Scarlet Eyes

Outside Konoha Village, The Nine-Tails' massive body was firmly bound by chains. Although her body was extremely weak, Kushina's gaze grew increasingly resolute.

She wanted to seal the Nine-Tails back into her own body. She did not want to die like this; she could not bear to leave her younger brother, her husband, and especially not her newborn child.

"Nine-Tails, get over here, you beast!" Kushina erupted with astonishing momentum once more. Her red hair swayed in the wind; the Bloody Habanero of Konoha was back in action.

Rest assured, Kushina, I will not let anything happen to you, Minato thought, sensing the change in her and swearing silently to himself.

Suddenly, his pupils constricted. Is it starting?

Above the Nine-Tails' head, after a ripple in space, Obito appeared once again, clad in a wide black robe and wearing a one-eyed tiger-striped mask.

"As expected of someone from the Uzumaki Clan. Even after the pain of childbirth and having a Tailed Beast extracted, you can still unleash such power!"

Watching the fully restrained Nine-Tails, Obito felt deeply surprised; Kushina's tenacity exceeded his expectations.

"However, this is where it ends." His scarlet eyes lit up, and Obito's gaze turned sharp once more.

He raised his hand to attack Kushina, but the next moment, a yellow figure appeared and stood before him.

"I will never let you succeed again," Minato said, his determined eyes filled with sharpness.

Swish!

On the field, two figures—one yellow and one black—flickered constantly. Kamui and Flying Thunder God, two space-time ninjutsu, engaged in their first clash.

He only turns his body into a solid form when he attacks! Minato carefully analyzed Obito's ability in his mind. Naraku had already told him about this beforehand, so he had a plan from the very start.

Swish!

Minato's figure vanished from where he stood.

"Oh, so you intend to lure me away," Obito muttered.

"Then, as you wish."

Minato appeared on an empty grassy field. My chakra is running low. I must end this battle quickly; things are still dangerous over at Kushina's side.

Minato thought to himself. The mere act of teleporting the Nine-Tails and the Tailed Beast Ball had consumed most of his chakra, not to mention the multiple times he had already used the Flying Thunder God.

"Fourth Hokage, you are destined to fall today," Obito arrived before Minato again, his scarlet eyes brimming with endless killing intent.

Originally, his plan was only to release the Nine-Tails to cause some trouble for Konoha, but now he had changed his mind. Compared to the Nine-Tails, which was easily controlled by the Mangekyo Sharingan, Minato, who had mastered the Flying Thunder God, was his greatest future obstacle.

Is he really Uchiha Madara?

Looking at the masked Obito, Minato wondered silently.

However, considering the opponent could easily control the Nine-Tails and possessed that eerie space-time ninjutsu, perhaps only that legendary Ninja Asura could achieve such feats.

Clang! Clang!

Just then, chains slid out from Obito's black sleeves.

"Called the fastest man in the ninja world? Heh, I am faster than you now," Obito sneered in his heart, rushing toward Minato with the chains in hand.

Seeing this, Minato dared not be the least bit careless. He gripped his special kunai tightly and surged forward as well.

The sharp kunai thrust outward.

The two bodies approached at high speed. As expected, both the kunai and Minato's body passed right through Obito.

The next moment, as their bodies fully separated, Obito gripped the chains and pulled them taut with a violent jerk.

Swish!

But just as the chains were about to ensnare him, Minato used the Flying Thunder God to dodge.

On the other side, "Ha... ha..." Kushina was drenched in sweat, gasping for air.

The continuous outbursts had long since drained the energy Naraku had given her. Now, she was barely holding on through sheer willpower alone.

Although the Nine-Tails remained bound by the Adamantine Sealing Chains, Kushina no longer had the strength to drag him back into her body.

"Tsk tsk, truly worthy of the Uzumaki Clan, to be able to hold down the Nine-Tails even in this state," a mocking voice suddenly came from behind her.

"Who is it?"

Kushina started to turn around.

Splurt!

Scarlet blood sprayed out as a sharp arm made of wood pierced through her body.

"Ugh," blood spilled from the corner of Kushina's mouth. Her weak body swayed violently, as if she might collapse at any moment.

"Big sister!"

Suddenly, a shout rang out.

Is it a hallucination? Kushina wondered if she had misheard.

But I really wanted to see you all one more time.

"Chidori!"

At that moment, Kakashi, dressed in his Anbu attire, appeared behind Kushina. Lightning flashed in his hand, and the sound of chirping birds reached her ears.

"It's Kakashi." The sound of the Chidori reawakened Kushina's fading consciousness.

Using the Chidori, Kakashi forced back the person behind Kushina.

Staring at the figure shrouded by the Pitcher Plant, Kakashi's scarlet left eye spun incessantly.

Whoosh!

Just then, another figure appeared on the scene—it was Guy, carrying Naruto in his arms and Naraku on his back.

Quickly jumping off Guy's back, Naraku didn't even glance at the strange-looking Zetsu. He hurried over to Kushina and held out his arm, tears shimmering in his eyes.

"Quick, bite, you have to bite!" Naraku shouted, his voice trembling as he shakily tried to pry Kushina's mouth open with his arm.

"ROAR!"

Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted—it was the Nine-Tails. Kushina was weaker than she had ever been, and despite her desperate efforts to maintain her hold, the Nine-Tails broke free from its restraints.

Clang! Clang!

The chains snapped one by one.

"It seems I am no longer needed here," Zetsu chuckled, sinking into the ground.

Without hesitation, Kakashi moved, reappearing before the Nine-Tails as it broke free, with Kushina and Naraku positioned behind him.

"Yo, Kakashi, you can't leave me out of something like this!" A hearty voice rang out. After placing Naruto beside Kushina, Guy stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Kakashi.

At this time, they were nothing more than teenagers.

Naraku felt a surge of emotion, yet he knew that even Kakashi and Guy could not stop the Nine-Tails; they had not yet come into their own.

"Kakashi, you..." Kushina, barely maintaining consciousness, felt both moved and helpless at the sight. Even though Zetsu hadn't struck a vital organ, the massive blood loss made her feel as though she were truly dying.

"Naraku, no, your body..." Suddenly, as Kushina tried to speak, a flash of crimson appeared before her eyes. In her vision, Naraku's once-dark pupils had turned a brilliant scarlet, leaving her stunned.

Taking advantage of the moment, Naraku pressed his arm into her mouth.