The ninjas scattered in panic—their defenses completely useless against this onslaught.
Just as they barely escaped the Two Red Yang Formation, the ninja techniques originally aimed at them suddenly changed direction, flying straight toward Nine-Tails' back!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was immediately horrified!
Minato was right there.
"Bad! He's figured out our plan. Minato, run!" he immediately shouted a warning.
Upon hearing the Third's voice, Minato instantly noticed the incoming attack from above.
His expression hardened.
In an instant, his entire body vanished—those chaotic attacks instead slamming into Nine-Tails' back!
"Roar!"
A piercing roar rang out!
Nine-Tails cried out in agonizing pain.
"Hmph! So it really is space-time ninjutsu after all!" The Masked Man glanced at Minato, already having guessed the truth.
"Is Minato alright?" the Third asked the Minato standing beside him.
He carried a shuriken Minato had given him earlier, engraved with the Flying Thunder God's cursed seal, so Minato could escape danger in time.
"I'm fine. I didn't expect this person to also have the Sage of Six Paths' divine tool. But thankfully, he's left the Two Red Yang Formation now—we can seal Nine-Tails!"
"Yes. We will hold him off."
After saying this, the Third immediately led all the jonin charging toward the Masked Man.
At this moment, Minato looked at the woman still standing in place and sighed heavily.
"You're here."
She was a red-haired woman holding a child.
"Minato, is this really the only way? I don't want you to die!"
"Kushina, I am Konoha's Hokage. This is something I must do!" Minato walked up to her, gently stroking her hair before taking the child into his arms.
"If I could, I'd stay with you forever… but some choices must be made. My duty comes first." He lowered his head, avoiding her gaze, then returned to his position within the Two Red Yang Formation.
[Sealing Technique: Dead Demon Consuming Seal!]
Instantly, a massive ghostly Shinigami appeared behind Minato.
Its grotesque face loomed as it brandished a small dagger!
"Roar!"
Nine-Tails let out a low growl.
Its body trembled—it was nearly breaking free.
"Cursed human! I refuse! Don't take me!!"
It snarled in a human voice, while a massive white fox spirit was slowly drawn from its body.
Minato stood motionless as the Shinigami's arm pierced through his chest, pulling out Nine-Tails' soul!
This was [the Dead Demon Consuming Seal]!
The ultimate sealing technique of the Uzumaki clan—by sacrificing one's own soul, the Shinigami's spirit is summoned. It seals the enemy's soul, but simultaneously takes the user's life.
This seals both the user and their enemy alike!
"Mi... Minato!"
Behind him, Kushina's heart shattered like glass.
Tears streamed down her face, but she didn't stop him—she understood; this was his decision.
"Hmph! So that was your intention huh!"
From afar, the Masked Man sneered coldly. He immediately tried to strike Minato, but was blocked by Hiruzen Sarutobi standing in his way.
"Don't even think about interfering—I'll stop you!"
"Get out of my way!"
Masked Man roared in frustration but couldn't break through The Third's sealing technique at the moment. Worse still, he was gradually losing ground!
"Damn it, my chakra reserves aren't what they used to be in my old age," he cursed anxiously. The more desperate he got, the more the Allied Ninja Forces pinned him down!
"He's your Hokage! Are you really going to let him die before your eyes!"
"This is his own choice, and as the Hokage's decision, I won't oppose it!"
"Hmph! Stubborn, just like that Tobirama guy!"
"You knew the Second!?"
"None of your business!"
The two sides clashed once again.
Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails had already been completely pulled from his original body. His towering soul was actually being forced bit by bit into an infant's body.
Minato frowned hard, unsure if this was the right call. After all, this was his own child. But knowing Minato's strong sense of justice, there was no way he'd ever make another child a Jinchuriki!
At this moment, someone slowly approached from behind Kushina.
"You done fighting already?"
Minato was greatly startled. He immediately turned his gaze toward the voice, but upon recognizing the newcomer, his expression turned grim.
"You're Ye Liang? I thought you'd gone missing!"
Indeed, the belated arrival was Ye Liang, who had been missing for three years.
"Who are you!" Kushina was also suddenly taken aback.
Ye Liang offered an awkward smile.
After hearing about the battle from Anko, he rushed straight to the battlefield. However, due to spending too much time lingering, he arrived quite late.
"Just popped home for a while—I'm back to check on everyone," he joked casually.
However, Ye Liang felt puzzled—how did Minato know him? He didn't recall ever speaking to Minato before.
"The Third is currently engaged with the Masked Man, and I'm nearly done for. You must go help him immediately."
"Done for?"
Ye Liang looked around curiously at the scene before him.
Minato knelt on the ground, clearly exhausted, with Kushina supporting him.
In the distance lay an immobile Nine-Tails body, and nearby, a baby wailed loudly in its basket.
It all clicked in his head—he understood exactly what was happening!
"Crap! I'm too late!"
That's MY Nine-Tails!
He agonized over his delay!
Back when he was training in Ryuchi Cave, he had already calculated the timing. At that time, it was exactly three years before the Windy Saga storyline, so he hid in Ryuchi Cave and trained for three entire years!
Never thought the plot would move this fast.
"Now what!? Now what!? My Nine-Tails is gone!" He became anxious.
But looking at the crying baby, a look of joy suddenly appeared on his face.
"The Nine-Tails' soul hasn't been completely sealed yet!"
Indeed, a massive figure was still halfway into the basket, not completely sealed inside!
Earlier, Ye Liang had been too distracted by the distant battle to notice.
"You're destroying that kid's life!" Ye Liang immediately shouted.
"How could you seal the Nine-Tails into this child's body? He'll be rejected when he grows up, don't you know!"
"We had no choice. We couldn't bring ourselves to sacrifice an innocent child, could we?"
"Then let me do it!"
"What, you!?" Minato and Kushina exchanged startled glances.
Jinchuriki were always looked down upon — seen as cursed vessels carrying monstrous beasts. Since Tailed Beasts were believed to bring nothing but doom and destruction, those who had them sealed inside naturally became walking omens of misfortune!
That's why in the end, Minato could only choose his own child as the vessel — he didn't want this calamity to involve anyone else!
"Are you really willing to help Naruto bear the burden of the Nine-Tails!" Kushina immediately showed delight.
As a mother, she would've never let Naruto become a Jinchuriki — if it weren't for Minato's determination.
"Of course. Me, Ye Liang? I never lie — especially not to beautiful women!" Ye Liang said with a confident smile.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
Want to read the subsequent content in advance?
Please follow my Patreon:patreon/Tansnovel
Tans Novel - The Fastest-Updating Naruto Fanfiction Account
Read 100+ chapters in advance, with at least 3 new chapters updated every day! More free chapters! 20+ Naruto fanfictions!
Just three steps:
1. Download and open the "Patreon" app
2. Search for "Tans Novel"
3. Click on the collection and enjoy to your heart's content
<><><><><><><><>