Dead Demon Consuming Seal

"All right, then," Minato said, smiling at Yin Xiang as he set Naruto down.

"I never expected Yin Xiang to remember things at such a young age, and to be so sensible, too. Just how much will he have to bear in the future..."

Kushina looked at Yin Xiang, tears streaming down her face. Naruto couldn't remember them, which was perhaps a good thing for them. But Yin Xiang... he was still so young, yet he understood everything. He was already shouldering so much. Who knew how much more he would have to bear in the future?

"Mom... don't cry. I'll protect my little brother. I won't let anyone bully him!" Yin Xiang stepped forward and wiped away Kushina's tears. She pulled him into her arms. "That's exactly why I can't bear to leave you."

Kushina held Yin Xiang as tears poured down her cheeks. Though he wasn't her biological child, Yin Xiang was still her firstborn.

You have to take good care of yourself from now on. Eat and sleep on time. If you want to play, then play to your heart's content. Don't hold yourself back. And take good care of your little brother, too. You're such a sensible child, yet you're carrying something like the Prophecy Art. You must never let anyone find out. Kushina spoke through her tears.

"Mom..." Yin Xiang was at a loss in Kushina's embrace. He didn't know what to do, and his little hands clenched into fists around her.

"Dead Demon Consuming Seal!" Minato had already begun forming Hand Seals. He used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, and the Shinigami appeared behind him.

"Believe in these two children. They're our sons!" Minato said, looking at Kushina.

"That seal... could it be... Ah, it's the Dead Demon Consuming Seal." At some point, the Third Hokage had arrived beneath a nearby tree and witnessed the scene.

"Once the Dead Demon Consuming Seal is complete, I'll seal your chakra inside Naruto. When he tries to control the Nine-Tails as a Jinchūriki, I hope you can help him."

"They're our sons. That's exactly why I don't want them burdened with such a heavy responsibility!" Kushina shouted at Minato.

"And besides... why use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal? Is it only so I can see Naruto when he grows up... for such a short time? Why would you give your life for that?"

Only then did Yin Xiang understand. Sealing the Nine-Tails alone wasn't enough to kill Minato. Minato was going to die just so Kushina could see Naruto when he grew up. He was doing it for love.

"I want you to stay by Naruto and Yin Xiang's side and watch over them as they grow up. Why... for the balance of the Tailed Beasts, for the village, for the nation—does Naruto have to become a sacrifice? Do you have to become a sacrifice for me?" Kushina shouted, blood spraying from her mouth onto Yin Xiang in her arms.

"Abandoning your country is like abandoning your children. Your homeland was destroyed, so you should understand better than anyone what a cruel life a person from a fallen nation can be forced to lead. And on top of that, we're all shinobi!"

"And besides, I could never win against you while I was alive," Minato said.

Kushina froze for a moment. "Though your time as a mother was short, what you've taught our two children is beyond anything I could ever manage. That's a mother's duty. I'm doing this not only for you, but for Naruto, too."

"Being willing to die for your children is a duty a father can fulfill, too." Minato crouched and picked Naruto up. The family of four crouched together, facing one another. Ah... Yin Xiang was standing.

Minato and Kushina's gazes were both unwavering. Outside, the Third Hokage tried to come and help, but Kushina's chakra chains kept them from getting in.

"Seal!" Minato stood and used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal on the Nine-Tails. Its body immediately shrank by half, and half of the Nine-Tails was sealed inside Minato.

"Next is the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style. I'll seal the Nine-Tails inside Naruto." Minato formed Hand Seals. A stone platform appeared in the clearing, surrounded by a circle of candles. It was an altar for the ritual. Minato placed Naruto on it.

The Nine-Tails glared furiously at Minato. "An altar for the ritual? You're planning to seal me away again? And in that brat, no less!"

"Ah... cough, cough..." Just then, Kushina was close to collapsing. Her strength gave out. "Mom!" Yin Xiang looked at her with concern.

"Kushina!" Minato noticed what was happening and hurried over.

"Now!" the Nine-Tails roared, thrusting its claw toward Naruto. Kushina suddenly summoned her strength and shoved Yin Xiang away. He tumbled across the ground.

Minato stepped in front of Kushina. The Nine-Tails' claw pierced them both, carrying them all the way to Naruto.

"I told you... it's a duty a father can fulfill..." Minato said with difficulty.

"Then a mother should fulfill that duty, too," Kushina said.

"Dad! Mom!" Yin Xiang scrambled to his feet. Seeing what had happened, he screamed at them, "Third Hokage! Third Hokage, hurry and save them!" He ran to the Third Hokage and pounded desperately on the barrier, but it was no use.

"Lord Third Hokage!" Yin Xiang shouted. The Third Hokage looked grim. He wanted to get in, but there was no way. Yin Xiang kept screaming until he ran out of strength and collapsed unconscious. His small body couldn't keep going.

"This is the first time I've ever lost an argument with you... I understand how serious you are..."

"Thank you, Kushina." As he spoke, Minato formed Hand Seals and summoned a toad.

"Ah! The Nine-Tails!" The toad jumped in fright when he appeared. Then he saw Minato, impaled. "Ah! Fourth Hokage, what on earth are you doing?"

"Gamatora, I'm entrusting you with the key to the sealing formula. Afterward, have Teacher Jiraiya keep it safe," Minato said to Gamatora.

"So that's it... Minato intends to make his child a Jinchūriki and save the village that way." Hearing Minato, the Third Hokage understood what he planned to do.

Gamatora accepted the key and then left.

"Now I can rest easy," Minato said. The Shinigami behind him began to move, licking his blade.

"Kushina, we don't have much time left. It's about time to activate the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style. I also want to seal as much of my chakra as possible inside Naruto, so we'll have to part. If there's anything you want to tell him, say it now," Minato said to Kushina.

"Naruto, don't be a picky eater. Eat your fill every day and grow up strong. Remember to take hot baths every day, and don't stay up late—get plenty of sleep. Also, make friends. It's all right if you don't have many; just a few companions you can trust are enough..."