"You don't need to worry about that particular problem," the Eight-Tails said with characteristic wisdom, his voice carrying the confidence of someone who had witnessed countless battles and understood the subtle strategies employed by skilled combatants.
His massive form shifted slightly as he chuckled, the sound carrying both amusement and genuine admiration: "Your mother is remarkably intelligent. The items she managed to bring inside with her chakra claws contain exactly what you need to escape from this place."
"Items?" Naruto repeated, confusion evident in his voice as he tried to understand what the Eight-Tails could possibly mean.
How could anything Kushina had brought with her chakra constructs provide a solution to his seemingly impossible predicament?
"Have you forgotten the technique that your father, the Fourth Hokage, mastered above all others?" Kurama interjected, his tone carrying a mixture of exasperation and affection.
The Nine-Tails had clearly anticipated this moment, understanding implications that his young Jinchūriki had yet to grasp.
"Flying Thunder God Technique!" Naruto exclaimed, understanding suddenly flooding through his consciousness like a dam bursting.
"Exactly," Kurama confirmed with an approving nod. "Kushina used her chakra claws to transport her personal ninja tool pouch into this place. Within that pouch are the specially marked kunai that serve as spatial coordinates for the Fourth Hokage's space-time ninjutsu."
The Eight-Tails had recognized this strategy immediately, his considerable intellect allowing him to piece together the tactical implications within moments. Among all the Tailed Beasts, his power was second only to the Nine-Tails, and during the Third Great Ninja War, he had fought alongside Killer Bee in numerous confrontations against Minato.
He understood better than most just how devastating the Flying Thunder God technique could be when employed with proper preparation and coordination.
The realization hit Naruto with startling clarity: from the very beginning, Kushina had never intended to extract him from the Gedo Statue's interior through brute force. Her entire rescue attempt had been designed around creating an opportunity for Minato's space-time ninjutsu.
Meanwhile, on the external battlefield...
"BANG!"
While dodging the Gedo Statue's increasingly violent attacks, Kushina formed hand seals with desperate efficiency. A shadow clone materialized and immediately began racing toward the ongoing battle between Minato and Madara, her form moving with purpose that transcended mere tactical support.
The dark golden chakra light that had been surrounding Kushina's body dimmed to critical levels, barely maintaining cohesion as her energy reserves approached complete depletion.
At that moment, Minato's enhanced perception detected the complete absence of Naruto's chakra signature from the external battlefield. His son's energy had vanished entirely, consumed by the Gedo Statue's insatiable hunger.
His expression shifted to one of grim determination as he created his own shadow clone, directing it toward Kushina's position with the urgency that only a parent could understand.
"It's useless," Madara declared with cold satisfaction, his voice carrying the confidence of someone who had anticipated every possible countermove. "Even you cannot save that boy from the statue's interior."
His laughter was harsh and mocking as he continued: "By the time your pathetic shadow clone reaches its destination, the Nine-Tails' chakra will have been completely consumed, and Naruto will die instantly."
The legendary Uchiha's analysis was mathematically sound—no conventional rescue attempt could possibly succeed against the Gedo Statue's overwhelming absorption capabilities.
"FOOL!"
High above the battlefield, positioned atop his lavender perfect Susanoo, Sasuke had also witnessed Naruto's chakra signature being consumed by the massive creature. His visible eye contracted with fury as the implications hit him like a physical blow.
"That idiot..." he thought with a mixture of rage and desperate concern.
The emotional impact triggered something profound within his system. As his mood shifted toward pure fury, his entire being seemed to enter a state of controlled berserker rage.
The massive ethereal blade in his construct's hands swept outward with unprecedented force, colliding head-on with the Wood Human's descending fist in a confrontation that transcended their previous exchanges.
"BOOM!"
The wind waves generated by their collision raged across the devastated landscape with enough force to reshape the very geography of the region. Ancient mountains cracked under the pressure while valleys were carved by the displaced air currents.
