An overwhelming pressure filled the area, weighing heavily on everyone present. All eyes were drawn to the sight of a massive orange fox head emerging from Uzumaki Mito's abdomen. In an instant, it expanded to over ten meters in diameter, the head swelling as it roared, its mouth open and raised to the sky.
Ishigami Hara and the other eight members of the Sealing Squad didn't hesitate. With their hands still in the Yin seal, several members quickly began adjusting their seals.
"Sealing Seal!"
Countless runes, like binding ropes, wrapped around the spectral form of the Nine-Tails, suppressing its violent Chakra and preventing it from rampaging further.
The tension was palpable. Everyone watched as the Nine-Tails materialized fully, from its enormous head to its full, towering form. The massive fox loomed over the clearing, its nine long tails whipping about like giant lashes. With a single flick, entire sections of the distant forest were obliterated. Thick trees toppled like matchsticks, the sound of their collapse followed by a rolling cloud of dust and continuous roaring from the beast.
The Nine-Tails, sensing the oppressive seals attempting to bind it, thrashed wildly in resistance. The sealing team, struggling to hold it down, began to pale. Restricting the movements of such a powerful being demanded an immense amount of Chakra, and many were reaching their limits.
Ishigami Hara's expression hardened. He spoke firmly but quietly, his voice cutting through the chaos.
In the next moment, brilliant golden chains shot out from his waist like arrows, piercing through the nine tails writhing in the air.
"Roar!!!"
The Nine-Tails howled in agony, its fierce struggle intensifying. But the Adamantine Sealing Chains held firm, restricting the fox's movements. Its tails, once flailing uncontrollably, were now immobilized.
Given the sheer power of the Nine-Tails, it was remarkable that Ishigami Hara's Chakra could restrain it at all. Still, he knew he couldn't fully subdue the beast on his own. His task was not to completely bind the Nine-Tails but to initiate the critical first step in the Jinchūriki transfer ceremony. The Sealing Squad would handle the rest.
"Begin!"
At Ishigami Hara's command, the Sealing Squad sprang into action, working in unison with his Adamantine Sealing Chains to drag the massive body of the Nine-Tails towards the platform.
"Now!"
As Ishigami Hara gave the signal, Uzumaki Kushina, lying on the platform, focused intently. In response, golden chains shot out from her waist as well. Four chains latched onto the Nine-Tails' limbs, while another coiled around its neck, pulling the fox towards her position.
"Roar!"
The Nine-Tails fought back fiercely, unwilling to be sealed. However, with two sets of Adamantine Sealing Chains—one from Ishigami Hara and the other from Uzumaki Kushina—and the coordinated efforts of the Sealing Squad, the beast found itself helpless. No matter how hard it struggled, it couldn't break free.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others stood by, watching carefully. Every precaution had been taken, leaving no openings for the Nine-Tails to escape or retaliate.
Bound tightly by the golden chains, the Nine-Tails was gradually pulled toward the platform. Its enormous head was now face-to-face with Uzumaki Kushina. The fox attempted to open its mouth, but even that was restrained by the chains, leaving it with no choice but to emit low, guttural roars as it breathed heavily.
"Four Symbols Seal!"
The Sealing Squad shouted in unison, quickly altering the sequence of their hand signs.
Instantly, the sealing jutsu began to take effect. Runes surged from the ground, wrapping around the Nine-Tails' body, slowly shrinking its form within the vast seal. The enormous fox was being forcibly compressed into pure Chakra, dragged little by little into Uzumaki Kushina's abdomen by the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
"Ah!"
A sharp cry escaped Uzumaki Kushina as she winced from the intense pain. The sensation of the foreign Chakra entering her body caused an excruciating tearing pain. It was a level of suffering that would break most, but Uzumaki Kushina gritted her teeth and endured.
With each passing second, more of the Nine-Tails' chakra was absorbed, and the intricate seals covering its body began to merge with Kushina's abdomen, forming a unique pattern on her skin.
"The last step, the Eight Trigrams Seal!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke up, his voice steady yet tense.
"Yes!"
Without hesitation, the sealing team continued their work, focusing on completing the final stage of the Jinchūriki transfer. The seal took shape, and faint wisps of green smoke rose from Uzumaki Kushina's abdomen, as if she were being branded by an iron. Her face contorted in pain, but the process was proceeding smoothly.
Despite the tense atmosphere, no mistakes were made, and the Nine-Tails was sealed within Uzumaki Kushina's body without incident. The beast hadn't even had time to speak before it was completely transferred.
The entire process took less than a minute, but the strain on both the Sealing Squad and Ishigami Hara was immense. It had taken an extraordinary amount of Chakra to seal the Nine-Tails, the most powerful of the tailed beasts. Ishigami Hara, despite his exhaustion, recognized the significance of what they had just accomplished.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others exchanged glances, their eyes shifting as they looked at Ishigami Hara. His ability to contribute so effectively to such a monumental task was far beyond what they would expect from even a genius.
In their eyes, Ishigami Hara no longer appeared as just a promising talent; he was shaping up to be a true powerhouse.
"Grandma!"
With the task complete, Nawaki could no longer hold back. He rushed to the platform, his eyes filled with tears.
Uzumaki Mito, though alive due to the unique vitality of the Uzumaki clan, was visibly pale and extremely weak.
"Don't worry..."
Mito lifted her hand with great effort, resting it on Nawaki's head. She smiled weakly, her strength fading with each word.
"I'm going to see your grandfather, Nawaki. You need to take care of yourself... eat on time, sleep on time..."
"I will, Grandma. I will."
Nawaki was already crying, his voice shaking as he spoke.
Uzumaki Mito turned her gaze toward Uzumaki Kushina, who stood nearby with a sorrowful expression.
"Child, you've done well," she said softly.
Kushina shook her head, her face clouded with grief. She knew Uzumaki Mito's time was almost up—this was her final moment.
Ishigami Hara stood silently to the side, watching the scene without a word. He knew this was a personal moment for the Uzumaki family.
"Hara..." Mito's voice, though faint, cut through the air. "Help me look after Nawaki and Kushina, please."
Ishigami Hara nodded silently, offering no words in return. His acknowledgment was enough.
Uzumaki Mito's attention returned to Nawaki, her smile faltering as her strength ebbed away. Her eyes were dimming, her voice barely audible.
"After the war... tell your sister... about my passing. For now... don't let her worry. Stay strong... be brave..."
With that, Uzumaki Mito's life quietly slipped away. Her passing was as peaceful as expected, without a sound.
Ishigami Hara glanced up at the sky, the vast blue expanse seeming endless and calm. For some reason, the distant sense of detachment he had always felt since arriving in this world seemed to have faded ever so slightly.
He shook his head, sighing internally.
"The bond between people?" he mused to himself. "It truly does corrode the heart."