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Every 100 Power Stones = 2 Extra Chapters
Every 100 Collections = 1 Extra Chapter
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The Candlelight Sealing
Far to the West of Konoha
The night was cold, a biting wind sweeping through the desolate lands. Far from the familiar warmth and life of Konoha, Minato Namikaze stood with his back to the setting moon, a harsh contrast to the peace that had once blanketed his home. The village, the people, all were in danger of being destroyed by the very force that he had long known would be their greatest enemy—Kurama, the Nine-Tails Fox. But now, standing on this bleak, empty plain, Minato found himself more alone than ever before.
Beside him stood the woman who had once been his anchor, Kushina Uzumaki. Her vibrant red hair, the same color as the evening sunset, hung limp in the wind. She was weary, but still strong, as her chakra surged through the chains she summoned from the depths of her own life force. The Adamantite Sealing Chains, the legendary binding technique that her clan was known for, held Kurama in place. For now.
Minato held his breath as the enormous chakra of the Nine-Tails writhed before them, its immense power fighting against the restraints. The world around them seemed to tremble with the force of its fury. But even Kurama, as mighty as it was, could not break the chains that Kushina had summoned, at least not yet.
Kushina's face was pale, her body trembling with the strain of maintaining the seal. Her breathing was shallow, and Minato could see it clearly: the toll it was taking on her. "Kushina," he began, his voice soft but firm, "your life force is draining. You can't keep this up much longer."
Kushina's lips twisted into a bitter smile, a wisp of warmth fading in her eyes. "I know, Minato," she whispered, her voice breaking with the weight of her knowledge. "This was always going to happen. I knew it... even before we had Naruto. I knew that one day, this day would come."
Minato's heart tightened at the words, but he couldn't afford to show any weakness. Not now. He needed to be strong for her. For Naruto.
"We can't let it end like this," Minato said, stepping closer to her, his hand gently brushing against her trembling one. "Kushina, there's one last thing we can do."
Her eyes snapped to his. There was anger in them, an understandable rage at the cruel fate that had fallen upon them. "What are you talking about?" she demanded. "What are you suggesting, Minato?"
Minato swallowed hard, his throat tightening with the gravity of what he was about to say. "I want to seal Kurama in Naruto."
For a moment, Kushina said nothing. Her face drained of color, her hands tightening around the chains, causing them to pulse with power. "What?" she gasped. "You want to seal that monster in our son? Our baby?"
Minato's heart shattered at the pain in her voice. "I believe in him, Kushina. I believe Naruto can handle it. It's what Jiraiya-sensei's prophecy was about. He always thought it was me, but I think it could be our son." Minato's eyes locked with hers, his voice lowering. "I will seal the Yang part of Kurama in Naruto, and I will take the Yin part into myself."
Kushina's face twisted with disbelief and sorrow, her chakra chains flickering as her emotions surged. She looked at the helpless child in the cradle at her feet, tiny and vulnerable, unaware of the storm that was about to envelop his life. "I will not allow it," she snapped. "Naruto is just a baby! He doesn't even know what we're doing. He shouldn't have to bear this burden."
Minato stepped forward, his hand resting on her trembling shoulder. "I know, Kushina. I know this is hard. But we have no choice. We don't have much time left. The only way to keep Konoha safe, the only way to make sure Kurama doesn't destroy everything... is to make Naruto the new jinchūriki."
Her eyes welled up with unshed tears, her hands shaking in despair. "I won't let our son suffer the way I did," she whispered.
Minato's expression softened, his voice carrying a weight of unspeakable sorrow. "I don't want him to suffer either, Kushina. But this is the only way to protect him. To protect everyone."
A long silence followed, filled only by the distant howls of Kurama, who continued to struggle against the seals that bound it. The chains were holding, but Minato knew that they would not last forever. And as much as Kushina fought it, he could see in her eyes the inevitable truth: She understood. Deep down, she knew they had no other choice.
With a heavy heart, Kushina nodded, her shoulders slumping under the weight of their decision. "Fine. Do it," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the howls of Kurama.
As Minato moved to prepare the sealing, his mind raced. He had already thought of everything, planned it all. He would perform the Eight Trigrams Sealing Jutsu (Shiki Fūin) on Naruto, the forbidden seal, the one that had cost him so much to learn. The same seal that had been used on Kushina to bind Kurama inside her. The same seal that would ultimately cost him his life.
But it was the only way.
With careful hands, Minato placed Naruto into the cradle of the candlelight seal, a special place that would aid in the delicate balance required for the sealing. He could already feel the immense weight of Kurama's chakra pressing against him, the Nine-Tails' wrathful energy seeping into his skin. He took a deep breath, then began the seal.
Kushina, straining to maintain the Adamantite Chains, watched him with fearful eyes. But the moment the seal began to take shape, everything changed.
Kurama, sensing what Minato was attempting, roared in fury. Its massive form struggled against the chains, thrashing violently, seeking to break free. The chains trembled under the force of the beast's chakra, and Minato's heart raced as the extraction began.
The moment Minato placed his hands on the sealing array, Kurama's chakra lashed out. He could feel it—its malice, its anger, its hatred. And in that moment, he knew that everything they had fought for was now hanging by a thread.
Then, something unexpected happened.