Reaper Death Seal

"That's good then," Minato said, offering Yin Xiang a smile before placing Naruto on the ground.

"I never expected Yin Xiang to be so sensible at such a young age, remembering everything so clearly. How much will you have to shoulder in the future..."

Kushina looked at Yin Xiang, tears streaming down her face. It was a blessing that Naruto was too young to remember them, but Yin Xiang... he was so small, yet he understood everything. He had begun to bear such heavy burdens so early, and she could only wonder how much more he would have to endure.

"Mom... don't cry. I will protect my little brother. I won't let anyone bully him!" Yin Xiang stepped forward to wipe away Kushina's tears. Kushina pulled him into a tight embrace. "It's exactly that side of you that makes it so hard for me to let go."

Kushina held Yin Xiang close, her tears falling uncontrollably. Although he wasn't her biological son, he was, in every sense, her first child.

You must take care of yourself in the future. Eat on time, sleep on time, and if you want to play, just let yourself go—don't hold back. Take care of your brother, too. You are such a sensible child, yet you carry the burden of the Prophecy Art; you must never let anyone discover it. Kushina whispered through her tears.

"Mom..." Yin Xiang stood helplessly in her arms, not knowing what to do. He gripped his small fists tightly as he held her.

"Dead Demon Consuming Seal!" Minato began weaving hand signs, invoking the forbidden technique. The Shinigami appeared behind him.

"Trust in these two children. They are our sons, after all!" Minato said, looking at Kushina.

"That seal... could it be... ah, it's the Dead Demon Consuming Seal." The Third Hokage had arrived under a nearby tree at some point, witnessing the scene.

"Once the Dead Demon Consuming Seal is complete, I will seal your chakra into Naruto. I hope that when he attempts to control the Nine-Tails as a jinchuriki, you will be there to lend him your strength."

"They are our sons! It is precisely because of that that I don't want them to carry such heavy responsibilities!" Kushina shouted at Minato.

"And... why use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal? Just to let me see Naruto grown up... just for such a fleeting moment... why would you throw your life away for that!"

Only when Kushina said this did Yin Xiang realize that sealing the Nine-Tails alone wouldn't have cost Minato his life. Minato was dying solely to allow Kushina to see Naruto grown up—it was an act of love.

"I wanted you to stay by Naruto and Yin Xiang's side, to watch them grow into adults. Why... must Naruto be a sacrifice for the sake of the Tailed Beast's balance, for the village, for the nation? Why must you become a sacrifice for me!" Kushina screamed, blood from her mouth splattering onto Yin Xiang.

"To abandon the nation and the village is the same as abandoning one's children. You, who have seen your own homeland destroyed, should understand this better than anyone. A person from a fallen nation is forced to endure a cruel life, and even more so for our family—we are all ninjas!"

"Besides, I could never win against you while I'm alive," Minato said. Kushina paused, stunned. "Although your time as a mother has been brief, the things you have imparted to our two children are beyond my reach. This is the duty of a mother; doing this is not just for you, but for Naruto as well."

"Being willing to die for one's children is also a duty a father can fulfill." Minato crouched down and picked up Naruto. The family of four huddled together—well, Yin Xiang was standing.

The gazes of Minato and Kushina were exceptionally firm. The Third Hokage tried to step in to help, but Kushina's chakra chains kept him at bay.

"Seal!" Minato stood up and cast the Dead Demon Consuming Seal on the Nine-Tails. The beast's massive form shrank by half instantly, and that half was sealed within Minato's body.

"Next is the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style, to seal the Nine-Tails into Naruto." Minato performed the signs, and a stone altar appeared in the clearing, surrounded by a circle of candles. It was a ritual altar. Minato placed Naruto upon it.

The Nine-Tails glared at Minato with hatred. "A ritual altar? You intend to seal me away again? And into that brat, no less!"

"Ah... cough, cough..." At that moment, Kushina began to lose her strength, her energy failing. "Mom!" Yin Xiang cried out, filled with worry.

"Kushina!" Minato noticed her condition and rushed over.

"Now!" The Nine-Tails roared, thrusting its claw toward Naruto. Kushina exerted her remaining strength to shove Yin Xiang aside, sending him rolling across the ground.

Minato threw himself in front of Kushina, and both were impaled by the Nine-Tails' claw, sliding until they reached Naruto.

"I told you, this is a duty... a father can fulfill," Minato said with great effort.

"If that is the case, then a mother should fulfill her duty as well," Kushina added.

"Dad! Mom!" Yin Xiang scrambled to his feet, screaming at them. "Third! Third, please save them!!" He ran to the Third Hokage and pounded desperately against the barrier, but it was useless.

"Lord Third!!" Yin Xiang shouted. The Third Hokage's expression was grim; he wanted to enter, but he couldn't. Yin Xiang continued to scream until he collapsed from exhaustion, his young body unable to sustain the strain any longer.

"It's the first time I've lost a marital argument to you. I understand now just how serious you are..."

"Thank you, Kushina," Minato said, weaving a sign to summon a toad.

"Ah! The Nine-Tails!" The toad appeared, startled, then saw the impaled Minato. "Hey! Fourth, what are you doing!"

"Gamatora, I am entrusting the key to the sealing formula to you. See that Master Jiraiya keeps it safe," Minato instructed.

"I see... so that's it. Minato intends to make his child a jinchuriki to save the village." Hearing this, the Third Hokage finally understood Minato's plan.

Gamatora took the key and vanished.

"Now I can rest easy," Minato said. Behind him, the Shinigami began to move, licking its blade.

"Kushina, our time is running out. It is time to initiate the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style. I want to seal as much of my chakra into Naruto as possible. We are about to be separated; if you have anything you want to say to him, do it now." Minato said to her.

"Naruto, don't be a picky eater. Eat plenty every day and grow up strong. Remember to take a hot bath every day, and don't stay up late—get plenty of sleep. Also, make friends. It doesn't matter if you don't have many; just a few trustworthy companions will be enough..."