The End of the Nine-Tails' Rebellion
Minato Namikaze gently lifted Naruto from Miyuki Uzumaki's weakened arms.
Although Miyuki was restrained by sealing chains, her lips still trembled as though she wanted to speak. Yet no words came. Her bloodshot eyes fixed on Minato, distant and filled with despair.
Resolute, Minato summoned the sealing altar and the tools required for the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style. He set Naruto down in the center of the formation, surrounded by eight candles, and began weaving hand seals.
Pressing his palm to Naruto's tiny abdomen, the sealing formula spread across the infant's body. The black spiral of the Eight Trigrams Seal appeared, and Minato began channeling chakra into it.
A dark void formed at its center. The Nine-Tails' overwhelming chakra began to surge toward the seal, its massive form shrinking as its power was drawn in. When only half remained, Minato shifted the formula, dividing the beast's chakra.
The Yang half—the positive chakra—was sealed into Naruto. The other half, the Yin chakra, still roared outside the seal.
Exhaustion swept over Minato. His chakra reserves were dangerously low. Attempting the seal a second time would push him beyond his limits.
He glanced at Chi Yu, hoping for aid. But the man's sharp, contemptuous eyes stopped him cold.
Chi Yu broke the silence.
"Minato Namikaze… you don't regret this, do you?"
Minato stiffened, then shook his head firmly.
"No. I am the Fourth Hokage. Protecting the village is my duty."
Chi Yu sneered.
"Your sense of duty is admirable… as Hokage. But why must your wife and newborn son bear it for you? Miyuki loves you, so she's willing to suffer alongside you. But she begged you not to place this burden on your child. And yet, here we are. You've sacrificed not only your wife, but your infant son."
Minato bit his lip, trembling.
"I didn't—"
"You didn't?" Chi Yu's tone was sharp. "Then what was the purpose of your barrier? Don't tell me it was only to 'contain the Nine-Tails.' Hiruzen Sarutobi is here with his forces—they could have restrained the beast with Kushina's chains until it was driven out of Konoha. You always preached about trusting your comrades. But what you've done is not trust—it's desperation, dressed up as sacrifice."
Minato's fists tightened. He dared not look at Naruto's tear-streaked face or Miyuki's vacant eyes.
Chi Yu's voice cut deeper.
"The Yellow Flash, hailed as the fastest shinobi alive. Yet you couldn't save Obito. You couldn't save Rin. You couldn't save your own wife. And now, you've condemned your child to a life of loneliness as a jinchūriki. Tell me, Minato—what kind of father is that?"
Minato staggered, silent under the weight of the words.
Chi Yu sighed, shaking his head.
"Miyuki is my friend. To see her like this is unbearable. I can't decide your family's fate, Minato—that's your choice. But if you truly survive this night, then at least honor her love and Naruto's life. Be more than Hokage. Be a husband. Be a father."
Minato swallowed the bitter truth and knelt beside Miyuki, his voice hoarse.
"I'm sorry, Miyuki… I'll make this right for you and Naruto. Somehow."
But Miyuki remained silent, her blank gaze fixed on their crying child.
Minato forced himself onward. He helped her to the altar, pressing his palm against her abdomen. Again, the Eight Trigrams Seal spread across her body as he attempted to channel the remaining Yin chakra into her.
But his chakra was spent. The seal faltered, the Nine-Tails' chakra violently resisting.
"Miyuki, suppress it with your chakra!" Minato begged.
Her eyes were empty, her spirit broken. She did not move.
The beast's chakra surged back, shattering Minato's weakened seal. He was hurled backward, crashing across the ground until he lay unconscious, utterly drained.
Chi Yu exhaled sharply.
"…What a mess."
Weaving his own hand seals, he pressed his glowing palms to Miyuki's body. With precise control, he forced the raging chakra into place, twisting the sealing formula until it locked firmly shut.
The last of the Nine-Tails' chakra vanished into Miyuki.
Chi Yu stood silently, the battlefield finally still. His gaze flicked between the unconscious Hokage and Miyuki's trembling form.
Originally, he had only wished to save Miyuki—to spare her for Naruto's sake. Yet now, unexpectedly, even Minato Namikaze still lived.
The Nine-Tails' Rebellion was over.
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