Three days later, in the evening.
ANBU operatives arrived at the home and asked for Sora.
Because Uzumaki Kushina was present, they didn't speak their purpose aloud.
But Sora could guess why they were looking for him. The time had come—Uzumaki Mito's final moments were upon them.
Sora glanced at Kushina, who was busy cooking. "Kushina, I need to go out."
Kushina's hand, which held a spatula, trembled slightly. She fought to control her voice as she replied, "I know. Come home soon, Sora."
Sora followed the ANBU operatives and left Konoha.
Several miles outside the village, in a large clearing, a significant number of ANBU and Root members had established positions.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and Namikaze Minato were all present.
In the center of the clearing stood Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Miyuki.
The sealing formula had already been inscribed on the ground.
Sora approached Danzo first. "Lord Danzo."
Then he greeted the village leader. "Lord Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen acknowledged him with a nod. "Now that Sora is here, let's prepare for the sealing."
Five ANBU shinobi dispersed to five strategic points and began forming hand seals.
"Sealing Barrier!"
A transparent barrier materialized, encompassing everyone inside.
Meanwhile, all ANBU and Root ninja readied themselves for potential combat.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked toward the elderly Uzumaki. "Lady Mito, we're ready to begin."
Uzumaki Mito gazed at Miyuki standing before her and spoke with kindness. "Miyuki, though we serve as vessels for the tailed beasts, we must fill ourselves with love first. This way, even as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, you will find happiness."
Uzumaki Miyuki nodded respectfully. "I'll remember, Lady Mito."
Mito gave a final nod. "Then let us begin."
Uzumaki Mito started forming hand seals.
"Strength of a Hundred Seal—Release!"
The diamond-shaped mark on Mito's forehead spread outward like an intricate pattern across her skin.
Her frail body gradually straightened, her elderly appearance becoming somewhat younger as stored chakra flowed through her.
Then Uzumaki Mito formed another sequence of seals.
"Eight Trigrams Sealing Style! Release!"
On each fingertip of Mito's right hand, a small orb of chakra appeared, glowing with intensity.
She pressed her right hand against her abdomen and twisted counterclockwise.
Red tailed beast chakra instantly enveloped Mito's body, and a dark void manifested in her abdomen.
From this black hole emerged an enormous mass of chakra that took the form of the Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tails roared, its overwhelming presence causing everyone present to adopt solemn expressions.
Such power was undeniable—no wonder it was considered a weapon of war.
But as soon as the Nine-Tails emerged and roared, eight chakra chains tightly bound the massive fox.
With the tailed beast separated from her body, Uzumaki Mito's death was certain. However, thanks to the chakra stored in her Strength of a Hundred Seal, she could survive a little longer.
Still, Mito coughed up blood, and her briefly rejuvenated appearance rapidly deteriorated back to extreme old age.
Uzumaki Miyuki stared in awe at the Nine-Tails, now restrained before her. "Is this... the tailed beast?"
Mito spoke weakly to Miyuki. "Miyuki, time is short. Lift your clothes and expose your abdomen."
Miyuki snapped back to attention and lifted her clothing as instructed.
Uzumaki Mito formed several more hand seals and pressed her palm to the ground.
A puff of smoke appeared, revealing a ceremonial altar on the ground.
Mito's voice was fading but urgent. "The next step is to use the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style to seal the beast into your body. Remember, once it enters you, immediately use the Adamantine Sealing Chains to bind the Nine-Tails."
Seeing the ritual altar materialize, the Nine-Tails' eyes widened in fury. "A ritual altar? Uzumaki Mito, you intend to imprison me again?!"
Mito regarded the Nine-Tails with steely determination. "Nine-Tails, your power is too great. You must be sealed away!"
The Nine-Tails roared in rage. "Uzumaki Mito! Release me!"
Ignoring the fox's protests, Mito began forming seals once more.
"Eight Trigrams Sealing Style!"
Mito's right hand pressed against Miyuki's abdomen.
The Eight Trigrams seal formula appeared on Miyuki's skin.
Then, a black void—identical to the one in Mito's abdomen—formed in Miyuki's midsection.
Uzumaki Mito shouted with her remaining strength, "Seal!"
The Nine-Tails felt an immense pulling force as its massive form was forcibly drawn toward the void in Miyuki's abdomen.
"No! Release me!"
The fox struggled violently. Perhaps due to Mito's waning chakra, two of the eight restraining chains shattered.
The surrounding shinobi watched with extreme tension, fearing the seal might fail.
Fortunately, the Nine-Tails was successfully pulled into Miyuki's body.
The black void in her abdomen closed layer by layer, like an intricate lock mechanism.
Uzumaki Mito collapsed to the ground.
At this point, she was moments from death.
With her final breath, Mito whispered, "Miyuki, use the Adamantine Sealing Chains to control it... I leave the rest to you."
Slowly, Uzumaki Mito closed her eyes as her life came to an end.
Though the sealing was complete, no shinobi dared approach.
Uzumaki Miyuki appeared alarmingly different.
Red tailed beast chakra swirled around her body.
Her expression was contorted in what seemed to be excruciating pain.
Inside her mind, Miyuki's consciousness had entered the Nine-Tails' spiritual realm.
She attempted to use the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Five golden chains emerged from her body, attempting to bind the Nine-Tails.
But the power of the Nine-Tails far exceeded Miyuki's expectations.
"You are not Uzumaki Mito! You cannot restrain me!"
The fox broke free from one chain, and red chakra washed over Miyuki's spiritual form like a tidal wave.
Miyuki gritted her teeth and fought to maintain control.
But the force pushed her back several steps, and simultaneously, another chain was snapped by the Nine-Tails.
In the physical world, Miyuki's body underwent dramatic changes. Four tails had emerged, and massive amounts of tailed beast chakra poured from her body. Her skin was now covered in dark red chakra.
Though she maintained a humanoid form, she resembled something monstrous.
A fifth tail began to manifest as Miyuki roared and started condensing a Tailed Beast Bomb in her mouth.
Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured gravely, "She's losing control."
He turned to Sora with urgency. "Sora, please help Uzumaki Miyuki control the tailed beast within her."
Sora nodded and activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Genjutsu! Sharingan!"
As Sora cast his illusion, Miyuki froze in place as if under a paralysis spell. The partially formed Tailed Beast Bomb dissipated.
Through his genjutsu, Sora entered the mental space where Miyuki's consciousness confronted the Nine-Tails.
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion