Chapitre 186: Chapter 185: Severing the Nine-Tails

The tailed beasts are massive chakra conglomerates. Even if they perish, they will eventually reincarnate in the future. Their overwhelming power and longevity far exceed the comprehension of ordinary people.

In the past, many remote regions of the shinobi world worshipped statues of the tailed beasts, revering them as "Beast Gods."

Boom!

The Nine-Tails' claws swung, smacking Minato Namikaze's body with a loud slap. Even in Sage Mode, Minato couldn't withstand the heavy blow. He was sent flying, crashing through countless trees, almost splitting the forest in two.

"Ugh..."

Minato spat out blood, struggling to stand. His face was solemn as he stared at the roaring tailed beast. Though he was undoubtedly a genius, even geniuses have weaknesses. As a shinobi, Minato's most troublesome opponents were those with "thick skin and massive chakra reserves."

In simple terms, Minato wasn't skilled in the super-destructive ninjutsu capable of moving mountains or incinerating seas. Moreover, during Kushina's childbirth, Minato had been reinforcing the seal. After the masked man released the Nine-Tails, Minato had to repeatedly transfer the Tailed Beast Bombs and the Nine-Tails itself, consuming an enormous amount of chakra.

In less than a minute, the young Hokage was already at his limit.

"I can't drag this out any longer..." Minato gasped heavily. "To use that sealing jutsu, I must conserve enough strength and chakra."

He glanced at Kushina, who was collapsed on the ground in the distance, and at the crying Naruto. Guilt and sorrow flashed in his eyes, but he quickly shook off these thoughts, focusing on the Nine-Tails. His hands moved at lightning speed, forming seals.

"Dead Demon..."

However, at that moment, a familiar voice suddenly called out beside him.

"Minato-senpai, wait."

The young Hokage paused and looked to his right. "Yuto-kun, you're back." Minato Namikaze instinctively breathed a sigh of relief.

"It seems I'm not too late." Yuto, dressed in lead-gray ANBU armor, clasped his hands together at his chest. "The Nine-Tails... what powerful chakra. How is Kushina-senpai?"

"With the Uzumaki Clan's vitality, she won't die immediately, but losing the tailed beast..." Minato's blue eyes darkened, and he didn't finish his sentence.

"How about we seal the Nine-Tails back?"

"Even if we combine our strength, we can't seal the entire Nine-Tails. That's something only the First Hokage could do. So, we'll have to split it, but..."

"Then there's a way." Yuto said softly, lowering his hands and ceasing to absorb natural energy.

Physical, mental, and natural energies intertwined and permeated his body, forming a stronger and more mysterious power—the Sage Chakra!

Physical vitality, attack power, defense capability, perception, recovery speed... All combat abilities were enhanced in every dimension.

Unique markings appeared on Yuto's clean face, starting from his eyes, streaking across his cheeks, and extending backward like tear tracks, eventually disappearing near his earlobes. Simultaneously, the area around his eye sockets turned deep black.

Sage Mode, activated!

"Minato-senpai, I'm going in."

"Wait, do you have a plan?"

"I already have one, but this time, I'll go first." Yuto smiled. "Just give me a Flying Thunder God kunai."

"Here... Don't you need to tell me the details of your plan?"

"No need. You're Minato-senpai, after all. The moment that timing arrives, you'll understand everything."

Without looking back, the young shinobi could clearly see Minato Namikaze's internal injuries through the vision of his Byakugan.

The young Hokage's right arm was severed, his left abdomen pierced by the Nine-Tails' claw, his spine showing cracks, and less than a tenth of his chakra remained...

Earlier, in just a minute, Yuto had been watching from afar. The natural energy had long since been fully accumulated; he could have intervened at any moment.

But Yuto chose to stand by and observe for a while before stepping in.

—He had to ensure that Minato Namikaze lost his combat ability tonight.

In a little while, after they used "that technique" together, Minato would be out of chakra, unable to even use the Flying Thunder God technique.

'At least tonight, you won't be standing against me... As for later... later... haha, whatever happens, happens.' With that thought, Yuto charged at the Nine-Tails.

