Drawing Nine-Tails Chakra, the God Tree Grows

That fluctuation was gentle, like a spring breeze brushing across the water, but Nine-Tails's instincts were screaming warnings—

Danger! Danger! Danger!

More dangerous than the first time Killer B was captured by Madara Uchiha!

Deep within Mirai's soul, an emerald-green sapling slowly emerged.

The sapling was only a little over a meter tall, with just two delicate branches. Two sprout-like leaves adorned their tips, making it look so fragile that a gust of wind could seemingly snap it.

Yet the instant Nine-Tails saw it, every hair on its body stood on end like a hedgehog's spines.

"You—what kind of tree is that—?!"

For the first time, fear entered its voice.

That fear was not reverence toward the strong, but rather a suppression carved into its very bloodline—

The innate oppression that creatures at the top of the food chain held over those beneath them.

The sapling's two tender leaves trembled slightly. An invisible root, thinner than a strand of hair, extended from its base and locked precisely onto Nine-Tails within the cage.

Nine-Tails felt its entire body freeze.

As the strongest Tailed Beast in the world, a being formed from chakra, an immortal entity that even Hashirama could only subdue but never kill, it was experiencing for the first time what it meant to be "locked onto."

It could not evade!

It could not resist!

It could not escape!

That oppressive force came from a higher level.

A level above its own.

"Ten-Tails?!" Nine-Tails's voice shook violently. "That aura is Ten-Tails...! Why do you have Ten-Tails within you?!

Impossible! That old man clearly divided Ten-Tails's chakra among us nine brothers, and Ten-Tails's body was sealed in the moon—"

Its voice grew increasingly panicked and hysterical.

But the sapling did not give it the chance to continue.

That invisible root pierced through the cage of the Five Elements Seal and stabbed into Nine-Tails's chakra body.

Then—

Drain!

"Uwaaah—!!"

Nine-Tails let out a piercing scream. It was the excruciating pain of chakra being forcibly torn directly from its source!

To Tailed Beasts, chakra was their body and their life. As long as their chakra remained, they could regenerate even if they were killed, practically living forever in this world!

But having its chakra drawn away by Mirai Uzumaki was like having flesh scraped straight off its bones.

If it were drained dry, it—it would die!

"Stop—!!! Brat, stop—!!"

Mirai watched its suffering without the slightest change in expression.

The information fed back by the sapling was clear—Nine-Tails possessed an astonishing amount of chakra. Not even one percent had been extracted so far, yet it was already a substantial supplement for the sapling.

"Ah—" Nine-Tails's shrill screams continued without end. Even its sleek crimson fur began to turn dry and dull.

Only after roughly one-tenth had been extracted did Mirai will it, and the root stopped draining, slowly retracting into the sapling.

Inside the cage, Nine-Tails collapsed onto the ground. Its nine tails drooped weakly, and its crimson fur had noticeably dimmed.

It panted heavily, terror still lingering in its slit pupils.

"This is a lesson for you." Mirai withdrew his hand, his voice calm. "If you still refuse to behave in the future, then obediently become nourishment for the God Tree!"

A rare trace of fear flashed through Nine-Tails's eyes. "Damn brat! What exactly are you trying to do?"

"You can try misbehaving again."

Nine-Tails stared at him with its slit pupils for a long time before finally looking away.

It had not surrendered, but it did not dare curse at him again.

After absorbing one-tenth of Nine-Tails's chakra, the God Tree sapling visibly changed.

It shot up from barely over a palm's height to nearly two meters tall, sprouting more branches and leaves.

The leaves changed from tender buds into mature emerald-green leaves that shimmered faintly, while the trunk thickened by a full circle.

The entire tree now overflowed with vitality, completely unlike its former listless state, as though it would never grow no matter how long it was planted.

Mirai sensed the sapling's condition and nodded in satisfaction.

Slow and steady. He could draw a little every so often; Nine-Tails would not die and could gradually recover.

The sapling could also slowly grow. Once it reached a certain stage and bore a Chakra Fruit, his great work would be complete.

Mirai Uzumaki wiped at nonexistent sweat on his forehead like a diligent tree farmer.

"All right, that's enough for today. Stay put and don't cause trouble for me." Mirai clapped his hands. "Be good. I'll come see you again in a few days."

Nine-Tails was furious but did not dare speak. It merely buried its face between its front paws and let out a low, irritated grumble.

Was he treating it like a pet? What an infuriating brat!

He was a hundred times worse than Mito Uzumaki!

Mirai withdrew from his deep consciousness, and his sea of consciousness returned to calm.

Konoha Hospital.

The hospital room was filled with the faint scent of medicine and blankets warmed by sunlight.

Mirai Uzumaki slowly opened his eyes. Above him were a white ceiling and a slightly swaying IV stand.

He blinked, taking about three seconds to readjust to the light and the weight of reality.

Then he turned his head and saw a small face framed by messy red hair, its eyes bloodshot, resting beside his bed.

Kushina Uzumaki had no idea how long she had kept watch there. Her eyes were red and swollen, dark circles prominent beneath them. She looked as though she had not slept for days.

She held his hand, her fingers curled slightly, as if she had feared he would disappear even in her sleep.

Mirai moved a finger.

Kushina jolted awake, lifted her head, and met his gaze.

Then tears instantly poured from her eyes.

"Mirai—!!"

She threw herself forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in the hollow of his shoulder. Her shoulders shook as she cried and laughed at once. "You're finally awake... I thought... I thought you too... You scared me to death..."

Kushina's embrace squeezed the breath out of him a little, but he still raised a hand and gently patted her back.

"All right, all right. I'm fine now, Kushina. How long was I asleep?"

"You slept for three whole days! Grandma Mito was gone, and then you collapsed too. I talked to you every day, but you never answered me—"

The more Kushina spoke, the more wronged she felt. Her crying grew louder, and she clung to him like a startled little animal with its fur standing on end, refusing to get up.

Listening to her tearful complaints, Mirai's heart softened.

He reached out and rubbed her messy red hair, saying softly, "I'm sorry. I made you worry."

Kushina gave a muffled "Mm," then buried her face even deeper.

Sunlight streamed through the window into the hospital room, blending their shadows together.

Mirai closed his eyes, feeling the warm little body in his arms, still trembling faintly, as well as the heavy seal in his abdomen, slowly breathing.

Grandma Mito, I'll live well.