"Nine-Tails!"
"Run! The Nine-Tails has appeared!"
"By order of the Police Force, all noncombatants are to proceed to the Tatsumi Shelter!"
At that moment, commotion broke out across the compound.
The Nine-Tails?
Five-year-old Itachi Uchiha hadn't even started at the Ninja Academy yet, so he clearly didn't know what the Nine-Tails was.
He tightened the blanket, steadied Sasuke in his arms with one hand, then pushed off the ground. After a few quick leaps, he reached the compound's main road and caught up with a clansman wearing a Konoha flak jacket.
"What happened?"
"What is the Nine-Tails?"
"Why is a monster like that in Konoha?"
"Are we under attack?"
After firing off a string of questions, the clansman glanced back at Itachi and the infant in his arms.
"Itachi, it's not something you need to worry about right now. I still have to tell the clan members to evacuate. Take your little brother to the Tatsumi Shelter. Remember, don't go near the Nine-Tails, and don't give the clan head cause to worry!"
"Okay, I understand." Seeing that he wouldn't get any answers, Itachi could only nod. He took one last look at the Nine-Tails in the distance, then turned and ran toward the shelter.
On the way,
Itachi noticed that Sasuke kept staring at the distant Nine-Tails. As he ran, he gently patted Sasuke's back and reassured him, "Don't worry, Sasuke. No matter what happens, your big brother will protect you."
Thanks, I guess.
Sasuke gave a silent snort and continued staring at the Nine-Tails.
He'd just transmigrated, gained the Soul Space Prison System, and discovered that tonight was the Nine-Tails' rampage. How could he possibly let this opportunity pass him by?
Did they really think he was frozen in fear?
He was staring at the Nine-Tails to keep track of a certain moment!
Seeing that Sasuke remained silent, his eyes fixed on the Nine-Tails, Itachi found it a little strange, but didn't think much of it.
At least a quiet Sasuke was more reassuring than a crying one.
Especially at a time when the village was in danger. At least Itachi wouldn't have to divide his attention to comfort him.
The Uchiha Clan Compound hadn't yet been moved to the edge of the village, and it wasn't too far from the so-called Tatsumi Shelter.
Still, to avoid the Nine-Tails, Itachi had no choice but to take a detour.
"So many ninja can't even stop the Nine-Tails?"
Itachi kept glancing toward the Nine-Tails. Seeing wave after wave of ninja rushing into battle, the village suffering widespread destruction, and the villagers fleeing in panic, a grave look appeared on his young face.
Sasuke, held in his arms, gave another silent snort.
That was the Nine-Tails!
Without something like Sealing Jutsu or Mangekyo techniques to restrain it, even all of Konoha together wouldn't be able to take it down!
Suddenly,
"Waaah! Daddy, Mommy!" A little girl's cries came from nearby.
It's her... Itachi's heart stirred. He abruptly changed direction and came up behind the girl. "Quick, come over here!"
The little girl, who had been crying with one hand against the wall, turned at the sound of his voice and froze. "Itachi?"
Noticing the Nine-Tails smash a building with one swipe in the distance, he saw a huge piece of wall hurtling toward them. Itachi immediately reached out and shouted, "Quick, come here!"
"Okay!" The girl wiped her tears and ran toward him.
As the wall came crashing down, Itachi quickly grabbed the girl's hand and yanked her toward him!
Crash!
The wall slammed down, and the building collapsed with it. At the last possible moment, he pulled the girl clear, saving her from being buried alive.
"Th-thank you, Itachi." Looking at the collapsed building behind her, the girl still seemed shaken.
"Come with me. We're going to the shelter." Itachi didn't say more. He led the way.
"Okay." The girl nodded, clutched the hem of Itachi's clothes, and followed close behind.
At that moment, Sasuke shifted his gaze from the Nine-Tails and looked curiously at the girl behind them.
'So this is Uchiha Izumi?'
'She's young, but already looks like she'll grow into a beauty.'
'Gentle and quiet, with a beauty mark by her eye that makes you want to protect her.'
'And Itachi could still bring himself to...'
'If he doesn't appreciate her...'
Noticing Sasuke staring straight at her, Uchiha Izumi asked curiously, "Itachi, is this your... little sister?"
!!! Imouto?
Sasuke's expression darkened. You're the imouto!
"This is my little brother," Itachi said.
"Ah..." Izumi awkwardly replied, "Sorry."
Before long, they reached the area around the Tatsumi Shelter. Quite a few villagers had already arrived, and several Uchiha ninja were directing them.
