Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

"Sigh..."

"Now that everyone's been safely relocated..."

"I still don't have any confidence."

Naruto let out a long sigh.

His eyes were lifeless, and he looked like someone who had completely burned himself out.

Although Sasuke knew nothing about sealing techniques...

He understood Naruto.

Since they were children, there had been very few things capable of making Naruto wear such an expression.

As reluctant as he was to admit it...

Most of the time, Sasuke considered Naruto capable of accomplishing anything.

Seeing him this troubled was an extremely rare sight.

"...Is it really that difficult?"

"There are two problems."

Naruto held up two fingers.

"First..."

"This sealing technique is simply too massive."

"I honestly don't know if I can pull it off."

"Second..."

"The biggest issue is that I don't know whether Sister Izumi's Mangekyō abilities can truly be sealed the same way chakra can."

"It'd be best if we could test it on someone first."

"If something goes wrong..."

"...Sister Izumi's life..."

After Naruto briefly explained the situation...

Sasuke immediately understood.

The first problem...

There was nothing he could do about it.

But he trusted Naruto.

As for the second...

"...Use my body."

Sasuke answered almost without hesitation.

"I'm an Uchiha too."

"So is Sister Izumi."

"I've awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan."

"I'm more suitable than anyone else."

"If my body can be used for the experiment..."

"...That's exactly why I said I wasn't confident."

Naruto nodded matter-of-factly.

"I was talking about using *you* as the test subject."

"As for activating a Reincarnation Seal on this scale..."

"If I do it myself..."

"I'm about ninety-nine percent sure it'll fail."

Sasuke was speechless.

So that's what he meant...

Did this idiot never even consider that I might refuse?

...Then again.

He really wouldn't have refused.

"These past few days..."

"I've been using Flying Thunder God nonstop to ferry everyone to the Land of Snow."

"Then coming right back here to build this sealing array."

"I'm exhausted."

"Once this is all over..."

"I'm sleeping for several days straight."

Naruto stood up and stretched.

Just as they were about to leave...

He suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right."

"What happened to that Sand shinobi I captured?"

Sasuke thought for a moment.

"After you used that memory-sealing technique on him..."

"Sister Izumi said we should release him once we found a suitable opportunity."

"So..."

"I took him away from the ruins."

Naruto blinked.

"That was a few days ago, wasn't it?"

"Did you take him far enough away?"

Sasuke nodded.

"Yeah."

"I had a Shadow Clone run for an entire day."

"In the end..."

"I dropped him somewhere even I couldn't identify."

"I stabbed both his arms and legs a few times."

Naruto stared.

"...You stabbed him?"

"The wounds on his legs were superficial."

"They'd only slow him down enough to make his escape believable."

"But..."

"The injuries to his hands were much deeper."

"If he didn't receive treatment soon..."

"He wouldn't be forming hand seals anytime in the near future."

Naruto nodded slowly.

"Commit to the act..."

Outwardly, he remained calm.

Internally...

...Damn, Sasuke's ruthless.

Still...

He understood.

After all...

That Sand jōnin had intended to target Sasuke's clansmen.

Naruto knew Sasuke better than anyone.

Ever since that night...

The Uchiha Clan's honor and revenge had become the most important things in his life.

His cold attitude toward the surviving clansmen earlier...

Had only been his attempt to distance himself from them.

He wanted them to abandon revenge...

So that he alone could shoulder the burden.

But if someone genuinely threatened his family...

There was no way Sasuke would let them off lightly.

"...After that..."

"I tied him up and threw him aside."

"I made it look like he'd been kidnapped."

"When he woke up..."

"His expression changed several times."

"Then..."

"He waited until my Shadow Clone appeared to be asleep..."

"Broke free..."

"And tried to sneak over and kill it."

Naruto immediately grinned.

"Right?"

"The best part is when they think they're attacking your real body..."

"And only afterward realize..."

"It was just a Shadow Clone."

"They don't even know where your real body is—"

Sasuke looked at him as though he were an idiot.

