On the side of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze
The earth trembled under the roars of Kyubi, and flames devoured what remained of the wooden structures. Ninjas of Konoha, covered in soot and blood, regrouped to protect the civilians. In the distance, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, reappeared in a golden flash, accompanied by Gamabunta, a gigantic toad.
"Gamabunta, immobilize it at all costs!" ordered Minato, his voice firm despite the pressure of the moment.
Gamabunta drew his massive sword and leaped, landing heavily on Kyubi. "Easier said than done, kid! This beast has a strength I've never seen before!" grunted the toad, wrapping its legs around the demonic creature.
Kyubi roared, unleashing a wave of chakra so intense that it sent several ninjas who tried to approach flying. A black sphere of negative energy slowly formed in its maw, its size increasing by the second. The ninjas observing from the perimeter immediately understood the danger.
"It's going to launch a Bijudama!" cried a Jonin as he withdrew his troops. "If it explodes here, it's the end of Konoha!"
Minato closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, gathering his chakra and willpower. He made a quick mudra.
"Gamabunta, hold on a little longer. I'm going to teleport Kyubi out of the village."
Gamabunta nodded, tightening his grip on the nine-tailed beast.
"Hurry, Minato! I won't hold on forever!"
In a flash of light, Minato disappeared, taking Kyubi and its devastating attack far away from the village. The Bijudama exploded in a rocky desert, shaking the earth for miles. The flames lit up the night, but Konoha was saved this time.
...
Minato, breathless, was near Kushina and Naruto. Kushina, weakened but resolute, held her son against her as her adamantine chains bound Kyubi, seemingly subdued on all sides.
"Kushina," Minato said, kneeling beside her. "I'm going to finish what needs to be done."
She raised tired but determined eyes towards him. "Minato... I'll use what's left of my chakra to seal Kyubi with me. I'll die, but Konoha will be saved."
Minato placed a gentle hand on her cheek, his gaze filled with sadness and love. "No, Kushina. You don't have to die. I'll seal all of Kyubi's chakra into Naruto."
Kushina's eyes widened in disbelief. "All the chakra? But Minato, it's impossible... Kyubi's power will crush Naruto. He's still a baby!"
Minato nodded, his expression grave. "It's risky, I know. But Naruto is our son, and I believe in him. He can bear this weight and become the hero Konoha needs. By sealing all of Kyubi's chakra into him, he will be complete, more powerful, and Konoha can rebuild a future around him."
Kushina hesitated, tears welling up in her eyes. "Minato... You want him to carry this burden for his entire life. It's not fair to him."
"I know," Minato murmured, his voice trembling. "But he won't be alone. We'll be with him. By sealing a part of your chakra and mine, we can watch over him even after our death. It will be hard, but he will be surrounded by love. And he has Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and even Shikai to look after him."
Kushina lowered her eyes to Naruto, asleep in her arms despite the chaos. She held her son close one last time before nodding.
"Alright. Do what you must, Minato."
Minato stood up, his face determined, and formed a series of complex mudras. Around him, luminous glyphs appeared on the ground, forming a gigantic sealing circle. Kushina's chakra chains tightened their grip on Kyubi, who roared in rage.
"You dare to seal me within a child!" roared Kyubi, its voice rumbling like thunder. "I will not be contained, you miserable humans!"
The demon concentrated its chakra into a new Bijudama, targeting Kushina and Naruto. Minato reacted instantly, placing himself between them and Kyubi. He summoned a massive chakra wall to deflect the attack, but the impact was enough to make him stagger.
Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived on the scene, accompanied by a squad of ninjas. He found Minato and Kushina weakened but peaceful, their son nestled against them.
"Minato... Kushina... You've saved the village at the cost of everything," Hiruzen murmured, his fists clenched. "Naruto will carry your torch." he whispered loudly enough for the others to hear. In the opinion of a certain spectator, old Hiruzen not only excelled in ninjutsu, but his perfect acting would earn him an Oscar if he were on Earth.
As Minato summoned the Shinigami, the god of death, to seal Kyubi, Kushina, weakened but still combative, gritted her teeth and managed to utter a few words.
"Minato... why sacrifice yourself for me?" she sobbed, tears in her eyes. "I don't want Naruto to become a jinchuriki... This burden is too heavy to bear." She said, her doubts resurfacing.
Minato, his face grave but gentle, moved closer to her and placed a hand on her cheek.
"Kushina, listen to me," he said calmly. "You are irreplaceable to Naruto. A mother is the heart of a child, their refuge. I am just a father. Naruto needs you to show him what love and strength are. That's why I have to do this."
Kushina's tears flowed freely, but she nodded weakly, unable to contest Minato's determination any further.
The Shinigami finally appeared, terrifying, emanating a frigid aura. It extended its spectral arm, grabbing Kyubi in an invisible grip. The creature roared, trying to break free, but Kushina's chakra chains, though weakening, continued to immobilize it.
"Minato!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, who had just arrived on the scene with a group of Jonins. "You don't have to go as far as the Imprisonment of the Dead! We can manage Kyubi differently!"
Minato turned a determined gaze towards his predecessor.
"No, Hiruzen-sama. The village needs a hero and the stability that only this decision can offer. I leave Naruto with the strength to protect what he loves."
However, before the ritual could be completed, Kushina collapsed, her chakra on the verge of disappearing. Seizing this opportunity, Kyubi released a terrifying roar and projected an enormous claw towards Naruto, who was weakly crying in his swaddling clothes.
"No... Naruto!" Kushina cried, rising in a final surge of willpower. Minato leaped to her side, and together, they placed themselves between Kyubi and their son, taking the full brunt of the massive claw.