'The results from using it for the first time aren't bad at all.'
Kiyohara thought to himself.
Although this was the first time he had formally used Wood Release in actual combat, he had already succeeded in suppressing the Nine Tails to an overwhelming degree.
If not for Obito's Kamui being a space-time ninjutsu, there would have been no way for him to escape from those countless branches.
'The more I look at these trees... the more they resemble the God Tree.'
Kiyohara rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
After all, every Tailed Beast ultimately originated from the God Tree.
And the God Tree itself possessed the ability to absorb chakra, even draining the life force of living beings.
"It seems the First Hokage really did return to his ancestral origins. And now, I've stepped onto the same path."
Kiyohara lowered his gaze toward his own hand.
"Even one percent of the Ōtsutsuki bloodline is already enough to make someone transcend humanity."
Mangekyo Kiyohara floated out from Kiyohara's body.
He slowly surveyed the battlefield around them.
He had already figured out that Kiyohara was essentially using the Nine Tails as a training dummy to test new ninjutsu.
He understood that feeling very well.
Finding someone capable of surviving experiments with high level ninjutsu was practically impossible. Only the Tailed Beasts possessed the absurd vitality necessary for such tests. Even if they were killed, they would eventually revive anyway.
Otherwise, after witnessing Kiyohara unleash Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, who among people like Kakashi or Hiruzen Sarutobi would dare receive it head on?
"So... my cells should be comparable to Hashirama Cells as well?"
Kiyohara said.
If Sasuke someday imitated Madara and transplanted part of Kiyohara's cells into his own body, then after several decades, wouldn't he also have a chance to awaken the Rinnegan?
"They should actually be even stronger."
Mangekyo Kiyohara corrected him.
"You inherited my Ōtsutsuki bloodline. Although it's only half of mine, you also possess countless Bloodline Limits that even I never had."
He shook his head.
With so many kekkei genkai fused together into a single body, Kiyohara's cells possessed extraordinary tolerance toward chakra while also containing astonishing vitality.
"That makes sense."
Kiyohara nodded.
He also felt that he could no longer judge himself by the standards of an ordinary Ōtsutsuki.
"It should be time to end this."
He turned his attention back toward Obito.
Unlike Kiyohara's calm expression, Obito was practically drenched in sweat.
Kiyohara controlled the golden Perfect Susanoo and took a step forward.
Each step shook the earth.
The forest trembled violently.
Leaves flew into the air while the ground rumbled beneath its immense weight.
Then the Perfect Susanoo slowly extended its right hand.
The enormous golden chakra hand spread its five fingers wide.
Each finger was thicker than a human body.
Its palm faced downward as it reached toward the Nine Tails' neck.
Kurama's pupils suddenly contracted.
He wanted to dodge.
Unfortunately, the countless trunks and vines erupting from underground had wrapped around him so tightly that he could not even twist his body.
The massive golden fingers closed.
The Nine Tails' neck was caught firmly within that gigantic hand.
It felt as though an entire mountain had pressed against his throat.
"Urghhh!"
The Nine Tails let out a muffled groan.
Breathing immediately became difficult.
Every breath required tremendous effort just to force air through his compressed throat.
His four legs struggled desperately among the giant trees.
His claws tore deep furrows through the trunks.
Wood chips exploded in every direction.
Standing atop the Nine Tails' head, Obito felt the violent shaking beneath his feet.
He gritted his teeth.
Inside his Sharingan, the Mangekyo pattern spun at incredible speed.
His power poured into the Nine Tails without restraint.
"Move!"
Obito roared.
For the briefest instant, clarity flashed across the Nine Tails' eyes.
Then the genjutsu forced it back down once again.
Crack.
Using that tiny moment of loosened control, the Nine Tails lunged forward, attempting to break free from the giant hand gripping his neck.
But Kiyohara's grasp was even steadier.
The Perfect Susanoo tightened its fingers further.
Golden chakra condensed around the fingertips, forming even thicker armor.
"You dared attack the village with only this much strength?"
Kiyohara's voice echoed from within the forehead of the Perfect Susanoo.
"How much longer are you planning to struggle?"
He slowly shook his head.
Giving Obito another opportunity would accomplish nothing.
The man simply had no idea how to use the Nine Tails' true power.
After all, Naruto did not possess the complete Nine Tails until after the final battle at the Valley of the End.
Before that, he had always fought with only half of Kurama, together with fragments of chakra borrowed from several other Tailed Beasts.
"Arrogant."
Obito's anger flared upon hearing Kiyohara's voice.
"Kamui!"
He activated his Mangekyo ability once more.
The space beside him twisted.
It looked like a droplet of water falling onto the surface of a lake, causing circular ripples to spread outward.
He intended to repeat the same strategy.
He would teleport the Nine Tails away.
Even moving him only a few meters would be enough.
As long as the Nine Tails escaped the golden giant hand and the restraints of Wood Release, everything could be reversed.
Seeing this, Kiyohara raised his free hand.
With only one hand, he formed a seal.
Chidori Current!
Brilliant azure lightning erupted from the palm of the golden giant hand.
Dense electrical arcs spread outward in every direction.
An enormous electrical net instantly enveloped the entire body of the Perfect Susanoo.
Within the crackling blue current, faint black fuinjutsu formulas could be seen flowing across the surface.
The captured Nine Tails was naturally the first to suffer its effects.
Sizzle!
The lightning touched his crimson fur.
Burning sounds echoed continuously.
Large patches of scarlet fur instantly turned black and charred.
Seeing this, Obito immediately jumped backward.
His Kamui was interrupted the instant the lightning spread.
"Nine Tails!"
Obito shouted.
But the Nine Tails gave no response.
Kiyohara's Chidori Current was not merely an offensive technique.
It was also disrupting the flow of chakra within the Nine Tails' body.
The Lightning Release chakra hidden within those electric currents continuously severed the ocular power Obito had implanted inside him.
The Nine Tails' pupils gradually regained focus.
The emptiness covering his eyes slowly faded away.
"Damn it..."
Obito could clearly feel the connection between himself and the Nine Tails breaking apart.
"It's the Contract Seal..."
He finally realized what was happening.
Yet he still could not understand how Kiyohara had managed to combine the power of fuinjutsu techniques with Lightning Release.
After a brief moment of thought, Obito raised his right hand.
His fingers curled into a claw.
He thrust it toward the Nine Tails' head, hoping to reinfuse his fading dojutsu into the beast.
But Kiyohara had no intention of giving him that opportunity.
The Perfect Susanoo suddenly tightened the hand around the Nine Tails' neck.
Then it lifted upward.
The Nine Tails' enormous body was raised entirely into the air.
All four limbs dangled helplessly above the ground.
Obito's footing became unstable as the giant fox swayed violently.
He nearly slipped off the beast's head.
After barely steadying himself, he looked upward.
His eyes met Kiyohara's.
Those scarlet Mangekyo Sharingan glowed brilliantly beneath the moonlight.
Obito slowly inhaled.
He already understood.
There was no reclaiming the Nine Tails tonight.
"Kiyohara... this time... you win."
He spoke unwillingly.
The next instant, his figure vanished completely.
Kiyohara withdrew his gaze.
He did not bother pursuing him.
Kamui was one of the most troublesome space-time techniques in existence.
Even catching up would be meaningless.
As long as Obito wished to escape, he would always find an opportunity.
Besides...
Obito had never been tonight's true objective.
Kiyohara lowered his head toward the Nine Tails, whose neck remained firmly held within the Perfect Susanoo's enormous hand.
The fox's eyes had completely regained their clarity.
"Human!"
The Nine Tails struggled violently.
Yet the Wood Release trunks only wrapped themselves tighter around his body.
"Nine Tails."
Kiyohara spoke calmly.
"Your power is simply too great."
"It must be sealed."
