Jiraiya had hoped to set out with Naruto.
But he was decisively turned down.
Having Karin by his side was more than enough for him.
He returned to the inn.
At the break of dawn, the red-haired girl was still fast asleep in her bed.
Naruto dispersed his shadow clone and sat on the windowsill, gazing at the distant sunrise.
The news he'd learned from Jiraiya could be considered good on some level.
His feelings towards the Nine-Tails had always been complex.
Aside from its foul temper and harsh words, the fox wasn't all that bad—in fact, he quite liked it.
Yet, before today, his understanding was that the Nine-Tails was the culprit behind his parents' deaths.
But after today, he realized the truth: it wasn't the Nine-Tails that forced the tragedy upon his parents, but someone else entirely.
A man with the Sharingan, suspected to be "Uchiha Madara."
"Nine-Tails." Naruto called its name softly.
Within his mind, the fox gave a sullen response: "Brat, what is it?"
"When I find my parents, I'll ask them what they think of you," Naruto said slowly.
The Nine-Tails was taken aback.
Leaning against the window, Naruto continued: "The true mastermind was that Uchiha."
"But you still played a part in it."
"I'm not in a position to speak for my parents, nor do I wish to."
"If they're willing to forgive you..."
"Then I will do my best to find a way to safely release you from my body." Naruto spoke with determination.
"And if they're unwilling?"
"Then I'll wait until I'm on my deathbed to set you free, granting you your freedom."
For a Jinchūriki, their relationship with a Tailed Beast is akin to imprisonment.
Yet, for the Tailed Beast, being sealed within a Jinchūriki is equally a form of captivity. When the Tailed Beast is fully separated, severing the symbiosis, the Jinchūriki's life ceases.
The Nine-Tails bared its fangs, a hint of surprise in its voice, "Wait until you die?"
"Naruto! Who knows how many years you'll live? Wasn't it said that Yamamoto Genryūsai has lived for over two thousand years?"
"And you belong to the Uzumaki clan."
The Nine-Tails was certain, barring accidents, that Naruto's lifespan would surely be measured in millennia, exceeding even Yamamoto's longevity.
"This is the consequence of your parents' unforgiveness." Naruto chuckled softly.
The Nine-Tails growled with dissatisfaction.
"Let's make another promise." Naruto tilted his head, voice gentle. "I know you don't like being forced."
The Nine-Tails grimaced, recalling the unpleasant days under the Diamond Blockade.
"Before, I thought you were responsible for my parents' death." Naruto continued, "I didn't care about your feelings."
"But things are different now."
"Let me apologize for my past stubbornness."
"I won't use the Diamond Blockade or other sealing techniques on you again."
"But when I need to borrow your power, can you not be so resistant?"
Faced with Naruto's forthrightness,
the Nine-Tails found itself at a loss for words.
It could sense that Naruto's emotions were genuine and sincere, devoid of deceit.
His straightforward approach left it somewhat defenseless.
"Let me consider it," the creature said softly after flicking its tail several times.
"Does that mean you've agreed?" Naruto grinned.
"Shut up, Naruto!" the Nine-Tails snapped, embarrassed. "I said I'd think about it."
"Then could you tell me your name as well?" Naruto asked gently.
"Stop talking to yourself," the Nine-Tails raised its voice. "I said I would consider it."
Its eyes flashed with a curious sparkle.
Long, long ago, when it had just come into existence.
The father who had created them, the "Tailed Beasts."
The man named "Otsutsuki Hagoromo," known to the world as the "Sage of Six Paths."
He had told them to value "the bonds between people."
Especially those with red eyes.
And the ones with red hair were difficult to deal with too.
Would Naruto be the exception?
The Nine-Tails remained silent.
Time was still abundant; Naruto had a lifespan of over a thousand years, and as a Tailed Beast, it was eternal, with plenty of time to see how things would unravel.
But it was a relief not to have those hated golden chains used against it.
Truly good news.
Once the sunlight completely filled the room, Karin awoke.
"Naruto," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes, "I dreamed just now that you suddenly ran off."
Naruto smiled, "I had to go back and save someone."
"And I chatted with Jiraiya-sensei about a few things."
Karin paused, "So that wasn't a dream."
"Did you sleep well?" Naruto asked, jumping down from the windowsill.
Karin nodded.
She tilted her head, scrutinizing Naruto. Even though she had only slept for a while, it felt like Naruto had changed a lot. He seemed to be even more reliable now.
"Let's go buy some things together," Naruto suggested with a wave of his hand. "Is there anything you want?"
Karin's eyes sparkled, and she nodded quickly. In the Grass Village, she never had such freedom and had longed to experience a normal girl's life.
This town's economy was quite good, with complete rows of shops offering a variety of goods.
Naruto ordered two custom outfits for himself: one was the traditional Soul Reaper uniform and the other a captain's haori. He had worn this style for over ten years and felt very comfortable in it.
Karin looked at her ash-gray coat lined with the standard ninja fishnet attire. It was somewhat hard to face and made her question her own choices for a moment.
Was Naruto better at fashion than her?
She tried on several outfits for herself. Perhaps, because of her long life in the Grass Village and her suppressed aesthetics, the clothes she chose were always peculiar.
Either they were unattractive, or they looked nice individually but were a mess when paired with her red hair.
Naruto intervened, selecting an outfit for her: a navy blue fitted shirt paired with khaki ankle pants and low-top sneakers.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she felt renewed.
"Naruto, you've got a good eye," Karin said, turning this way and that, her eyes glued to her reflection.
The girl in the mirror looked stunning.
Her red hair was naturally vibrant, a deep yet not oppressive color that complemented her lively personality, making her look cheerful and sunny.
However, she seemed far removed from the typical appearance of a shinobi.
Naruto chuckled.
He chose a few more outfits for her before they left the town, heading towards the Land of Whirlpool.
In Konoha, two men donned in robes patterned with red clouds were walking down the street.
Kisame lowered his voice, "Isn't it a bit unwise to just break in like this?"
"Shouldn't we at least disguise ourselves a bit?"
"Even if the Third Hokage is dead, this is still Konoha."
Uchiha Itachi's tone remained unchanged, "If you think it's a problem, then hurry up and find the boy."
"There's no point in saying these things."
As he spoke, his steps suddenly halted.
Two Konoha shinobi blocked their path.
One of them had a dignified face with a beard, the son of the Third Hokage, Asuma Sarutobi.
The other was a black-haired woman with red eyes, Jonin Kurenai Yuhi.
"You two aren't from Konoha, are you?" Asuma Sarutobi said quietly, his tone cautious, "What brings you to the village?"
These two had a strong presence, clearly formidable.
Their appearance at this moment heightened his alertness.
(End of Chapter)