Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

"Fortunately..."

"My first attempt succeeded."

"With the help of those enormous and intricately constructed puppets, the Dragon Vein's chakra passed through my body, damaging only part of my chakra pathways before becoming the foundation for maintaining Tsukiyomi."

"After that..."

"At regular intervals, I would use Chihi to dismantle the enormous Tsukiyomi outside, turning it back into stable chakra..."

"...and then cast it all over again."

It was through this almost clumsy, repetitive method that Izumi managed to stabilize both the Dragon Vein's chakra and the Tsukiyomi barrier protecting the Uchiha.

"By repeating that process over and over..."

"This place gradually became a sanctuary where the Uchiha could safely hide."

"The only price I paid..."

"...was my own body..."

"...and the gradual weakening of Tsukiyomi's illusion."

She smiled faintly.

"Afterward..."

"I had to thank Sara."

"When she sensed something unusual and came here..."

"As the Queen of Rōran, she helped redirect the Dragon Vein's chakra, making it much more stable."

"I no longer had to repeat the process so frequently..."

"And because of that..."

"I managed to survive for several more years."

"I also asked Sara to help me search for someone proficient in sealing techniques."

"I hoped someone could seal the Dragon Vein once again."

"But then..."

"She told me..."

"...that you, Naruto, were an expert in sealing techniques."

"So..."

"I've been looking forward to your arrival."

Having finished her story...

Izumi looked calmly at Naruto and Sasuke.

"That's everything I've experienced."

"So..."

"Whether the Mangekyō Sharingan eventually blinds me..."

"It doesn't really matter anymore."

"Even if my eyes could continue seeing..."

"My body..."

"...has long since reached its limit."

"The only thing I've been worried about..."

"...is the clan."

"But now that you've both arrived..."

"I can finally let go."

She turned to Naruto.

"Naruto..."

"The Uchiha survived because of you."

"So..."

"I also want to repay you."

"Before you reseal the Dragon Vein..."

"I hope I can do something to help you."

Sasuke couldn't hide the sorrow on his face.

Yet...

Naruto unexpectedly frowned.

"As for the clan..."

Izumi continued,

"Sasuke..."

"Take everyone away as you planned."

"I've thought it through."

"There isn't anyone suitable to become Clan Head right now."

"If you truly refuse to take the position..."

"Then perhaps it's better for the clan to choose a new leader themselves."

"...Sister Izumi."

Naruto suddenly interrupted her.

"You're lying."

His voice had become unusually serious.

It abruptly cut off her words, which sounded almost like a final will.

"If the Dragon Vein is sealed again..."

"...that's when your life will truly be in danger."

"...What?"

Sasuke's eyes widened.

Without questioning Naruto's judgment, he immediately looked at Izumi.

She froze.

She hadn't expected Naruto to see through it.

"Sister Izumi..."

Naruto stepped forward.

"...You're trying to die."

This time...

Before Izumi could answer...

Naruto had already walked right up to her.

He looked directly into her eyes.

"Earlier..."

"You couldn't see us clearly."

"So you could lie to us without feeling guilty."

"But now..."

"We're standing this close."

He didn't look away.

"Can you see my face clearly now?"

Reflected in Izumi's eyes...

Was Naruto as he was today.

Azure-blue eyes.

Six whisker-like markings on his cheeks.

A face far more mature and handsome than the mischievous boy she remembered.

Gone was his usual carefree smile.

Only unwavering determination remained.

His gaze seemed to say only one thing—

You're not allowed to lie about this.

"...So..."

"I've been found out."

Izumi sighed helplessly.

"Earlier..."

"I sensed another kind of chakra inside your body."

"But it isn't residual chakra left behind after destroying something."

"On the contrary..."

"You're alive because that chakra is calm..."

"...yet full of vitality."

She looked at Izumi seriously.

"The condition inside your body..."

"I'm afraid..."

"...it was already critically damaged the very first time you absorbed the Dragon Vein's chakra."

"I've seen someone like that before."

Inside Naruto's inner world...

Kurama slowly turned his head toward Minato.

Minato gave an awkward smile.

"It's... not exactly the same."

"There are still plenty of differences."

Izumi smiled bitterly.

"You've even met someone in a condition like mine..."

"I truly didn't expect that."

She was about to explain further...

When Naruto interrupted her yet again.

"And another thing."

"I've wanted to say this since earlier."

"Why do all of you keep thinking the Uchiha have to keep hiding?"

"If you're always talking about revenge..."

"Then the first thing you should do..."

"...is return to Konoha."

"...Return to Konoha?"

For the first time...

A trace of panic appeared on Izumi's face.

"Naruto..."

"You understand what we mean by revenge..."

After realizing she had given up on living...

Naruto's attitude had completely changed.

He snorted.

"Of course I do."

"Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

"I know exactly what you've been implying."

"The hatred you keep talking about..."

"Isn't directed only at Itachi."

"It includes Konoha too."

"It's not just Sasuke who figured that out."

"In that case..."

"Shouldn't you return to Konoha openly?"

"You didn't do anything wrong."

"So why should you be the ones hiding?"

"Naruto..."

"You don't understand."

"The situation is much more complicated than that."

"Complicated?"

Naruto cut her off again.

"All I know..."

"...is that the Uchiha standing in front of me..."

"...are the victims."

"So why should the people who suffered..."

"...continue hiding?"

"Just because the village is stronger?"

"But isn't the purpose of a strong village..."

"...to protect its weaker comrades?"

"..."

Izumi fell silent.

After a long pause, she said quietly,

"Naruto..."

"Sometimes..."

"Reason and justice can simply be ignored."

"Only strength can—"

"Then I'm strong enough."

Naruto interrupted her once more.

"At the very least..."

"I'm strong enough to take you back to the village..."

"...and help you seek justice."

This time...

Izumi wisely chose not to argue.

She glanced toward Sasuke.

He really does understand Naruto completely...

Ever since Naruto became angry...

Sasuke hadn't said a single word.

He simply let Naruto speak.

"Anyway..."

Naruto continued.

"That Tsukiyomi barrier outside that's connected to the Dragon Vein..."

"It isn't the barrier that's relying on the Dragon Vein to exist."

"It's the exact opposite."

"The barrier is connected to the Dragon Vein..."

"...to keep your body alive."

Hearing Naruto's confident conclusion...

Izumi suddenly realized something.

After carefully sensing the surroundings...

Understanding dawned on her face.

"...Your Shadow Clone..."

"It wasn't just watching that Sand shinobi."

"You sent it to investigate the Dragon Vein as well?"

Naruto nodded.

"Yeah."

"Kurama reminded me."

"After realizing the chakra inside your body was connected to the barrier..."

"I had my clone investigate."

"And..."

"It turned out exactly as I thought."

"...Why?"

Izumi asked softly.

"Because..."

She lowered her head.

"...I'm tired."

"Would that answer satisfy you?"

Neither Naruto nor Sasuke believed it.

...Though...

That really is part of the reason.

Izumi sighed inwardly.

Knowing she could no longer hide anything...

She finally confessed everything.

"Even if I don't want to die..."

"Once the Mangekyō Sharingan goes blind..."

"And I lose its power..."

"I'll die anyway."

"And when that happens..."

"The Dragon Vein's chakra, which I've continuously reconstructed and linked using my abilities..."

"...may erupt into an even more dangerous rampage than before."

"So rather than waiting until then..."

"I'll redesign the seal myself."

Naruto interrupted before she could finish.

"I have both the ability and the means."

"I absolutely..."

"...won't let you die."

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