"Then let's start right now!"
Naruto practically bounced on his feet once Fujimoto Tōma agreed.
"Not yet," Tōma said after a moment's thought. "There's still some preparation to do."
"Huh? Preparation?" Naruto flexed his arms enthusiastically. "I'm totally ready!"
"I'm not talking about your condition," Tōma replied dryly. Naruto's state of mind was almost always at full throttle anyway.
"Go bring Jiraiya-sensei and Hinata here first."
Naruto froze. "Eh?"
He didn't understand at all, but he nodded and ran off anyway.
Tōma watched him go and exhaled quietly.
So it had finally come to this.
Once Naruto succeeded, his strength would leap forward in a way few shinobi ever could. He wouldn't just gain access to the Nine-Tails' chakra. He would step straight into a level that skipped several stages entirely. Even Tōma felt a hint of envy. A jump like that suited Naruto alone.
Still, Tōma shook his head. His own growth was steady, controlled, and reliable. Different paths, same destination.
The mountain behind Konoha was quiet when Naruto returned with Jiraiya and Hinata.
When Jiraiya learned what Naruto intended to do, he was stunned and immediately started grilling him with questions. But once he heard that Tōma had already approved it, he relaxed.
If Naruto failed, Tōma could suppress the Nine-Tails again. Simple as that. And from what Jiraiya knew, Tōma never acted without certainty.
So… did that mean Naruto was truly ready?
Jiraiya glanced at him. Since mastering Sage Mode, Naruto had already surpassed him in raw ability. The realization was both comforting and bitter.
Time really did move on.
Hinata, meanwhile, didn't fully understand why she had been called, but once she learned what was happening, she made up her mind. If there was anything she could do to help Naruto, she would give it everything she had.
Before long, Tōma arrived.
"You're finally here!" Naruto waved wildly.
"The Nine-Tails isn't going anywhere," Tōma replied, unimpressed.
After greeting Jiraiya and Hinata, Jiraiya got straight to the point. "Why did you call both of us?"
"You'll see soon," Tōma said, dodging the question. "Naruto, come here. Take off your shirt and sit down."
Naruto complied immediately, sitting cross-legged. Hinata turned bright red but forced herself to look away only slightly. She couldn't leave. Naruto might need her.
Tōma placed his hand on Naruto's abdomen. Chakra surged.
Before their eyes, layers upon layers of sealing markings surfaced across Naruto's upper body.
Hinata gasped softly, then looked at Naruto with unconcealed concern.
Jiraiya glanced sideways at Tōma. Most of these seals weren't Minato's. They were Tōma's additions from years ago, extra safeguards from a time when his fuinjutsu hadn't been nearly as refined.
Tōma didn't look embarrassed in the slightest. If it worked, it worked.
One by one, the excess seals vanished, leaving only the Four Symbols Seal on Naruto's stomach.
"All right," Tōma said. "Jiraiya-sensei, Hinata. Sit down. Each of you hold one of Naruto's hands."
Jiraiya obeyed immediately. Hinata hesitated, face burning, then sat down and gently took Naruto's hand. Both of them were red to the ears.
"Ready?" Tōma asked.
"Yes!" they answered together.
Tōma pressed his palm to the seal.
The world shifted.
Naruto, Jiraiya, and Hinata appeared inside Naruto's mindscape, still holding hands, utterly confused.
Then two more figures slowly emerged.
Jiraiya's breath caught.
"…Minato. Kushina."
Standing there were the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and his wife, Uzumaki Kushina.
For a moment, even they looked bewildered. This wasn't how or when they had expected to awaken.
But then Minato heard Jiraiya's voice and turned.
"Jiraiya-sensei…"
Hinata covered her mouth in shock. Naruto stared, brain struggling to catch up.
"You're… the guy on the Hokage Monument! The Fourth Hokage!" Naruto blurted out, then froze.
Father.
Mother.
He turned slowly to Jiraiya, who nodded.
Naruto's throat tightened. "Dad…? Mom…?"
Kushina broke first, rushing forward and pulling him into a fierce hug. "Yes. It's us."
Jiraiya and Hinata wiped at their eyes, overwhelmed by the scene.
After a long while, they finally separated.
Kushina's attention shifted to Hinata. Her eyes sparkled. "And who's this?"
"I-I'm Hyūga Hinata," Hinata said hurriedly.
Kushina grinned. "Naruto's girlfriend?"
Hinata nearly short-circuited.
"Mom! Not yet!" Naruto protested.
"Not yet means later," Kushina teased, leaving both of them mortified.
Outside, Tōma stretched lazily. Inside, they had definitely met by now.
Minato's chakra was woven into the seal. Opening it would naturally bring him and Kushina forth. That was the real reason Tōma had chosen today.
After a while, Jiraiya and Hinata woke up.
"Thank you," Jiraiya said quietly.
"No need," Tōma replied. "I noticed their chakra long ago. The timing just wasn't right until now."
Jiraiya wanted to say more, but the words wouldn't come.
Soon after, Tōma entered Naruto's seal space himself.
"Yo, Kurama. Long time no see."
The Nine-Tails snorted and looked away.
"Feeling anything?" Tōma asked.
Silence.
"The seal's about to come off," Tōma said. "Looking forward to it?"
"…Doesn't matter," Kurama finally muttered.
Tōma chuckled. "Yeah. You've already accepted him."
Kurama didn't deny it.
"You've gotten stronger," Kurama added after a pause.
"I don't plan on stopping," Tōma replied.
When he sensed Naruto approaching, Tōma vanished.
Back in the mindscape, Minato and Kushina watched as Naruto stepped forward.
Tōma reappeared beside them. "Ready?"
Naruto nodded firmly.
Tōma sent him into the inner seal.
Kurama was already waiting.
"I'm here to keep my promise," Naruto declared, tearing away the final layer of the seal.
The last battle began.