Naruto: The Avenger of the Uzumaki clan

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"Is it really Obito? It must be because of what happened to Rin," Minato muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Though the revelation was overwhelming, Minato trusted his son's words. Reflecting on the past, he quickly pieced together the puzzle. The bond between Obito, Kakashi, and Rin had been unshakable, despite Obito being an Uchiha. It was no secret that Obito had cared deeply for both of them—especially Rin.

Minato clenched his fists. He had witnessed Rin's death. If Obito had somehow discovered the truth behind that tragedy, it was no wonder he had fallen into darkness.

"Menma," Minato began, his tone cautious, "what did you mean about Jiraiya-sensei's three disciples?" His brow furrowed in concern. He had heard of Jiraiya taking in students during the Second Great Ninja War but had never pressed for details. Jiraiya's silence on the matter had spoken volumes, and Minato had respected his mentor's boundaries.

Now, however, it seemed those three disciples were at the heart of something far graver than he had imagined.

"It's all a consequence of war," Menma replied, his gaze distant as memories of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan resurfaced. His expression darkened, but he forced himself to explain the trio's tragic history. He spoke cautiously, revealing only what Minato needed to know about their connection to Akatsuki, Obito, and Uchiha Madara. Certain details were deliberately omitted; Menma couldn't risk exposing the full scope of his knowledge.

Minato listened intently, his expression shifting from shock to quiet horror. The depth of the Akatsuki's ties to Konoha, combined with their ultimate goal—the collection of all nine tailed beasts—was staggering.

Yet Minato didn't question Menma further. He didn't ask how his son knew so much because he already understood: Menma had his reasons, and Minato trusted them.

Placing a firm hand on Menma's shoulder, Minato said solemnly, "Since you know the truth, I won't press you. If you need anything, just ask. I'll do whatever I can to help."

"Thank you, Father," Menma replied, his voice steady. "I need access to the core of the Flying Thunder God Technique. I also need your help breaking the Eight Trigrams Seal. You entrusted the key to Jiraiya, but as the one who cast it, you should be able to release it. Finally… when the time is right, I'll use Impure World Reincarnation to summon you. I need the other half of Kurama's chakra—the half sealed within you."

Menma's bold request hung in the air, the weight of his words palpable. Even the dormant Kurama stirred within the seal, his eyes narrowing as he processed Menma's declaration.

The other half of my chakra? Kurama mused, his interest piqued.

Minato's surprise was evident, but he quickly composed himself. After a moment's thought, he nodded. "The other half of the Nine-Tails' chakra… I see. There's no problem with that. However, Menma, you'll need to break the Reaper Death Seal first. Only then can you summon me."

"I understand," Menma said with a firm nod.

"I'll also share the core principles of the Flying Thunder God Technique," Minato continued. His voice softened as he gazed at his son. "Consider this my final gift to you. As your father, I know I've failed you in many ways. If you resent me, I understand. But Menma… stay true to yourself. Don't lose your way. You still have a long road ahead."

There was a finality to Minato's words that made Menma pause. Before he could respond, Minato raised his hands into a familiar seal.

"Clap!"

The sound of Minato's hands coming together echoed in the quiet room.

"Buzz!"

A ripple of golden chakra expanded outward, enveloping Minato's form. Slowly, his figure began to blur, dissolving into pure energy that flowed into Menma.

As his body faded, Minato's final words echoed, filled with quiet regret. "Menma… I'm sorry."

And then, he was gone.

Menma stood rooted to the spot, staring at the empty space where his father had been moments ago. For the first time in this life, he had truly seen his father—and now he had watched him disappear.

Though he lacked the memories of a traditional father-son bond, the moment still felt surreal. This man, who had entrusted him with so much, was his father.

Clenching his fists, Menma whispered, "Father… I may not be the person you hoped I'd become. But I'll keep my promise. Soon, those who stand against me will learn their place."

Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention back to the seal in front of him. The Eight Trigrams Seal glowed faintly, the kanji for "seal" emblazoned on its surface.

"Kurama," Menma said with quiet determination, "give me a moment. I'm breaking the seal now."

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The Eight Trigrams Sealing Technique—on the surface, it seemed like nothing more than two overlapping Four Symbols Seals. But its complexity, precision, and sheer power far exceeded the sum of its parts.

The key to unraveling it lay in pinpointing the seal's control points and releasing them in perfect sequence. Only then could the inner and outer circles of the seal resonate, harmonizing to unlock its power.

