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"That's good," Minato said with a gentle smile to Akio, then set Naruto down on the ground.
"I didn't expect you to remember so much at such a young age, Akio… and to be so mature already. Just how much more will you have to carry in the future…"
Kushina's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Akio. Naruto didn't remember them yet, which in a way was a blessing—but Akio… he was still so young and already understood so much. He'd already started to bear so many burdens, and who knows what's still to come.
"Mom… don't cry. I'll protect my little brother. I won't let anyone bully him!" Akio stepped forward and wiped the tears off Kushina's face. She pulled him into a tight hug.
"It's exactly because you're like this… that I can't bear to let go of you."
Tears streamed down Kushina's face as she held Akio close. He might not have been her biological son, but he was her first child.
"Make sure to take care of yourself, alright? Eat on time, sleep on time… if you want to play, just play. Don't hold yourself back. And watch over your brother too. You're such a good kid, and yet you're burdened with a prophecy technique like that… Whatever you do, never let anyone find out," she said, crying as she spoke.
"Mama…" Akio was helpless in Kushina's arms, unsure what to do, his tiny fists clenched as he hugged her back.
"Reaper Death Seal!"Over on Minato's side, he had already started weaving hand signs—he didn't hesitate, immediately using the Reaper Death Seal. The Shinigami appeared behind him.
"Believe in these two kids. After all, they're our sons," Minato said, looking toward Kushina.
"That jutsu… no way… ah, it's the Reaper Death Seal."At some point, the Third Hokage had arrived under a tree not far away and had just witnessed what Minato was doing.
"Once the sealing is complete, I'll seal your chakra into Naruto. I hope you'll be able to help him when he tries to control the Nine-Tails as a Jinchūriki."
"They're our children—that's exactly why I don't want them carrying such a heavy burden!" Kushina shouted at Minato.
"And why… why use the Reaper Death Seal? Just so I can see Naruto after he's grown up… even if it's only for a brief moment? You're really going to die for that?!"
As Kushina yelled, Akio finally realized—sealing the Nine-Tails alone wasn't enough to kill Minato. He chose to die, just so Kushina could have the chance to see Naruto grow up. He was doing it… for love.
"I wanted you to stay with Naruto and Akio, to watch them grow up… Why?! For the sake of balance, for the village, for the country—you're making Naruto a sacrifice?! And now you're sacrificing yourself for me?!"
Kushina shouted, coughing up blood that splattered all over Akio in her arms.
"To abandon the nation, the village—it's the same as abandoning your children. You of all people, coming from a fallen country, should understand that. You know how cruel life becomes for those whose homelands are lost. And besides… we're all shinobi."
Minato looked her in the eyes. "And if I lived… I could never beat you."
Kushina froze.
"You haven't been a mother for long, but what you've taught them in that short time—I could never compare. That's a mother's power. You're doing this not just for yourself, but for Naruto too."
"To willingly die for your child… that's a father's duty too."
Minato crouched down and picked Naruto up. The four of them—well, three squatting, Akio still standing—gathered face to face as a family.
Both Minato and Kushina had incredibly determined looks in their eyes. Outside, the Third Hokage tried to rush in to help, but the chakra chains from Kushina held strong—there was no way in.
"Seal!"Minato stood up and activated the Reaper Death Seal. The Nine-Tails shrank to half its size—Minato had sealed one half of the beast into himself.
"Next is the Eight Trigrams Seal. I'll seal the other half of the Nine-Tails into Naruto."Minato formed more hand signs, and a stone altar appeared in the clearing, surrounded by a ring of candles. This was the sealing altar. He gently placed Naruto on it.
The Nine-Tails glared at him, seething with rage.
"An altar? You're sealing me again?! Into that brat?!"
"Ugh… cough cough…"Just then, Kushina was losing strength—she couldn't hold on much longer.
"Mama!"Akio looked over at her, worried.
"Kushina!"Minato saw it too and rushed to her side.
"Now's my chance!!"The Nine-Tails roared and thrust its claw toward Naruto. Kushina, using the last of her strength, shoved Akio out of the way—he tumbled across the ground.
Minato moved in front of Kushina—and both he and Kushina were pierced through by the claw, dragged all the way to where Naruto lay.
"I told you… this is a father's duty…" Minato said with great effort.
"In that case… a mother has her duty too…" Kushina added.
"Dad! Mom!" Akio pushed himself up from the ground, shouting in despair. "Third Hokage! Please save them!!"
He ran over to Hiruzen, pounding on the barrier with all his strength—but it was useless.
"Third! Third, help them!!"He shouted and shouted until he couldn't anymore—his young body couldn't take it. He collapsed from exhaustion.
"This is the first time I've ever lost an argument to you during a fight as a couple… I get it now. You're serious."Minato smiled at Kushina.
"Thank you… Kushina."As he spoke, he formed another set of seals and summoned a toad.
"AH! The Nine-Tails!"The toad jumped back, startled at the sight of the tailed beast—and at Minato, impaled and bleeding.
"Hey! Fourth! What are you doing?!"
"Gerotora, I'm entrusting the sealing key to you. Give it to Master Jiraiya when the time's right," Minato instructed.
"So that's it… Minato plans to make his child a Jinchūriki… to save the village," Hiruzen muttered, realizing what was happening.
Gerotora took the key and disappeared.
"Now I can rest easy," Minato said. Behind him, the Reaper began to move, licking its blade.
"Kushina… we don't have much time left. It's almost time for the Eight Trigrams Seal. I want to seal as much chakra into Naruto as I can. We're about to part ways. If you have anything to say to him—say it now."
"...Naruto. Don't be picky with food, always eat until you're full. Grow up strong. Make sure to take hot baths every day. Don't stay up too late, get enough sleep.
And… make friends. You don't need a lot. Just a few who are really true to you…"
"....,"