Naruto landed on the ground and shook his head, "I don't think the technique my father left is needed between the Nine-Tails and me anymore."
"We've already connected."
He unsheathed the golden tanto.
"This is the power known as Ashura?" Minato Namikaze smiled softly, "It really is a gentle force."
"But listen to me carefully, Naruto."
Naruto sheathed his blade.
"Before I conceived that technique," Minato continued, "I realized that the Nine-Tails and your mother, Kushina, shared something in common. They both used a tough exterior to hide their gentle hearts."
The Nine-Tails grinned awkwardly, somewhat embarrassed.
Can't you do better?
It's such a joyful time, just being released, so why not talk about something that makes everyone happy?
"But, Nine-Tails has always been misunderstood as a harbinger of violence and negative emotions," Minato looked up, smiling warmly at it. "Like you said, it is a mirror; however humans treat it, it treats humans the same way."
"Even so,"
"Throughout its long life, these negative feelings have become an inseparable part of it."
He paused, reaching out to pat Naruto's head. "So, my son, Naruto, you're truly remarkable."
"Where there is love, hatred may also arise."
"Love and hate become more intense by comparison."
"Yet even so, you still hold fast to your inner self."
The guilt in Minato's eyes grew more profound.
Parents always wish for their children to mature quickly.
Yet, when a child becomes mature like an adult, how can a parent not feel remorse?
Particularly one like himself.
Having never fulfilled a single day of parental duty, but their child possesses such resolute strength that even surpasses many adults.
He inwardly lamented the notion of "failing as a parent."
He sighed softly, continuing, "You are a wonderful child, but even inside you, there is a 'darkness' that has accumulated."
"Have you ever heard the legend of the 'True Waterfall' in Cloud Village?"
Naruto shook his head.
He hadn't had the chance to visit the Land of Lightning yet.
"That place can reflect the darkness within one's heart." Minato Namikaze spoke softly, looking first at Naruto, then at the Nine-Tails. "In the design of my sealing technique, it's meant to go there, or find a similar place, to shatter the darkness within Kushina's heart, to accept the Nine-Tails. A pure person will have a pure reflection in the mirror."
"That way, they will be connected."
The Nine-Tails flicked its tail.
Naruto's eyes followed the sway of its tail, "But my relationship with the Nine-Tails is different from mom's. So, do I need to shatter our negative emotions together with the Nine-Tails?"
"Yes, that's right." Minato nodded, "So go ahead."
"Naruto, you've already overcome it before."
"It's just a matter of defeating it once more."
At this point, he paused, his voice growing gentler, "There's also a part of Kushina's chakra inside of you."
"She wanted to come out urgently, but I held her back."
Naruto was taken aback, instinctively raising his hand to his stomach.
Besides his father's chakra, his mother's chakra was within him too?
"Don't be afraid to confront the dark side of yourself." Minato patted his head, "Kushina will appear, and she will face it with you."
Naruto took a deep breath and responded cheerfully.
"Goodbye, Naruto." Minato straightened his back and waved, "And goodbye to you too, Nine-Tails."
"Wait, Dad!" Naruto called out, with a determined look, "Can you teach me the Reaper Death Seal technique?"
"I will find that evil spirit!"
"I will release you both from its belly, then find you in the Pure Land."
"I am the Death God."
Minato smiled brightly.
He raised his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers against Naruto's forehead, "Is that so?"
"It's really hard to imagine such an incredible thing happening to you."
"But, let's agree on it anyway."
Minato's body gradually became transparent, dispersing from the bottom up, from left to right.
"Let's meet in the Pure Land."
"At that time, I'll apologize properly with Kushina."
A warm stream flowed from where his fingers touched, transmitting into Naruto's body.
It was the complete Reaper Death Seal technique.
As this knowledge was gradually completed, Minato Namikaze's figure also slowly dissipated until nothing remained.
"Naruto." The Nine-Tails nudged closer, sensing the emotional loss.
Naruto lifted his head and grinned widely, "I'm fine."
"I'm glad," he continued. "I finally got to see my dad."
"I am a Death God. Death is not the end of life; we will meet again." The Nine-Tails sat beside him, responding with a sound.
In the real world.
"That kid has already unlocked the Four Symbols Seal," Fukasaku said, staring at Naruto's stomach. The exposed seal was clearly visible, even through his clothing.
"Not a single reaction," the Scroll Toad had scurried back beside Jiraiya.
It could sense the power within Naruto was gentle yet overflowing with life.
Yet, even though this power was gentle, its overwhelming nature left it feeling anxious.
Karin frowned alongside.
She had great confidence in Naruto. During their travels over the past year, they hadn't encountered anything Naruto couldn't resolve.
