A jinchūriki would inevitably die after losing their tailed beast. That was an immutable law.
Just now, Naruto had lost the Nine-Tails, and the countdown to his death had begun.
But the Uzumaki Clan, Hashirama cells, and Madara Uchiha's black cursed seal—those three powerful survival buffs would make that countdown exceptionally long.
Indeed, Naruto looked like a mischievous boy who had just sprinted a hundred meters at full speed. He was visibly tired, but weak... not really.
Beneath Sasuke's calm gaze lay a resolve that tore at his heart.
I'm sorry, Naruto. I have to drive you into utter desperation in this fight. Only then will Madara's Will fully manifest, and only then can I strip it out of your black cursed Seal completely!
His gaze swept toward his right palm... toward the Dragon Black Kāma covering the mark of yin power.
"I'll use this power I just obtained, a power beyond Six Paths Yin-Yang Release—Divine Technique: Transference!"
Gasping for breath, Naruto finally brought his unfocused left eye back into focus. He raised his sweat-drenched face toward his closest friend. His lips twitched a few times before forming a bitter smile. "All this time, I've worked hard, desperately hard, to adapt to this body that feels like it isn't mine. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to get stronger, until I could barely recognize myself anymore... I thought that even if I couldn't speak to you as an equal, I could at least earn a little of your respect. But sure enough... the gap is still just as big as before."
"Hey, Sasuke... you know, I've always had this feeling. Like somewhere I can't see, an invisible hand is manipulating things I can't see, keeping me from ever truly catching up to you!"
The look in Naruto's eyes as