In the real world—
Naruto's body was being steadily consumed by the deep crimson chakra. Though he still sat motionless, the signs of Tailed Beast Transformation were undeniable.
"Haruto…" Jiraiya's gaze locked on Naruto, worry gnawing at him.
If they failed to seize the Nine-Tails' chakra, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Not only would the berserk Nine-Tails regain its freedom, but Minato's only son—the last legacy of Namikaze Minato—would be killed in the process.
That was an outcome Jiraiya absolutely could not accept.
At this moment, he even found himself thinking—should they stop?
"No need to worry."
Senju Haruto shook his head, raising his right hand. The palm facing Naruto's chest glowed faintly, the character "Za" shimmering on it.
If Naruto completely lost control to the beast, Haruto would suppress him with Wood Release.
That was an order his true self had given specifically.
"My true body has never failed." Haruto's Wood Clone spoke firmly.
As his words fell, the terrifying transformation on Naruto's body began to halt. His form steadied into a half-Sage Mode, half-Tailed Beast state.
"It's stopped!"
Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima all cried out together in relief.
Meanwhile, inside Naruto's spiritual world—
The tide of hatred and negative emotions bore down on him, so suffocating that even his breathing grew ragged.
The malevolent chakra gnawed at his heart, filling him with pain and despair.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say—right now, Naruto wanted nothing more than to destroy everything he saw.
Just as Minato was about to rush forward and comfort him—
A familiar figure appeared above, descending slowly with arms spread wide. She wrapped Naruto into her embrace.
"Kushina!"
Minato's eyes widened the instant he saw her, and his voice burst out in disbelief.
Back then, he had sealed Kushina's chakra inside Naruto precisely for this moment—to help him control the Nine-Tails' power.
After all, she had been the beast's previous Jinchūriki.
Her knowledge of the Nine-Tails far surpassed his own.
In Minato's original plan, everything he had left behind inside Naruto was for his son's sake. He had never intended to arrange a reunion between himself and Kushina.
And yet—here she was again. His wife.
Seeing her once more after so many years, Minato's heart trembled with a wave of indescribable emotion.
Kushina felt the same—but now, she couldn't care about Minato's feelings.
She wrapped her arms tightly around Naruto's neck, her voice soft as she whispered into his ear, calling his name.
Though this was not her true body—only a fragment sealed here—she still knew some of what had happened in the years since.
She even knew that Naruto had learned the truth—that he knew she was his mother.
Her warmth and love spilled out like moonlight piercing the darkness, guiding Naruto through the storm of voices, emotions, and hatred that threatened to drown him.
"Is… it really… Mom?"
The beastly features began to fade from Naruto's body, his eyes returning to Sage Mode's frog-like form.
"Yes."
Kushina nodded firmly, no hesitation in her answer, her voice gently calling his name again.
"Kushina…"
Minato finally stepped forward, his heart yearning to speak with her, to share the countless words he'd buried.
But he knew this was not the time.
If they didn't suppress the Nine-Tails quickly, its chakra would drag Naruto into an endless abyss.
"Kushina…"
The Nine-Tails' voice rumbled low, its eyes narrowing in disbelief.
First Minato—and now Kushina too?
Could it be… that this had all been Minato's plan from the beginning?
Had he always believed Naruto would one day be capable of controlling its chakra?
Kushina ignored the beast. She turned her head, met Minato's eyes, and offered him her most radiant smile.
But in the next breath—
Veins bulged on her forehead as countless golden chakra chains erupted from her back, whipping forward to coil around the Nine-Tails' massive frame.
They bound its waist, neck, arms, and tails.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The chains struck down into the ground like stakes, pinning the great beast hard against the floor.
"Minato!"
Kushina shouted, striding boldly forward. She reached out with both hands, seizing the Nine-Tails' chakra itself, tugging it toward Naruto.
In her mind, if they could pull its chakra away—it would be victory.
Minato couldn't help but smile softly. After all these years, she hadn't changed at all.
"Come on, Minato! Hurry!"
Seeing that he hadn't moved immediately, Kushina urged him on again.
She hadn't been there for Naruto as a mother all these years.
Now that she finally had a chance to help him—how could she possibly let it slip away?
"Alright—I'm coming!"
Minato's smile vanished. In a single swift stride, he appeared at Naruto's side. On the left, opposite Kushina, he joined her in pulling at the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Naruto stood frozen where he was.
"Dad…"
"Mom…"
The scene before him wasn't quite the same as the dreams he'd had countless times—but it was real.
The parents he had longed for all his life… stood right before him, fighting for him.
Watching them, Naruto felt hot tears spill down his cheeks.
Even knowing he would only have them for the briefest of moments—
This would be the most precious experience of his life.
The most treasured memory he would ever hold.
Wiping his tears roughly with his sleeve, Naruto stood tall again. He clenched his fists, then thrust out his hands, grabbing hold of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Together with Minato and Uzumaki Kushina—he pulled.
No matter what, he would master the Nine-Tails' power.
No matter what, he would not let his parents' efforts go to waste.
"A family of three, huh…"
Senju Haruto watched the sight of their backs, his heart stirring with deep emotion.
But sentiment aside, a harsher reality remained before them.
The Nine-Tails' chakra.
Even though Kushina's love had dispelled the shadows in Naruto's heart, seizing the beast's chakra was no simple task.
Especially… when the Nine-Tails had no intention of yielding.
Its fury ignited.
With a thunderous roar, it unleashed a tidal wave of chakra, violently snapping several of Kushina's chains.
It wasn't free completely—but enough to thrash and move again.
"If you want my chakra…" the Nine-Tails bellowed, "then you'd better prove you have the strength to take it!"
It roared, pulling its chakra back toward itself with ferocious might.