As Tōma had said, if the remaining half of the Nine-Tails wasn't sealed into Naruto, then who else could possibly bear it?
After a long silence, Uzumaki Kushina finally nodded to Namikaze Minato. Minato understood immediately and made the call.
"Please," he said to Tōma, voice steady despite everything. "Seal it into Naruto."
It wasn't just resignation. It was responsibility.
If the beast were sealed into anyone else, Konoha would be forced to cycle jinchūriki again and again. That was dangerous for the village, and cruel to the people chosen. And no matter how fair Minato tried to be, he knew one truth.
No one would ever receive more care and protection from him than his own child.
"At least… Naruto will have us," Minato said quietly.
Kushina stroked Naruto's soft hair, eyes shimmering. "I just hope he won't hate us one day."
"If he does," Minato said with a gentle smile, "let him blame me. I'm the one who failed to stop this from the beginning."
She looked at him, then smiled faintly. "But we're still alive."
Tōma looked away, expression flat.
…Right. Newly married couple. Near-death experience. Emotional bonding.
He cleared his throat. "Alright. I'll begin."
The diminished Nine-Tails glared at him with pure hatred. Even after losing half its power, it felt no physical discomfort. That only made the humiliation worse.
If looks could kill, Tōma would've been vaporized.
"Don't glare at me like that," Tōma said casually. "This kid might turn out to be a decent partner for you."
The Nine-Tails snorted. "Humans are all the same. You covet our power, then cage us."
Tōma smiled but didn't argue.
With practiced ease, he completed the seal. The Eight Trigrams spread across Naruto's abdomen, containing the remaining half of the Nine-Tails.
Just like that, the Nine-Tails' rampage ended.
Naruto woke up screaming.
Kushina rushed over immediately, holding him close and whispering comfort until his cries softened.
Minato, finally free of sheer willpower alone, collapsed to the ground. His chakra was gone. Completely gone.
He had pushed Flying Thunder God beyond reason. Redirecting a Tailed Beast Bomb. Teleporting the Nine-Tails itself. Standing at all had been a miracle.
"Kushina…" he asked weakly. "Are you alright?"
She froze, then checked herself.
And froze again.
"…I really am," she said softly. "I don't feel like I'm dying anymore."
Minato laughed, relief washing over him.
When he looked up to thank Tōma, the man was already gone.
Flying Thunder God, Minato guessed.
Whoever he was, he'd saved not only Kushina, but Minato himself. And the village.
Soon after, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived with the support forces. When he saw the crater left behind, his breath caught.
"Waterfall… did you do this, Minato?"
Minato shook his head. "The Nine-Tails was split. Half sealed into Kushina. Half into Naruto."
Hiruzen stared. "That's… possible?"
Minato nodded, then grimly explained the masked man, the Sharingan, the timing of Kushina's childbirth.
Hiruzen closed his eyes in pain.
So that was it.
Elsewhere, in the shadows of space itself, Uchiha Obito screamed.
He had been so close.
Everything he buried. Everything he sacrificed. And then that man appeared.
That monster.
Power so overwhelming that even the Nine-Tails dared not resist.
Why now?
Why not before?
Obito laughed hysterically, then vanished, Mangekyō Sharingan burning with hatred.
Tōma walked through unfamiliar streets that felt strangely close to home.
This world would change. Naruto would grow up with parents. Minato would live. The Uchiha might survive.
But that wasn't why he was here.
He followed a familiar presence.
An orphanage.
His steps slowed.
…So that's it.
Inside, hidden from all eyes, he saw him.
A few months old. Sitting among sleeping infants.
And staring back at him with eyes that didn't belong to a baby.
Empty. Lost. Searching.
Another Fujimoto Tōma.
So this world had one too.
The child began to cry, instinctively calling for help.
Tōma vanished.
Moments later, Yakushi Nono rushed in, overwhelmed as babies woke one by one. A white-haired boy followed her, helping quietly.
"Thank you, Kabuto," Nono said gently.
The next day, Minato sat at the Hokage's desk, drowning in work.
Accusations. Political pressure. Suspicion toward the Uchiha.
Then the door opened.
Tōma stepped inside.
Minato nearly jumped up. "恩公!"
"…Please don't," Tōma said flatly.
Minato insisted anyway, even teleporting away to fetch tea.
As he worked, Tōma reflected.
This world's version of him had been born into ruin. His mother died. He was declared stillborn. Saved by chance. Raised in an orphanage watched by Danzo.
Compared to that…
My start was easy mode.
Minato watched him closely, thoughts racing.
Just who are you?
...
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