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Chapter 1: Hiruzen Takes the Reaper Death Seal

by @konyomistudios

Read panels left to right, then top to bottom. Panel 1: Wide night clearing: huge Kurama strains against Kushina's chakra chains. Minato kneels beside Kushina and the swaddled newborn. Panel 2: Minato raises his hands but has NOT begun the fatal seal. Panel 3: Hiruzen in battle armor lands at the unfinished barrier. Panel 4: Minato lowers his hands and turns toward Hiruzen.

Read panels left to right, then top to bottom. Panel 1: Kushina parts her chains to admit Hiruzen. Naruto lies safely on cloth beside Minato. Panel 2: Minato explains with one hand toward the restrained fox. Panel 3: Hiruzen looks at Naruto, then steps beside Minato. Panel 4: Close view: Minato's stunned eyes, Hiruzen resolute behind him.

Read panels left to right, then top to bottom. Panel 1: Hiruzen alone forms the Reaper Death Seal signs. Panel 2: The spectral Reaper looms behind Hiruzen, prayer beads and knife visible. Minato is separate. Panel 3: Kushina tightens chains around Kurama as its chakra divides. Panel 4: Minato prepares the Eight Trigrams formula around Naruto on the ground.

Read panels left to right, then top to bottom. Panel 1: Kurama thrusts one huge claw toward Naruto on the sealing cloth. Panel 2: Kushina's taut chains and Enma transformed into a black staff deflect the claw AWAY from all people. Panel 3: Minato presses his palm to the newborn's abdomen as the remaining fox chakra enters the seal. Panel 4: Kurama vanishes. Hiruzen collapses as the Reaper fades; Minato remains standing alive.

Read panels left to right, then top to bottom. Panel 1: Close view: the seal fades beneath Naruto's blanket, three whisker marks on each cheek visible. Panel 2: Minato supports Kushina's upper body; her chains dissolve. Panel 3: Minato checks her weak pulse, exhausted face close to hers. Panel 4: Kushina touches Naruto's cheek; his tiny hand closes around her finger.

Read panels left to right, then top to bottom. Panel 1: Kushina looks up at Minato, long loose hair spread on the ground. Panel 2: Minato lowers the wrapped Naruto between their faces. Panel 3: Kushina grips the edge of Minato's flame-trimmed coat. Panel 4: Silent final panel: her fingers relax while Minato holds her hand. Hiruzen lies still in the far background.

Read panels left to right, then top to bottom. Panel 1: First light: masked rescue ANBU reach the clearing. Two respectfully covered bodies lie behind Minato. Panel 2: Minato's trembling hands secure Naruto's swaddle, both his hands clearly attached to his arms. Panel 3: He rests the crying newborn against his shoulder. Panel 4: Close view: Naruto's tiny fist grips Minato's flak jacket; Minato's tear falls beside it.

Read panels left to right, then top to bottom. Panel 1: Minato holds Naruto securely and speaks to one rescue ANBU at dawn. Panel 2: Elsewhere in a dark empty stone shelter, the masked attacker crouches, injured left shoulder and plain dark hooded cloak visible. Panel 3: Rear view: attacker lowers the cloak off his upper back to inspect a dark Flying Raijin formula; his face stays hidden. Panel 4: Close view: Minato's focused eyes, grief becoming resolve.

End of chapter 1

Hiruzen Takes the Reaper Death Seal

Next · Chapter 2Minato Hunts the Masked Man5

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