How Could He Let It Happen

(Chapter 38: How Could He Let It Happen)

The Third Hokage's voice was tinged with shock and anger. Seeing Mirai forming Hand Seals and the Nine-Tails' current behavior, he knew Mirai was using genjutsu to suppress it. He knew Mirai had awakened the Sharingan at such a young age and was a once-in-a-century prodigy, but to suppress the Nine-Tails with a Sharingan of that level alone was...

Several shinobi were astonished when they heard the Third Hokage. "Lord Third, are you saying that child from the Uchiha clan has already awakened the Sharingan? And that he's holding back the Nine-Tailed Fox?" Even within the Uchiha clan, the Sharingan was extremely difficult to awaken. They had never heard of a child awakening it so young.

"That's right. Mirai has awakened the Sharingan. He's a once-in-a-century prodigy."

Hearing the Third Hokage confirm it, the others couldn't help exclaiming in amazement.

The Fourth Hokage had finished preparing. He shouted, "Seal!"

An arm made of chakra and covered in Cursed Seals burst from Namikaze Minato's abdomen and shot toward the Nine-Tails, plunging straight into its body.

"Roar!!" The Nine-Tails let out an enraged roar. A huge mass of chakra was torn from its body and poured along the arm covered in Cursed Seals into the Fourth Hokage's body.

Sensing the flow of chakra accelerate, Mirai—who was right beside the Fourth Hokage—also saw his system absorb chakra faster. Once the amount absorbed reached about five percent of the total, it began rising rapidly, at nearly one percent per second.

Before long, Namikaze Minato had absorbed a massive amount of chakra. His body couldn't withstand any more. The Nine-Tails' chakra now filled him, making him feel as if he were about to burst.

That was the strength of a Jinchuriki. Minato's strength alone couldn't compare to that of Uzumaki Kushina, who was a Jinchuriki. Uchiha Obito had only dared to make his move during Kushina's childbirth; otherwise, he might not have been a match for Kushina alone.

Seeing this, the shinobi outside the barrier said, "The Nine-Tails hasn't disappeared! But it's much smaller!"

Indeed, the Nine-Tails was now less than half its original size, several times smaller than the gigantic beast it had been. Minato took out a scroll and released its seal. A small ceremonial-looking platform appeared, and he laid Naruto on it.

Mirai had now exhausted all his ocular power. His eyes had reverted from the Sharingan to ordinary eyes. He braced himself on the ground with both hands and panted heavily. Sweat streamed down his forehead, soaking his clothes. He didn't even have the strength to stand.

The Nine-Tails had regained control of its body. Seeing the platform Minato had taken out, it thought, That's a sealing ritual. That platform... Damn you, Fourth Hokage! Are you going to seal me again? And into the body of that newborn brat?

[ Ding—! Nine-Tails Chakra absorbed (100/100). The host has completed the A-rank mission: Collect Nine-Tails Chakra. Reward: 50 Points. "Rare Beast Pavilion" unlocked! ]

Mirai was stunned. He'd finally finished absorbing it? But he had no time to check. If Uzumaki Kushina hadn't been here to restrain the Nine-Tails, and if the Fourth Hokage's Reaper Death Seal hadn't rapidly extracted its chakra and accelerated the chakra's dispersion, collecting enough on his own would've taken about half an hour.

There was no way a kid like him could survive half an hour in front of the Nine-Tails. Who knew how many shinobi had already died to its attacks? If the Fourth Hokage and Kushina hadn't been there, this mission would surely have been rated at least SS-rank. He really would've been doomed.

Without a doubt, Mirai still chose to spend the Points on his Taijutsu: Sleight of Hand. He was about to complete another S-rank mission, and an S-rank mission would reward him with 100 Points—enough to unlock the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. He also wanted to find out Sleight of Hand's limits. It was already helping him enormously and might even become the foundation that let him make a name for himself in the Shinobi World.

[ Ding—! The host has learned Level 5 Taijutsu: Sleight of Hand. Cost: 16 Points. Friendly reminder: Level 6 Sleight of Hand requires Points! ]

Why hesitate? Naturally, he kept learning.

[ Ding—! The host has learned Level 6 Taijutsu: Sleight of Hand. Cost: Points. Friendly reminder: Level 7 Sleight of Hand requires 64 Points! ]

Level 7 cost 64 Points? That was about what he'd expected. That was almost enough Points to learn an S-rank ninjutsu. The higher the level, the more Points it took, so he'd have to think carefully before learning any further.

"Cough, cough!" Uzumaki Kushina coughed violently, seeming unable to hold on much longer.

The Nine-Tails was startled too. It suddenly realized that the ropes that had been tightly binding its body had loosened considerably. The main reason was that it had shrunk so much. It sensed an opportunity.

Hearing Kushina cough, Namikaze Minato went to her side, looking worried. "Kushina, are you all right...?"

When the Nine-Tails saw Minato move away from Naruto, its eyes lit up. Now! It raised its right claw. If it killed this vessel, it wouldn't be sealed. Minato and Kushina were both at death's door; even if it did nothing, they would soon die anyway.

Minato's attention was entirely on Kushina, and he didn't notice. Mirai, however, saw the gleam in the Nine-Tails' eyes—and its murderous intent.

"Die!" The Nine-Tails attacked Naruto on the platform, thrusting its claw toward him.

Seeing the Nine-Tails move, Mirai knew there was no time to warn Minato. We've come this far. How could I let you get away with it? If he failed, he would die here. Mirai forced out every last bit of his remaining chakra.

His hands blurred as he formed Hand Seals, moving so fast the naked eye could barely follow. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

After finishing one set of Hand Seals, Mirai didn't stop. He combined the seals, quickly forming a second and then a third Great Fireball. One after another, the three Great Fireballs rushed toward the Nine-Tails' claw.