"Haaah…"
Wrapped in that familiar warmth, Namikaze Kirito felt nothing but crushing powerlessness and despair.
It was suffocating.
Family.
These two extravagant words—something he had only just obtained—were they really going to disappear so soon?
Boom!
Minato opened the closet and pulled out the white Hokage cloak, the bold kanji of Fourth Hokage emblazoned on its back.
He put it on without hesitation.
To Kirito and Kushina, all that remained was his firm, unwavering back.
"Minato… thank you. Please… be careful out there…"
"I'll be back soon."
Golden light flashed.
Minato vanished.
Not long after...
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion echoed throughout the village.
Kirito and Kushina both knew what that sound meant.
The Nine-Tails.
"Kirito… I'm sorry. Did it scare you?"
Kushina gently stroked Kirito's hair, her voice soft and apologetic.
"Dad… he'll make that sound disappear soon."
"Mom…"
The childish voice trembled.
Only then did Kushina realize—tears were already streaming down Kirito's face.
"Kirito… you can feel it, can't you?"
From the moment he was born, Kushina had known her son was special.
His Uzumaki blood granted him vitality and perception even stronger than her own.
She knew he could sense her condition.
So she didn't hide it.
She asked him directly.
"..."
Kirito didn't answer.
He just stood there, eyes empty—like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
"I'm sorry… I'm really sorry…"
"I wasn't a good mother."
"I probably won't be able to watch you and Naruto grow up."
Kushina finally broke.
Tears fell freely as she pulled Kirito into her arms, holding him tightly.
"Even though you always act indifferent… I know you're a gentle child."
"I'm afraid what happens tonight will stay with you forever."
"But promise me this."
"You have to be strong."
Kirito clenched his fists.
His fingernails dug deep into his palms, piercing flesh.
Blood dripped down onto the ground.
Outside, chaos erupted—screams, explosions, the roar of the Nine-Tails.
Inside the ruined house, the three of them embraced each other quietly.
As if clinging to their final moment as a family.
—
Not long after, Minato returned.
In a flash of light, he brought Kushina, Kirito, and Naruto to the outskirts of the village—amidst shattered ruins.
Not far away—
The colossal form of the Nine-Tails loomed, its crimson eyes burning with hatred.
"Hah… hah…"
"Quick… we need to raise the barrier."
Minato was breathing heavily.
After teleporting the Nine-Tails and redirecting a Tailed Beast Bomb, his chakra was nearly depleted.
Kushina slowly raised her head and looked at her husband.
"I can hold it… for a little while longer, Minato."
She bit her lip.
With her remaining strength, she activated her final technique.
Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Clatter—clang—
Golden chains burst forth from behind her, wrapping tightly around the Nine-Tails' massive body.
"Agh—!"
Kushina cried out in pain.
"Kushina!"
Minato's voice cracked as he rushed toward her.
Naruto began crying loudly.
Kirito stared at the raging Nine-Tails, fists trembling.
Black and white energy slowly intertwined around his hands.
"I'm sorry… Naruto."
"I woke you up…"
Kushina looked at her crying newborn, her voice gentle despite the pain.
Then she spoke calmly—resolutely.
"If we just hold the Nine-Tails here… I'll die with it."
"That way, its resurrection can be delayed."
There was no fear in her eyes.
Only resolve.
"This is all I can do with the chakra I have left."
"Thank you… for everything you've done for me."
Minato's hands trembled.
"Kushina…"
"You made me the Fourth Hokage."
"You made me your husband."
"And you made me the father of two children."
His voice choked.
"But I—"
"Minato."
Kushina smiled.
"Don't make that face."
"I'm happy."
"I had you… and Kirito… loving me."
"And today is Naruto's birthday."
"If I stayed alive… all I'd do is dream about our family of four in the future."
"My only regret…"
"…is that I won't get to see our children grow up."
"Kushina… you don't have to die with the Nine-Tails."
Minato's tears fell freely now.
"Your remaining chakra…"
"I'll use it to let you watch over Naruto and Kirito."
"I'll seal it into Naruto using the Eight Trigrams Seal."
"And as for the Nine-Tails…"
His voice hardened.
"I'll handle it."
"I—who am not a Jinchūriki—can only seal it using one method."
"The Reaper Death Seal."
Kushina's eyes widened.
"But Minato—! That technique—"
"It will kill the user, I know."
Minato interrupted firmly.
"There's another reason."
"Only half of the Nine-Tails will be sealed into me."
"Even then, its power is too great to suppress permanently."
"And if no Jinchūriki exists when it revives, the balance of the tailed beasts will collapse."
"If I use the Reaper Death Seal…"
"I can seal myself and half of the Nine-Tails away forever."
"The other half—"
"I'll seal into Naruto."
Kushina gasped.
"I know what you're thinking."
"I considered Kirito."
"But Kirito… isn't suited for the Nine-Tails."
Minato's voice softened.
"As his father… I know his heart."
"If he bore the Nine-Tails—after witnessing our deaths—"
"…he might fall into darkness."
"So this burden… can only fall on Naruto."
As Minato spoke, a memory surfaced—his sensei's voice.
One of the Legendary Sannin.
Jiraiya.
"Perhaps… he is the Child of Prophecy."
"One day, the ninja world will change drastically."
"And that child… will be its savior."
—
Minato stood upright.
His hands began forming seals.
At that moment...
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, arrived in full battle gear.
When he saw the hand signs—
His eyes widened in shock.
He recognized the technique.
The Reaper Death Seal.
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