But
the toads were so annoying!
They were incessantly worried, both thinking it and expressing it aloud.
"It's not out of control yet," Jiraiya guessed, furrowing a brow. "Is he communicating with the Nine-Tails?"
As he spoke.
The aura around Naruto suddenly withdrew, the golden light faded, and the glow of the two swords dimmed.
The nine ribbons on the red sword gathered, forming one.
He opened his eyes.
Jiraiya looked over and felt inexplicable worry at Naruto's seemingly downcast mood, prompting him to quickly ask, "Naruto, how are things?"
Naruto nodded toward him, "It's settled."
"I plan to try out a new way to use this power."
Jiraiya blinked, "A new way?"
"Take Karin and move further away," Naruto gestured with his hand.
"Keep your distance! Is it due to the immense power?"
Jiraiya instructed, leading Karin and a few giant toads tens of meters away.
Naruto raised his sword.
The words of liberation remained unchanged.
Even after releasing the power, it still took the form of a golden figure with six arms and dual blades.
Nine red fluffy ribbons danced from the hilt of the scarlet sword.
"Has it transformed into the Nine-Tails?"
Jiraiya took out his telescope and observed closely.
"It seems effortless, a resounding success."
"But with a new method," he pondered, watching as Naruto lifted the crimson sword and pierced it into his own abdomen.
This startled him.
However, he quickly noticed that the sword did not harm Naruto at all.
The blade's edge contacted his body, merging like flowing water.
A radiant golden light illuminated the surroundings.
As even the hilt disappeared, the nine red ribbons blossomed with golden glow, extending behind Naruto, growing into nine enormous tails.
In that same instant, the Tailed Beast's cloak also radiated a brilliant light.
Together with the tails, it expanded rapidly, becoming a majestic figure nearly a hundred meters tall.
It was a gigantic fox with a single head and six arms, adorned with brown prayer beads around its neck.
Naruto stood suspended in mid-air, no longer with six arms, holding "Ashura," positioned at the belly of the Nine-Tails.
Despite Jiraiya and his team's effort to retreat far enough, with Naruto in this new form, there was now barely several meters between them, the fox's claws almost touching.
"So this power is to release you?"
Naruto murmured softly, This reminded him immediately of his old subordinate, now serving as the captain of the ninth division
the big dog "Komamura Zajin."
It was remarkably similar to his "Bankai" form.
The Nine-Tails' voice carried a hint of nostalgia, "At last, I can see this world again."
Within Naruto's body, it could only understand the world through Naruto's senses.
But now, in this form, it could finally supplement its vision, using its eyes to observe the world.
Naruto tried raising his arm, but the Nine-Tails did not move in sync with him.
"Are you attempting to control this body of mine?" the Nine-Tails asked.
Naruto nodded, "Can I?"
"I can relinquish control," the Nine-Tails responded, "Try now."
Naruto lifted his hand again, and the massive body moved in harmony with his gesture.
He experimented several times, like a child with a fascinating new toy.
In its form with all of the Nine-Tails' power unleashed, it bore little resemblance to the 'Heavenly Punishment King.'
Naruto could control this immense form himself, or he could step back and let the Nine-Tails take charge.
The life force of the human and fox was shared
but injuries sustained by the Nine-Tails wouldn't affect Naruto and vice versa.
At that moment, several chakra signatures rapidly approached.
This prompted a disgruntled 'tsk' from the Nine-Tails; its large size was both a gift and a curse, initially leading humans to discover it, and now they were coming again.
Sometimes it secretly envied the Three-Tails 'Isobu'; that one could hide away in water, less conspicuous.
"Let me return," the Nine-Tails softly requested, "Some irritating folks are approaching."
Naruto sheathed his sword.
He descended from the air to land in front of Jiraiya and the others.
"Naruto! That was amazing!" Karin exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
"Was that the full power of the Nine-Tails?" Jiraiya asked, astounded.
Naruto nodded with a smile, "Yes, but we should move now."
"Some ninja are on their way,"
"I don't want to deal with them."
Jiraiya followed Naruto's gaze but sensed nothing.
However, with Naruto already whisking Karin away, Jiraiya had no choice but to follow.
They made their way to the nearest town.
Jiraiya and Naruto talked, and upon hearing that Minato had left a bit of chakra inside Naruto, Jiraiya couldn't help but marvel at Minato's meticulous planning, even in such crucial moments.
Hearing the perspective on reconciling with the Nine-Tails, even "Mirror" felt a bit emotional.
How could it be that such a simple truth, understood by a child, hadn't been realized by anyone before now?
(End of Chapter)