Snatching Souls from the God of Death

(Chapter 39: Snatching Souls from the Reaper)

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!"

Three Great Fireball Jutsus struck the Nine-Tailed Fox's right claw in rapid succession. While the power of the Great Fireball Jutsu increases with the amount of chakra output, much of that energy is often wasted, failing to fully manifest the explosive potential of the flames. Mirai, growing anxious, finished one hand seal and, due to his extreme speed, immediately transitioned into a second and then a third, creating a brand-new ninjutsu.

Compared to a single Great Fireball, this was harder for the opponent to dodge, and its concentrated impact was stronger than the Phoenix Sage Fire. What Mirai needed was the knockback effect.

Although the power generated by the continuous explosions failed to inflict any actual damage on the Nine-Tailed Fox, it still managed to deflect the trajectory of its claw.

BOOM! The Nine-Tailed Fox's claw slammed into a massive boulder nearby, shattering the five-meter-tall rock as if it were tofu.

The Nine-Tailed Fox fixed its gaze on Mirai, letting out an enraged roar: "It's you again, you brat! How dare you ruin my plans time and time again! I'll kill you first!"

The Nine-Tailed Fox's hatred for Mirai now rivaled that which it felt for the Fourth Hokage and Uzumaki Kushina. It was this brat who had used genjutsu to control it just moments ago, allowing the Fourth Hokage to extract half of its chakra.

Being pushed to such a degree by a powerful individual was one thing, but this was just a brat. He could not be allowed to live; otherwise, he might very well grow into a figure on the level of Uchiha Madara.

As the Nine-Tailed Fox's claw lunged toward him, Mirai offered a bitter smile. Had he pushed himself too hard? His body was now completely devoid of strength, his chakra reserves utterly dry. It was only his sheer mental fortitude that had kept him from passing out. Facing the Nine-Tailed Fox's attack, he had no way to dodge. He hadn't even been in this world for two years since his transmigration, and his legendary life was ending before it had even begun. Still, perhaps it was for the best; at least he would be at peace now. Mirai collapsed sideways onto the ground and closed his eyes.

"SPLAT—!" Mirai did not feel the expected pain; instead, a few droplets of scorching liquid splashed onto his face. Opening his eyes, he saw Uzumaki Kushina and the Fourth Hokage standing in front of him, their bodies both pierced through by the Nine-Tailed Fox's claw.

Mirai stared blankly, his pupils dilated, as he stammered, "Why..."

Uzumaki Kushina smiled with great difficulty. "Mirai... you just saved the child of Minato and me. How could we... how could we let you die here..."

"It was you who saved Kushina and Naruto, and saved this village. Kushina and I were destined to die sooner or later, but you are the future hope of Konoha. It is a selfish request, but I hope that if Naruto is ever in mortal danger, you will save him. After all, we are his parents, and we worry so much leaving him behind like this... cough, cough..." Namikaze Minato also coughed up blood. Neither of them asked Mirai to raise Naruto, as Mirai was still a child himself and barely able to care for his own life, but they both believed in Mirai's future—he would surely become a powerful ninja.

Mirai nodded. His mind was in turmoil; after all, having others sacrifice their lives to shield him was a completely different sensation from risking his own life to save others. It was a feeling Mirai had never experienced before, and his heart felt choked and heavy with grief.

Seeing Mirai nod, Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato wore expressions of relief. The Nine-Tailed Fox tried to move again, but Uzumaki Kushina intensified the barrier, tightening the slackening chakra chains to bind the beast once more and slowly pulling its body back.

"ROAR—!" The Nine-Tailed Fox struggled in defiance, but it could not break free.

"Minato, let's begin. We don't have much time left," Uzumaki Kushina said to Namikaze Minato. Minato nodded, his hands forming seals as he prepared to seal the Nine-Tailed Fox into Naruto's body.

Uzumaki Kushina looked down at her child with a smile, beginning to tell the oblivious Naruto how to be strong when his parents were gone, to eat well, to make good friends when he started school, and to listen to his big brother Mirai...

Uzumaki Kushina seemed to have endless words she wanted to leave for her child. Listening from the side, Mirai could not help but let his tears fall. Was this what they called paternal and maternal love? It was truly the greatest thing in the world.

Soon, Namikaze Minato finished his preparations and executed the sealing jutsu. With a roar of unwilling fury, the Nine-Tailed Fox's body flew toward Naruto Uzumaki, and it was quickly sealed away, leaving a seal mark on the infant's stomach.

Namikaze Minato handed the key to the seal to a summoned toad, instructing it to keep it safe and eventually pass it on to his teacher, Jiraiya.

[Ding—! Host has completed the S-rank mission: Seal the Nine-Tailed Fox. Reward: 100 System Points.]

The system notification rang in Mirai's ears. He had completed an S-rank mission and gained 100 points, yet he felt no joy, for this was a victory bought with the lives of others.

Once the Nine-Tailed Fox was sealed, the barrier dissipated. The Third Hokage and the other ninjas rushed to the scene. The Third Hokage looked at Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina with eyes full of pain, his lips trembling as he said, "Minato... Kushina... Konoha owes you too much..."

"Don't say that, Lord Third. This is what a Hokage should do. But I must ask you to look after our child." Minato smiled at the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage nodded, his old eyes brimming with tears. The other ninjas were speechless at the sight. Seeing the Third Hokage's nod, Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina wore radiant smiles as their life force gradually faded away.

Mirai watched Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, his heart aching to help them—perhaps even just to help them see Naruto one last time—but he was powerless. Perhaps only the Rinnegan's Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique could save them now.

[Ding—! Powerful soul energy detected. Triggering conditions for "Hero Pavilion." Do you wish to induct Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina into the Hero Pavilion? Cost: 100 System Points.]

The sudden voice in his mind startled Mirai. Although he didn't know what the "Hero Pavilion" was, the system's mention of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina meant it was related. Even though it would cost all his points, he would have given his entire fortune for the people who had saved his life.

[Yes!]

A mysterious power surged into Mirai's eyes, allowing him to see the Reaper standing behind Namikaze Minato. Mirai's pupils constricted. Wasn't this something only the caster and the target could see? He watched as the Reaper began to pull Minato's soul from his body.

Suddenly, Namikaze Minato's soul, which was about to be taken away, broke free from the Reaper's grasp, flew toward Mirai, and was absorbed into him. Mirai was shocked himself. The Reaper seemed surprised that a soul could vanish from its grasp and turned its gaze toward Mirai. Mirai panicked, thinking: Damn it, this system is too overbearing! It's actually snatching souls from the Reaper.

But couldn't you do it without doing it right in front of him? At least don't implicate me! Why is the Reaper looking at me with such malice? The Reaper was indeed glaring at him, and Mirai felt incredibly uneasy. He isn't going to drag me away, is he?

However, Mirai's worries were unnecessary. The Reaper was, after all, an entity bound by rules, and its figure faded away before Mirai's eyes. Mirai let out a sigh of relief. It seemed his character was decent enough that the Reaper wouldn't claim the soul of someone as kind as him. With his mind finally at ease, his body could no longer hold on, and he collapsed into a deep unconsciousness.