The weakened Uzumaki Miyuki used the last of her chakra to restrain the Nine-Tailed Fox.
"Our family of three still has a future ahead," Miyuki said firmly to Namikaze Minato. "We will be happy together. We can watch Naruto grow up!"
Minato spoke in a low voice, "Miyuki, I must deal with the Nine-Tails. Those who aren't Jinchūriki can only be sealed away using the Reaper Death Seal."
Miyuki's pupils contracted sharply. "But... that sealing technique will make the user..."
Minato couldn't bring himself to look at Miyuki as he continued, "There's another issue. I've only managed to separate half of the Nine-Tails' power. Such a powerful force cannot be suppressed by physical means alone, and it's impossible to achieve from a strategic standpoint.
If you participated in the Nine-Tails' sealing and weren't present when the Nine-Tails eventually resurfaces, it would be catastrophic. The balance of the Tailed Beasts would collapse.
I don't have enough chakra left to seal the entire Nine-Tails into Naruto's body using other techniques. A newborn like Naruto can't bear the full power of the Nine-Tails. If I use the Reaper Death Seal, the Nine-Tails and I can be sealed away permanently.
So the other half of the Nine-Tails... must be sealed into Naruto using the Eight Trigrams Seal!"
Minato recalled what Jiraiya had once told him.
'Perhaps he is the child of prophecy. The shinobi world may undergo drastic changes in the future, and this child will be the savior of that time.'
Miyuki's expression changed dramatically.
"I know what you want to say," Minato said seriously to Miyuki. "But the world changes that Master Jiraiya spoke of, and the disasters that will follow...
Today I confirmed two things: the masked man who attacked you will definitely bring about a bloody storm, and the person who will stop him is this child!
This child, named by Master Jiraiya, will forge a future as a Jinchūriki!
Somehow, I believe this with all my heart!"
Minato placed Naruto gently on the ground, stood up, and began forming hand seals.
As he clasped his hands together, Minato shouted, "Reaper Death Seal!"
Behind Minato, the massive shadow of the Shinigami appeared.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and others rushed to the scene, shocked at the sight of the Shinigami's shadow looming behind Minato. "Is this... the Reaper Death Seal?!"
Minato looked at Miyuki and said, "Miyuki, believe in our son! When the sealing is complete, I'll seal part of my chakra into Naruto. When he tries to control the Nine-Tails as a Jinchūriki, I can help him!"
Miyuki's body trembled slightly. "No, I won't agree to this! He's our son, and because of that, I don't want Naruto to bear such a heavy burden!
I just want us to stay with Naruto and protect him as he grows. Why? For the sake of tailed beast balance, for the sake of the country, for the sake of the village, should Naruto be sacrificed?!"
Minato spoke solemnly, "Abandoning the country, abandoning the village, is like abandoning children. You should understand deeply what happens when a homeland is destroyed! What a cruel life people without a country are forced to live, not just our family... but all shinobi!"
Miyuki's eyes changed instantly. "Minato, why did my country fall? As Hokage, don't you know?
We in the Land of Whirlpools believed we had a firm alliance with the Land of Fire and Konoha. During previous wars, we immediately sent shinobi to support Konoha, but what about Konoha?
When the Land of Whirlpools was invaded and we asked for Konoha's help, what did Konoha do? You chose to stand by and watch! Because Konoha received few benefits from the Uzumaki country, you chose to do nothing.
Now you're telling me I should have a deep understanding of my homeland's destruction. How do you think that makes me feel? What could you possibly understand about it?
Indeed, the life of someone who has lost their country is miserable. I understand this too well. They become nameless, homeless, living in fear every day.
I've always resented Konoha. Konoha enjoyed unconditional support from our Land of Whirlpools, but when the Uzumaki country faced danger, Konoha chose to stand aside.
Now you're making our child a Jinchūriki for Konoha's sake? I will never agree! There are so many shinobi in Konoha, why must we sacrifice you and Naruto?
What about the Uchiha clan you admire? What about the Hyuga clan? What about the Nara clan? What about the Third Hokage? There are so many powerful shinobi, so why are you alone facing the Nine-Tails now? Why would you choose to face the Nine-Tails by yourself? Why force our newborn Naruto to face the Nine-Tails?"
Faced with Miyuki's questions, Minato opened his mouth but could only say helplessly, "Miyuki... I am the Hokage."
Tears streamed down Miyuki's face. "Yes, you are the Hokage, but you're also my husband and the father of my child. You always think about Konoha, but have you ever thought about me, Naruto, and yourself?
I just want our family of three to live happily together. Is that wrong?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen and a group of shinobi heard Miyuki's words.
Hiruzen's eyes were dark and troubled.
He touched the barrier with the Adamantine Staff that Enma had transformed into, but was repelled.
Hiruzen frowned and said, "We created a barrier to prevent the Nine-Tails from escaping. We can't get inside at all."
Minato wanted to tell Miyuki, "That's not true," but he couldn't bring himself to say it.
With a sorrowful expression, Minato apologized to Miyuki, "I'm sorry, Miyuki, but I must do this for the village. As Hokage, this is my duty."
Just as Minato was about to use the Reaper Death Seal to seal half of the Nine-Tails' power into his body, Miyuki suddenly struggled to her feet and placed her hand on Minato.
"Minato, as a mother, I don't want Naruto to bear these heavy responsibilities from birth. It's my duty as a mother to let Naruto live a happy, healthy life!"
A seal pattern appeared on Minato's body. His chakra was sealed by Miyuki, and the Shinigami's shadow behind him immediately disappeared.
"Miyuki!" Minato cried anxiously. "What you're doing will make Konoha's losses even worse! Release the seal quickly!"
Miyuki's expression was filled with sadness. "Don't worry, I will fulfill your duties in your place, Fourth Hokage."
Miyuki began forming hand seals.
"Reaper Death Seal!"
The shadow of the Shinigami appeared behind Miyuki.
She staggered, nearly collapsing to the ground.
Minato's eyes were bloodshot. "Miyuki, you don't have enough chakra to seal the Nine-Tails! You're too weak right now—you could die during the sealing process!"
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