Minato Namikaze's gaze shifted between Hinata and Naruto, finally resting slowly on his son.
His expression was solemn. Naruto using the Nine-Tailed's power was part of his plan, but could Naruto truly resist that evil intent and power now?
However, with this mysterious Young Miss assisting, it might just be possible; she seemed to harbor no ill will toward Naruto.
Minato was silent for a moment before speaking to Naruto.
"You should have experienced it by now, Naruto. The Nine-Tailed Chakra is powerful and violent, but you can master this power."
Naruto looked down at his abdomen, a flash of complex emotion crossing his azure blue eyes.
He had once feared this power, understanding that it was a double-edged sword.
"What should I do?"
Minato did not answer directly, instead looking at Hinata.
Hinata explained the principle to them. Simply put, it meant undoing the Seal, then using one's own Chakra to pull out the Nine-Tailed Chakra and strip it away—in short, a tug-of-war.
If successful, the seized Chakra would be at Naruto's disposal for the rest of his life.
If it failed, Minato was here, and so was Hinata, not to mention Kushina's Seal. Minato thought for a moment and deemed it feasible.
"Naruto, next, I will teach you how to undo the Seal. You will face the Nine-Tailed directly and compete with it for its power. This process is extremely dangerous; if you fail, your consciousness will be swallowed by hatred."
"But at the same time, this is also your only chance to truly master this power."
Naruto looked at those eyes behind the cage and nodded vigorously.
"I'm ready, Dad! I'm going to seize all of its power!"
Hinata nodded.
"Then let's begin."
Minato turned back to Naruto, his gaze intense.
"Remember, Naruto, you are my son, and furthermore, a Ninja of Konoha. The Nine-Tailed's power must become an extension of your will to protect, not a beast that devours your reason."
Naruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, there was not a hint of hesitation.
"I understand, Dad. Let's do it."
Sinking his consciousness deep within, Naruto arrived before the Seal.
The iron bars of the cage were still there. Inside, the massive Nine-Tailed demon fox slowly opened its scarlet slit pupils. A low growl echoed within the barrier, carrying the anger of being offended and a trace of imperceptible surprise.
"Brat… what do you want to do again?"
"Need you ask? Obviously, I'm undoing the Seal."
On the massive iron gate, the "Seal" Talismanic Incantation affixed to the center suddenly lit up with a blinding white light. Then, that Talismanic Incantation was slowly torn apart and peeled off as if by an invisible hand!
ROAR—!!!
An earth-shattering roar erupted from within the cage, more violent and furious than any time before! Ink-black negative Chakra mixed with blood-red Nine-Tailed Chakra, like a bursting flood, surged madly from the opened gap in the Seal, instantly filling the entire space of the Seal!
Naruto was almost knocked off his feet by this pure malice and power, but he gritted his teeth and stood firm.
"Brat—! How dare you—!!" The Nine-Tailed's voice was like thunder; it violently opened the cage and swiped at Naruto!
Naruto summoned an overwhelming number of Shadow Clones, rubbing a Rasengan in his hand to attack the Nine-Tailed.
This reckless fighting style successfully caused the Nine-Tailed's body to freeze.
"Now is the time, Naruto!" Minato shouted.
"Grab it! Initiate the link!"
Naruto had a flash of inspiration; he took the initiative to extend both hands and grabbed the Nine-Tailed's body!
"Arrogant!" Terrifying malice and hatred surged against Naruto's spirit like a tangible wave.
The next moment, Naruto felt his consciousness being violently dragged. An incredibly thick "rope," composed entirely of the purest dark red Nine-Tailed Chakra, appeared between him and the Nine-Tailed main body deep within the cage.
The tug-of-war began!
"Arghhhhh—!" An unimaginably terrifying mental attack came, and Naruto felt like a leaf in a gale, about to be pulled into the endless abyss of hatred in an instant.
The negative emotions that the Nine-Tailed had accumulated for who knows how many years.
War, death, betrayal, imprisonment, hatred—they surged along the Chakra rope like a tsunami, attempting to disintegrate his will.
"Hold on, Naruto! Use your Chakra to fight back! Pull it back!"
Naruto tried his best to pull the Nine-Tailed's power toward himself, but the negative emotions in his mind gradually occupied his consciousness, and his eyes began to turn red.
"Hmph, you overestimating brat. Just by yourself, you want to harness my power? Sink into the hatred!" The Nine-Tailed's roar carried mockery and glee.
Just when Naruto felt his consciousness was about to be dragged into the darkness.
Several golden chains appeared, erupting with a boom from within Naruto's body, or rather, from the deepest part of his consciousness!
These chains, like dancing snakes possessing life, instantly bound the Nine-Tailed tightly.
"This is…?!" The fierce gleam in the Nine-Tailed's eyes flashed explosively.
"Damn you, Kushina! Even after death, you still get in the way!"
The Nine-Tailed was shocked and furious, firmly bound.
Just as Naruto felt his consciousness was about to be dragged into the darkness, he suddenly snapped awake, finding himself in a warm space.
The pressure on Naruto lightened; he looked up in astonishment and saw the red-haired woman who had suddenly appeared.
"Naruto…" Kushina looked at Naruto, speaking with a smile.
However, Naruto's reaction was extreme vigilance and confusion. Who was this woman who had suddenly appeared, possessing such powerful sealing Chakra?
Why would she be in his Seal space?
But he was currently at the life-or-death juncture of a tug-of-war with the Nine-Tailed; any accident could be a fatal trap!
"You… who are you?! Why do you know my name?" Naruto demanded nervously, even trying to divert a sliver of his focus to guard against this suddenly appearing "unknown person."
"That's true. Well then, Naruto, guess who I am." Kushina looked confident.
"Could it be… you're the real form of the Nine-Tailed!!"
Kushina froze, then began to clutch her stomach and laugh.
"That laugh is so rude! You really are the Nine-Tailed! To think you'd try to turn into a woman to deceive me!"
However, the next second, an invisible "#" symbol seemed to appear on her forehead, and her other hand raised without hesitation, striking down on Naruto's head!
"That's not it!"
Thump!
A crisp "Fist of Love" landed on Naruto's head.
"That hurts!" Naruto covered his head.
Kushina returned to a gentle state, apologized to Naruto, stroked Naruto's head, and began to tell him some things.
"It seems Minato didn't say anything…"
Feeling that gentle yet slightly trembling caress on his head, and the resonance and warmth coming from deep within his Bloodline that could not be faked, Naruto had already realized something.
Massive shock, belated ecstasy, and the grievances and longing that had been bottled up for over a decade instantly broke through his defenses.
"Mom… Mom… I have always… wanted to see you…" His voice trembled violently, tears gushing out without warning, and he hugged Kushina.
"I'm sorry, Naruto… I'm sorry…"
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