Under Pain's 'leadership', the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki followed him to a secret cave near Nagato.
This dark place never saw the light of day.
Nagato: "Chibaku Tensei."
Konan: "You don't need to go to such lengths, your body is already..."
Nagato: "Quiet, Konan, I need to concentrate."
He clasped his hands together.
A massive amount of Chakra was already transferred into his hands.
He opened his hands again.
Releasing a black energy ball the size of a ball .
Its density was extremely high.
This was also the most primitive state of Chibaku Tensei.
It would fly into the sky, attracting nearby rocks.
Creating a giant sphere of rock.
This was a Rinnegan-level sealing jutsu.
The Pain outside took control of the black energy ball.
"Chibaku Tensei."
He raised his hands high.
Large sections of mountainside were sucked towards the energy ball in the sky.
Eventually forming a rock sphere hundreds of meters in diameter.
It remained suspended in the sky, creating a phenomenon like a solar eclipse.
And the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had been successfully sealed.
Looking at the giant sphere in the sky, Konan said, "You didn't have to make it so big."
Nagato, having expended too much energy, was panting with his head bowed.
"The opponent is the Nine-Tails, we can't be careless."
"And compared to the moon created by the legendary Six Paths Sage, this is nothing."
"In any case, with this, the capture of the Nine-Tails is complete."
Meanwhile, within Naruto's consciousness, there was a wet surface, a giant iron gate, and a sealing tag on the iron gate.
A giant fox eye from within the iron gate stared coldly at Naruto.
'Why, why did it turn out like this?'
Why was Konoha destroyed?
Why did his comrades die one by one?
Why couldn't he defeat Pain?
He had trained so hard.
He had fought with all his might.
'If it's you, to create peace, how will you face this hatred?'
'I want to hear your answer.'
'I don't know about this either.'
'It hurts so much, no.'
'I don't understand, what should I do?'
'I don't know anything anymore.'
Naruto clutched his head, lonely and helpless, like Little Naruto, shunned by the villagers.
'Someone save me.'
'Tell me the answer.'
A dark, seductive voice echoed: "Destroy everything."
"Let everything that causes you Pain be annihilated."
"Give me your heart completely."
"That way, I can save you from your suffering."
As the Nine-Tails' temptation spread, a black energy emanated from Naruto's stomach.
Jiraiya-sensei.
Kakashi-sensei.
Grandma Tsunade. (Natural energy can sense living beings.)
Hinata.
Konoha.
The dream of becoming Hokage.
None of it was a game, one by one, they died.
The Eight-Tails-transformed Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, all muscle, smashed through the rocks from within the giant rock sphere.
Breaking free from the seal.
Unleashing boundless hatred, it spewed crimson flames, igniting all the falling rocks in the sky, forming a red meteor shower beneath a fiery cloud.
It looked extraordinarily brilliant.
But this was pure destruction.
In his consciousness, the Nine-Tails continued to tempt him: "Come this way, come, tear off this sealing tag."
In the deep, dark space, Naruto took heavy steps.
Darkness completely enveloped his front, leaving only crimson eyes similar to Kurama's.
The darkened Naruto quickly approached the tag.
He reached out and pinched a corner of the sealing tag.
Just one last tear, and Naruto would completely transform into the Nine-Tails.
Suddenly, a figure as swift as a flash slapped Naruto's hand away.
Naruto fell back onto the surface of his consciousness.
He looked at the figure, clad in the Fourth Hokage's coat, with golden-yellow hair.
The person reached out and clasped Naruto's hand, pulling him up.
Naruto stared blankly at the person, who was warm and kind.
"Fourth Hokage..."
"Naruto!"
...Konoha.
Ninja Academy.
Naruto saw the Fourth Hokage's figure on the screen, his heart surging with emotion.
Even the accumulated frustration from watching the screen earlier dissipated considerably!
Fourth Hokage!
Yellow Flash!
This was Little Naruto's idol.
His desire to become Hokage was partly influenced by the heroic stories of the Fourth Hokage.
Known throughout the Ninja World for his Flying Thunder God Technique.
Striking fear into enemy nations on the battlefield!
And upon his return, he became the beloved Fourth Hokage!
The white moonlight in Naruto's heart.
He also wanted to be recognized by everyone, just like the Fourth Hokage!
At this moment, during Light Screen Naruto's crisis, his idol, the Fourth Hokage, came to save him!
Naruto's heart was filled with hope.
No matter how powerful Pain was, the legend of the Yellow Flash was not for nothing!
Kakashi stared blankly at the familiar figure on the screen, his usual casual demeanor replaced by intense nostalgia as he looked at the Fourth Hokage, his esteemed teacher.
Being by his teacher's side always brought a feeling of warmth and safety.
Kakashi seemed to be transported back to that time in his memories.
Rin, Obito, and everyone training together under their teacher's guidance.
Arguing with Obito, with Rin acting as the mediator.
But then came the war, and one by one, his comrades passed away.
Even his teacher died on the night of the Nine-Tails attack.
Kakashi felt this familiar Pain, his expression returning to calm.
Looking at the two golden-haired figures on the screen, if it was Minato-sensei, then saving Naruto was only natural.
Watching the screen, Sakura was stunned.
"Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!!!"
As a student who graduated with excellent grades from the Ninja Academy, Sakura knew the story of the Yellow Flash by heart.
Brought back to Konoha as an orphan by Lord Jiraiya.
No bloodline, no background!
He became famous in the Third Great Ninja War with his Flying Thunder God Technique!
He single-handedly fought the Kumogakure A and B brothers without falling behind!
A: No Ninja is faster than me, except that man!
Enemy: If you encounter the Yellow Flash, abandon the mission and run!
He single-handedly fought fifty elite Ninja!
On the night of the Nine-Tails attack, the Fourth Hokage also single-handedly turned the tide!
Unfortunately, heaven envied his talent.
The Yellow Flash was also the king of last-minute saves.
So, in this Konoha crisis, Naruto's crisis, the Fourth Hokage could even come to the rescue!!
Sakura was filled with hope for the outcome of this battle.
Hokage Building.
The Third Hokage looked at the trustworthy figure on the screen, hope instantly rising within him.
A hero who sacrificed himself for Konoha and Naruto!
Undoubtedly a possessor of the Will of Fire!
The Nine-Tails' seal within Naruto was performed by Minato.
Clearly, the appearance of Minato's figure on the screen indicated a contingency plan Minato left for Naruto!
With this, Naruto was saved!
Konoha would not completely lose hope either!!
But at the same time, the Third Hokage felt immense guilt towards Minato.
He had hidden Naruto's identity as the Fourth Hokage's child to prevent Ninja from other villages from seeking revenge on Naruto.
Although his intentions were good, it led to the villagers ostracizing Naruto.
He had not fulfilled his responsibilities in this matter...