Chapter 183: Flashback Part 2

Disclaimer:

Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.

I own nothing but the original characters I create.

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author notes-

Chapter 183: Flashback Part 2

"What do you mean you can't fix it? You made this thing!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Haha! Just let me out! You can't contain me forever!" the Kyūbi roared. "And when I get out I wi-"

"Shut up already!" Naruto and Minato shouted in unison.

Minato glanced at his son, sighing. "Look, I created that seal using a forbidden jutsu called the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. It's an extraordinarily powerful sealing technique, but it requires the user to give up their soul to the Shinigami. The real me sacrificed everything to seal half of the Kyūbi inside you. I'm just a collection of memories and a little chakra. I could fix it if it had a bit of damage, but I can't completely remake the parts of the seal that were consumed, because I'm not the one who made them."

Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's too bad… but I understand that… Wait a minute, what was that thing you say just now?"

"Half? You split me in half?!" the Kyūbi roared, its rage growing. "You bastard! I knew something felt wrong. I've been weaker than normal all this time!"

"This is only half?!" Naruto's eyes widened in shock. The sheer amount of chakra this beast had was staggering, even in its current state. If this was just half, then…

"Yes… well…" Minato looked uncomfortable. "I never intended to seal the entire Kyūbi inside you. A newborn couldn't possibly contain all of it. So, I had to split it. What you have sealed inside you is the Yang half of the Nine Tails' chakra. And I'm that it had already caused you enough troubles while growing up."

"Yang half…" Naruto muttered. That explained a lot. He had assumed the Kyūbi's chakra was naturally Yang-aligned, much like some other demons he'd encountered in the past that specialized in a single type of energy.

Naruto's expression turned serious. "Where's the Yin half?" He had to acquire that one too, no matter how.

"Yes, where is my other half?!" the Kyūbi demanded.

Minato hesitated before replying. "I sealed the Yin half within my own soul before I was taken by the Shinigami…" His gaze shifted to Naruto, his expression grave. "Naruto, I don't think you understand the severity of the situation. If this seal breaks, you're likely going to die. You are focusing on the wrong thing."

Minato's tone carried genuine concern. Even though this was just a projection, it was clear he still cared deeply for his son.

"Oh, that. You don't have to worry about that," Naruto said dismissively. "I'll absorb the demon before that can happen."

"You're going to… absorb the Kyūbi?" Minato stared at him as though he'd misheard.

The Kyūbi's roar filled the mindscape. "How dare you! You filthy human! I'll kill you!"

"Yes, yes, you keep saying that," Naruto said with a sigh. Then his eyes narrowed as realization dawned.

His absorption technique wasn't just consuming the Kyūbi's chakra, but it was also destabilizing the seal itself. That meant there was a chance part of the demon could escape before he finished the process. While that wasn't likely to kill him, he couldn't risk losing even a fragment of the Kyūbi's energy.

"Naruto?" Minato asked, still processing everything. "What exactly are you planning?"

"I have a plan," Naruto said, turning to his father. "But I'll need your help."

"What kind of plan? You mentioned absorbing the Nine Tails, but that's impossible! Even if you somehow could, the Bijū's chakra is toxic to humans. It'll kill you."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "I'm well aware of that. I've been using its chakra for a while now."

Minato looked baffled. "Then… do you have a way to contain all that chakra without a seal?"

"I do," Naruto replied confidently. "I'll purify it and assimilate it into my chakra core." He didn't bother explaining the intricate details, as he doubted his father would understand the advanced techniques involved without proper knowledge about cultivation.

Minato's eyes widened in shock. Purifying and integrating Bijū chakra into one's own core? It was unheard of.

"If you can really do that…" Minato glanced at the raging Kyūbi. "Then the Nine Tails will cease to exist."

The Kyūbi wasn't just a mass of chakra... it was a sentient being with its own memories and consciousness. Was it truly okay to erase it entirely, just because it was hostile to humanity?

"What's there to debate? It's a demon. And it's either him or me at this point," Naruto said bluntly.

Minato didn't need much convincing. "You're right. Tell me what I need to do. I will help you, of course."

"The absorption process will take time," Naruto explained. "It'll also weaken the seal even further. There's a good chance it'll break before I'm done."

"I see," Minato said with a nod. "You need me to hold the seal together for as long as possible." He glanced at the Kyūbi. "But it won't sit quietly. It'll do everything in its power to break free the moment the seal weakens enough."

"You can leave the Kyūbi to me."

A soft but strong voice echoed through the mindscape, catching Naruto off guard.

He turned to look at who else was here, his eyes widening in surprise as a young red-haired woman approached them.

"You're…" Naruto stared at her, recognizing her from old photographs in his parents' home. He hadn't expected to see her here.

The woman grinned, placing her hands on her hips.

"Hello, Naruto. Your beautiful mother is here to help!" Kushina Uzumaki declared confidently.

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