Let's return to Konoha Village.
Since the Nine Tails appeared, just a few minutes have passed, but it has already caused massive destruction in Konoha.
Over a hundred ninjas have died, and countless ordinary villagers have also been affected.
The repeated sacrifices of the brave Konoha ninjas drew the Nine Tails' attention.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi bought Minato some time with his golden staff, pushing the Nine Tails away from the village.
But this was only a temporary fix.
They still couldn't breach the Nine Tails' defenses and could only contain it for now.
Frustrated with the 'flies' bothering it, the Nine Tails began gathering its Tailed Beast Bomb again.
If it hit Konoha, the village could be destroyed.
Fortunately, just in time, the 'Yellow Flash' returned!
Minato first subdued the Nine Tails with the help of a summoned toad and then used Flying Thunder God to move the Nine Tails and its Tailed Beast Bomb far away.
He saved Konoha once again.
...
"Chakra is running low..."
"We need to set up barriers quickly!"
Minato gritted his teeth and held on.
He was suppressing the Nine Tails, constantly using Flying Thunder God to transfer the massive Tailed Beast Bomb away and even the Nine Tails itself.
Even someone as strong as him was feeling the strain.
"Kushina..."
Kushina, looking weak and worried, felt the consequences of losing the tailed beast in her body; her life was fading fast, though her Uzumaki clan's vitality kept her going.
But it was clear she couldn't last much longer.
"Zheng—"
Five golden chakra chains shot from Kushina's back, embedding themselves into the ground, forming a cage around the Nine Tails nearby.
Using an A-rank sealing technique, King Kong Blockade, she expertly restrained the beast.
Even in her weakened state after giving birth and being separated from the Nine Tails, Kushina's skills were impressive.
If she were at her peak, her power would be unimaginable.
The loud vibrations stirred baby Naruto in Minato's arms, causing him to cry, sensing the danger.
"This way, we can contain the Nine Tails and take it down together. This will greatly delay its resurrection..."
"I can only use my remaining chakra to help you..."
"Thank you for everything you've done for me!" Kushina said, trying to smile through her tears.
Minato looked startled, sorrow etched on his face: "Kushina, you made me the Fourth Hokage, my wife, and Naruto's father!"
"And I couldn't protect you..."
Kushina comforted him, "Minato, don't look like that. I'm so happy you love me..."
"Today is Naruto's birthday..."
"If I survive, our family will have a bright future, right?"
"I just want one last wish: to meet Naruto when he grows up!"
Kushina gazed at baby Naruto with tears of love and longing.
Minato wiped his eyes, resolute: "Kushina, you don't have to sacrifice with the Nine Tails. I'll use your remaining chakra to let you meet Naruto when he's older!"
"I'll seal your chakra into Naruto using the Eight Sign Seal."
"But that means using Ghoul Seal..." Kushina gasped.
"Yes!"
"If the Nine Tails dies with you, Konoha will suffer greater consequences from losing its Jinchūriki."
"I'll use Ghoul Seal to seal half of the Nine Tails into myself, weakening it. The other half will go into Naruto."
Kushina was filled with excitement.
No one understood the pain of being a Jinchūriki better than her.
Even with the strongest Eight Sign Seal, the negative chakra from the Nine Tails was still a burden.
Kushina didn't want Naruto to endure such suffering.
"No! Because I know this pain, I can't let Naruto bear such a heavy burden!"
"He's our son; believe in him!" Minato urged.
"Then why use Ghoul Seal? Just so I can see Naruto briefly in the future?"
"Why die? I want you to stay with him and protect him!"
"For the village, do we really have to make Naruto a victim? Do we have to make you sacrifice for me?!!"
Minato shook his head, his heart aching:
"Abandoning the village is like abandoning a child."
"If the country falls, the despair will be unbearable for the people left behind!"
"I don't want Naruto to live that life."
"Our family is made up of ninjas!"
Minato began forming seals, determined to use Ghoul Seal.
Only by tapping into the power of the Ghoul Seal could Kushina's chakra and wisdom be sealed into Naruto's body.
...
"Is that the new Jinchūriki after Kushina? That King Kong Blockade is impressive; it easily contains the Nine Tails..."
Nearby, the three figures of Tobirama and the others could only admire Kushina's strength.
"The Fourth Hokage couple are truly remarkable!" Hashirama agreed, proud of them.
With Kushina alive, Konoha would be safe from the threat of tailed beasts.
But wait! With the Nine Tails removed, would Kushina die?
Both Hashirama and Tobirama could sense her life force dwindling rapidly.
"Tobirama, will a Jinchūriki die after losing their tailed beast?"
"This... should be the case..." Tobirama replied, unsure.
From what he knew, other Jinchūriki usually died as soon as the tailed beast was removed.
Even Naruto, who had a part of the Uzumaki bloodline, was nearly dead after the extraction.
Only pure-blooded Uzumaki could last a bit longer.
But it wouldn't change their fate of imminent death.
The consensus in the ninja world was that Jinchūriki would die once stripped of their tailed beast!
What about sealing it back into them? No one had tried that yet, so no one knew if it would work.
Hashirama frowned, troubled: "This isn't good! We can't lose such a talented ninja so easily!"
Tobirama cursed, "All because of that damned Uchiha!"
Hashirama turned to Wakato, seeking his insight.
But Tobirama interrupted, realizing:
"Brother, I feel something's off! The Fourth seems intent on using Ghoul Seal to seal Nine Tails again!"
"Huh?"
"He wants to seal half of it within himself and the other half into the baby."
Tobirama panicked, confused by Minato's actions.
Such reckless behavior was not what a Hokage should do.
The Nine Tails had been subdued by Kushina; wouldn't it be safer to seal it back or into someone else using the Eight Sign Seal?
"That's love! He wants to keep his loved one from dying alone and allow her to see their child grow..." Hashirama observed.
"Brother, you mean to die for love?"
"Yes."
"How can the Fourth Hokage throw away his life for a woman? I told you—"
"Tobirama, you don't understand love!"
Hashirama shook his head, disappointed.
Maybe he should find a way to help young Tobirama experience love himself.
"Alright, you two can debate that later."
"It's our turn."
Wakato interrupted, activating World Teleport again, preparing to enter the barriers.
They needed to stop Minato before he could complete the seal and use Ghoul Seal.