"I haven't seen you for almost a year… Kushina."
After Minato left, Ash walked slowly toward Kushina — more an acquaintance greeting than anything. The two had already confirmed they knew each other well enough.
As someone able to safely use a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra, it was natural that Kushina would be deployed to the frontlines. Of course, to ensure her safety, she always acted with Minato — the Yellow Flash of Konoha.
"Ash… why are you doing this?"
"There's no grand reason — asking for justification won't change anything. Konoha owes me. That's enough."
Kushina glanced at the unexploded paper bomb on the ground. She realized Ash had only been scaring Minato. Under normal circumstances, Minato would have noticed — but anxiety clouded him, and he failed to see through it.
Through their clashes, Kushina had come to understand something: Ash wasn't evil. In the end… the village had wronged him. After so many battles, he could've easily used Kushina to threaten Minato — but he never did. That alone proved something.
"Still—"
Kushina's words were cut short as Ash turned away sharply. His clone here — like he had said before — was no different from himself. The clone felt the same pain, the same bonds, the same rage.
In his memories, the parents of this world were kind, loving… and he had once lived a truly happy life. Until that day — when a warm home was reduced to ash. A beautiful family erased by the cruelty of the ninja world.
Far from the Forest of Death — Ash slammed Kushina's seal chains into the surrounding rock, binding her in place.
"Was it successful? As expected… you're fast."
The masked man stepped forward, appearing beside Ash.
"Ash, you won't succeed! Minato will be here any second!"
Breathing heavily, Kushina struggled — the unravelling Nine-Tails' seal sent unbearable pain through her body. She didn't even understand who this masked man was or why he had suddenly appeared.
"The Flying Thunder God… to warp space he must first mark the location. Your seal contains Minato's marking — but it's far from where you were before. And with your newborn child present…"
The masked man chuckled darkly.
"Even Minato can't teleport here instantly."
Ash, who had fought Minato countless times, knew the technique well. Without a connection to his seal formula, Minato's space-time jutsu was useless.
"…I'm sorry, Kushina."
Ignoring the masked man, Ash lowered his head — and his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan spun to life. In an instant, his consciousness dove into Kushina's sealing space.
"You—!"
The gigantic Nine-Tails glared at Ash, its body thrashing violently. Half of its shackles had already shattered.
Ash didn't even look at the beast. His Eternal Mangekyō swirled — and the Nine-Tails' will was crushed under absolute domination.
As expected of an Eternal Mangekyō… controlling a Tailed Beast is child's play.
The drain on his ocular power was noticeable — but recovery far outpaced the consumption. The Eternal Mangekyō was the Tailed Beasts' natural nemesis.
Under Ash's domination, the crimson bestial eyes morphed into Sharingan — three tomoe forming at the edges, so subtle one might miss them if not paying close attention.
"Come out — Kurama."
Outside, Ash's eyes snapped open. Tidal waves of demonic chakra surged from Kushina's body. Within thirty seconds — the colossal Nine-Tails stood fully manifested in the real world.
"Incredible… Even with my Mangekyō, dragging the Nine-Tails out takes two or three minutes…"
The masked man stared in disbelief.
"But he did it… in under thirty seconds."
Right now, if he had to name the people who concerned him most within the Akatsuki, it would only be Nagato… and Ash. The strength of the two was overwhelming — either one alone could be a disaster. Without access to Kamui's space-time jutsu, he might not even qualify to stand before them.
"ROAR!!"
The moment Kurama — the Nine-Tails — materialized, he let out a furious bellow. Even under complete control, his consciousness remained awake; his will resisted instinctively, but his body could no longer respond.
As the entire Tailed Beast was extracted from Kushina, the sealing chains dissolved. Her body collapsed weakly against the stone — barely clinging to life.
"All right. The Nine-Tails is out."
Ash glanced at Kushina, his expression unreadable.
"Now… we head for Konoha."
He had always felt a certain fondness toward Kushina — innocent, fiery, adorably blunt, and with a vibrant Uzumaki accent that warmed the heart. A refreshing, powerful big sister figure… but fate had set them on opposite sides.
"Hah… hah… Ash… please… stop…"
Kushina's trembling voice came from behind him — gasping, desperate.
"Amazing… the Uzumaki clan really is remarkable."
The masked man stepped forward, eyes gleaming.
"Even after a full Bijū extraction, you cling to life. Let me send you off in peace."
In a blur, Kamui swirled — and he appeared before Kushina, kunai aimed for her heart.
—SHUNK!
Ash's hand appeared out of nowhere, grabbing the masked man's wrist mid-stab. With his other leg, he twisted and drove a spinning kick into the man's back — forcing him away from Kushina.
Ash landed beside her, eyes burning.
At that moment — a mechanical chime echoed only in his mind.
Ding!
Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan ability acquired:
Space-time ninjutsu – Kamui
(Cannot be altered, discarded, or removed.)
...
TN:
⚡ Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin (Support me! 😊)