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It's done!
That Uzumaki Kuronaru kid really clicked.
Inside Bai Ming's body, the Nine Tails instantly felt refreshed. Uzumaki had successfully obtained the key to the Eight Sign Seal. When he unlocked the seal, there was no hesitation whatsoever. This made Bai Ming think that Hei Ming's world might be a bit petty, especially as he was still trying to test Hei Ming impatiently.
However, Hei Ming's decisiveness and what he had said to Bai Ming showed his true character.
"Cut!" the Nine Tails flicked its tail in irritation. "Boy, look at Hei Ming. He's looking at you like thatā¦"
"I'm very proud when my practice becomes stronger," it muttered to itself. "What do you think, Uchiha Sasuke, that you can surpass him?"
"You're the Jinchūriki of my mighty Nine Tails, and they're nothing."
Bai Ming remained silent. He could feel the Nine Tails' dissatisfaction inside him. After all, without comparison, one could never know how much their heart would be stirred. Bai Ming had to admit that the people in Konoha Village meant far more to him than the Nine Tails.
Even he himself was nearly assimilated into the village's atmosphere. They feared the Nine Tails, seeing it as a terrifying beast that could harm the village. Yet, when he defeated Neji and Gaara in the Chūnin exams, or when he took action to protect the village, he could feel the gradual recognition he received from others in Konoha.
All of this, Bai Ming realized, came from the Nine Tails protecting him.
He had to protect the village and his companions, but in his heart, the only person he truly wanted to protect wasā¦ Uzumaki Naruto.
Bai Ming was confused, his thoughts spinning in a trance. He quickly shook his head, trying to clear away the strange thoughts. Pointing at the Nine Tails, he said, "Hmph! It's not that you always scare me. You just want to break free from the seal to give me strength."
The Nine Tails grinned. "You're embarrassed to say it, but why is it that you can't open your heart to me, yet you do so for those who exclude and curse you?"
"You're stupid."
"Just admit it, Uzumaki Bai Ming, you're a fool."
Bai Ming pouted, clearly annoyed. "I hate you! My mouth is too stupid to argue with you."
The Nine Tails chuckled. "You silly boy. Watch that kid, Hei Ming, and see what it means to be strong. You should be envious. In that kid's world, Sasuke follows him like a younger brother, and that chick named Haruno Sakura can't be driven away."
Bai Ming didn't want to listen. He raised his hands. "Slightly, slightly, slightly. I'm not listening to this."
[Crack!]
As Uzumaki Naruto twisted the seal of his abdomen with the Chakra from the key, the door lock of the Eight Sign Seal slowly opened. With each lock released, the gate of the seal gradually disappeared, until the entire seal vanished.
Both Uzumaki Naruto and the Nine Tails stood, facing each other.
The Nine Tails' ears twitched a few times.
Uzumaki Naruto chuckled softly, "Lamaā¦"
"Congratulations on your release."
The Nine Tails smirked. "Now's not the time for idle chatter. What's the plan?"
"Of course," Naruto replied with a grin. "Let's let the whole village witness your majestic form. After we defeat Shuhe and Gaara, I'll have Mianma take Gaara and escape amidst the chaos."
"That's too simple," the Nine Tails laughed. "Weā¦"
Just as they were about to move, two new Chakra energy fluctuations erupted from Naruto's spiritual world. The sudden change made both Naruto and the Nine Tails nervous.
The Nine Tails' eyes widened in disbelief. "This Chakraā¦ Could it be themā¦?"
"Who?" Naruto asked, confused. He turned to the Nine Tails.
But before he could get an answer, a powerful force suddenly enveloped Naruto in a tight embrace.
"Narutoā¦"
"My good boy."
The impossible had happened.
The audience watched, dumbfounded by the sudden appearance.
Only Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato smiled, their expressions calm and composed.
Jiraiya gasped, "Incredible! Minato actually sealed both his and Kushina's Chakra inside Naruto's body."
Tsunade nodded. "Now I understand. Once the Eight Sign Seal is fully lifted, they'll emerge to meet Naruto."
Xi Hihong added, "It's the bond of parents missing their child."
Uzumaki Kushina smiled warmly. "It's not just yearning. Minato will appear when Naruto reaches the eighth tail and then repair the seal again."
Eight tails? Thisā¦?
