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He returned to Paradise Island. The sight that greeted him was one of ruin.
A severed tentacle from the Eight-Tails' initial injury lay motionless amidst the rubble at the base of the stone steps.
Narupain ignored it, his footsteps measured as he ascended. Samui, Karui, Ōmoi, and Motoi lay unconscious on the platform. Samehada had only had time to save Killer Bee; these four were left to their fate.
Narupain ignored them too, his path unwavering as he reached the temple doors.
Whoosh. Black Zetsu oozed from the ground. "It is said that a jinchūriki must pass through the Falls of Truth. They must confront and eliminate their inner darkness. Only then can they avoid being consumed by the tailed beast's dark consciousness during the mental struggle."
Narupain smirked. "Do you think that is necessary for me?"
Black Zetsu's voice was smooth. "The Nine-Tails' darkness is nothing compared to yours. If there is any consuming to be done, it will be you consuming him. However…"
"However what?"
"Good and evil are two sides of the same coin. If one's malice is overwhelmingly perfect… even the tiniest speck of good may become a flaw."
Tap.
Narupain stopped. His gaze swept down, imperious and cold. "Goodness? Are you jesting with me? Do you believe I, Madara, harbor childish notions of 'good'?"
"For the sake of thoroughness," Black Zetsu ventured, "I humbly suggest you still test yourself at the Falls. If any unnecessary 'good' remains… it is best to excise it early."
Narupain considered for a moment. A low chuckle escaped him. "Who is Uchiha Madara, to be measured by such shallow concepts as 'good' or 'evil'? Evil never triumphs over good? Only because the victor gets to write the history, to define what is 'just'! Good, evil… I will redefine it all with my power!"
BOOM.
The massive temple doors groaned inward.
Watching Madara's unconcerned back disappear inside, Black Zetsu sneered inwardly. Pathetic fool, bloated with your own ego. The power you're so proud of is but a fragment of Mother's might. Use it. Exert yourself to the fullest. Every move you make now to reclaim your strength… is merely paving the way for Naruto. And Naruto will become my most perfect pawn.
Inside the temple, the meditation chamber.
The room was awash in soft, shifting hues of rainbow light. From floor to walls to ceiling, the ethereal colors swirled, creating a dreamlike, almost childish atmosphere.
Narupain's lip curled in disgust. "This gaudy decor. It's like an illustration from a children's book. Fitting for a naive brat who's seen nothing of the world."
He tore off his black cloak, tossed it on the floor as a makeshift cushion, and sat cross-legged. He pulled up his mesh shirt, his eyes fixing on the intricate pattern of the Eight Trigrams Seal on his abdomen.
The sealing arts of the Uzumaki clan—represented by the Four Symbols and Eight Trigrams Seals—were renowned not just for their complexity, but for their independence.
Each seal was a unique lock. And each lock had only one key. Even another Eight Trigrams Seal would have a slightly different internal structure—identical locks on the outside, different mechanisms within.
The key to Naruto's seal was in Jiraiya's hands. Retrieving it was impractical.
Madara had his own method.
He would use the Sharingan to dissect the seal's structure… and copy a key himself!
The tomoe in his eyes spun wildly, his perception pushed to its absolute limit. The seal's design unfolded before him, revealing every microscopic detail, every hidden nuance.
"I see. Flawless in its intricacy. If Obito hadn't caught the jinchūriki during childbirth that night… he would have had no chance. Hm?"
He detected it. Two foreign threads of chakra woven into the seal's fabric.
"This chakra… it's not Naruto's. What is its origin?"
Black Zetsu, knowing all, seized the opportunity. "It must be from Naruto's parents. Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. Left behind to help their son subdue the Nine-Tails. Now that the threat to Naruto is you… I suspect they will join forces with the beast against you."
Narupain laughed, a sound of pure, unadulterated arrogance. "Hah. They were insignificant to me in life. What threat do their ghosts pose? A half-strength Nine-Tails holds no challenge. Let it have two more helpers. It changes nothing."
Black Zetsu's thoughts raced: Minato's chakra is set to activate if the seal weakens to eight tails. A full release will definitely trigger it. Kushina's chakra activates if Naruto is in dire straits during the tug-of-war. And 'dire' doesn't begin to describe his current situation. She'll appear instantly. Even with their combined, fading chakra and the Nine-Tails… they likely stand no chance against Madara. But those chakra residues are a potential variable. Best to let Madara eliminate this little loose end for me.
Crackle.
As his Sharingan continued its analysis, Narupain consciously guided the Black Cursed Seal. Dark energy coalesced, snaking down his right arm, forming an intricate, interlocking pattern of lines.
It was… the reverse formula of the Eight Trigrams Seal.
The key.
Half an hour later, the pattern reached his palm. The copy was complete.
"Hah… quite the effort. I hope the ensuing fight doesn't disappoint!!!"
With a fierce grin, he slammed his palm against the seal on his stomach. The copied key-pattern aligned perfectly with the seal's design. A perfect fit.
He twisted his hand.
Click.
—Eight Trigrams Seal: RELEASE!!
Within the mindscape, the massive gates of the Nine-Tails' cage shattered open!!!
Fizzle.
Narupain's form materialized inside. His voice was a cold, mocking greeting. "Well, well. The little beast and I meet again…"
"MADARA…!!!"
The Nine-Tails' roar shook the very foundation of the mental space. Pure malice and recognition flooded its crimson eyes.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Their chakra-manifested forms each released a torrent of energy from their chests. The streams met in the air, forming a taut, glowing cord between them.
The tug-of-war had begun.
Narupain's voice was a command. "If you wish to avoid unnecessary suffering… surrender your chakra. Now."
The fox snarled, teeth bared. "It has come to this!! I will expel you from this body, Madara! I will wake the boy!"
"Ha. Hahahahaha…! Try it, then!"
Flicker. Flicker.
Two more figures shimmered into existence beside the colossal fox. Minato and Kushina.
Existing as remnants of chakra within their son, they had witnessed his entire journey. Every triumph, every failure. And they knew—they knew—about Black Zetsu's manipulation, about the Black Cursed Seal.
They were not confused. They had been waiting for this moment.
Minato offered a gentle, rueful smile, scratching the back of his head. "Kushina… I'd love to catch up, but it seems our son is in a bit of a bind."
CRACK!
Kushina cracked her knuckles, a fiery aura bursting around her. "Beating this guy up and waking our son comes first, dattebane!!!"
Minato looked up at the furious fox, his expression calm. "Nine-Tails… I know we have our history. But given the circumstances, a temporary alliance seems prudent. Don't you agree?"
The opponent was Madara. The Nine-Tails had no room for its usual prideful tantrums.
"Hmph! Once this is over, I'll deal with you two. I'll take the boy's body and reunite your family permanently. But for now… I shall allow you to stand upon my head!!!"
To their shock, the gigantic fox lowered its head, offering its crown as a platform.
Minato and Kushina exchanged a look, then leaped, landing firmly on the fox's brow.
Narupain's eyes gleamed with manic excitement. "A united front so quickly? Good. Saves me the trouble… of calling roll."
—Narupain vs. The Nine-Tails, Kushina Uzumaki, and Minato Namikaze.
The clash was imminent.
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