Chapter 19: The Pressure of the Nine-Tails

"Lord Nine-Tails."

The Nine-Tails lifted its head, gazing at Minato Namikaze. Recently, it seemed that Minato had grown accustomed to communicating with it, often addressing it this way. What could be said? The Nine-Tails didn't mind Minato's politeness; after all, in its memory, Minato was the one who had unceremoniously split it in two and sealed it away. Despite the connection through Naruto, it was better not to become too familiar.

"What's the matter? Shouldn't you be preparing to teach Naruto today?"

"There's still some time before Naruto's usual bedtime. I wanted to ask you a few questions," Minato replied, noting the Nine-Tails' impatient eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he continued, "In the future you described, Sasuke Uchiha fought alongside Naruto."

"Indeed. Although there were quite a few hiccups at first, when faced with formidable foes, they were the only two in the ninja world blessed by the Sage of Six Paths capable of fighting back." The Nine-Tails recalled the events briefly, then teased Minato, "You may have been resurrected to join the fight against Uchiha Madara and Kaguya Otsutsuki, but you didn't help much!"

"...Is that so? It seems my future self is rather incompetent." Minato felt a twinge of helplessness at the news, though a deeper concern took root within him.

The Nine-Tails had previously mentioned that Minato's future self was resurrected through the forbidden technique, Impure World Reincarnation, invented by the Second Hokage. However, according to the Nine-Tails, his combat ability wouldn't be much weaker than in life. Yet, even so, he hadn't accomplished anything?

"Hmph, so what is it you want to ask?" The Nine-Tails interrupted Minato's thoughts, sensing his negative emotions.

"Ah, sorry. I wanted to ask what happened to the Uchiha clan." Minato snapped back to reality and apologized. "In your description, Obito, Itachi Uchiha, Madara Uchiha, and Sasuke Uchiha all seem to have played the role of enemies to Konoha at certain times, but there aren't any Uchiha left to explain..."

"Because they're all dead."

The Nine-Tails bluntly stated the outcome to Minato.

This answer was undoubtedly something Minato, who had his suspicions, could not accept.

"Why... No, who did this?"

"Hmph, how would I know? Isn't it great that the Uchiha brats are all gone?" The Nine-Tails held no fondness for the Uchiha clan, with their Sharingan, a bloodline limit derived from the Sage's bloodline that could control Tailed Beasts. There was nothing about them that the Nine-Tails liked. It remembered the joy it felt in Naruto's inner world upon hearing of the Uchiha clan's annihilation.

"So, when did this happen?" Minato asked in a solemn voice.

"Hmm? Time?" The Nine-Tails paused, seeing such matters as trivial. While the Uchiha clan was significant to Konoha, to it, human families rose and fell in importance, just as the once near-invincible Senju clan had faded into history.

"Let me think... Oh, right! It should have been when Naruto was in the ninja academy. For a time, those around him were discussing the Uchiha clan because I heard that annoying surname quite a bit during that period. It must have been then." The Nine-Tails struggled to recall its time inside Naruto, a time filled with rage and little concern for the happenings around Naruto.

"Does that mean it's two years from now?" Minato calculated, his brow furrowing. "Then there should still be time to ease the conflict. Lord Third, could it be that in these years..."

"Minato, let me offer you a word of warning."

Suddenly, an overwhelming pressure descended upon Minato, nearly unmatchable, forcing him to kneel. His expression twisted as he struggled to breathe.

The Nine-Tails' pupils, visible through the bars, transformed, shedding the lazy demeanor it had held for nearly a year. Anyone witnessing this scene would have only one thought—fear!

"I don't know what you plan to do, nor am I interested in knowing. You are Naruto's father, and I believe you wouldn't harm him, but..."

The Nine-Tails' massive eyes radiated an imposing presence.

"Do not attempt to use your ideas to force Naruto into pointless actions, such as saving those Uchiha trash. You may think the Sharingan can control me, but that is meaningless." Minato's red chakra surged, taking on a fox-like form, binding his limbs and preventing him from lifting his head. "Any changes you make that do not help Naruto will only put him in more danger. You know nothing of the Otsutsuki clan."

The weight lifted, leaving Minato gasping for breath. If his body were capable of sweating, he would surely have been drenched by now.

"Nine-Tails... why are you so strong?" Minato's heart wavered. In that moment, the pressure and intense chakra he sensed had surpassed his memory of the Nine-Tails at its peak, despite its current form being only half-real.

"I understand now." Yet Minato quickly gathered himself, his extraordinary ninja mentality on full display.

When he raised his head, his expression had returned to calm, revealing no trace of his earlier turmoil.

"Oh, I remember!" Seeing Minato's demeanor, the Nine-Tails returned to its lazy state, reclining against the bars, feigning casualness as it spoke. "It was likely done by Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke's older brother. Although he must have been acting under someone's orders, it was still quite a wicked act."

Uchiha... Itachi?

Minato recalled the name—Fugaku's son, which meant...

"Roughly around that time, Naruto must have fallen asleep."

The Nine-Tails offered a reminder as the dream space expanded, causing Minato and the Nine-Tails to vanish from this realm once again.