"Wha—t?" Kushina's eyes widened in absolute horror.
She then walked over to her husband, her body visibly trembling in worry.
"You— know what that sealing jutsu does to the caster right?"
Minato didn't bother to face her, his emotionless gaze just remained fixed unto the Ninetails, like an oracle staring at a prophesied disaster.
"Yes." He responded plainly.
"Then why did you even suggest it?! Huh?!" Kushina's voice rose at his reply, and her tone thundered under a mix of both rage and sorrow.
"She's right Minato." Hiruzen added, spreading his arms to continue. "It's too dangerous—"
"How long do you think it's going to take before we can assemble a Fuijutsu team to seal the Ninetails?"
A deductive question interrupted Hiruzen's words, as Minato held onto his chin in thought.
"Hours? Maybe more?"
Realizing the validity of Minato's words, the Third Hokage could only lower his head in dissatisfaction.
The Fourth Hokage shook his head before turning to his Wife, a gentle smile pasted across his face.
"Kushina." He held onto her shoulders, meeting his eyes with hers.
"You can't keep the Ninetails bound for much longer, can you?"
The moment he finished that statement, Kushina's face instantly fell with regret.
Her blue eyes sparkled like a constellation of shooting stars in the sea of her tears, and her face flushed red, as she began to softly sniffle.
Just when everything seemed to finally be over, just when she thought her family could finally be together. Reality seemed to play one final nasty trick against her.
Her husband was right, there was no other solution. And despite the fact that she knew the jutsu she had taught him would be their only saving grace.
It didn't automatically place Minato as the star player to be sacrificed.
"I'll do it instead! I'll perform the jutsu!"
"No."
Minato blatantly responded, his eyes hardening with seriousness. "The extraction took most of your chakra."
He then peeked at Kagero, gifting the crouching boy a smile before turning back to Kushina.
"It's thanks to a miracle that you are alive— and I won't take that for granted."
"Besides." Minato's worries seemed to fade, as though being exiled out of his mind the moment he watched his son curled atop Gamasaru.
"You have Naruto to take care of."
There was nothing left to debate. Minato was absolutely correct.
But being right didn't always feel the best.
He was abandoning his family, one that he had only just recently got.
He was abandoning his village, one that he had only just recently started to lead.
And he was loosing his life. For some reason, that seemed like the easiest weight on his shoulders out of the bunch.
"Mi—nato." Kushina fell into his arms, squeezing him tightly as tears ran through her face.
Kagero watched in silence.
His brows furrowed under a touch of sadness, and he clenched his fists tightly, shaking quietly in a show of anger.
Capturing everything that was happening before him, there was one question that weighed heavily on his mind.
'Why do I feel so sad?' Kagero felt his heart sink.
Minato rested her head into his chest, holding onto her to further improve his resolve, whilst trying to stay strong.
'Why do I feel so sad?'
Under the tension their grim situation had conjured, the formerly sleeping baby awoke. And tears of unease followed suit, encapsulating the scene with an air of dread.
'Why do I feel so sad?'
"Kushina." Minato raised her head gently, kissing her on her forehead. "Take care of Naruto."
He then paused, transforming his worried expression into a mirthful grin as tears glued to his eyes.
"And take care of yourself, my Love."
'Why do I feel so sad?' Kagero held onto his throbbing chest.
Leaving his Wife's side, Minato stood before the Third Hokage, standing at attention before his elder.
"And I leave the village in your hands Lord Third."
Hiruzen gritted his teeth in regret, before shaking his head, so as not to demean the Hokage's conviction.
"I will take care of it till my last breath Lord Fourth."
'Why the hell do I feel so sad?!'
Minato then left Hiruzen with a smile, tapping Kagero, and dragging him out of his disheartening thoughts.
"Hey— thanks for everything." The Fourth Hokage showed Kagero more gratitude, causing the Boy to stare at him in bewilderment.
"Thanks to you, no one else had to die on this night." Minato stood up to his feet, his gaze still fixed on Kagero.
"And for that, I can't be more grateful."
Kagero watched the Fourth Hokage's lips part with a smile.
But there was one key detail of Minato's grin.
Behind all his smiles and thanks.
There was a longing, a regret, and a wish, all aimed at one prayer.
I want to spend more time with my family!
It was at that moment that Kagero had the keys to his question. He had finally gotten his answer.
The reason he was sad?
The reason his heart ached in torturing pain?
The reason his body shook in unease?
The reason his anger fulminated into rage?
It was for one singular cause:
'I don't want to see anyone die!' Kagero's mind yelled in protest, his eyes almost teary from every word of gratitude that escaped Minato's mouth.
Kagero watched Minato then head over to the Ninetails. The entire area sunk into silence, as everyone either lowered their heads in despair, or wailed under the gravity of the situation.
'What do I do?' A thought flashed through Kagero's mind. 'What the hell do I do?!'
Kagero rammed his fist into the earth, the pain within his heart growing greater in conjunction with each step Minato took forward.
And just then, right as Kagero's mind had reached a conclusion of powerlessness. A single sentence set his hope ablaze.
"[Do what you feel is right.]"
"[I will support you.]"
Kagero's face immediately twisted into a nervous smirk; etched in both bodaciousness and fright as he decided his next actions.
'Sometimes.' His lips parted into a smile, tears welling up in his eyes. 'You really aren't so bad, System.'
Minato planted his feet into the ground, taking in a few heavy breaths, before sterning his expression, and casting a menacing gaze at the Ninetails.
He then brought his palms together, his fingers interlocking each other as he weaved a trend of grim hand signs.
"Reaper death se—" But right as he was about to weave the final sign. He felt a shift in the atmosphere, the hairs on his hands standing erect as his ears heard a dreadful statement.
"Reaper death seal!"
Wide eyed, Minato turned his sights behind him, and when his vision finally blurred into focus, what he saw had him questioning its possibility.
Right before him, with his hands clasped together, Kagero stood with an excited smirk.
The Maniacal red head had uttered those words.