Adamantine Sealing Chains

After Minato left, Tian Lu retreated to guard the doorway. Only Kushina remained in the room, holding Naruto and sobbing softly as she talked about this and that, as if she wanted to say everything she would ever have to say in this lifetime.

Naruto stared at her with wide eyes. He wanted to say something, but all he could produce were meaningless "waa, waa" sounds.

A few minutes later, Naruto heard a thunderous boom. He guessed that Old Dad had used the Space-Time Barrier to transfer a Tailed Beast Ball into the mountains.

A few more minutes passed before Minato returned home, looking slightly exhausted. He picked up Kushina in one arm and Naruto in the other. "Let's go." With that, he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique once more.

Naruto's vision blurred, and he arrived somewhere else in an instant. A Big Fox not far away was particularly conspicuous. Looks like Obito has already been taught a lesson. This is probably where the Nine Tails will be sealed—and where Minato and Kushina died in the Original Work...

(At this moment, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was on his way.)

Minato spoke. "I'll set up the barrier. Luckily, I've been diligently training in Sage Mode these past six months so I could meet Naruto. Otherwise, my Chakra might not hold out."

"I can still hold on for a while..." Kushina bit her lip, and five Golden chains shot out from behind her, rattling as they tightly bound the Nine Tails' limbs, torso, and tails.

Adamantine Sealing Chains! A power unique to the Uzumaki Clan bloodline, it could be used for both attack and sealing, and was especially effective at suppressing Tailed Beasts. Kushina usually relied on this technique to keep the Nine Tails completely in line. Its power was just as formidable when unleashed in this critical moment, and after being caught by it, the Nine Tails could barely move.

After that, Naruto watched the couple begin to... argue. Yes, argue.

Kushina believed that she should drag the Nine Tails down with her. That way, the Nine Tails would not revive for several years, giving Konoha ample time to prepare and capture it again.

Minato, however, believed that Konoha would be in danger without the Nine Tails. The balance of the Tailed Beasts would be broken, and the other hidden villages might take the opportunity to attack Konoha. So Naruto should become the new Jinchuriki.

But Kushina understood that becoming a Jinchuriki itself carried the risk of death during the sealing process. Even if he succeeded, it would mean being isolated, feared, and treated with cold indifference. She had experienced that herself, so how could she bear to make her son go through it too? He was their own flesh and blood.

Minato insisted on his view. He believed that Naruto might be the "Child of Destiny" Jiraiya-sensei had spoken of, someone who could change the ninja world. Naruto would surely pull through and become an outstanding ninja. As parents, they should believe in their son.

As the person concerned, Naruto naturally believed he could survive just fine. As for being isolated, the Konoha Twelve and other ninjas with any sense would not care about such things at all. As for the civilians and nameless extras, let them think whatever they wanted. He was not money—was everyone supposed to like him?

That was all for later. Right now, the most important thing was to stop Old Dad from using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. That thing killed people, and if the Nine Tails were sealed back right now, Old Mom would most likely survive!

Naruto fretted anxiously, but Minato had already begun to act.

He finally persuaded Kushina. "I'll combine your remaining Chakra into the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style and seal it inside Naruto's body. That way, when Naruto grows up, you'll still be able to see him once. And the only technique that can accomplish this is the Dead Demon Consuming Seal."

"But if you use that technique, you'll..."

"Yeah, I know. I'll die too. But as a husband and father..." As Minato spoke, he set Naruto down and began forming hand seals.

"Waaah..." Naruto anxiously stretched out his hand, desperately trying to stop him. This was his last chance! At the very last instant, a thin Golden chain shot out from Naruto's back and bound Minato's hands as they formed seals!

"Naruto?!" *2

Minato and Kushina cried out at the same time. After a brief moment of shock, Kushina let out a soft laugh. "Minato, Naruto can't bear to lose you. Let me do it instead..."

Naruto was stunned too. Adamantine Sealing Chains? Has my cheat finally arrived? If that's the case...

With a thought from Naruto, four more thin Golden chains shot from his back and flew straight toward the Nine Tails. One bound its two front paws together, another tied its two hind paws together, one tightly bound its mouth shut, and the last tried to tie up all nine of its tails.