Menma had once believed he could decode the Eight Trigrams Seal with his knowledge of the Four Symbols Seal. But after learning the core principles of Minato's techniques, he realized how naïve that assumption had been. Reverse-engineering the Eight Trigrams Seal wasn't impossible, but it was exceedingly dangerous—especially when dealing with something as volatile as a tailed beast.

For most shinobi, a single miscalculation in the seal's array could lead to catastrophic chakra conflicts. And if the Nine-Tails' chakra was involved, disaster was all but guaranteed.

Fortunately, Menma had two advantages: his deep understanding of sealing jutsu and Kurama, who—though reluctant—was his ally.

Still, Menma wasn't one to leave room for error. Sealing arrays, no matter how precise, could always surprise you with complications. And complications were the last thing Menma needed.

"Four Symbols Seal!" he murmured, focusing his chakra.

As the structure of the Eight Trigrams Seal formed in his mind, he began overlaying the rune patterns onto the existing Four Symbols Seal. Every mark had to align perfectly; even the slightest deviation could destabilize the entire array. After painstakingly preparing the groundwork, Menma moved on to the next step.

"Sizzle!"

The sealing rod dissolved under his touch, revealing the intricate layers of the Eight Trigrams Seal. The patterns shimmered faintly, pulsing with restrained power. Menma's eyes narrowed as his hands wove through familiar seals.

Chakra flared, controlled and precise.

"Eight Trigrams Reverse Unsealing!"

"Break!" Menma commanded, slamming his palm against the spiraled seal.

A low hum filled the air as the Eight Trigrams Seal began to unravel. The metal bars of Kurama's cage trembled, the intricate locking mechanism turning counterclockwise. Layer by layer, the seal peeled away, releasing the oppressive force that had kept Kurama confined for so long.

From within the cage, Kurama stirred. His crimson eyes gleamed with intensity as he felt the weight of the seal begin to dissipate. His massive claws flexed, and his ears twitched at the sound of the final lock clicking open.

"Open!" Menma shouted.

A surge of chakra erupted from Menma's hand, shattering the seal. The glowing fragments hovered momentarily before dissolving into nothingness. The towering iron gates of Kurama's cage groaned before exploding outward, blown apart by the force.

For the first time in years, Kurama was free.

The Nine-Tails rose to his full height, his massive form radiating power. The oppressive weight of his chakra filled the chamber, suffocating and cold, like a thunderstorm about to break.

Kurama roared, his voice shaking the air itself. His chakra lashed out in waves, yet Menma stood his ground. His cloak billowed violently, but his expression remained calm and resolute.

Kurama's crimson gaze locked onto Menma. One step—just one step—would be all it took to crush this human and seize his freedom.

For years, Kurama had endured imprisonment, chained and controlled by humans who saw him as nothing more than a tool. Now, freedom was within his grasp.

Yet Menma met the beast's gaze without flinching.

"Not afraid, are you?" Kurama growled, his voice a low rumble that reverberated through the room.

Menma smirked faintly. "Afraid of you? Hardly. You could kill me, sure. But what then? Without a host, how long do you think you'll stay free before someone comes to hunt you down again? You're strong, Kurama, but you're not invincible."

Kurama snorted, his breath cold and biting. "Hmph. Bold words for a boy who just opened my cage."

"I'm not Naruto," Menma said coolly, his tone cutting. "I don't believe in 'mutual understanding' or fairytales about friendship. You don't trust me, and I don't trust you. That's fine. We're not equals—we never will be. But we need each other."

Kurama's eyes narrowed dangerously, but he didn't speak. Instead, he stared at Menma, his tail swishing behind him like a serpent waiting to strike.

Finally, he huffed and sat back, his massive frame settling into a crouch. "You win this time, kid. But I want answers. I know you're hiding something. Especially about that man."

Menma raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Kurama's voice turned venomous. "Madara. Is that bastard still alive?"

The mention of Uchiha Madara stirred a deep, ancient hatred within Kurama. The man who had once controlled him like a puppet, reducing him to nothing more than a weapon, still haunted the Nine-Tails' memories.

"No," Menma replied. "Madara's dead. But his legacy isn't. Somewhere out there, his plans are still unfolding. He's not done, Kurama."

The Nine-Tails growled, the chamber trembling under the weight of his fury. "That man… one day, I'll destroy him. I'll make him pay for everything."

Menma's lips curled into a faint smirk. "We'll see. But for now, we have more immediate concerns. Madara can wait."

The tension in the air lingered, heavy and unspoken. Despite their animosity, an unbreakable bond tethered them. Neither could move forward without the other.

For now, they would work together. But the future? That was a different matter entirely.

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