Feeling the trembling ground beneath his feet, Minato found himself in a difficult position.
Everywhere—
Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Countless golden chains surged from the earth. The moment one wrapped around him—
The battle would be over.
As Kushina's husband, Minato was intimately familiar with this technique.
But Kyusei's version—
Was on an entirely different level.
The sheer number of chains…
Their speed…
Both far surpassed Kushina.
At this moment, the entire battlefield had become Kyusei's domain.
Minato had nowhere to land.
From above, the ground revealed a massive octagonal formation.
"Sealing Art—Adamantine Barrier."
Kyusei held a one-handed seal in front of his chest.
A barrier—
One even the Nine-Tails couldn't escape—
Was complete.
"…This is…"
Minato's expression changed.
The Flying Thunder God mark he had placed on Menma—
Was gone.
Not just that—
Even the mark on Kushina—
Far away—
Had vanished from his perception.
Kyusei's barrier—
Blocked space-time ninjutsu.
But…
Dodging another incoming chain, Minato glanced at the kunai in his hand.
Flying Thunder God still worked—
Inside the barrier.
This place—
Had become a sealed arena.
Unless he defeated Kyusei—
He couldn't leave.
Minato pressed his lips together, a trace of helplessness in his eyes.
Helplessness—
True helplessness.
He was skilled in sealing techniques—
Yet rarely used them in combat.
And Kyusei—
Had only shown three techniques so far:
The Tailed Beast Beam.
Adamantine Chains.
And now—
The barrier.
But just these three—
Already overwhelmed him.
In attack—
He had nothing stronger than the beam.
In sealing—
Nothing beyond the chains.
Except…
The Reaper Death Seal.
But no matter what—
He could never use that on Kyusei.
Even his advantage—
Space-time ninjutsu—
Was now confined.
Kyusei formed a golden spear in his hand.
Step by step—
He approached.
This barrier—
Was an improved version based on Ōtsutsuki Hamura's records.
Originally meant to counter Kamui.
Yet now—
Minato became its first test subject.
Step by step—
Kyusei accelerated.
In an instant—
He was before him.
"Minato… if you have no more moves—"
"This fight is already decided."
Before he finished—
The spear came crashing down.
Minato barely blocked.
It was Kushina's technique—
Adamantine Chains: Divine Spear.
The force drove him to one knee.
Fresh out of prison—
His body wasn't at its peak.
Against Kyusei—
He was completely suppressed.
Even in speed—
Kyusei wasn't far behind.
With Kurama Mode and Sage Mode—
He was only slightly slower.
But in this sealed space—
Where could Minato run?
The outcome—
Was inevitable.
No—
The moment the barrier formed—
It was already decided.
"Sage Art—Adamantine Chains: Binding Curse."
Ignoring Minato's teleportation—
Kyusei activated the technique.
Eight blades—
Had already been planted at the barrier's corners.
Golden lines connected instantly.
Minato—
Was now a caged bird.
No matter how fast—
He couldn't escape.
"Minato… you've lost."
Golden light filled the entire barrier.
Blinding.
When it faded—
A defeated figure sat on the ground.
Chains—
Bound him from all directions.
Even the fastest shinobi alive—
Could not escape.
"I won't seal your chakra."
"…Keep your promise."
Kyusei frowned slightly.
Minato remained silent.
"…By the way."
"Kushina is pregnant."
"Three months now."
Minato's head snapped up.
"…What?"
"…Yes."
"For your unborn child—"
"Pull yourself together."
"If Menma doesn't work…"
"Then have another."
Silence.
Menma…
Was not just a rebellious son.
But the Nine-Tails' vessel.
A failed hope.
A father's responsibility.
"…Minato."
"Trust me."
"Stay out of this."
"I'll give you an answer."
Kyusei removed the chains and dusted him off.
"…Kyusei…"
"You've grown."
Minato's voice trembled slightly.
Compared to Kyusei—
His own son…
"…Do you need me?"
Minato asked.
Kotoamatsukami—
Did not erase personality.
Only altered memory.
He chose—
To trust.
"…Hashirama is fighting two Uchiha."
"One is Hikari…"
Kyusei paused.
"…Forget it."
"Go help Sasuke deal with Madara."
Minato hesitated—
Then nodded.
"…Understood."
—
Meanwhile—
Nagato's expression grew darker.
Kaoru and Tobirama surrounded him.
Both—
Flying Thunder God users.
One—
Unpredictable.
The other—
A legend.
The tide—
Had turned.
"Nagato."
White Zetsu emerged.
"We've contacted the Cloud and Stone."
"The Raikage and Tsuchikage are on their way—with their Jinchūriki."
Nagato's eyes lit up.
Four perfect Jinchūriki.
With Madara and himself—
Victory was still possible.
But then—
A golden streak—
And a green one—
Cut through the sky.
Kyusei.
Nao.
Together.
Their combined attack—
A fusion of Truth-Seeking Orbs and Tailed Beast Bomb—
Slammed forward.
Nagato couldn't absorb it.
"Shinra Tensei!"
Too late.
The attack shattered it instantly.
The explosion—
Swept everything away.
Even Kaoru was blown back.
Tobirama buried under sand.
Nagato—
Sent flying—
Blood scattering.
"Prepare it."
Black Zetsu's voice was tense.
If Nagato fell—
The Rinnegan would be lost.
Unacceptable.
"…You're serious?"
White Zetsu hesitated.
"We have no choice."
"…Fine."
He sank into the ground.
Nagato stood again—
Wounded.
"…Good."
"Very good…"
He coughed blood.
"Nagato—"
"You've lost."
Kyusei's voice was cold.
Hatake Sakumo.
Uchiha Naoki.
He had never forgotten.
A massive Tailed Beast Bomb formed—
Condensed—
Compressed—
To the size of a billiard ball.
Sage Art—Tailed Beast Bomb.
Behind Nao—
Six golden Truth-Seeking Orbs merged.
Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion.
Together—
They fused.
A massive blade of light—
Pierced the heavens.
"…Come!"
"Is this your strongest attack?!"
Nagato roared.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Gedo Statue!"
The monstrous figure rose—
Roaring.
Kyusei gripped Nao's hand—
And brought the blade down.
"…Amazing!"
Kaoru's eyes sparkled.
"I name this—"
"Sage Art: Infinite Golden Reincarnation Tailed Beast Annihilation Sword!"
Tobirama climbed out of the sand—
Spitting grit.
"…I'm sure now."
"You really are airheaded."
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