Kushina had no time to be surprised. She hurriedly used her own chains to assist Naruto. With the mother and son working together, the Nine Tails toppled onto its side with a heavy crash like a pig awaiting slaughter. Its firmly bound mouth still struggled to emit unwilling growls.

"It seems Naruto perfectly inherited your talent, Kushina," Minato said softly. "In that case, I have an idea. Perhaps I can let you live!"

Seeing that Minato had changed his mind, Naruto quickly released the chain binding Old Dad's hands.

"Thank you, Naruto." Minato closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he had entered Sage Mode. After checking Kushina's condition, he said, "Just as I thought. Kushina, the residual Nine Tails Chakra in your body is growing weaker and weaker, and your body is also becoming increasingly frail. If I'm not mistaken, once that Chakra is exhausted, you'll die."

"So what if we replenish your Nine Tails Chakra instead, or even seal the Nine Tails directly back into your body?"

Beautiful! Naruto almost wanted to give Old Dad a double six-six-six. As expected of you!

"But in my current condition, I'm simply not strong enough to suppress the Nine Tails. Even if it is sealed back inside me, I may still perish together with it."

"A complete Nine Tails certainly won't work. But what about half of one?"

"Half?"

"That's right. Next, I'll use the strongest ninjutsu I possess to attack the Nine Tails. You and Naruto will work together and seize the chance to each seal half of its body!"

"I understand. Naruto, do you understand? You have to work well with Mother, okay?" Kushina smiled gently. She was going to gamble everything on what came next. She trusted her husband, and she trusted her child.

Naruto let out an "aah-woo" to show that he understood, and he sent the chain that had originally bound Minato's hands into the battle as well.

Minato raised his open right hand above his head and said resolutely, "I developed this technique a long time ago, but I've never truly used it. I hadn't even thought of a name for it. Only recently, after making great progress in Sage Mode training, did I become truly confident that I could use it. This first attempt will definitely succeed!"

(At this moment, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was still on his way.)

A massive Rasengan slowly appeared in Minato's palm. Then, four Wind Blades formed around it, spinning continuously and producing a piercing shriek.

Naruto was dumbfounded. I know this move! Isn't this Sage Art: Wind Release: Super-Large Rasenshuriken? That's amazing, Dad. You've only been training Sage Mode for half a year, and you already developed this move? Are you even going to let your son make a living?

Regardless of what Naruto was thinking, Minato had already thrown the technique. Enhanced by Sage Mode, its power was enough to smash this enormous ninjutsu straight into the Nine Tails' face!

Just as he expected, the Super-Large Rasenshuriken, nearly larger than the Nine Tails' head, exploded against its face and transformed into countless fine needles of Wind Attribute Chakra that continuously sliced through the Nine Tails' body.

"Now!"

Kushina and Naruto exerted their strength together, using Adamantine Sealing Chains to pull at the Nine Tails' body like a tug-of-war. The Nine Tails maintained the posture of a dead pig, roaring and struggling within the storm of Sage Mode Chakra. But in the end, the chains of mother and son tore it into two halves. One half sank into Kushina's abdomen and was temporarily suppressed by her original damaged seal, while the other half sank into Naruto's abdomen.

Naruto felt a weight settle in his abdomen, nearly crushing the breath from him. Then Minato picked him up and placed him on the altar that had been prepared in advance to assist with the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style.

Minato quickly formed a few hand seals, pressed both hands against Naruto's abdomen, and shouted:

"Eight Trigrams Sealing Style!"

A spiral sealing formula appeared around Naruto's navel. Naruto instantly felt much lighter, then fell into a deep sleep.

This time, I probably won't have to be an orphan again...

Naruto slept soundly. Kushina held him and wept tears of joy. "Wonderful, I can watch Naruto grow up slowly; wonderful, I can continue staying by your side; wonderful... really, truly wonderful..."

The utterly exhausted Minato gently embraced his wife and child, finally letting out a sigh of relief. "I think I can finally barely count as a qualified father and a qualified husband..."

"Good. Next, I'll help repair your seal, and then we'll go home!"

"Mm, let's go home, dattebane!"

(At this moment, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was still on his way.)