Shindai, Obito, and Kakashi had split up to search for Kushina Uzumaki, who had been abducted by Setsuna Uchiha.
Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze once again used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return home. He gently placed Naruto, who had cried himself to sleep, onto the bed and carefully covered him with a blanket.
"Naruto, wait here just a moment. Right now I must hurry to save your mother."
Kushina Uzumaki was bound to a stone pillar standing atop a lake by a Cursed Seal.
At this moment, completely drained of strength, Kushina looked up with weary eyes at the masked Setsuna Uchiha. "What... do you want?"
"I'm going to drag the Nine-Tails out of you, then destroy Konoha!"
Kushina's pupils widened in shock. "What did you say?"
Setsuna sneered, "Instantaneously moving from one space marked with sealing formulas to another—that's Minato Namikaze's Body Flicker Technique. That marking also seems drawn within your seal formula.
Normally protected by Minato Namikaze, he isn't by your side now, though. And because of childbirth, the Nine-Tails' seal has weakened. This once-in-a-millennium opportunity—I definitely won't let it slip away. Too bad, though; I couldn't kill Minato Namikaze."
The eyes behind Setsuna's mask shifted to Mangekyo Sharingan.
Inside Kushina, the Nine-Tails—its heart brimming with hatred—saw Setsuna through her eyes.
Mangekyo Sharingan!
The Nine-Tails' own eyes changed too, mimicking the Sharingan.
The Nine-Tails had fallen under Genjutsu.
Controlled by the illusionary technique, the Nine-Tails began struggling fiercely against its seal.
Kushina's seal had already been broken. Great amounts of the Nine-Tails' chakra poured out from the dark hole in her abdomen, enveloping Kushina in thick red chakra.
"Good. Now come out! Nine-Tails!"
All of the Nine-Tails' chakra burst forth from Kushina's belly, coalescing into a physical form as it broke free from her body.
The colossal Nine-Tails emerged, letting out a deafening roar.
Setsuna stared at the Nine-Tails, his expression beneath the mask one of twisted triumph. "Perfect. Come with me to Konoha now."
With great effort, Kushina lifted her head. "St-stay… stop..."
"You Uzumaki really are impressive—still alive even after having your Tailed Beast ripped away. Since you were the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, I'll have this beast kill you instead!"
Setsuna manipulated the Nine-Tails into throwing a crushing punch toward Kushina.
Suddenly, a streak of yellow lightning cut through the air. Setsuna turned toward the treetops ahead, where Minato Namikaze now stood holding Kushina in his arms.
"So you've lived up to the Yellow Flash's reputation," Setsuna mocked. "But you're too late now."
In Minato's arms, Kushina managed to whisper, "Is Naru—Naruto okay?"
"Thank goodness... Minato, you have to stop that man and the Nine-Tails immediately—they're planning to destroy Konoha..."
For the first time ever, Minato Namikaze glared fiercely at Setsuna Uchiha before vanishing instantly.
"Hmph, flew away again. Doesn't matter—we'll head to Konoha ourselves."
Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique, carrying Kushina Uzumaki back home.
Kushina couldn't understand why Minato didn't try to stop that guy just now. She asked with confusion, "Why, Minato..."
"Kushina, don't get involved. Stay by Naruto's side."
Minato placed Kushina gently beside Naruto.
Kushina reached out and hugged the sleeping Naruto, gently resting her forehead against his.
Just then, a snake slithered up next to the bed.
The snake transformed into a puff of smoke, morphing into Orochimaru.
"Mr. Orochimaru?"
Orochimaru looked at the weakened Kushina and said, "That kid sent me. He knew this would happen. Inject this into Kushina."
Orochimaru handed Minato a syringe.
Minato looked at the syringe in his hand and asked doubtfully, "What is this?"
Orochimaru explained, "The reason tailed-beast extraction usually kills the jinchuriki is because the tailed beast's chakra has fused with the host's own chakra. When the beast is removed, the jinchuriki's life force gets rapidly drained, resulting in death. Kushina belongs to the Uzumaki Clan, known for their powerful life force—but even so, hers is already draining quickly now.
This serum can effectively slow down the loss of life force..."
Before Orochimaru finished speaking, Minato had already injected the serum into Kushina's arm.
Orochimaru continued, "Still, it only slows things down—which means you must reseal the Nine-Tails inside Kushina before her life force runs out completely. However, right now Kushina's body can no longer endure the full strength of the tailed beast. You'll need to figure that part out yourself."
Minato nodded seriously, "I'll find a way immediately to stop that guy and reseal the Nine-Tails back into Kushina!"
Orochimaru pressed a hand against his ear.
"The thing you asked me to do is done."
Through the earbud in Orochimaru's ear, Shindai's voice echoed: "Thank you very much indeed, Orochimaru-sama!"
"Is that Shindai?" Minato asked.
Orochimaru nodded slightly, "Yes, it's him. Don't worry—go take care of your business."
Minato put on the Hokage's mantle and told Kushina, "I'll be back soon!"
"Thank goodness I had that foresight earlier," Shindai exhaled in relief upon hearing that Orochimaru had already administered the injection to Kushina Uzumaki. "But... the real trouble is just beginning, Nine-Tails..."
...
Setsuna Uchiha had already appeared on the streets of Konoha Village.
"Such a nostalgic place! But now... perish! Summoning Jutsu!"
Setsuna slammed both hands onto the ground, forming the technique inscription of the Summoning Jutsu beneath him.
A massive plume of smoke erupted as the colossal Nine-Tails emerged within Konoha Village.
The villagers stared at the Nine-Tails with terror-filled eyes.
"The Nine-Tails!"
Watching the beast rampaging through the village, Setsuna Uchiha burst into wild laughter.
Sarutobi Hiruzen learned of the situation from Biwako Sarutobi and others who had returned to Konoha. Now he had already assembled a force of ninja.
Before Hiruzen stood all the elite ninjas of Konoha.
Fugaku Uchiha led his fellow Uchiha clan members who stood among them.
Hiruzen announced, "The Nine-Tails has appeared! All other ninjas must protect the non-combatants and immediately evacuate the villagers of Konoha. We will contain the Nine-Tails! Now, everyone, follow me and set out to confront the Nine-Tails!"
Hiruzen led the ninja forces in launching an attack against the Nine-Tails.
However, the Nine-Tails' power was simply too overwhelming—it took only one swipe to knock down each opponent.
Even worse, Deva Path, Konan, and Sasori also appeared, blocking and hindering Hiruzen and his group, preventing them from engaging the Nine-Tails directly.
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