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With the Vortex Vanquisher in his left hand, he floated in the air, calmly observing the bound Nine-Tailed Fox below.
"Who are you?" Minato Namikaze struggled to raise his head, the pain from the Nine-Tailed Fox's claws coursing through his body, causing beads of cold sweat to drip from his forehead.
Sarutobi Hiruzen outside the barrier also assumed a defensive stance, the aura emanating from this suddenly appearing person filled him with fear.
As if… a god high above!
The Tailed Beast Ball in the Nine-Tailed Fox's mouth was ready. It was so enraged that it didn't even consider this person's strength, but instead, it lost its mind and unleashed the attack towards Shinji.
"Be careful!" Minato coughed up a mouthful of blood. He knew the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox's Tailed Beast Ball. It was something he wouldn't dare to take head-on.
Shinji looked at the Tailed Beast Ball hurtling towards him, his golden pupils remained unmoved. The Nine-Tailed Fox's attack…
"What is he going to do?" Outside the barrier, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Shinji in astonishment. Was there anyone in the world who dared to face the Nine-Tailed Fox's Tailed Beast Ball head-on?
"Hiruzen, who is he?" From the shadows, a man with a bandage covering his right eye appeared behind Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"I don't know." Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't turn around, but silently watched the Nine-Tailed Fox.
…
Roar!
Watching the Tailed Beast Ball gradually approach Shinji, the Nine-Tailed Fox narrowed its cruel eyes and let out an excited roar. It seemed that it couldn't escape being sealed again, so…
Taking someone down with it before dying! That would be a good choice!
"[Dominus Lapidis]!" Shinji merely extended his right hand slowly as he watched the Tailed Beast Ball speeding towards him.
Soon, as Shinji mobilized the surrounding rock element to protect himself, a Jade Shield formed.
The shield was adorned with faint patterns, and the rock element chains surrounding it formed a skeletal frame that supported the entire shield.
The moment the Jade Shield formed, the Nine-Tailed Fox's Tailed Beast Ball slammed into it!
"Direct hit!?" Minato watched the dust cloud in astonishment. In his understanding, even the Fourth Raikage, A, wouldn't be able to withstand such a blow from the Nine-Tailed Fox head-on.
Let alone… a person who looked so clean and pure.
Outside the barrier, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo were in the same state of shock, not to mention the Nine-Tailed Fox that had personally unleashed this Tailed Beast Ball!
Its eyes were filled with ferocity. Although it was tightly bound by Kushina's Adamantine Sealing Chains, it knew that it couldn't escape being sealed again.
So, it would take someone down with it!
"This…" Minato felt a pang of self-blame. He thought he could successfully re-seal the Nine-Tailed Fox, but it seemed… besides him and Kushina.
Another life would be lost?
"It seems my strength is gradually returning. Not a lot, but it's enough." From the smoke, Shinji slowly pushed aside the smoke with the Vortex Vanquisher in his hand, to the Nine-Tailed Fox's astonishment.
[Shixie: For all not Zhongli fans out there, he says this in the game.]
The Jade Shield on his body still glowed faintly, as if the Nine-Tailed Fox's attack had no effect on him at all.
"How… is that possible!?" The Nine-Tailed Fox widened its eyes. Its Tailed Beast Ball couldn't even break through this person's… shield?
This completely overturned its understanding of life after all these years.
"You're okay? That's great." Seeing Shinji reappear from the smoke, Minato breathed a sigh of relief. Although he didn't know how Shinji had avoided the Nine-Tailed Fox's Tailed Beast Ball, at least…
No one else died…
"Actually?! He caught the Tailed Beast Ball head-on!?" Outside the barrier, Sarutobi Hiruzen stared dumbfounded at the unscathed Shinji, his expression unable to conceal his astonishment.
"Who is that person? Hiruzen?! Someone like this! He's perfect for our Root!" Shimura Danzo's eyes gleamed with madness. Someone of this caliber…
Since you, Hiruzen, can't control him, then leave him to our Root!