The realization dawned on everyone. Naruto had mentioned before that when he reached four tails, his body would suffer damage. The Eight Sign Seal allowed for the Chakra of the Tailed Beast to be used, but it also loosened the seal with prolonged use.
Namikaze Minato had designed this condition to prevent the Nine Tails from going berserk and breaking free.
Fourth Raikage chuckled. "As expected of the man who fought me in the Third Ninja World War. He could plan something so intricate."
Namikaze Minato laughed humbly. "Ah, you flatter me."
Uzumaki Kushina smiled. "When Minato and I wanted to see Naruto, he sealed our Chakras in the child's body. The condition was that when Naruto used the full power of the Nine Tails, we could come out and assist him."
The Nine Tails scoffed. "Hmph, you two are so clever, I see why Hei Ming didn't break free."
The Nine Tails was taken aback, not expecting Minato to set such a trigger condition for the seal.
It had worked hard for so long to make Naruto unleash the full power of the Nine Tails, only for the seal to immediately return to its original state. That sense of futility was enough to frustrate any living being.
The Nine Tails stared at the two familiar figures.
"Ugh, I didn't expect the two of you to show up. I assume you have a lot to say to Naruto."
"I suggest you find somewhere more comfortable to talk."
Naruto, still processing the sudden appearance of his parents, couldn't contain his emotions. He stared at the two figuresāone of them was his father, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, and the other was his mother, a member of the Uzumaki clan.
So, his surname really had come from his mother.
But as he felt the spatial change, a wave of nervousness washed over him. He hadn't expected his parents' Chakra to be released after the seal broke. Moreover, judging by the Nine Tails' earlier surprise, even the fox sealed inside him hadn't known about this.
It felt surreal.
Naruto was unsure how to face his parents. He was excited, yes, but also afraidāafraid that they knew everything about him, about his struggles. They knew the village he had once called home had been ravaged, all under his own planning.
How could he explain that to them?
"There's nothing to explain, Narutoā¦"
Suddenly, his father's calm voice made him tremble.
"Fatherā¦ Iā¦"
Minato shook his head. "Your mother and I believe you have your own path to follow."
Minato and Kushina gazed at Naruto with loving eyes, their expressions filled with affection and understanding.
This comforted Naruto, though he still felt a deep sadness and confusion in his heart.
"Even if the village is destroyed, it can be rebuilt," Minato continued.
"But you must understand, the ninja world is not as peaceful as you think."
"You have a special status now. Many people will target you, and that's dangerous."
Minato paused, his tone darkening. "The Nine Tails didn't go berserk for no reason. Someoneā¦"
Naruto's face darkened. "Father, let's not talk about the masked man for now. How did the place where mom gave birth stay hidden for so long? How did he find it?"
Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance. They had never considered the possibility that the location had been leaked.
"Since only the top brass of Konoha knew the exact location, the masked person must have gotten the information from Konoha's upper echelons."
The realization hit Naruto hard, filling him with rage. It was clear that Konoha's higher-ups had some serious secrets.
Naruto's anger grew. He was finally starting to understand that Konoha's leaders had played a role in the chaos that had ensued.
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "It never occurred to me that only the four of us knew the exact location. Even the Anbu that was sent there didn't have full details. Danzo, Koharu, Yan, you three need to explain yourselves."
Shimura DanzÅ, always the one to shift blame, retorted: "Hiruzen, are you accusing the three of us of leaking the information about Kushina?"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu both denied it, but Sarutobi Hiruzen was having none of it.
"Isn't it obvious? Only the four of us, Minato and Kushina, and my wife knew about it. And my wifeāshe was killed by the masked man!"
In a dark cave, the red glow of a mask flickered as Uchiha Obito scoffed, "How entertaining. A dog-eat-dog situation, it seems."
Black Zetsu, looking on, knew exactly what was happening. The Infinite Tsukuyomi plan was in motion, and part of it was collecting the tailed beasts, one by one. Obito's earlier actions, summoning the Nine Tails to stir chaos, had been part of the grand plan.
He glanced at Obito, silently noting that everything was falling into place.
"Forget the past," Minato murmured. "Kushina and I are from another world now."
The future, he hoped, was up to Naruto.
With that, Minato and Kushina slowly faded, leaving Naruto to face his destiny.
-------āāā--āā-------------------------------
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