"Kushina, I'll use what's left of your chakra to let you see Naruto one last time. We'll combine your chakra with mine to reinforce the Eight Trigrams Seal and suppress the Nine-Tails. As for the Nine-Tails itself—I'll handle it."
"Since I'm not a jinchūriki, the only way is the Dead Demon Consuming Seal."
"But that jutsu will..."
"I know. The Nine-Tails can't be killed—if it dies, it'll throw the balance between the villages into chaos."
The Tailed Beasts were considered forces of military power. Unless it was absolutely necessary, they were never meant to appear on the battlefield.
If a Tailed Beast died, it would resurrect somewhere in the world after some time. When that happened, it would no longer belong to any village and could be captured by anyone.
If the Nine-Tails were to die and be reborn, whether it sought vengeance on humanity or was captured by another village, it would be disastrous for Konoha.
Especially with Obito—who could control the Nine-Tails—still lurking in the shadows...
"I'm only sealing half of the Nine-Tails inside myself. I'll trap it with me forever. The other half will be sealed into our son."
Kushina froze, her body trembling.
A jinchūriki's life… That's not something a child should have to bear!
"Obito, once controlled, will inevitably bring a storm of bloodshed. Just as Jiraiya-sensei once prophesied—the one to stop him, I believe, will be our child.
As a jinchūriki, he'll carve a path to the future. I believe in that with all my heart!"
He smiled at his wife, then turned to Kiyosuke.
"Kiyosuke, I'm entrusting Naruto to you. This is my final request."
"If that's your decision… then don't worry. I won't let anything happen to this child."
"He's got that spark—he's meant to become Hokage! I'll raise him to be Hokage!"
Perhaps this was fate. Minato and Kushina would both die on the day Naruto was born.
Kushina forced a smile.
"I just hope… he grows up safe… and happy."
"Kiyosuke, I'm counting on you. I'm sorry for burdening you… I'm sorry, Kiyosuke… I'm sorry, Naruto!"
Tears streamed down her face as she held her baby close, crying softly.
Minato quickly formed hand seals.
Snake, Boar, Ram, Rabbit, Dog, Rat, Rooster, Horse, Snake—then clasped his hands together.
"Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
A chilling wave of chakra surged into Kiyosuke's senses—cold and ominous, as if it had come straight from the depths of the underworld.
"Believe in our child. He's our son, after all."
"I'll use the Eight Trigrams Seal to seal your chakra together with the Nine-Tails into Naruto."
"When he tries to gain control, you'll be able to lend him your strength."
"He's our son. That's exactly why I don't want to force that kind of burden on him. You know what life is like for a jinchūriki…"
"And you don't have to use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal! You could have survived… and raised Naruto yourself!"
Minato stayed silent.
Kiyosuke spoke softly.
"Because he loves you, Kushina-san."
Kushina's heart clenched. She broke into sobs.
Minato said quietly,
"Our whole family… we're all shinobi."
"As his mother, you'll teach Naruto many things—things I never could. Not just for your sake, but for Naruto's too."
"Protecting our son… that's my duty as his father."
Kiyosuke noticed Hiruzen arriving, pounding on the barrier. He ran over, leaving space for the couple to say their final goodbyes.
Standing before Hiruzen through the barrier, Kiyosuke said,
"Hiruzen-sama, it's no use. Don't waste your strength. Minato-san has already activated the Dead Demon Consuming Seal."
"He's going to sacrifice himself to seal the Nine-Tails—and make his son a jinchūriki."
"What?! Why didn't you stop him?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was shocked. Minato had only just become Hokage.
He himself had been ready to sacrifice his life to seal the Nine-Tails.
"There was no stopping him."
Kiyosuke shook his head.
From behind came the booming voice of the Nine-Tails.
"Damn that Fourth Hokage!"
A massive torrent of chakra tore from the Nine-Tails and surged into Minato's body.
His shirt tore open at the stomach, revealing sealing script forming across his abdomen.
"It's already begun."
With half of its chakra ripped away, the Nine-Tails shrank significantly.
The once-taut Adamantine Sealing Chains slackened—their binding force weakening.
Kushina wouldn't be able to hold out much longer.
If it weren't for the Uzumaki clan's resilience, she would have died the moment the Nine-Tails was extracted.
"It really is the Dead Demon Consuming Seal… he's really doing it!"
Sarutobi watched as Kiyosuke walked away and approached Minato.
"Leave your back to me, Minato-san."
"Yeah… I'm counting on you."
Minato summoned the ceremonial altar used for sealing the Nine-Tails.
"Damn it… sealing me again?! And this time… with a brat?!"
Cough, cough.
Kushina's body finally began to give out, and she doubled over in a coughing fit.
Seeing her in pain, Minato instinctively let his guard down.
"Now!!!"
The Nine-Tails raised a claw and lunged forward—aiming to kill the infant Naruto.
"Not happening!!! Fire Fist!"
A fiery punch erupted, striking the beast's claw and knocking it back.
Kiyosuke shouted,
"Hey, hey, don't ignore me! I'm a Sage Mode user too, you know!"
"Asakawa Kiyosuke, you bastard! Even if the Fourth sealed half my power, I can still kill you right here and now!"
"Then bring it on! I'm immune to physical damage—what are you gonna do, scratch me to death?!"
Kiyosuke leapt into the air and kicked the Nine-Tails square in the body.
"Even at full power, I can hold you down. And now, with only half your strength?"
"I might not be the First Hokage, but I've got more than enough to keep you busy!"
The Nine-Tails roared in pain and swung another claw at him—
Crash!
The Adamantine Sealing Chains snapped tight again, halting the beast's movement.
Kiyosuke's next attack struck—dozens of fireballs bombarded the Nine-Tails from all sides.
"Summoning Technique!"
Taking advantage of the moment, Minato used the Summoning Technique to send the key to the Eight Trigrams Seal to Gerotora, the scroll toad of Mount Myōboku—ensuring Naruto could one day access the Nine-Tails' power.
"Naruto, listen to Kiyosuke, okay? Don't be a troublemaker."
"Stay away from the Three Shinobi Taboos… and be careful around Jiraiya-sensei."
Kushina smiled gently at her beloved son.
"Eat well, don't be picky about your food..."
She had so many things to say—more than time would allow.
But her life force was quickly slipping away.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. I really, really wanted to see you grow up…"
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I love you, Naruto!"
"Naruto, I love you too. Forgive your father. Eight Trigrams Seal!"
A flash of light engulfed them.
The Nine-Tails—still locked in battle with Kiyosuke—suddenly vanished.
It was sealed inside the small body of the infant Naruto.
(T/N: Quite a sad moment)