Then Itachi noticed a figure up ahead... Dad?
He turned to Izumi. "Go on ahead."
"Itachi?"
"Everyone's here, so don't worry. I have to go." With that, Itachi ran toward his father.
"Dad."
Seeing him, Fugaku Uchiha nodded. "I knew you'd be all right, but this isn't a place for you to stay. Take Sasuke inside the shelter."
"Okay." Seeing his father's stern expression, Itachi didn't dare say anything more. He followed the crowd into the shelter.
More than ten minutes later,
Two members of the Police Force came to stand before Fugaku Uchiha.
"The villagers have all been evacuated, and the shelter's barrier has been activated," one of them reported briefly.
The other suggested, "Captain, we should go fight the Nine-Tails too!"
Fugaku Uchiha shook his head. "The Police Force's duty is to protect the noncombatants."
"But, Captain!"
"That's the village's order!"
Inside the Tatsumi Shelter,
"Itachi," Uchiha Izumi said as he came in, drawing near again. Curiously, she asked, "What's your little brother's name?"
"His name is Sasuke."
"Can I hold him?"
"No. He doesn't like being held by other people."
"What's the harm in holding him?" As she spoke, she picked Sasuke up.
Seeing this, Itachi expected Sasuke to get upset and was about to take him back. But after waiting a while, the scene he'd anticipated never happened.
"See, Itachi? Little Sasuke is pretty well-behaved. Aren't you being a little overprotective?"
Izumi pressed her cheek against Sasuke's. He showed no sign of anger, and Itachi couldn't help staring at her in disbelief.
How could he know that Sasuke wasn't the same Sasuke as before!
Having a cute girl press her cheek against his was much more comfortable than being held by a guy, wasn't it?
And far more pleasant to look at?
Besides, Sasuke wasn't focused on this right now.
Not long after entering the shelter, he'd already seen Hiruzen Sarutobi use a golden staff to knock the Nine-Tails out of Konoha.
By then, his consciousness had connected to the Soul Space, and he was silently repeating, 'Imprison Minato Namikaze, imprison Minato Namikaze...'
Even though the system kept notifying him that Minato Namikaze wasn't dead yet, he didn't lose heart.
He didn't know whether the Soul Space could snatch Minato Namikaze's soul from the Death God, but even the slimmest chance was worth taking!
Meanwhile,
More than ten kilometers from the village,
His life rapidly fading, Minato Namikaze and Kushina clung to their last moments, saying their final goodbyes to Naruto, who lay asleep on the sealing altar.
When the last words had been spoken, Minato Namikaze formed the hand seals.
Eight Trigrams Seal!
"Waaah! Waaah!"
The immense Nine-Tails Chakra entered Naruto's body. Black markings appeared on his belly as he slept, and he began to wail loudly.
The Dead Demon Consuming Seal contract was then completed. The Death God opened its terrifying maw, about to swallow Minato Namikaze's soul as the contract's offering, when suddenly—
Under the influence of an unseen force, Minato Namikaze's soul vanished into thin air!
!!!
The Death God, robbed of its prize, flew into a rage and let out an unwilling roar. But in the end, bound by the rules, it had no choice but to leave the living world.
At that moment, the barrier that had been containing the Nine-Tails also disappeared with Minato Namikaze's death.
"Fourth Hokage!"
"Lady Kushina!"
The ninja and Anbu who had been held back outside the barrier rushed to the Fourth Hokage and his wife.
Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up Naruto from the altar.
Just then, Kushina opened her eyes, her breath as faint as a thread. "Third Hokage..."
"Kushina!" Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding Naruto, came to her side.
"Please... take care of this child... Naruto, that's what Minato and I named him... after Jiraiya-sensei's novel."
"Naruto, is it? I understand. I'll make sure he's well cared for, Kushina. I promise!"
Having received his promise, Kushina's life finally reached its end. As if relieved of a great burden, she slowly let her eyelids fall...
'Ding!'
'Minato Namikaze's soul has been successfully imprisoned!'
Inside the shelter,
At the sound in his mind, Sasuke—whose face was being squished against Uchiha Izumi's—came to attention!
'It worked!'
Then, struck by a sudden inspiration, he quickly repeated, "Imprison Kushina Uzumaki!"
'Ding!'
'Kushina Uzumaki's soul has been successfully imprisoned!'
Excellent!
Hearing the Soul Space's confirmation, Sasuke clenched his fist in triumph.
With Kushina Uzumaki in his hands, did he still need to worry about Minato Namikaze refusing to cooperate?
Before you continue