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The Nine-Tails' voice oozed with temptation. "Give me your heart. Surrender it all. I'll free you from your suffering."
Naruto's shirt tore open, revealing the death god's seal etched on his stomach. The markings twisted, warping into a gaping black hole. From it, thick black liquid seeped out, staining the waters beneath him.
"Yes… that's it," the fox purred.
The sea turned pitch black, writhing with malice.
Meanwhile, Yamato was racing back, his eyes widening as he checked the chakra gauge on his hand. "Eight tails already… no… this is bad. This is really, really bad!"
Outside, red flames burst violently from within the colossal stone sphere.
A monstrous claw punched through, scattering stone like paper. One tail after another erupted out, writhing in fury.
The Nine-Tails was breaking free.
Pain stared at the sky where the Nine-Tails burst free.
"So this is its true power… incredible!"
The beast's massive head and body tore through the barrier, bellowing with rage.
A torrent of searing fire erupted from its jaws, dyeing the heavens a blood-red.
Naruto's eyes had already turned crimson.
Chunks of rock caught fire midair, crashing down like flaming meteors.
From beyond the bars, the Nine-Tails goaded him.
"Come closer… rip off that seal. Set me free!"
Naruto drifted toward the colossal iron gate like a puppet on strings, his body moving without will.
"No… don't tell me it's already too late?" Yamato stared in horror at his own palm, the number nine now burning bright across it.
Naruto's eyes glowed an ominous red. As he reached the gate, a whirlpool of scarlet chakra lifted him up toward the seal.
His hand pressed against the binding tag.
Outside, the Nine-Tails roared with manic glee, already celebrating its freedom.
But before Naruto could pull the seal away, a figure appeared, grabbing his arm and yanking him back down.
Naruto's vision cleared. The man reached out a hand, steadying him.
Naruto froze in disbelief. The man wore the robes of the Hokage, with the words Fourth Hokage emblazoned across his back.
The Nine-Tails' crimson eyes narrowed. "You…!"
Naruto's eyes widened. "The Fourth Hokage!"
Minato Namikaze gave his son a gentle smile. "Naruto. I left a safeguard in the seal. Once you reached the eighth tail, I'd appear inside your consciousness."
"I never wanted it to come to this… but here we are."
He turned toward the gate and the snarling beast behind it.
"Honestly, I never wanted to see you again, Nine-Tails. But… I did want to see my grown-up son. So I guess this moment is bittersweet."
The Nine-Tails thrashed violently, its voice shaking the air.
"Minato Namikaze! Come closer, and I'll tear you apart!"
Minato's expression sharpened with scorn.
"You're all bark and no bite. You can't even touch me. Isn't that right, Naruto?"
Naruto stared at him, stunned.
"Wait… how do you even know my name?"
"Because I gave it to you," Minato said softly. "You're my little boy."
Naruto's breath caught. "…Little boy? Then that means—"
"Like I said before. You're my son."
Tears welled up as the truth hit Naruto.
"The Third never told you, huh?" Minato's voice grew heavy. "He kept it quiet to protect you. If people knew you were my son, the dangers around you would've multiplied."
"Dad!" Naruto's voice cracked as he punched his father in the stomach, overwhelmed.
"Why?! Why seal the Nine-Tails inside your own kid?! Because of you, my life was hell!"
"Everyone treated me like garbage! I couldn't make friends… so I worked myself to the bone just to prove I existed!"
"I trained nonstop. I pushed myself to get stronger. Then I met Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, and Pervy Sage… They made me believe I could be strong. And I was happy!"
"But because of that strength, the Akatsuki came after me. I had to train even harder, just to stay alive."
"I finally got strong enough to stand on my own—and still, my friends were slaughtered by Akatsuki. So tell me… should I be proud, or furious?!"
His voice broke into sobs, words spilling out between gasps.
Minato's face twisted with guilt.
"How old are you now, Naruto?"
"…Sixteen."
"Sixteen already. You've endured so much. I'm sorry, son. Sorry I left you to carry all this pain alone."
Naruto sniffled, forcing himself to steady.
"It doesn't matter anymore. I'm the son of the Fourth Hokage. I'll endure it."
Minato gave him a sad smile.
Back in reality
Sasuke's eyes went wide.
"The Nine-Tails… sealed inside Naruto? And he's the Fourth Hokage's son?!"
"All this time I thought the Uchiha name was unmatched… but compared to him, what do I have left to boast about?"
The Third Hokage sighed, watching Minato's image.
"As expected… Minato always had one last move prepared. And yes—Naruto suffered greatly because of it."
Hinata's face turned crimson.
"Naruto… the son of the Fourth Hokage?!"
Her mind flashed to the memory of her confession.
"And… I actually confessed to him in the future?!"
Her cheeks burned hotter until she fainted on the spot.
Danzo smirked coldly.
"Clever as ever, Minato. Protecting your son while keeping the Nine-Tails sealed away. Always a calculating man."
Inside Naruto's mind
Minato spoke again.
"I sealed away half the Nine-Tails' chakra… because I believed you'd one day learn to master it. My son could handle it."
"I had my reasons. Sixteen years ago, when the Nine-Tails attacked the village, I learned the truth. It wasn't just a random disaster. Someone was behind it."
Naruto's eyes widened. "A mastermind?!"
"A masked shinobi with terrifying power. Without special strength, no one can stand against him. And I'm sure he'll strike again."
Naruto clenched his fists. "Konoha's already been reduced to ruins!"
"I know," Minato said. "I saw it through you. And… I know about Jiraiya's death, too."
Naruto flinched. "Then… was Pain the one who controlled the Nine-Tails back then?"
Minato shook his head. "No. It wasn't him. It was a masked man from Akatsuki. He read every move I made like it was nothing. He's no ordinary shinobi. Pain may just be another pawn in his game."
Naruto's voice shook with anger.
"No… Pain wasn't a pawn. He hated the Leaf, same as now. His village was destroyed too—that's why he turned out like this!"
"You're saying he was used? But he's so strong…"
"And why do they keep targeting the Leaf?!"
"Because Pain is searching for peace," Minato replied. "That's why he could be manipulated."
"Then tell me, Dad! What should I do?!"
Minato's eyes softened as he looked at his son.
"You'll have to find that answer yourself."
"..."
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