In the distance, Uchiha Obito, who had just received a Rasengan from Minato, watched this scene in disbelief. This person, who looked like someone out of a painting, handsome and elegant, yet able to take the Nine-Tailed Fox's Tailed Beast Ball head-on!
Who is he?
He turned to the White Zetsu and Black Zetsu beside him.
However, both White Zetsu and Black Zetsu were also stunned, searching their minds, but their memories spanning thousands of years didn't hold any record of this person.
…
"[Dominus Lapidis]." Shinji said calmly, his expression devoid of emotion. As his words fell, the rock element gathered beneath his feet, forming a rock ridge. Shinji controlled his body and landed on the rock ridge.
"Such a high concentration of earth element?" Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. Could this be someone from the Hidden Stone Village?
"Every journey will eventually reach its end, there's no need to rush, just like… Kurama… you as well." Shinji's golden pupils reflected the image of the Nine-Tailed Fox below.
The sky… seemed to be enveloped in a golden light.
Seeing that Shinji was completely unaffected by his Tailed Beast Ball, the Nine-Tailed Fox decided to go berserk.
However, as the sound of the Adamantine Sealing Chains rang out, it realized.
It was tightly bound!
Feeling the Nine-Tailed Fox's claws pulling on his body, Minato hugged the claws, preventing them from leaving.
Ugh!
Due to the intense fluctuation, Minato couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood.
"You go! I'm about to seal it!" Even at this moment, Minato was still thinking about Shinji. Although he didn't know why Shinji could withstand a Tailed Beast Ball from the Nine-Tailed Fox, but…
"In this world, demons and gods rise together. While I have no intention of vying for supremacy, I know the suffering of the people. If so, I will lend you a hand, [Dominion]!" Shinji quoted Zhongli.
[Shixie: It's not an official quote I think?]
The next second, the Vortex Vanquisher in his left hand vanished, Shinji clasped his arms, his golden eyes fixed on the Nine-Tailed Fox below.
"What?" The Nine-Tailed Fox, which had been struggling, seemed to sense a powerful pressure coming from above.
It raised its head, its eyes widening instantly.
In the distance, Black Zetsu's face showed a human-like look of astonishment.
"Tengai Shinsei? How is that possible? He doesn't have the Rinnegan?" As an old fox who had witnessed the history of the ninja world for thousands of years, he naturally knew about Tengai Shinsei.
Everything in front of him was so similar to Tengai Shinsei.
"This power… who is this?" Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the [Falling Star] that Shinji had brought down, even as a master of ninjutsu, he rarely, if ever, saw such a shocking jutsu!
Unlike Sarutobi Hiruzen's astonishment, Shimura Danzo's eyes were filled with excitement.
His fists clenched, and only one thought ran through his mind.
As long as I control this person! As long as I plant the Tongue-Tied Seal on this person's tongue! Then! Hiruzen, what right do you have to challenge me?
I am the most suitable person to become Hokage and promote the Leaf!
Not to mention these big shots, tonight.
Whether it was the villagers of the Leaf, or spies from other villages.
They all saw the giant star rock falling from the sky!
At this moment, everyone seemed to be frozen, staring blankly at the star rock falling from the sky.
Minato and Kushina, who had been struggling to hold on, seemed to be drawn to the sky.
In the Nine-Tailed Fox's giant vertical pupil, the star rock carried by the Falling Star was like a missile, arriving!
Boom!!!
The barrier formed by the Adamantine Sealing Chains rippled, as if it was about to be broken.
And the place where the Nine-Tailed Fox had been lying.
Had become…
The original flat ground had become a crater, and in the center of the crater.
Only a petrified orange remnant soul of the Nine-Tailed Fox remained, quietly resting there.
The Tailed Beast is a gathering of chakra, but unlike ordinary chakra, it has its own consciousness. Shinji's power was also perfectly controlled.
