Under the pitch-black night sky, a massive orange-red fox with nine tails rampaged, destroying everything in its path. Its ferocious roars echoed for miles.
Countless ninjas attempting to stop the beast were struck by the Nine-Tails' thrashing tails, killed instantly with a single blow.
At that moment, innumerable golden chains erupted from one spot, instantly binding the Nine-Tails, rendering it immobile.
A baby's cry pierced the air…
"You've been woken up… I'm sorry… Naruto…"
Kushina gasped, struggling to speak. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Having just had the tailed beast extracted from her, she was at her limit.
"Kushina!"
Minato called out in anguish, the cries of Naruto in his arms growing louder.
"Hold the Nine-Tails like this… I'll face death… This way… we can delay the Nine-Tails' revival a little longer… Using my remaining chakra to help you is the only way…"
With great effort, Kushina finished speaking and gave a relieved smile.
"Thank you… for everything you've done for me…"
Naruto's cries softened slightly. The trapped Nine-Tails continued to struggle, desperately trying to break free from the chains.
"Kushina, you made me the Fourth Hokage, you made me your husband, and you gave me this child. But I…"
Minato's heart was filled with guilt.
"Don't make that face, Minato… I'm happy… You love me… And today… is this child's birthday…"
Kushina gazed at Naruto in Minato's arms, her eyes full of love and reluctance. As if sensing something, Naruto, with tears in his eyes, gave his first smile in life.
"My last wish… I just want to see… Naruto when he grows up…"
Kushina tried to reach out to touch Naruto, but her exhausted body couldn't even manage that small gesture.
"I understand. I'll use your remaining chakra to let you see Naruto. I'll seal all of your remaining chakra into him, combining it with the Eight Trigrams Seal. As for the Nine-Tails, I'll handle it. Since I'm not a Jinchūriki, I can only use the Reaper Death Seal."
Minato wiped the tears from his eyes, resolute in his decision.
Kushina was stunned.
"But… that sealing technique will…"
"And only half of the Nine-Tails will be sealed in me. The other half, I'll seal into Naruto using the Eight Trigrams Seal."
Minato continued, placing the swaddled Naruto on the ground before standing up.
After forming several hand signs, a terrifying white-haired figure in white robes appeared behind him.
"Naruto is our child!"
As a Jinchūriki herself, Kushina knew all too well the burdens that came with it. She desperately didn't want her child to bear the same fate.
"For the balance of the tailed beasts, for the nation, for the village, I have no choice. Abandoning the nation or the village is the same as abandoning our child. You, who lost your homeland, should understand how cruel life becomes for those without a country…" Minato's gaze was unwavering.
The Shinigami behind him slowly began to bind his soul, preparing to consume it along with the next target's soul.
At that moment, the Shinigami seemed to sense something and reached out toward the empty space ahead.
Both Minato and Kushina noticed the change and looked toward where the Shinigami's hand extended, but from their perspective, there was nothing there.
"What's… going on…"
From another perspective, Ye Wuyue stared in terror at the Shinigami's hand reaching toward him.
"Damn system! What the hell is this?!"
He was just an ordinary college student. While napping during an online class, he was forcibly bound by some ridiculous system and instantly transported to the Naruto world.
Worse, he was soul-transmigrated, his soul still without a host body, and now he faced an enormous threat.
Ye Wuyue immediately recognized the scene: the Nine-Tails Incident. And the Shinigami summoned by Minato Namikaze had noticed him—and was trying to grab him.
"Host is under threat. Due to this danger being caused by a system error, compensation is provided: Zanpakutō Ryūjin Jakka + Hollow Mask + Captain-Level Spiritual Pressure Experience Card. Please check."
As the system's voice faded, Ye Wuyue felt the compensation take effect.
Holy crap! This is intense!
Ye Wuyue extended his right hand, and a long blade appeared in it. At the same time, his soul felt significantly stronger.
Indeed, the moment he grasped the Zanpakutō, a short-haired youth in a black haori suddenly appeared in Minato and Kushina's view. Though his form was still a translucent soul, it was now visible to them.
A fiery red Hollow Mask also appeared in his left hand.
Without hesitation, Ye Wuyue drew Ryūjin Jakka.
"All things in the universe, turn to ashes—Ryūjin Jakka!"
Following the method he'd seen for releasing a Zanpakutō, he shouted the Shikai phrase. Roaring flames erupted from the blade, spreading outward.
Ye Wuyue swung the sword at the Shinigami's arm, feeling his soul weaken slightly with the effort.
But the strike worked—the Shinigami's arm was severed by his blade.
Floating in the air, Ye Wuyue gripped his sword, glaring at the Shinigami, flames swirling around him.
The Shinigami was stunned. Every soul it had encountered before was powerless, but this one was different. It could sense the terrifying power emanating from the blade—a force it couldn't contend with.
After a moment's hesitation, the Shinigami released Minato's soul and fled. The pale blue soul returned to Minato's body.
Ye Wuyue's heart raced with excitement. Though the strike had weakened him, the thrill was unmatched. He was hooked on this feeling.
"Transmigrating to this world… doesn't seem so bad. No, it's awesome!"
He'd always loved Naruto, dreaming of its powers and wanting to fix its regrets. His earlier panic was just from the sudden crisis. Now that it was over, he was thrilled.
On the ground, Minato stared at the youth in the air and the vanished Shinigami, momentarily at a loss.
But then, a massive claw suddenly reached for Naruto on the ground. Ye Wuyue reacted instantly, blocking the attack with his sword.