His voice remained completely indifferent.
For someone at Kiyohara's level, the Nine Tails was nothing more than an enormous rechargeable battery.
But to every other shinobi...
He was a walking natural disaster.
Moreover, if the Nine Tails remained loose in the outside world, every hidden village would inevitably begin fighting to seize him.
"You're just as annoying as Hashirama."
The Nine Tails bared his enormous fangs.
Hashirama had once said exactly the same thing.
Still...
He also knew that Kiyohara truly possessed the strength to seal him.
Had it not been for Kiyohara, he would still be controlled by Obito, reduced to nothing more than a chained dog obeying another's commands.
Even so...
That did not mean he would willingly allow himself to be sealed.
"Dream on."
The Nine Tails roared angrily.
"Even if you kill me, it's useless. Tailed Beasts never truly die. I'll simply be reborn somewhere else."
"If you fall into my hands..."
"Whether you live or die is no longer your decision."
Kiyohara slowly shook his head.
The Nine Tails was overthinking things.
"Let's make a deal."
"I'll choose a new jinchūriki for you."
"You'll remain inside that jinchūriki for twenty years."
"After those twenty years are over..."
"I'll return your freedom."
Kiyohara spoke calmly.
On the surface, it sounded like a fixed prison sentence.
In reality, it was little different from a life sentence.
Still, Kiyohara felt that twenty years would be more than enough.
By then, Naruto's famous Talk no Jutsu should be powerful enough to change Kurama's heart.
The Nine Tails frowned deeply after hearing those words.
He had originally believed Kiyohara would simply forcefully seal him away, just as he had once been sealed into the body of Uzumaki Mito against his will.
Instead...
Kiyohara was actually offering him a bargain.
"Twenty years?"
Kurama stared at him in disbelief.
"That's right."
"Twenty years."
"After that, whether you choose to leave or stay will be entirely your own decision."
Kiyohara answered.
"Hmph."
"As if this fox would ever choose to stay."
Kurama considered the very idea absurd.
It had longed for freedom every single day.
Why would it ever willingly remain trapped inside a jinchūriki forever?
"And how am I supposed to know you'll actually release me?"
Kurama questioned.
"You have no choice."
Kiyohara replied evenly.
"In front of these eyes of mine..."
"There is no second option."
To Kiyohara, Tailed Beasts standing before the Sharingan possessed virtually no ability to resist.
"And I have no reason to deceive you."
"During these twenty years, you may continue sleeping if you wish."
"Or..."
"You may choose to speak with your jinchūriki."
Kurama fell silent.
Only after another sharp sting from the Wood Release branches piercing into his body did he finally return to his senses.
"...Very well."
"I'll accept this deal."
After carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages, Kurama realized that he truly possessed no bargaining chips whatsoever.
Nothing more than the difference between being imprisoned peacefully and being imprisoned by force.
...
Outside the barrier, Minato stood atop the roof of a building, holding Naruto securely in his arms. His eyes never left the battlefield within the barrier, watching every movement without blinking.
Only after Obito's figure disappeared from atop the Nine Tails' head did he finally let out a long sigh of relief.
When he saw Kiyohara begin speaking with the Nine Tails, however, his brows slowly knitted together.
Minato had no idea what they were discussing, but he could clearly sense that the murderous intent surrounding the Nine Tails was steadily fading away.
"Minato."
A familiar voice came from beside him.
Minato turned around.
Kushina stood there, supported by Biwako.
Her complexion was still pale, and there was almost no color left in her lips, but her eyes were far clearer than they had been moments before.
The seal on Kushina's abdomen had stabilized.
"Are you alright, Kushina?"
Minato asked with concern.
"I'm fine."
Kushina gently shook her head before lowering her gaze toward Naruto in Minato's arms.
The tiny infant lay curled inside a white blanket.
His little fists were clenched beside his ears, while his slightly parted lips rose and fell with steady breaths.
"Naruto..."
She softly whispered his name.