In Sage Mode, his strength and speed were greatly enhanced. The effect was somewhat similar to the mask mode, but while the former involved infusing natural energy into the body, the latter relied on the evolved ocular power and Otsutsuki bloodline, with entirely different mechanisms.

"Hyuga!" The Nine-Tails roared, slamming a claw down and pinning Yuto to the ground.

However, the next moment, a greater force erupted from the earth. A chakra vortex larger than the Nine-Tails' body appeared, cracking the ground, destroying the forest, and sending the tailed beast flying, crushing a small mountain several hundred meters away.

—"Sage Art: Massive Revolving Heaven!"

Yuto's face paled slightly. Sage Chakra wasn't infinite. The brutal Revolving Heaven that had blasted the Nine-Tails away had a satisfying effect, but the chakra consumption was terrifying as well.

But Sage Mode's recovery ability was powerful. With just a breath, Yuto gathered his strength again, stepping forward and leaping into the air, his hands moving at blinding speed.

—"Sage Art: Eight Trigrams Air Palm Barrage!"

Boom boom boom boom...

It was like a meteor shower crashing down. The sheer ferocity of the attack temporarily pinned the Nine-Tails, preventing it from lifting its head.

"Impressive," Yuto muttered to himself. Although he had the upper hand, the Nine-Tails was tough-skinned, and its chakra was seemingly nearly infinite. Such an attack wouldn't kill it, at best it could only restrain its movements for a while.

But that was enough.

Yuto took advantage of an opening, landing on the Nine-Tails' stomach.

With a flick of his fingers, he tossed the Flying Thunder God kunai.

In the distance, Minato Namikaze's eyes sharpened, recognizing this as a signal from Yuto.

The next moment, Yuto formed seals with his hands, and a certain black substance burst from his body, like water yet also resembling smoke.

The young Hokage froze. He recognized this jutsu.

—Reverse Four Symbols Seal!

He understood Yuto's plan.

To split the Nine-Tails, if they didn't attack its soul, using opposing sealing techniques was an option.

Minato would use the Four Symbols Seal, while Yuto would use the Reverse Four Symbols Seal. Striking at the same time, they could tear the tailed beast apart. Moreover, the drawback of the Reverse Four Symbols Seal, which "could only seal things inside oneself," could also be avoided.

One outside, one inside—completely opposite, simulating the power of Yin-Yang Release, they could slice the Nine-Tails into two halves!

—The opposing forces can create anything in the universe.

Although far from the true Six Paths level Yin-Yang Release, two Sage Modes combined with powerful reverse sealing techniques could indeed cut through the Nine-Tails' body.

However...

Both the Four Symbols Seal and the Reverse Four Symbols Seal were high-level sealing techniques, extremely precious and powerful, stored in the forbidden scroll of the Hokage's residence.

Yuto had never applied to learn these sealing techniques.

More importantly, three years ago, the Third Hokage had ordered that aside from the Yin Seal, Yuto was forbidden from learning any high-level sealing jutsu!

Yet tonight, the young shinobi had used the Reverse Four Symbols Seal. Although it seemed somewhat unrefined, he had successfully activated it, indicating he had secretly practiced it for some time.

In a flash of lightning, Minato Namikaze used the Flying Thunder God, and in a flash of yellow light, he appeared beside the boy.

Although his thoughts were chaotic, Minato knew this was the best opportunity to seal the Nine-Tails. He pushed aside all distractions and, together with Yuto, extended his hand to press down on the Nine-Tails.

Four Symbols Seal.

Reverse Four Symbols Seal.

Sage Art... Two-Symbols Seal!

The two powerful opposing jutsu tore the Nine-Tails' body apart. Amid the tailed beast's enraged roar, the massive chakra conglomerate was split in two.

The great enemy was defeated, but Minato Namikaze didn't feel much joy.

He couldn't help but glance at the boy.

From the eastern front to the western front, from the Land of Hot Water to the Land of Rain, the two had gone through many battles and dangers together. But tonight, as Minato Namikaze looked at the boy's profile, it was as if he was seeing him for the first time.

—'Yuto, you knew what was going to happen tonight, didn't you?'

(End of Chapter)