"Freedom?" Kyubi snorted, releasing a puff of white air from his nostrils in disdain, "Compared to me, you already enjoy more than enough freedom. How about you try staying in this sunless cage?"
"Kurama, don't you get it yet?"
Naruto extended his hand, and several red tendrils suddenly emerged from the ground, intertwining to form a platform. As the tendrils rose, Naruto was lifted into the air, meeting Kyubi's gaze on equal footing.
"I will let you go, but only if I don't die."
"You're going to let me go?" Kyubi's eyes widened in shock, staring at Naruto incredulously, "Human, why…?"
"I know you are very powerful, Kurama." Naruto said calmly, "The village needs your strength, but I don't care about that. I want freedom and to live the life I want."
"From the moment I became a Jinchuriki, it wasn't just you who was imprisoned, I was too."
"I don't want to give my life for this corrupt village or be its slave."
"Then why not destroy this village altogether?" Kyubi said fiercely, "Damn Konoha Village! They've imprisoned me for over half a century!"
"Human, why don't we join forces and destroy this village completely?"
"No." Naruto refused outright.
"Why?" Kyubi was puzzled, "Don't you hate the village?"
"I don't hate it." Naruto shook his head.
Of course, he didn't hate it. He had only been in this world for a few days. He felt dissatisfaction toward the village, but it's far from hatred. As for the matter between Minato and Kushina, what did it have to do with him? He had come to realize that as long as he was a Jinchuriki, he would never be free.
The village would remain the same. As long as he doesn't become the Jinchuriki, anyone can do it. He doesn't care.
"I've said before, I want freedom, but I don't want to be a slave to freedom." Naruto shook his head and said, "People will eventually become slaves to something because of the obsession in their hearts."
"But I'm already so rich and powerful. I'd rather indulge in beauty and fine wine, living life as I please, than play the hero."
Kyubi was stunned. He looked at Naruto with some confusion and asked.
"Human, don't you crave power?"
"Kurama, your power is too weak for me." Naruto said bluntly.
"What did you say?"
"I'm not interested."
"Do you hear yourself?" Kyubi was visibly a little unsettled, "Kid, all the Biju combined aren't a match for me, and you call me weak?"
"Stop wasting time on such trivial matters." Naruto said impatiently, " Kurama, let me ask you… Do you want to get out?"
"Of course I do."
"That's good. When the time is right, I'll come back for you."
As Naruto said that, he snapped his fingers and the cage returned to its original spacious state.
"What do you mean, 'when the time is right'?"
However, Naruto did not answer. His consciousness faded into a phantom, leaving the seal space.
…
The next day.
The alarm clock rang, and Naruto groggily sat up in bed, dragging himself to wash up. He wiped the mist off the mirror, forcing a smile.
As soon as he walked out of the alley, a Kirigakure's Shinobi wearing a bamboo hat suddenly appeared and shouted upon seeing him, "Brat! Go to hell!"
The Kirigakure's Shinobi shouted like that and lunged at Naruto without hesitation.
"Wait!" Naruto called out, halting the attack.
"What?"
The man actually stopped, forcing a laugh.
"What's this, brat? Begging for mercy won't help you!"
Naruto yawned and said nonchalantly.
"Uncle, I was the top graduate of the Academy this year. Your poor Transformation Technique is way too obvious."
"What nonsense are you talking about, you brat?" Cold sweat broke out on the Kirigakure's Shinobi's forehead.
"Even for a Chunin, if you're not doing dangerous missions, the pay isn't that great, right? To be honest, I have killed a Jonin from Kirigakure before, and his blood splattering all over me. If you get hurt by me, it will delay your work, which is totally not worth it."
Naruto waved his hand dismissively and walked towards the disguised Kirigakure's Shinobi without any concern, talking as he walked.
"Uncle, how much do you earn a month? Why risk your life?"
"Ah, it's almost time. I gotta go."
Naruto passed by the Kirigakure's Shinobi, who did not move and let Naruto leave with cold sweat dripping down his face.
Only when Naruto's footsteps faded away did the Kirigakure's Shinobi release his Transformation Technique with a puff, revealing a Konoha's Chunin. Still shaken, he glanced back.
"What kind of monsters are these Genin nowadays?"
At the Academy, Team 7 finally got together after many days.
Sasuke and Sakura looked the same, then Sakura smiled and waved to Naruto.
"This way, Naruto."
"Sakura, I'm not late, am I?" Naruto said with a smile.
Sakura shook her head and said, "I just got here too. Had a bit of trouble on the way."
"Was it a Kirigakure's Shinobi?"
"Eh? Naruto, did you meet him too?" Sakura's eyes widened and she let out a cry of surprise.
She then glanced at Sasuke beside her. Sasuke glanced at Sakura and Naruto, and gave a slight nod, indicating he had encountered one as well.
"It's probably just another weird test the village has put together. It's so boring." Naruto complained as he stood there.
"Did you two get hurt?" Sakura asked worriedly.
"No." Sasuke replied briefly.
"Didn't even fight." Naruto said.
"How come?" Sakura was a little surprised, "You didn't fight? Didn't the Kirigakure's Shinobi attack you, Naruto?"
Hearing this, Sasuke also turned his head and looked at Naruto.
"No, I asked him how much he earned a month, and he stopped talking."
Sakura: "…"
Sasuke: "…"
That's like Garen with Last Whisper, breaking the silence and the spirit. It was really killing people and destroying their hearts!
After a while, the other teams arrived at the Academy one after another.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio looked listless, and Naruto happened to look at Hinata, who blushed and lowered her head. Ino glanced at Naruto, and Naruto happened to meet Ino's gaze, so he simply went up to talk to the three.
Sakura noticed this and couldn't help but be puzzled.
'It's been a while since we last met. Since when did Naruto get so close with Ino?'
Sasuke didn't have the time to care about such boring things. The time to submit their admission form for the Chunin Exams had not yet arrived, so he simply stood there with his eyes closed and rested.
"Hey, Naruto, you were roped to take part in the Chunin Exams at last minute, right?" Shikamaru asked lazily, "I heard Hokage-sama didn't want you to participate in this Chunin Exams. What's up with that?"
"Is there such a thing?" Choji, munching on chips, looked at Naruto in surprise.
"It's nothing." Naruto waved his hand and said, "I'm just here to tag along anyway. I never thought about actually getting promoted to Chunin."