However, this time the outcome was dramatically different from their previous clashes. The Wood Human's enormous fist gradually began to fracture and crumble, its structure unable to withstand the enhanced power radiating from Sasuke's perfect Susanoo.
The towering wooden construct was forced backward, its massive feet carving trenches in the earth as it struggled to maintain balance against the unexpected assault.
"This boy's ocular power suddenly became dramatically stronger?!" Madara's voice carried genuine amazement for the first time since the battle began.
Sasuke had achieved something that seemed impossible—using his Susanoo to actually repel the First Hokage's legendary Wood Human technique. Even Madara himself, at the height of his original power, had never managed such a feat.
The implications were staggering, suggesting that Sasuke's emotional state had somehow unlocked capabilities that transcended his previous limitations.
Kushina and Minato's shadow clones converged on each other with desperate urgency, their movements coordinated despite being separated across the chaotic battlefield.
"Hurry and save Naruto!" Kushina's clone called out, her voice tight with maternal panic. "I've already sent your spatial marker inside!"
Minato's duplicate nodded grimly, though tactical reality imposed frustrating limitations on his response. Until Naruto made physical contact with the specially marked kunai, the Flying Thunder God technique remained unusable.
All they could do was wait and hope that their son would recognize the opportunity being provided.
Deep within the Gedo Statue's interior...
Naruto's eyes suddenly snapped open in the oppressive darkness, consciousness returning with startling clarity. The golden Nine-Tails chakra surrounding his form, which had dimmed to barely perceptible levels, began surging outward once again with renewed intensity.
The brilliant light illuminated the consuming void around him, allowing him to see clearly for the first time since his capture. His gaze immediately turned upward toward Kushina's chakra claws, which were showing obvious signs of imminent dissolution.
Suspended within the failing constructs was Kushina's personal ninja tool pouch, its contents representing his only hope of escape.
Buzz!
At that critical moment, the chakra claws reached their absolute limit and began dispersing entirely, their remaining energy being absorbed greedily by the statue's internal mechanisms.
The ninja tool pouch fell toward him through the darkness, its contents spilling out in chaotic array as gravity took hold.
Naruto's eyes immediately locked onto a distinctively shaped kunai among the scattered tools—the special tri-pronged design that served as his father's signature weapon and spatial anchor.
He reached out desperately, straining against the oppressive environment that seemed designed to suppress all movement and resistance.
However, moving within the statue's body was extraordinarily difficult. The creature's internal structure seemed to actively resist any form of coordinated action, as if the very air was designed to drain strength and will from trapped victims.
Suddenly, Naruto felt tremendous power flowing into his system from an external source. The brilliant platform of light beneath him began rising steadily, carrying him upward toward the falling kunai with supernatural assistance.
This was the collective power of the Tailed Beasts, their combined strength allowing him to overcome the statue's suppression through sheer determination and cooperation.
With their help, Naruto gradually raised his hands despite the crushing resistance, his fingers slowly approaching the special kunai as voices began echoing through his consciousness:
"Boy, remember my name—I am Son Goku!" The Four-Tails' voice carried tremendous pride and the weight of ancient identity.
"Yes!" Naruto responded immediately, his commitment absolute despite their desperate circumstances.
"What about the others' names?" he asked, recognizing that this moment represented something far more significant than mere identification.
"Matatabi!" came the first response, the Two-Tails' voice carrying feline grace and subtle power.
"My name is Isobu," the Three-Tails added, his tone reflecting the patient wisdom of ages spent in contemplation.
"Kokuo!" The Five-Tails' declaration resonated with deep, earthshaking authority.
Finally, the Eight-Tails spoke: "Gyūki."
His voice carried the weight of someone who had learned to balance tremendous power with genuine compassion.
"Although my brain isn't the sharpest," Naruto declared with characteristic honesty, "I have memorized every one of your names!"
