Dispute
The weakened Miyuki Uzumaki used the last of her chakra to restrain the raging Nine-Tails, chains of Adamantine Sealing Chains snaking outward and binding the beast.
Gritting her teeth, she looked at Minato.
"Our family of three has a long future ahead of us. We will be happy, Minato. We can watch Naruto grow up together!"
Minato's expression was heavy, his voice low.
"Miyuki… I will handle the Nine-Tails. But as I am not a Jinchūriki, the only way is to use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal."
Miyuki's pupils shrank.
"That jutsu… it will take your soul—!"
Minato didn't meet her eyes.
"There's no other choice. Half of the Nine-Tails must be sealed away with me. Its full power is too great for a newborn to endure, and I lack the chakra to suppress it by other means."
He straightened his posture, speaking like a Hokage instead of a husband.
"The other half will be sealed into Naruto with the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style. Only that way can the balance of the Tailed Beasts be preserved, and only that way can Naruto inherit the power needed to face the future."
Memories of Jiraiya's words crossed his mind: The Child of Prophecy… the savior who will change the world.
Miyuki's face paled.
"Minato…"
Minato's voice hardened with conviction.
"Today confirmed two things: the masked man who attacked us will bring war and bloodshed. And the one who can stop him—who can change this shinobi world—is our child. The name Jiraiya-sensei gave him will not be in vain. Naruto will be the one to shape the future."
He gently placed Naruto on the ground and began weaving hand signs.
"Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
The Shinigami's colossal form loomed behind him, its presence chilling.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and several ninja arrived at the barrier, gasping at the sight.
"The Dead Demon Consuming Seal…!" Hiruzen muttered gravely.
Turning to Miyuki, Minato said firmly, "Believe in our son! I'll also seal part of my chakra inside Naruto. When the time comes, I'll be there to help him master the Nine-Tails."
But Miyuki trembled, tears spilling from her eyes.
"No! He's our son, Minato! Precisely because of that, I refuse to let him bear this curse from the day he's born. I only wish for us to be at his side and protect him as he grows. Why must our baby be sacrificed? For the balance of the Tailed Beasts? For the Village? For the shinobi world?"
Minato's tone sharpened.
"To abandon the Village is to abandon our child. You, more than anyone, should know the suffering that comes when a homeland is destroyed!"
At those words, Miyuki's sorrow turned into fury.
"Why was my homeland destroyed, Minato? As Hokage, do you not know? Uzushiogakure stood with Konoha in every war. We bled for your Village. Yet when my country was invaded, when we cried out for aid, Konoha turned its back! You stood by while my people were slaughtered. And now you ask me to hand over my son as Konoha's sacrifice?"
Her voice shook with rage.
"Where are the Uchiha you favor? The Hyūga? The Sarutobi? Why must it be you? Why must it be our child? Why must a newborn bear the Nine-Tails?"
Minato's lips moved, but all he could say was, "Because… I am the Hokage."
Miyuki wept openly.
"Yes, you are Hokage. But you are also my husband… and Naruto's father. Do you ever think of us, Minato? Do you ever think of yourself? All I want is for our family to live together. Is that so wrong?"
Hiruzen, watching through the barrier, clenched his staff, his eyes clouded.
"This barrier… we can't get in," he muttered as Enma's Adamantine Staff was repelled.
Minato turned back to Miyuki, anguish on his face.
"I'm sorry, Miyuki. For the Village, for the future, I have no choice. This is my duty as Hokage."
But before he could complete the jutsu, Miyuki dragged herself upright and pressed her palm against his chest. A cursed seal flared, suppressing his chakra. The Shinigami vanished instantly.
"Miyuki! What are you—?!" Minato shouted.
Her sorrowful smile broke his heart.
"Don't worry, Minato. I will fulfill your duty in your place. As Naruto's mother… I refuse to let him be born into chains."
She began forming hand seals, voice hoarse yet resolute.
"Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
Another Shinigami appeared behind her. Her body shuddered violently, almost collapsing under the strain.
Minato's eyes went bloodshot.
"Miyuki! You don't have the chakra! If you force this, you'll die before the sealing is complete!"
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