Seven Uzumaki ninja stood around the Nine-Tails, which had been immobilized like a trapped dog. They had already completed their hand seals... the Dead Demon Consuming Seal was beginning.
However, Haseo noticed nothing particularly different in his surroundings. This ultimate sealing technique seemed completely silent to observers. Right now, he was standing on a large tree somewhat farther away, watching the Nine-Tails without blinking.
"Interested in this technique?" The old clan leader of the Uzumaki had somehow appeared beside him and spoke.
"Clan Leader, I'm not especially curious about the Dead Demon Consuming Seal itself, but I am interested in the existence called 'Shinigami.' Honestly, I think the Shinigami is something beyond science. What exactly is it? A natural phenomenon? The sealing formula itself? Or some spiritual manifestation? Surely it's not really a deity?"
Haseo didn't understand how this ultimate sealing technique worked, though he could grasp its effects. Yet what exactly was this "Shinigami" that appeared when the sealing technique was performed?
Was it conceptual or tangible? Did it truly exist in a dimensional space? These were questions that puzzled Haseo.
Given the existence of chakra—a special energy—in this world, even souls could be explained, but what about the "Shinigami"? To be honest, it somewhat conflicted with the scientific worldview of the Ninjutsu World. It was just too unlike anything else.
The old clan leader hadn't anticipated such a question from Haseo. He paused briefly before replying, "The Dead Demon Consuming Seal is an ancient sealing technique passed down through generations in the Uzumaki clan. However, who invented this technique and who first used it are now unverifiable.
As for exactly what the Shinigami is, our clan has studied it before, but I still can't give you an accurate answer because even the Uzumaki clan hasn't figured it out—nonetheless, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal remains an ultimate sealing technique, and its effectiveness is unquestionable."
The old clan leader naturally understood the technique inside and out, yet he seemed unable to explain the nature of the Shinigami.
So Haseo changed his question, "Right now, seven senior Uzumaki ninja have performed this sealing technique. Since each of them executed it separately, will there be just one 'Shinigami' appearing now, or will there be seven?"
Since only the performers and the sealed target could see the "Shinigami," Haseo naturally raised this question.
"That's actually a simple question. Let me tell you... the Shinigami is simply the Shinigami. Even if summoned simultaneously, there will still be only one Shinigami." said the old clan leader. "If you're genuinely interested and fearless enough, you can stand near me later. Then you'll naturally get to see the image of the so-called 'Shinigami.' He...
is a unique existence."
The Shinigami was an "existence"—and it was unique.
Haseo thought for a moment and quickly understood the explanation—it was precisely because the Shinigami was unique, one of a kind, that if Ninja A used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to seal something inside the Shinigami's stomach, Ninja B could then use the Sealing Release Technique to unseal and retrieve it.
If the "Shinigami" wasn't an independent being but merely a part of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal itself, then whatever Ninja A had sealed using his technique, Ninja B wouldn't be able to retrieve.
So… The Shinigami is simply the Shinigami.
But now wasn't the time to investigate the true nature of the Shinigami.
At this moment, round holes suddenly tore open across the front and back of the seven Uzumaki ninja's clothing, as though something invisible had pierced through them. Right after that, the Nine-Tails let out a furious howl.
That cry… carried both anger and terror. This was the so-called "procedure" to separate the Nine-Tails.
But things didn't seem to be quite this simple. Although Haseo couldn't see the details clearly, judging just from the somewhat twisted expressions on those ninja's faces, it seemed like events weren't proceeding smoothly.
This moment would determine success or failure. Yet at such a critical moment, Haseo could do nothing but stand there helplessly; there was absolutely nothing he could do to help.
"Mito, make the Nine-Tails behave itself a little more!"
Someone shouted loudly, clearly enduring something in the process.
After all, these seven Uzumaki ninja were already elderly; their weakened chakra might not withstand the resistance of the Nine-Tails… When someone tried to tear apart one's own body, naturally the beast would resist fiercely.
Under such fierce resistance, these aged practitioners might not be capable of tearing the Nine-Tails' body apart.
Fortunately, Mito Uzumaki was still present. At once, the chakra chains binding the Nine-Tails tightened violently. The beast writhed like a sponge squeezed tightly in someone's fist, instantly flattened and distorted beyond recognition.
Then, massive amounts of chakra surged toward each of the seven ninja's chests. In an instant, thunderous chakra rumbled from the Nine-Tails' body—as if an illusion had momentarily flickered into existence. But immediately afterward, everything returned to calm.
Looking again at the Nine-Tails, its physical size remained unchanged, and the nine tails still swayed behind it. However, now it looked like an animal drained of all its fat—it had become gaunt and bony. Its entire fox body, previously covered in vibrant orange fur, had paled into a faint golden hue, as though it had undergone some sort of bleaching process.
Even more importantly, that terrifying, heart-pounding chakra pressure had disappeared… Although the Nine-Tails still retained a massive amount of chakra—so vast it defied description—without comparison, there was no harm. Compared to its former self just moments ago, it now seemed overly weak.
There was nothing for it—after all, the Nine-Tails had effectively become the 98-Tails.
Following this, the Four Symbols Seal marks simultaneously appeared before the seven Uzumaki ninja, and then promptly vanished once again.
"It's done…"
"Yeah… We've succeeded."
No one could tell who had spoken those words. The next instant, the figures of the seven ninja simultaneously wavered, before collapsing one after another.
The Dead Demon Consuming Seal had been completed, and the Shinigami had departed with its "offering."
Katsuyu also withdrew her enormous form. The drained Nine-Tails lay motionless on the ground, utterly powerless.
"Haseo!"
"You Konoha and Uzumaki ninjas… what have you done to me?
I'll kill every last one of you!
I swear I'll wipe all of you out!"
After a brief pause, the Nine-Tails let out another roar. This time, it was truly enraged—it could feel the massive loss of its power.
Tailed Beasts were beings composed entirely of chakra—that's what defined them. With such strength, they could act without restraint. Even if temporarily sealed within a ninja's body, what difference did that make? Ninja lifespans were short anyway—it would only be a matter of time before it could break free.
But now, realizing most of its power was gone for good, the Nine-Tails' buried anger and panic could no longer be hidden... Even though the Nine-Tails was like a "natural disaster," ninja had begun to overcome even disasters.
So in its current state, the Nine-Tails was reduced to helpless fury.
But what did rage accomplish? Haseo didn't care at all—in fact, as the Nine-Tails roared, it remained helplessly sprawled on the ground.
Haseo simply looked at the fallen seven ninja and murmured, "What an honor—for Lord Nine-Tails to remember someone as lowly as me."
[Adamantine Sealing Chains!] The chains tightened violently. Like a limp rag dragged through water, the Nine-Tails was hauled back toward Mito Uzumaki. Then, the emaciated fox's body vanished—sealed once more within Mito Uzumaki.
Seeing the Nine-Tails resealed, Haseo suddenly thought of a profound question.
The Nine-Tails had already been struck seven times and cut into eight pieces—it had been divided methodically and systematically. Such a planned, calculated betrayal must have enraged it completely.
So…
If Naruto ever became the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki in the future, could his ability to manipulate minds still turn the beast into his best friend? Could there still form that so-called bond between human and beast across species?
If Naruto somehow managed to pull off something like that, Haseo would wholeheartedly write one word for him: Respect.
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