His words carried the solemnity of a sacred vow as his fingertips finally made contact with the kunai's handle.
The moment his skin touched the specially marked weapon, the spatial coordinates seemed to come alive. Complex sealing formulas began crawling up his wrist like living tattoos, their patterns glowing with the distinctive energy of space-time manipulation.
Swish!
Naruto's eyes widened in amazement, and in the next instant, he completely vanished from the consuming darkness.
"ROAR!"
Almost immediately, the Gedo Statue's massive form convulsed with what could only be described as agony. Its previously overwhelming strength suddenly diminished dramatically, the creature's entire system destabilized by the unexpected loss of its captured prize.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
Kushina was breathing heavily, her body pushed beyond its limits as the Nine-Tails chakra coating her form finally dispersed entirely. Her energy reserves had been depleted to critical levels by the prolonged rescue attempt.
However, despite her exhaustion, a brilliant smile illuminated her face—the expression of a mother whose desperate gamble had succeeded beyond all reasonable expectation.
Within the statue's interior, both Naruto's chakra signature and the Nine-Tails' energy had completely vanished, confirming that the rescue had been successful.
When Naruto materialized before Minato and Kushina's shadow clones, he was still paralyzed and disoriented, the spatial transfer having left him temporarily unable to coordinate his movements. The glowing sealing formulas on his wrist gradually faded as the technique completed its function.
"Dad! Mom!" he called out the moment he recognized the familiar figures, immediately struggling to stand despite his condition.
His expression carried the embarrassment of a child who had attempted something far beyond his capabilities and required rescue from the consequences.
When Kushina's clone saw that Naruto was safe, the overwhelming worry that had consumed her finally began to fade. After offering him a warm, reassuring smile, she dispersed with a soft "bang"—her creator's depleted chakra no longer sufficient to maintain the construct.
Minato's shadow clone looked down at his son with gentle pride, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder as he spoke: "Well done."
Naruto was stunned by the praise, his confusion evident as he responded: "But I failed completely. I couldn't save anyone."
"Haha," Minato chuckled softly, his expression carrying paternal wisdom and deep understanding. "It seems you've made some excellent new friends, though."
"Yes!" Naruto replied with renewed enthusiasm, recognizing the truth in his father's observation.
Gradually closing his eyes, he placed his palms against his abdomen in the traditional sealing position. When his consciousness opened again, he found himself standing before the familiar cage that had contained the Nine-Tails for so many years.
Kurama and Naruto looked at each other across the barrier that had defined their relationship, and for the first time, both of them smiled with genuine warmth.
"It seems relying purely on my own strength is beyond my current capabilities," Naruto admitted with characteristic self-awareness, shrugging as he acknowledged his limitations.
"I told you from the beginning that a clumsy kid like you couldn't accomplish everything alone," Kurama replied, though his tone carried affection rather than mockery.
"You're right," Naruto agreed without defensiveness, his smile growing brighter as he continued: "So from now on, let's fight side by side as true partners."
His eyes blazed with unshakeable determination as he declared: "This time, I will definitely rescue everyone!"
"Hehe," Kurama's expression softened into something approaching tenderness as he watched his young partner.
Without hesitation, Naruto reached toward the seal on his abdomen and began manipulating the complex chakra locks that had bound the Nine-Tails for so long.
"CRACK!"
The cage that had imprisoned Kurama for years began producing sharp, crystalline sounds as ancient mechanisms responded to Naruto's will. The vortex-shaped sealing locks on the prison door started opening one by one, each release accompanied by tremendous surges of liberated energy.
The partnership between Jinchūriki and Tailed Beast was about to reach an entirely new level—one that would reshape the very foundations of the ongoing war.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing takes time, coffee, and a lot of love.If you'd like to support my work, join me at [email protected]/GoldenGaruda
You'll get early access to over 50 chapters, selection on new series, and the satisfaction of knowing your support directly fuels more stories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~