"Naruto, where is Fukasaku Sage? How did you do it? Did you leave the Flying Thunder God mark on me?"
Jiraiya admitted his inability to discern Naruto's strength or understand his intentions.
However, Jiraiya didn't want the matter to become irreversible.
"Don't be nervous, I used the Flying Thunder God to teleport him away. As for the mark, you should check for yourself," Naruto rambled.
Jiraiya quickly sensed his body but found no traces of the mark.
How did he do it? Could it be the Body Flicker Technique?
No kidding, if the Body Flicker Technique is that fast. What use does the Flying Thunder God hold?
"Is that so? Little Jiraiya, tell me the truth. Can you defeat him? If not, it's better to admit defeat early so I can find Fukasaku," Shima turned to Jiraiya and asked. After all, their discussion and bet were merely a friendly competition, not a life-or-death battle. Why were they taking it so seriously?
She was still at home, busy cooking.
"Defeating him... It's unlikely," Jiraiya admitted.
Even in a life-or-death duel, there was no guarantee Jiraiya could overpower Naruto.
Ninjutsu? Naruto had a broad knowledge of Earth Style, Wind Style, and Lightning Style techniques, making them easily within his reach.
Summoning technique? Katsuyu, the summoned slug, excelled at healing injuries. Furthermore, Orochimaru had struggled to evade Katsuyu's attacks. Physical assaults proved ineffective against the slug.
Sage art? Though Jiraiya had witnessed Shikkotsu Forest's Sage art for the first time, its potency matched his own. With Fukasaku Sage absent, the duration of his Sage Mode was severely shortened, and Naruto's limits remained unknown. It posed a significant problem.
This headache-inducing situation prompted Jiraiya to consider that pushing Naruto to his limits might trigger the Nine-Tails' rampage.
In the end, Jiraiya found himself at his own limits instead.
"Forget it, let's not waste any more time. I'll leave first. I assume Fukusaku will return directly to Mount Myōboku, awaiting your summons," Toad Shima proposed, raising her fingers to perform the summoning technique.
But one second before she disappeared completely, she vaguely sensed a hand reaching towards her.
"Is it the kid? He doesn't want me to leave?" Toad Shima wondered suspiciously.
"It's a shame... I should have seized the opportunity earlier when we were talking. Now that she's gone, Fukasaku's absence will likely be discovered..." Naruto looked at his empty right hand, filled with regret.
Why didn't I act then?
"Great Sage Shima, are you ready... Naruto?"
Jiraiya intended to prolong the situation, but time was running out. He then noticed Naruto standing beside him, his gaze fixed on Jiraiya's shoulder.
Could it be the Body Flicker Technique for real?
"So, shall we continue the fight? If not, can you hand over the key?" Naruto pressed his right hand against Jiraiya's shoulder.
"Unless you can demonstrate that you have mastered the power of the Nine-Tails, I won't hand over the key," Jiraiya firmly refused.
"You're willing to break your promise?" Naruto frowned.
"You must understand that the Eight Sign key is directly linked to the seal of the Nine-Tails, your own life, and is of great importance to Konoha. I can't simply take your word for it," Jiraiya explained.
"So, in your eyes, I'm merely a ninja of Konoha?" Naruto's voice turned indifferent.
"Why don't you believe me? Is it just because I'm the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails?"
"No, you are Minato's child," Jiraiya explained in a firm tone. "Minato is my apprentice. He asked me to take care of you before he died, so I can't ignore your safety."
To be honest, Naruto's childhood was marked by Jiraiya's lack of control. If Jiraiya had intervened more strongly, Naruto might have had a relatively ordinary childhood. However, Jiraiya was deceived by the Third Hokage and became preoccupied with the prophecy. Believing in his teacher, he wandered the ninja world in search of the child of the prophecy.
As Naruto always believed, relying on one's own strength is the kingly way.
Therefore, Naruto didn't blame Jiraiya for anything or ask for anything. After all, Jiraiya hadn't made any promises to Naruto; it was Namikaze Minato who had made those promises, and they had nothing to do with Jiraiya.
"If you want to see it, fine. I'll let you see what a Perfect-level Jinchūriki looks like, so you can rest assured," Naruto declared. He raised his two fingers, and his consciousness returned to the sealed space.
To be honest, Naruto didn't want to go back there. There were two people inside that he didn't want to see.
"System, release Little Kurama." Naruto stated.
[Released]
In the sealed space, the figure of a small red fox reappeared in its original position.
"Little Kurama! You're finally back!" Kushina exclaimed, running over excitedly.
Minato frowned upon seeing Little Kurama's sudden reappearance. Then he realised that Naruto must have been behind it. Then it hit him—Naruto, his own son—standing in front of little Kurma, about to bump fists with it.
"Naruto!" Minato shouted.
Suddenly, a hand appeared and grabbed Naruto's shoulder.
"???"
'What's going on?' Naruto wondered, confused. 'This is my sealed space, right? Even if he is the 'Golden Flash,' it doesn't mean he can appear so quickly after beside me…'
"You... you actually engraved a Flying Thunder God mark in my sealed space…"
Naruto voiced, his voice filled with astonishment.
Naruto pursed his lips, looking down at his feet. He could only admit that he was indeed worthy of being the Fourth Hokage.
Even Naruto was taken aback by this realization and Minato's ability to manipulate the space.
"Can I talk to you?" Minato asked, smiling gently.
"Minato, who are you talking to?" Kushina's voice came from Little Kurama's back as she approached.
"Actually, there might be someone you'd like to meet outside,"
Before Kushina could reach them, Naruto quickly bumped fists with Little Nine, establishing a Chakra link, and disappeared.
Observing Naruto's escape-like speed, Minato couldn't help but wear a bitter smile. This child, who had lost his parents at a young age and was manipulated by the Third Hokage, had developed a withdrawn personality, causing Minato great heartache. Even if his biological parents stood in front of him, they couldn't provide the warmth he longed for.
"Minato? Who were you talking to just now? Was it Naruto? Is he here?! " Kushina asked eagerly.
"No... I was just talking to myself," Minato lied.
"You're so boring," Kushina grumbled, lying down on Little Nine's head and sliding down its back along its smooth hair.
"Kurama, what happened to Naruto?" Minato approached the iron gate and asked Nine Tails.
After spending a few days together, Minato and Kushina had learned that all the tailed beasts had names. So they began to call Nine Tails by his name.
"He must have encountered an enemy, which forced him to activate Kurama Mode. However, this mode can only last for about three to five minutes," Naruto explained.
"An enemy? But he says he wants me to meet someone?" Minato questioned.
He had managed to reach Naruto once through the engraved Flying Thunder God Seal, and he didn't want to miss this opportunity due to an unforeseen incident.
Outside, Naruto was covered in golden Chakra, looking at the stunned Jiraiya.
"Are you satisfied with the effect?" Naruto asked.