Reaching out with a finger, she gently poked the baby's soft cheek.
Naruto frowned slightly.
His little mouth puckered for a moment before relaxing again.
"Kiyohara..."
Kushina raised her head and looked toward the lone figure standing within the barrier.
"I think he's negotiating with the Nine Tails."
Minato followed her line of sight.
The enormous golden giant still stood proudly beneath the moonlight.
The Nine Tails remained trapped in an undignified posture, his neck still firmly gripped.
"Negotiating about what?"
Kushina asked.
Minato fell silent for a while.
"I think..."
"It's about the seal."
He paused before lowering his eyes to the baby sleeping peacefully in his arms.
"The Nine Tails' chakra can't be returned to your body anymore. Your chakra system has already been damaged. Resealing it into you now would be far too dangerous."
"Then... what will happen to the Nine Tails?"
Kushina herself could clearly feel that her condition was far from good.
If Kiyohara had not intervened earlier, the entire Nine Tails would likely have been extracted from her body.
Even losing only half of it had caused tremendous damage.
Since becoming a shinobi, this was undoubtedly the most serious injury she had ever suffered.
Given her current condition, even she could not confidently say how long she would be able to continue suppressing the Nine Tails if it were sealed back into her.
"Let's go over there."
Minato said.
Inside the barrier, Kiyohara released the Susanoo's grip.
The Nine Tails' feet landed back on the ground.
The earth beneath him instantly collapsed, leaving behind four enormous craters.
The massive trunks and vines wrapped around his limbs remained firmly in place, though they no longer continued tightening.
"We'll discuss the sealing in a moment."
Kiyohara dismissed the Perfect Susanoo.
Golden chakra scattered from the colossal warrior's body like glowing embers before slowly fading into the night air.
He descended back onto the ground and stood before the Nine Tails.
Looking around, he saw that the fighting within the village had already come to an end.
The crimson barrier still covered the sky overhead.
However, several entrances had now been opened within it, allowing groups of vigilant shinobi to cautiously enter.
Minato walked over while carrying Naruto.
Biwako helped Kushina follow close behind.
"You've worked hard, Biwako."
Hiruzen looked gratefully at his wife.
"How is Kushina's condition?"
he asked.
"She'll need a thorough examination afterward."
Biwako replied.
"This is the first time I've ever seen only half of a Tailed Beast extracted."
"There has never been a precedent like this before."
"I can't determine yet whether there will be any lasting effects."
After hearing her words, Hiruzen comforted Kushina for a few moments.
Kushina quickly waved her hand.
"I'm really alright."
"The most important thing now is dealing with the Nine Tails."
"That's right."
Hiruzen shifted his gaze toward Kiyohara.
By then, Minato had already walked over.
"We're lacking a suitable jinchūriki to seal him into?"
Minato had already guessed Kiyohara's concern.
"Exactly."
Kiyohara answered without hesitation.
"The best candidates to become jinchūriki are members of the Uzumaki Clan."
"But Kyoko and Honoka aren't in Konoha."
Minato fell silent after hearing those words.
Kiyohara was simply stating the truth.
That was precisely why Kushina, as one of the few surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan, had been specially brought to Konoha all those years ago.
Not just anyone could become the jinchūriki of the Nine Tails.
"The only remaining person with Uzumaki blood..."
Minato lowered his eyes toward the baby in his arms.
"...is this child."
Naruto knew nothing.
His tiny lips opened and closed unconsciously as though he were drinking milk in his dreams.
"If there truly isn't any other choice..."
"Then we'll have to seal the Nine Tails inside Naruto."
As a father, making such a decision was unimaginably difficult.
Yet under the current circumstances, it was the best possible solution.
In the end, his desire to protect the village outweighed everything else.
Perhaps it was unfair to Naruto.
Even so, this was the only option Minato had left.
"It'll be alright."
Kiyohara spoke calmly.
"No one will speak badly about this child in the future."
"Raised under the guidance of both of you, he'll definitely become an outstanding shinobi."