"...Why would I let him attack?"

"I only pretended to be asleep so he'd escape."

"He was injured."

"Starving."

"And he still wanted to kill me."

Naruto froze.

"...Don't tell me..."

"You beat him up again?"

Sasuke nodded.

"More or less."

"He's still a jōnin."

"He was skilled."

"Even after I stabbed him a few more times..."

"He still managed to seize an opening."

"He used a Wind Release technique to dispel my Shadow Clone."

"...Wind Release..."

Naruto couldn't even imagine the amount of pressure Sasuke must have put him under.

Especially considering the man's hands had already been so badly injured that forming hand seals should have been nearly impossible.

All Naruto could do...

Was silently offer the poor Sand jōnin a moment of sympathy.

Then he looked back at Sasuke.

The latter appeared completely indifferent to how excessive his methods had been.

Naruto frowned.

"...Your Shadow Clone was transformed, right?"

"Of course."

"I didn't expose myself."

Naruto immediately relaxed.

"Oh."

"Good."

"No problem then."

He was quite satisfied.

Sasuke had mastered the "techniques" he'd taught him remarkably well.

Inside Naruto's mind...

Kurama snorted.

Hmph.

I've been using tricks like that long before either of you.

---

Meanwhile...

Izumi remained inside the Tsukiyomi space.

Silently gazing at the enormous block of ice.

"Sister Izumi!"

She turned toward the familiar voices.

Naruto and Sasuke had entered the illusionary space.

"I've already asked Sara to have her merchants temporarily relocate the remaining clansmen."

"They'll stay somewhere nearby for a few days."

"I also noticed the sealing array has been completed."

She smiled gently.

"You've both worked so hard."

"...Are you ready to begin?"

"Not yet."

Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.

"We still need to perform one experiment first."

"It's just..."

"...I'm not very confident about the success rate."

He briefly explained the situation.

"...You're not confident?"

"You want to experiment on Sasuke?"

"No."

"Absolutely not."

Just as expected...

Izumi strongly opposed the idea.

"It doesn't matter if the chances of success are low."

"My life isn't important."

"Naruto."

"Do whatever you need to."

"But..."

"Sasuke is the Uchiha Clan's greatest hope."

"You absolutely mustn't—"

"No, no!"

Naruto hurriedly waved both hands.

"Sister Izumi, you've misunderstood."

"Those are two separate issues."

"Whether the operation succeeds or fails..."

"The Reincarnation Seal is still a brand-new sealing technique."

"It needs to be tested before we use it."

"The seal itself isn't dangerous."

"It won't harm Sasuke."

"The reason I'm lacking confidence..."

"Is because of *my* sealing skill."

"This sealing array is simply too enormous."

"I'm not certain I can operate it properly."

Besides...

Kurama already said Dad can't use chakra himself unless he's borrowing my body.

Looks like our veteran substitute can't step onto the field for now...

Only after hearing that Sasuke wouldn't be endangered...

Did Izumi finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Even so...

She still shook her head.

"But Naruto..."

"You're already the greatest sealing master I've ever met."

"Just give it your best."

"No matter the outcome..."

"I'll accept it."

"Then we'll have someone even better do it!"

Naruto suddenly looked at her.

"Sister Izumi..."

"You said before that your Mangekyō ability could remove the seal inside me."

"If you use it now..."

"Will it put you at risk of going blind?"

He asked nervously.

"If it will..."

"Then wait a little longer."

"I'll return to Konoha first..."

"...and bring someone here."

Izumi smiled reassuringly.

"It's true that excessive use of the Mangekyō Sharingan gradually leads to blindness."

"But..."

"It's been some time since I last used it."

"My ocular power has recovered somewhat."

"Using it once or twice..."

"Won't make me lose my sight."

Naruto's eyes immediately lit up.

"Then..."

"Please help me remove the Eight Trigrams Seal inside my body."

"That way..."

"A *very, very* incredible sealing master..."

"...will be able to help us!"

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