It wouldn't cause the Nine-Tailed Fox to enter the stage of rebirth after death, but instead, it would annihilate the chakra in its body.
Moreover, due to the petrification function of the Falling Star, the Nine-Tailed Fox was at its weakest, and even a small jutsu could completely annihilate it until its next rebirth.
"Actually… just one blow!?" Minato watched the Nine-Tailed Fox's remnant soul in astonishment. This was beyond his understanding.
Kushina was equally shocked. As the Nine-Tailed Fox's jinchūriki, she naturally knew how powerful the Nine-Tailed Fox was, but now…
The Nine-Tailed Fox, which had terrified the five great nations and five hidden villages, was subdued in one move by this polite gentleman?
What terrifying power.
However, the pain in her abdomen pulled Kushina back from her astonishment. As a member of the Uzumaki clan, she could naturally feel the flow of life in her body.
Was time… running out?
"Now, seal it in your son's body. It's the most suitable." Shinji remained in his arms-crossed posture, his expression indifferent as he looked at Minato.
Indeed.
Hearing Shinji's words, Minato couldn't help but agree in his heart.
In this situation, sealing the Nine-Tailed Fox would be effortless, and he could use the remaining energy to strengthen the Nine-Tailed Fox's seal.
"Kushina…" Minato hugged Kushina.
At this point, the Nine-Tailed Fox's body had been blasted into a petrified soul by Shinji's Falling Star, and the claws that had been strung together like a string of beads had disappeared, replaced by empty holes in Minato and Kushina's abdomens.
Blood began to drip onto the ground, quickly staining the area red.
Kushina looked at the newborn Naruto in front of her, tears couldn't help but stream down her cheeks.
"Naruto, don't be picky about your food, eat more, grow up quickly, remember to take a bath on time every day, soak in a warm bath, and don't stay up late, make sure to get enough sleep; also remember to make friends, you don't need many friends, just a few truly trustworthy ones will do."
"Also, although I'm not very good at it, you have to study hard and learn jutsu, but everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, don't be too discouraged if you encounter difficulties in learning, respect your teachers and seniors at school."
"Ah, there's one more important thing, about the three forbidden things for ninjas, especially borrowing money, be cautious, save your mission earnings well. Wait until you're 20 before drinking, excessive drinking is harmful to your body, remember to be mindful of your limits.
…
"Oh, Naruto, there's so much... oh, so much more...! There are so many things I wish I had time to pass onto you... So much more I want to tell you!"
Kushina said to Naruto with tears in her eyes, her life force draining, her face had turned pale.
Finally, as in Shinji's impression.
The last thing Minato said to Naruto was still that same line, "Naruto, my words to you... well, I guess your talkative mom said it all."
Finally.
Minato and Kushina sealed their hand signs together, golden chains enveloped the Nine-Tailed Fox's soul, until… it was sealed into Naruto's body.
The golden chains dissipated as the sealing ritual ended. Shinji looked around, it seemed there was nothing left for him to do.
The next second, the Vortex Vanquisher reappeared behind him, he turned around and was about to leave.
"Friend." As Minato was dying, he suddenly called out to Shinji.
"Could… you please… do me a favor…" Minato said breathlessly.
"Do you want to make a contract with me? What is it?" Shinji came in front of Minato, his indifferent golden eyes couldn't reveal his thoughts.
...
"I hope… that you will protect the Leaf!" Minato said as he coughed up another mouthful of blood.
"I'm afraid I cannot accept this contract." Shinji narrowed his eyes, looking at Minato in front of him.
Yes, Minato was undoubtedly a good Hokage, but…
Beneath the peaceful façade of the Leaf, full of strife.
Shinji didn't intend to become the Leaf's guardian deity. Although Zhongli was the Geo Archon, Rex Lapis, who protected Liyue, but… Shinji, like Zhongli, hoped that the Leaf could prosper on its own.
"Why?"
"No reason, but I can make another contract with you." Shinji extended his hand, golden light condensed into a small piece of star rock.
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