Forming a Four Symbols Seal with both hands might look simple, but in truth, it demands extraordinary chakra control. For someone like Carl, still just a "beginner," to pull it off so easily—it would be a shocking sight to any onlooker.
Not only did Carl manage to cast it flawlessly, he even succeeded in layering the seals together, perfectly replicating Minato's Eight Trigrams Seal.
The massive sealing pattern beneath his feet began to spin rapidly, resonating with the entire sealing space. The Nine-Tails, watching as the space trembled violently, had a flicker of hope in its eyes.
Maybe… it could finally break free along with him?
Even if it would likely be captured again once it got out—so what? It was better to escape first and worry later!
Under the fox's watchful gaze, Carl opened his eyes. Two beams of golden light shot out like solid pillars, and the seal beneath his feet shifted from black to a brilliant gold.
Channeling all the chakra crystals in his body, he shouted,
"Eight Trigrams Seal—Release!"
Buzz!
The moment the words fell, the gigantic sealing gate burst open with a deafening boom. A dense black aura surged from Carl's body, his figure twisting and fading within the darkness.
"Hm??"
At that instant, a deep male voice echoed abruptly through the space. A young man with spiky blond hair appeared just outside the gate.
The newcomer's identity was unmistakable—the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!
Minato's eyes widened as he saw the wide-open seal and the figure of Carl already dissolving into black mist. Shock washed over his face.
But there was no time to wonder who this stranger was. The moment the seal broke, the long-suppressed Nine-Tails could no longer hold back. With a roar, it lunged toward the open gate.
Carl had completely vanished by now. In a flash, Minato appeared in front of the rampaging beast. The Nine-Tails, eyes burning with fury, opened its jaws wide and fired a Tailed Beast Bomb straight at him.
Minato frowned, hands moving in a blur as he formed seals. At the very last moment, he used Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder, barely managing to redirect the massive blast away.
But facing the full power of the Nine-Tails was another matter. Even at his peak, it would take everything he had to subdue the creature—and now, he was nothing but a fragment of chakra.
To reseal the Nine-Tails after it had already broken free… was nearly impossible.
Even so, Minato had to try. This was his duty as a father, even if it meant burning out this final remnant of chakra.
Just as he steeled himself for a desperate clash, nine enormous black tentacles erupted from behind the Nine-Tails.
Minato's pupils shrank in shock.
"What the—what is this…?"
Before he could react, the beast's nine tails were suddenly ensnared by the dark appendages. The power emanating from them was so overwhelming that the Nine-Tails couldn't resist—it was dragged backward before Minato's eyes.
The tentacles merged together into a black, swamp-like mass beneath the fox, anchoring it firmly to the ground. No matter how it struggled, it couldn't move an inch.
Pinned to the ground, the Nine-Tails let out a roar of rage.
Then a calm male voice rang in Minato's ear,
"What are you waiting for? Lock it back up."
Snapping out of his daze, Minato immediately moved his hands again. With a surge of chakra, the Eight Trigrams Seal reactivated, and the massive gate slammed shut once more.
As the doors sealed, Minato let out a long breath of relief. Then his thoughts returned to the mysterious black figure and that voice.
Who… was that man?
Minato frowned deeply, a grave expression on his face. What had happened here while he was gone?
He looked toward the now-subdued Nine-Tails and asked,
"Nine-Tails… can you tell me who that man was?"
The fox, newly sealed again, had no patience for conversation. It glared at Minato, then let out a low, bitter laugh.
"You only need to know this—he wields power strong enough to destroy the entire ninja world."
Minato fell silent. Though the answer wasn't clear, it filled him with an even heavier sense of dread.
His chakra form was fading fast. He knew he didn't have much time left. Still, he didn't want to disappear yet—not until the moment came when he could meet his son, Naruto, once more.
So, despite his doubts, Minato let the last of his chakra fade, leaving the dark seal space empty once again.
The black aura that had bound the Nine-Tails slowly dissipated. Stretching its massive body, the beast looked down at its missing tail. Red chakra flared at the stump, and a new tail began to grow.
It sighed heavily, lying down again in resignation.
Maybe this was for the best. Compared to that mysterious Carl, or even Minato—who had sealed it twice—it felt safer here, trapped within Naruto's seal.
At least that brat was someone it knew.
Let's see what that kid's up to now…
Huh? Practicing the Shadow Clone Jutsu again? Wait, he's using that much chakra for it?
Whatever. As long as it's not another sealing technique… I'll lend him a hand this time.
A wave of red chakra slowly pulsed out from beneath the Nine-Tails and spread outward.
...
Outside—
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A flurry of white smoke erupted through the room. When it cleared, the small space was suddenly packed wall to wall with Narutos.
The sound of their chatter and movement filled the air.
At the center stood the real Naruto, staring at his clones in wide-eyed disbelief before his face lit up with pure joy.
He'd done it!
He had actually mastered an A-rank jutsu—the Multi Shadow Clone Technique!
Grinning from ear to ear, Naruto looked around at all his duplicates. Compared to this, the basic Clone Jutsu was child's play!
Then—smack!
A firm hand landed on his shoulder, making him jump. He turned around—and froze when he saw the familiar face above him.
"C-Carl… you're out?" he stammered.
Carl looked down at him with a faint smile.
"Already getting cocky, huh? It's just the Multi Shadow Clone Technique. Try learning the Flying Thunder God Jutsu next—that was your father's signature move, after all."