Kiyohara was also somewhat curious.
If Naruto were raised personally by Minato from childhood, would he grow into someone resembling Uzumaki Menma from the Infinite Tsukuyomi world?
"I'll do it myself. I'll use the Eight Trigrams Seal you mentioned before."
Kiyohara stepped forward.
He had already mastered the Uzumaki Clan's Four Symbols Seal.
Inspired by Minato's idea, he naturally understood that by nesting two Four Symbols Seals together, one could create the Eight Trigrams Seal.
Golden chakra began burning at his fingertips.
He gently pressed his fingers against Naruto's abdomen.
Immediately afterward, countless chakra chains emerged from the seal and shot toward the Nine Tails.
Kurama remained crouched on the ground.
Chains wrapped tightly around all four of his limbs.
Yet he made no attempt to resist.
He could clearly feel an overwhelming pulling force coming from the infant.
His chakra began separating from his own body.
Guided by that irresistible attraction, it surged toward Naruto.
Crimson chakra condensed in midair, forming a long ribbon of glowing light.
The Nine Tails' physical body gradually became unstable.
Slowly...
It dissolved completely into a massive cloud of scarlet chakra before flowing into Naruto's navel.
A small spiral-shaped seal appeared upon Naruto's abdomen.
Kiyohara withdrew his hand and slowly exhaled.
"It's finished."
He had configured the seal exactly as Minato had done in the anime.
He intentionally left several small openings within the seal.
This would allow tiny amounts of the Nine Tails' chakra to gradually leak out.
As it mixed together with Naruto's own chakra over many years, it would naturally increase Naruto's chakra capacity and overall potential.
Seeing that Naruto remained completely unharmed, Minato finally relaxed.
The tension weighing upon his shoulders disappeared at last.
The surrounding shinobi looked at one another.
"It's over."
"It's really over."
"..."
"Long live Hokage-sama!"
Voices rose from every direction.
One after another.
The cheers gradually merged into a deafening chorus.
"There are still enemies outside the village."
Kiyohara said.
"Minato, take a squad of shinobi and reinforce them."
"Understood."
Minato handed Naruto over to a nearby medical shinobi before immediately leading part of Konoha's forces toward the outskirts of the village.
Members of the Akatsuki and the White Zetsu Army were still fighting Konoha's shinobi there.
Now that the Nine Tails had been sealed once more, the greatest crisis had finally been resolved.
The White Zetsu themselves were not particularly powerful.
Their greatest advantage had always been their overwhelming numbers.
...
The Uchiha Clan Compound
"The battle is over now, Sasuke."
The paper sliding doors remained open.
Itachi sat along the wooden corridor overlooking the backyard, holding baby Sasuke in his arms.
Tonight's moonlight was astonishingly bright.
It was almost dazzling to look at.
The full moon shone with such brilliant radiance that it nearly drowned out every star surrounding it.
It almost looked as though the moon itself were about to fall from the heavens.
A gentle breeze brushed across Itachi's face.
Perhaps sensing that the commotion outside had finally quieted down, the crying Sasuke gradually calmed as well.
"So this is the power of Kiyohara-sensei..."
Itachi murmured softly.
Within his eyes, a single tomoe slowly rotated.
His Sharingan had awakened.
It had manifested because of the fear he had experienced tonight, or perhaps because of his overwhelming desire to protect Sasuke.
The terrifying amount of chakra released by the Nine Tails had filled even the distant Uchiha compound with despair.
If the Nine Tails had attacked here...
There would have been absolutely nothing he could have done.
Despite being praised everywhere as a genius, before such overwhelming power, he was no different from an ordinary civilian incapable of using ninjutsu.
But now...
That disaster had come to an end.
He suspected he would never forget everything that had happened tonight.
Kiyohara had suppressed that monstrous beast with astonishing ease.
Aside from the area enclosed within the barrier, the village had suffered almost no damage at all.
(End of Chapter)