruto, his heart swelling with love and sorrow. He gently scooped the infant into his arms, cradling the tiny, fragile body close to his chest. Naruto's cries quieted slightly, the warmth of his father's embrace calming him, though his little body still shook with leftover sobs.
Minato pressed a kiss to the top of Naruto's head, whispering softly, "I'm so sorry, my son. I wish things could be different." His voice cracked under the strain, but he quickly swallowed his grief. There was no more time for hesitation. There were still things he had to do—decisions that would shape Naruto's future, even if it meant his own end.
Minato gave his wife one more mournful look, his eyes lingering on her still form. The weight of loss pressed heavily on his chest, but there was no time to properly grieve. His heart screamed for him to stay by her side, to cling to the fleeting moments they had left. But duty—his final duty—called him away.
With Naruto cradled in his arms, Minato gave one last sorrowful look at Kushina. His heart ached, but he swallowed hard, knowing there was no time to linger. Holding his son close, he took a deep breath, and in a flash of yellow light, he vanished into the night, leaving her behind.