Chōmei's firm voice dispelled Kazuyama Gekkō's doubts.
"It's not the Nine-Tails?"
"That's right. The cave is flooded with rage—feels like that little Nine-Tails Jinchūriki girl just went berserk."
Berserk?
At a time like this, there was only one thing that could trigger Kushina into losing control—
Their son had been taken.
...
Inside the cave, Muren Uchiha relied on the strange nature of his dōjutsu to remain unfazed, even against Minato Namikaze. Though Minato could jump through space with his techniques, after facing off with Kazuyama, Muren had grown far more cautious. He added an untouchable buffer zone around himself to keep safe.
It consumed a lot of chakra, but he wasn't about to risk getting hit by Flying Thunder God over a misstep.
As the sounds of battle echoed through the cave, Kushina—still lying in the aftermath of childbirth—frowned. The blood-red glow of her opponent's eyes made her deeply uneasy.
Then the Nine-Tails within her stirred.
"Damn Uchiha!"
"ROAR!"
The seal had already been weakened from childbirth. Now the Nine-Tails was starting to break loose.
"Damn it! You bastard!"
Kushina was furious.
Her husband was fighting for his life, and this damned fox was choosing now to act up?
Without hesitation, she grabbed a small medicine box and swallowed a pill.
It was a special medicine Kazuyama had given her—one of only three ever made by Orochimaru. It restored chakra and healed wounds quickly, with zero side effects.
Kazuyama kept one, gave one to Pakura, and entrusted the last to Kushina.
As the pill took effect, golden chains formed from the chakra of the Uzumaki Clan began to surge out, binding the Nine-Tails.
"You lunatic, Kushina! You damn lunatic!"
"That's Uchiha chakra! Full of hate—just like the one who controlled me before!"
"You keep suppressing me, and he'll kill your man—and you next!"
"No! It'd be better if all of you died! But I won't let him control me again!"
The Uzumaki's Adamantine Sealing Chains were powerful. Even the Nine-Tails couldn't break free.
He couldn't fight it. Couldn't flee. It was maddening.
...
"Minato!"
Just as the stalemate held, Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared, breaking the deadlock.
The Third Hokage, master of ninjutsu, arrived on the scene—and Muren nearly swore aloud, knowing full well Nagato was about to get an earful.
Without missing a beat, Muren formed a one-handed seal, then turned and unleashed a blast of ancient fire.
"Fire Release: Dragon Roar Inferno!"
If Kazuyama had seen it, he would've given the move a thumbs-up.
Orochimaru spat snakes.
This guy? He spat fire—into a dragon—which then spat more fire.
Flames poured from the dragon's maw. Hiruzen's eyes narrowed—he immediately recognized the sheer destructive force behind the technique.
He didn't dare to hesitate.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
"Summoning! Enma, aid me! Adamantine Staff!"
As torrents of water surged, a long staff burst through the wall of flame, rushing toward Muren.
Enma, transformed into the adamantine staff, aimed to close in and grab Muren.
But in the next moment, both he and Hiruzen were stunned—the staff couldn't touch the enemy, no matter how far it extended.
"What is this?!"
"A dōjutsu! It's his Mangekyō Sharingan!"
Minato's left hand gripped a marked kunai, and in his right, a glowing Rasengan formed. Without delay, he launched his attack.
Hearing the words "Mangekyō Sharingan," Hiruzen's pupils shrank. As Hokage, he knew exactly what that meant.
"You people are so annoying!"
"Why can't you just let me take the Nine-Tails?"
"Do I really have to go this far?!"
Frustration built. Muren's twin Mangekyō Sharingan spun wildly, glowing like spears.
Dark chakra surged around him, like black flames. A skeletal frame began to form.
Bit by bit, an armored half-body skeleton wrapped around him.
With a sweeping motion, the skeleton's hands summoned two massive spears.
"Susanoo."
"Enma! Push him out—we can't fight in here!"
"Minato, don't let him near Kushina!"
Hiruzen roared as he swung the adamantine staff again. He knew full well how powerful Susanoo was.
Minato nodded sharply, throwing another kunai to set up for a teleport strike.
"Aghhh, you're all such pests!"
"Heh... but..."
The two spears swung simultaneously—one clashed with the Kongo Yui, the other forced Minato back.
In the next instant, Muren, clad in Susanoo, lunged past them both.
Minato flickered with Flying Thunder God, appearing in front of Kushina's bed, reaching for his son.
But he was a step too late.
Muren had already snatched Naruto into his grasp.
"Naruto!"
"My son!"
That single action shattered whatever composure Kushina had left.
"Nine-Tails! You bastard! If you won't listen..."
"I'll drag you to hell with me!"
"Lend me your chakra!"
Kushina's eyes flared crimson—more intense than even the Sharingan.
A wave of vicious red chakra erupted around her.
One tail. Two. Three. Then a fourth.
Partial Tailed Beast Transformation.
"She's gone berserk?!"
"Damn it!"
...
ROAR!
With a deafening scream, the Nine-Tails' chakra surged through the cave.
Four tails lashed out, tearing apart every remaining seal.
The cavern collapsed.
And that was only the beginning.
Kushina locked eyes on Muren.
She rose—and launched a punch straight at him.
"Hmph!"
One spear moved to block—but the force behind that semi-transformed punch was overwhelming.
It sent Muren and Susanoo flying.
...
Outside, Kazuyama—still locked in battle—saw a black skeletal frame and a torrent of red chakra blast out from the cave.
"Susanoo?!"
"Nine-Tails? Semi-transformation?!"
"Damn... tonight's a total disaster!"
"Kazuyama! Snap out of it! It's coming again!"
"Shinra Tensei!"
Another crushing shockwave surged his way.
"This one's even more annoying!"
"I'm out!"
Kazuyama vanished with Flying Thunder God, then shouted with all his might:
"All ANBU, fall back!"
"The next fight... isn't for you!"