How Could They Succeed

The Third Hokage's tone was one of shock and fury. Seeing the hand seals Mirai was forming and the Nine-Tailed Fox's current behavior, he realized Mirai was using genjutsu to suppress the beast. He knew that Mirai had awakened the Sharingan at such a young age—a talent seen only once in a century—but to attempt to suppress the Nine-Tailed Fox with a Sharingan of this level was simply...

Several ninja were stunned upon hearing the Third Hokage's words. "Lord Third, are you saying that child from the Uchiha clan has already awakened the Sharingan? And he's currently restraining the Nine-Tailed Fox?" The Sharingan was notoriously difficult to awaken even within the Uchiha clan; they had never heard of someone so young achieving it.

"Yes, Mirai has already awakened the Sharingan. He is a talent seen once in a century."

Hearing the Third Hokage's confirmation, the men couldn't help but gasp in amazement.

At this moment, the Fourth Hokage had finished his preparations and let out a loud shout: "Reaper Death Seal!"

A chakra arm covered in cursed seals erupted from Namikaze Minato's abdomen, lunging toward the Nine-Tailed Fox and plunging straight into its body.

"ROAR~~!!" The Nine-Tailed Fox let out an angry howl as a massive mass of chakra was ripped from its body, flowing along the cursed arm and pouring into the Fourth Hokage's body.

Feeling the acceleration of the chakra flow, and being right beside the Fourth Hokage, Mirai's system began absorbing chakra at an increased rate. Once he reached about five percent of the total, the absorption speed began to climb rapidly, nearing one percent per second.

Before long, Namikaze Minato had absorbed a vast amount of chakra. His body could no longer withstand any more; the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra flooded his system, making him feel as if he were about to burst.

This was the strength of a jinchuriki. In terms of pure power, Minato did not compare to Uzumaki Kushina, who was a jinchuriki herself. Uchiha Obito had only dared to make his move when Uzumaki Kushina was in labor; otherwise, he likely would not have been a match for her alone.

The ninja outside the barrier watched and remarked, "The Nine-Tailed Fox hasn't disappeared! But its size has shrunk significantly!"

Indeed, the Nine-Tailed Fox was now less than half its previous size, much smaller than the gargantuan beast from moments ago. Minato pulled out a scroll and broke its seal, revealing a small, altar-like pedestal. He placed Naruto onto the pedestal.

Mirai had by now exhausted all his ocular power, his eyes reverting from the Sharingan to their normal state. He braced his hands against the ground, gasping for air. Sweat poured down his forehead, soaking his clothes; he lacked the strength even to stand.

The Nine-Tailed Fox regained control over its body and, seeing the pedestal Minato had produced, thought to itself: This is a sealing ritual. That pedestal... damn the Fourth Hokage, is he trying to seal me again? And into the body of that newborn brat?

[Ding--! Nine-Tailed Fox chakra absorption (100/100). Host has completed the A-rank mission: Collect Nine-Tailed Fox Chakra. Reward: 50 points. "Rare Beast Pavilion" unlocked!]

Mirai was stunned. It was finally finished? However, he had no time to check it now. If not for Uzumaki Kushina trapping the Nine-Tailed Fox here, combined with the Fourth Hokage's Reaper Death Seal rapidly extracting the beast's chakra and causing it to dissipate, it would have taken him at least half an hour to collect enough on his own.

For a child like him to survive half an hour in front of the Nine-Tailed Fox was impossible. Countless ninja had already perished under the beast's attacks; if not for the Fourth Hokage and Uzumaki Kushina, this mission would surely have been rated at least S-rank, and he would have certainly died.

Without hesitation, Mirai chose to invest the points into his Taijutsu: Sleight of Hand. There was still an S-rank mission nearing completion, and the 100 points from that would be enough to unlock the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. He wanted to see the limits of Sleight of Hand, as it was currently his greatest asset and the foundation for his future standing in the ninja world.

[Ding--! Host has learned Level 5 Taijutsu: Sleight of Hand. Cost: 16 points. Hint: Level 6 requires 32 points!]

What was there to hesitate about? He continued learning.

[Ding--! Host has learned Level 6 Taijutsu: Sleight of Hand. Cost: 32 points. Hint: Level 7 requires 64 points!]

Level 7 cost 64 points, just as he had expected. These points were nearly enough to learn an S-rank ninjutsu. The higher the level, the higher the cost; he would have to be more careful about his future investments.

"Cough, cough!" Uzumaki Kushina began to cough violently; her body seemed unable to hold on any longer.

The Nine-Tailed Fox was also startled, suddenly realizing that the chains that had been binding its body so tightly had loosened significantly. The primary reason was its massive reduction in size, and it sensed an opportunity.

Hearing Uzumaki Kushina's cough, Namikaze Minato moved to her side, worried: "Kushina, are you alright..."

Seeing Minato move away from Naruto, the Nine-Tailed Fox's eyes lit up. Now is the time. It raised its right claw; if it killed this vessel, it wouldn't be sealed. Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina were both at the end of their rope; even if it didn't act, both would be dead soon anyway.

Namikaze Minato's attention was entirely on Uzumaki Kushina, and he didn't notice. Mirai, however, caught the glint of killing intent in the Nine-Tailed Fox's eyes.

"Die!" The Nine-Tailed Fox launched its attack toward Naruto on the pedestal, its claw thrusting forward.

Seeing the Nine-Tailed Fox's movement, Mirai realized it was too late to warn Namikaze Minato. We've come this far, how could I let you succeed! Mirai screamed in his heart. If he failed, he would die here. He squeezed out every last drop of his remaining chakra.

His hands moved in a blur, forming seals at a speed almost invisible to the naked eye: "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Mirai did not stop after the first set of seals; he stacked them, immediately forming a second and third Great Fireball. The three fireballs surged one after another toward the Nine-Tailed Fox's claw.