By the time they arrived the battlefield had changed. The forest was gone. Reduced to a wasteland of cracked earth and burning debris.
Shinji landed first. And saw them.
Chains. Glowing, golden chains surged from the ground wrapping tightly around the massive form of Kurama.
At the center of it bleeding.Kushina Uzumaki
Her chakra flared wildly. Every chain trembled under the strain.
And standing just ahead facing the beast directly
Minato Namikaze
Shisui landed beside Shinji, eyes widening slightly.
"She's holding it."
Hiruzen followed, gaze sharp. "At the cost of her life."
The beast roared. The chains strained
Minato didn't turn. But he spoke. "You made it."
Shinji stepped forward. "We drove him off."
"This won't hold much longer," Minato continued. "Her chakra is fading."
Kushina let out a weak breath, her voice strained but steady. "Don't talk like I'm already gone"
Shinji's chest tightened.
Minato knelt beside her briefly.
"We don't have time."
He looked at Shinji. Then Shisui. Then Hiruzen.
"I'm going to seal the Nine-Tails into Naruto."
Shisui's eyes widened slightly. "…The baby?"
Hiruzen's expression darkened. "That is no small decision."
Minato nodded. "I know."
The nine taisl thrashed violently. A tail broke free Slamming into the ground
Kushina cried out, her chains tightening again. "Do it already!" she snapped weakly.
Minato stood. "I need time"
Shinji stepped forward immediately. "You'll get it."
Minato hesitated looking at him. In his eye. The blood. "Thank you," he said.
Minato turned. Hands already forming seals. The process had begun.
"Hold it," Hiruzen ordered.
The beast roared again more violently now almost like he knew what was coming. Another tail broke free. Then another
The chains were failing.
Shisui vanished reappearing along one of the tails driving his blade in.
Hiruzen slammed his staff into the ground.
"Earth Style: Suppression Formation!"
The ground rose, massive pillars locking into place around the nine tails.
But it wasn't enough.
Shinji stepped forward. His eye burned immediately.
"Just a little longer," he muttered.
The nine tails rose his claw.
Shinji moved. His chakra surged and around him something formed. A skeletal frame of chakra. The claw collided
CLANG
The force cracked the earth.
Shinji's Susanoo held for a second then strained, cracks spreading through it.
"Shinji!" Shisui shouted.
"I've got it!" Shinji roared back.
Blood streamed from his eye now. But he didn't move.
Behind him Minato continued.
The beast roared again pushing harder breaking through another chain. Kushina gasped. Her grip slipping. "…I—I can't"
Hiruzen moved in, adding his own suppression stacking jutsu on top of Shinji's defense. Shisui cut down another incoming strike
All of them holding the line. For seconds that felt like hours.
Then
Minato's voice cut through everything. "It's done."
The massive presence of the nine tailed fox vanished.
Shinji dropped to one knee. The Susanoo shattered around him. He forced himself to look up.
Minato stood there. Breathing hard. But alive. In his arms A child. Naruto.
Shinji exhaled slowly.
"We did it"
He turned.
Kushina lay on the ground. Still. Too still.
Minato was already beside her. "…Kushina…"
No response.
Shinji's chest tightened. Shisui looked away slightly. Hiruzen lowered his head.
The cost.
There was always a cost.
Minato closed his eyes briefly. Then looked up.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Shinji didn't answer. Even after winning, he still felt it. That same feeling. Too late.
His gaze dropped slightly.
"We couldn't save her."
No one argued.
The night was quiet now. But it didn't feel peaceful.
Chp 65
The silence lingered. Shinji hadn't moved. Not since it ended.
ANBU arrived without sound. Two of them stepped forward. "…We'll take her, Lord Hokage."
Minato didn't answer immediately. His gaze rested on her
"Handle her with care."
They lifted Kushina Uzumaki gently. And disappeared.
Minato exhaled slowly. Then turned.
"Lord Third."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward.
"We need a council meeting. Immediately."
Hiruzen nodded. "I'll gather them.
Minato's eyes shifted. Landing on Shinji. Then Shisui.
"You two will attend."
Shisui blinked. "…Us?"
"You fought the masked man," Minato said. "You have information no one else does."
Shinji gave a small nod.
"Report to the Hokage office once you've recovered," Minato added.
He vanished.
The village was unrecognizable. Collapsed buildings. Fires still burning.
Shisui walked beside him.
"You okay?" he asked.
Shinji didn't answer immediately.
"I will be."
The Hokage office. Tension filled the room before a word was spoken.
Shinji stood near the window. Looking out over what remained of the village.
"The clan heads are ready."
"And the elders?" Minato asked.
"Myself, Shikaku Nara, and Danzo."
A pause. "…There is something else."
Shinji's eyes shifted slightly.
"Fugaku Uchiha has been located."
Minato's voice lowered. "Alive?"
Hiruzen's expression hardened. "…No."
"He fell holding back the Nine-Tails. Protecting the outer district."
Shinji didn't move. The world narrowed Just for a second. "…I see."
Minato watched him carefully. Then stepped forward.
"Shinji."
He turned slightly. "I know now isn't the time," Minato said, "but as his eldest son and a jonin"
"You are now the acting head of the Uchiha clan."
Silence filled the room. The weight of it settled.
Shinji's jaw tightened slightly. "Understood."
The council chamber was full. Clan heads. Commanders. Elders
At the front Minato Namikaze stood. Hiruzen beside him. To one side Shikaku Nara.
And in the shadows Danzo Shimura.
Minato spoke. "The Nine-Tails has been sealed."
"But the cause of this attack remains unresolved."
Danzo stepped forward slightly.
"On the contrary."
"Numerous shinobi reported seeing a Sharingan within the beast's eyes."
Danzo continued. "That narrows the list of suspects considerably." "And yet," he added, "it is curious…"
His gaze drifted. Landing intentionally on Shinji.
"that the Uchiha clan was notably absent during the village's time of need."
Silence.
For half a second Shinji said nothing.
Then
"YEAH?" The word cracked through the room. Heads turned instantly.
"WHERE WAS YOUR ROOT?"
Danzo's eye narrowed. "My forces operate where they are most effective," he replied.
"Didn't see them saving anyone," Shinji shot back.
"Watch your tone," Danzo said coldly.
Something snapped.
Shinji stepped forward Chakra surging. His eyes shifted. The Mangekyō flared to life. The room changed.
Several shinobi stiffened instantly. Even the clan heads reacted.
"So," Danzo murmured. "That explains it."
Shinji's voice dropped. "Fugaku Uchiha MY FATHER died defending this village."
"He held the line while people evacuated.
A step forward. "And you stand here making accusations?"
"Enough." Minato's voice cut through everything.
The pressure dropped. Shinji exhaled slowly.His eyes returned to normal.
Minato stepped forward. "Enough, Elder Danzo."
"Shinji, now acting head of the Uchiha clan, personally took part in the battle tonight."
His gaze swept the room. "He, alongside Lord Third and Shisui, were crucial in driving off the masked attacker and buying the time needed to seal the Nine-Tails."
"And he is correct." Minato's voice hardened slightly. "Root was nowhere to be seen."
"We will address that at a later time."
"But for now" "We have more pressing matters than baseless accusations."
Danzo said nothing but his gaze lingered on Shinji.