Shanks, now far more adept in Yin and Yang Release than he had been three years ago, could clearly feel Kushina's vitality receding. It was like watching a fla flicker in the wind—weakening with each passing second.
Without hesitation, he placed his hand gently on Kushina's head.
"For now, you go to sleep. Okay?" His voice was calm but firm. "I will seal your vitality away. I will not let you die. Everything will be fine. I promise—you will take care of your son, and you will live a happy life."
Kushina's trembling fingers loosened slightly around Naruto as she heard his words. A faint smile ford on her pale lips. Trust. Relief.
She closed her eyes.
Imdiately, a soft glow appeared on Shanks's palm. Black markings began to spread from beneath his hand, flowing across Kushina's skin like ink sinking into parchnt. The markings moved steadily—over her neck, across her shoulders, down her arms and torso—until they extended from head to toe.
They resembled intricate tattoos, dark and precise.
This was the vitality sealing technique.
Shanks had casually nad it the "Vitality Sealing Technique." Its purpose was simple yet profound—to seal the person's vitality and place them in a suspended animation state, preventing further loss of life force.
Once the final marking settled into place, Kushina's breathing beca faint but stable. Her life was no longer slipping away.
Now, Shanks only needed to reseal the Nine-Tails back into her.
But he already knew—it would not be easy.
Not to ntion, the full Nine-Tails could not simply be sealed back inside Kushina in her current condition. That option was unrealistic.
He would need to speak with Minato first.
After all, Minato was her husband. He had the authority to decide. And he was the Hokage.
Shanks also had his own plans regarding Kushina—plans he would discuss when the ti ca. But for now, imdiate action was required.
The Nine-Tails needed to be captured and contained near this house.
His eyes briefly fell upon Naruto, who was sleeping quietly in the cradle, unaware of the chaos consuming the village. His tiny chest rose and fell softly.
Shanks watched him for a few silent seconds.
Then he disappeared.
Using his astral imprint, he reappeared high above the battlefield—directly above the Nine-Tails.
Minato was standing with Hiruzen and the Anbu. He had already defeated the masked intruder, though the intruder had escaped. Minato wanted to pursue him—but protecting the village ca first.
He was preparing to gather his chakra, intending to teleport the Nine-Tails away from the centre of Konoha.
Then—
Shanks appeared above the beast.
Hiruzen and the surrounding ANBU, along with other Konoha ninjas, imdiately noticed the sudden arrival of a red-haired man wearing a kimono and black haori, a sword resting at his waist.
Shock rippled through their ranks.
"Is he one of the masterminds?" soone muttered.
But a few who recognized him froze.
"Uzukage? What is Uzukage doing here?"
The Nine-Tails roared irritably, sensing Shanks's presence. With a violent jerk of its head, it attempted to shake him off. The sheer force sent Shanks flying through the air.
Yet he remained completely calm as he descended, haori fluttering.
"You beast," he said coldly, "know your place."
In one smooth motion, he gripped the hilt of his sword.
Black Thunder Vitalization Technique.
A pure black layer of Armant Haki enveloped his hand and blade, crackling with dark lightning. The air around him seed to tighten as black electricity danced along the length of the sword.
Then he swung.
A massive flying sword slash tore through the air—jet black, electricity crawling violently across its surface. The pressure alone caused the nearby Konoha ninjas to stagger, their breath catching in their throats.
The slash struck the Nine-Tails directly.
With a thunderous impact, its shoulder area was completely destroyed, flesh and chakra dispersing violently into the night sky.
After being struck by Shanks's flying sword slash, the Nine-Tails' shoulder was completely destroyed. Its massive left leg buckled and crashed against the ground with a thunderous impact, shaking the earth beneath it. Debris scattered in all directions.
But it was a Tailed Beast.
From the shattered shoulder, strange, bubble-like formations began to swell and spread. At the sa ti, the damaged leg dissolved into glowing orange bubbles that drifted upward, rging into the torn shoulder. Within monts, the Nine-Tails' wounds knit themselves back together, fully restored as if they had never been there.
Within seconds, it stood whole again.
The Nine-Tails roared toward Shanks, fury blazing in its crimson eyes.
Shanks did not hesitate.
He appeared once more atop the Nine-Tails' head, and this ti he wasted no ti. Using Astral Imprint, he teleported the Nine-Tails instantly to the edge of Konoha's barrier—since teleportation beyond it was restricted. The massive beast vanished from the battlefield and reappeared just a few ters away from the safe house where Kushina and Naruto were.
The sudden disappearance stunned everyone.
Hiruzen's eyes widened.
Danzo, on the other hand, imdiately stepped forward with urgency in his voice. "Lord Fourth, you must go after him imdiately! If you hesitate, he will take the Nine-Tails away and escape. He has definitely collaborated with the enemy to steal the Nine-Tails."
Minato's expression hardened.
"Impossible," he said firmly. "Yes, he is the Uzukage, and he certainly has the power to take the Nine-Tails. But don't forget—Kushina is his sister."
Danzo's voice grew colder. "In pursuit of power, even siblings can be sacrificed. You are underestimating the thirst for power, Lord Fourth."
Minato shook his head.
He knew there was no point discussing family bonds with Danzo. It was pointless.
Though Uzushiogakure and Konoha were not allies—and tension remained between them due to Danzo's actions and the mistakes of the previous leadership under Hiruzen—Minato had personally t the Uzumaki siblings. He had t the Uzukage himself.
And he knew.
Their affection for Kushina was genuine. They truly cared for her as their sister.
Yes, Kushina could not visit Uzushiogakure frequently, and their interactions were not as constant as those among the siblings themselves—but Minato would never believe that Shanks would steal the Nine-Tails at the cost of Kushina's life.
I'll understand everything once I speak to him directly.
Without another word, Minato used his Flying Thunder God technique and instantly appeared outside the safe house—where the Nine-Tails now stood, having been teleported by Shanks.
The ground trembled beneath the beast's massive fra.
Shanks raised his hand.
From behind his back, Adamantine Sealing Chains erupted into existence—around ten of them—golden and radiant, yet carrying imnse weight. They shot forward like spears, wrapping tightly around the Nine-Tails' limbs and torso. So chains pierced into the ground, anchoring themselves deep into the earth. Others coiled around its tails, stabbing them down, restraining their violent movents.
The Nine-Tails thrashed, but the chains tightened further, suppressing its chakra.
As the beast was subdued, Shanks descended calmly to the ground.
The Adamantine Chains extended from his back, spreading outward to bind the massive fox. However, maintaining full control in all directions required additional restraint.
He needed another thod.
Without delay, Shanks took out a scroll—the sa one he had brought with him to Konoha. With a swift motion, he unsealed it. Thick white smoke burst outward, swirling around him.
Four giant iron pillars materialized around Shanks.
Each pillar was engraved with intricate black inscriptions—dense sealing formulas etched along their surfaces.
Shanks began forming hand seals. His movents were precise and fluid.
After completing three seals, the four iron pillars rose into the air, hovering directly above the restrained Nine-Tails. The chains tightened further, spreading the beast's legs apart and pinning its body into position.
Then—
The pillars descended.
They slamd down onto the Nine-Tails' legs with crushing force, driving deep into the ground and locking into place. The inscriptions glowed faintly as the pillars anchored the beast completely, sealing its movents and suppressing its chakra even further.
The Nine-Tails roared in rage—but now it was firmly pinned.
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