"Anyway, let's go ahead and release the Nine-Tails' seal first."
Senju Haruto's tone shifted. Since Naruto had already made up his mind to learn how to control the Nine-Tails' chakra, there was no need to waste more time.
"Release the Nine-Tails' seal…" Namikaze Minato murmured softly. Looking at Naruto's unwavering determination, he resolved to do everything in his power to help his son.
After all, when he had sealed the Nine-Tails into Naruto's body back then, it had been for this very purpose—to give Naruto the strength to protect Konoha, to safeguard the village.
As a father, there was only one thing he could do now: trust Naruto's choice, and help him as much as possible.
With this thought, Minato floated upward, flying toward the massive gate that sealed the Nine-Tails. He tore off the sealing tag plastered upon it, revealing the true seal lock beneath.
Although the Nine-Tails had overheard every word spoken by Haruto, Naruto, and Minato, seeing this scene with its own eyes still left it stunned.
"What are you doing?!"
It was the strongest of all the Tailed Beasts, the embodiment of hatred itself. It had witnessed more negative emotions, more malice and despair, than Minato, Naruto, or Haruto could ever comprehend.
And now, they intended to open the seal and release it?
Were these fools underestimating it?
The Nine-Tails glared furiously at the three before it. Though it might benefit from the outcome, deep down it felt insulted—as if they no longer considered it a threat at all.
"Isn't it obvious?" Naruto spread his hands casually.
With Haruto by his side, and his father Minato here as well, what was there to be afraid of?
More importantly, even though he was in his inner world, Naruto could still sense what was happening outside. His real body sat cross-legged, perfectly still.
That meant he could absorb natural energy—and enter Sage Mode.
"I'm going to let you out now, Nine-Tails!"
Naruto shouted, and black sealing marks suddenly spread across his right arm, forming the shape of a key. Chakra surged through his body, gathering at his five fingertips.
Visible streams of chakra blazed like blue fire, shimmering at the tips of Naruto's fingers.
At that moment, Haruto stepped forward, placing a steadying hand on Naruto's shoulder, silently telling him to remain calm.
No matter what happened, he would be here.
"Mm!"
Naruto glanced at Haruto, then nodded firmly. He pressed his five fingers against his abdomen, aligning the chakra key with the seal, and began to slowly turn.
"It's starting."
Minato's heart tightened as he watched the seal lock gradually shift open.
Though the Nine-Tails before them was only half of its original self, its strength was still overwhelming. And he remembered well—back then, sealing the complete Nine-Tails had cost him his life.
Here in Naruto's spiritual world, he could wield only a fraction of his former power.
"From here on, Naruto… it's all up to you."
Clenching his fists, Minato retreated rapidly.
Click!
Click!
Click!
With each turn of the key, the massive gate imprisoning the Nine-Tails creaked open wider and wider.
Boom!
The Nine-Tails slammed its enormous paw forward, smashing the loosened iron gate apart.
"ROOOAR!"
Its thunderous roar shook the entire space—a declaration of freedom.
No force could bind it any longer.
"This is by far the most foolish decision you've ever made! I'll kill you all—and then I'll burn Konoha to the ground!"
The Nine-Tails' furious voice echoed like a storm. Its hatred surged higher than ever. These humans had sealed it once, and now they dared to covet its power?
"Naruto!"
Haruto immediately stepped in, explaining the method for seizing the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Normally, this training was done on Turtle Island, guided by Killer B. But since B wasn't here, Haruto had to take the role of instructor.
"To take the Nine-Tails' chakra, you must use your own chakra to capture it—then draw it out. Only chakra can bind chakra."
Over the years, Naruto's training at Mount Myōboku had covered far more than Sage Techniques. Following Haruto's guidance, he had honed his Rasengan, shadow clone mastery, multi-shadow clone techniques, and above all, chakra control.
So Naruto understood perfectly what Haruto was saying—and how to act.
He took a deep breath, focusing, and manifested his own chakra. It spilled from his back like a glowing spirit form.
"As long as we rip away the Nine-Tails' chakra, we win."
To make it clearer, Haruto demonstrated. From his chest burst a golden chain, which wrapped tightly around the Nine-Tails' arm, then began pulling chakra from it.
"This is—?!"
Minato's eyes widened in shock.
"The Adamantine Sealing Chains?!"
There was only one person he had ever seen wield this power before—Naruto's mother, Kushina Uzumaki.
"The same technique as Kushina…" Minato whispered, stunned.
The Nine-Tails, too, recognized the chains instantly. Memories of countless struggles against Kushina surged back, and rage boiled within it.
Crash!
The beast seized Haruto's chain in its claws and yanked with brutal force, snapping it apart.
But it wasn't because Haruto was weaker. He had deliberately let it break—to demonstrate the mechanics to Naruto. Otherwise, he wouldn't have unleashed only a single chakra chain.
"When your chakra clashes with the Nine-Tails', it creates a tug-of-war—like pulling a rope."
Even as Haruto explained, the broken half of the chain was absorbed into the Nine-Tails' body.
"See that?" Haruto pointed toward the towering beast as he continued. "That's why I call it a tug-of-war. As you pull at the Nine-Tails' chakra, it can pull back at yours. If you lose this contest, you know what the result will be."
His voice grew grave.
Naruto swallowed hard, his throat tightening. He drew in a deep breath, steadying himself.
"As expected of the Nine-Tails… It's so strong it even stole Haruto's chakra in an instant."
"Don't worry, Naruto. I'll fight alongside you." Minato stepped back beside his son, ready to support him.
But the Nine-Tails itself paused, perplexed.
This was Naruto's mental world. Even Haruto shouldn't be able to exert much influence here.
So where… where did this overwhelming chakra of his come from?