Naruto found himself in his inner world, a dimly lit underground sewer.
The moment he entered, he was overwhelmed by the long-forgotten oppressive and furious chakra energy of the Nine-Tails.
Through the red bars of the gate, the beast snarled at the tall, blonde-haired figure standing at the entrance.
That person, sensing the presence of the inner world's true owner, turned his head with a radiant, gentle smile and greeted him, "Naruto."
Naruto examined this man, his eyes traveling upwards.
He noticed the red, short-sleeved robe with white patterns the man wore, with five kanji meticulously stitched on the back.
He saw the face that was nearly a spitting image of the one carved on the Hokage Rock.
"Fourth Hokage," Naruto and the Nine-Tails said in unison, one light and calm, the other rough and angry.
Hatred simmered within the Nine-Tails!
Though it couldn't deny that Minato was a decent person, being sealed and split by him was something it could never forgive.
"Why are you here?" Naruto asked, striving to keep his emotions in check.
Before coming here, he had considered many possibilities, but never once did he imagine that this chakra belonged to his father.
"When I set the seal all those years ago, I left a portion of my chakra," Minato explained, his voice as gentle as his appearance and demeanor.
"It was designed as a safety measure to appear within your consciousness if you released up to the eighth tail."
"But seeing you now—Naruto, you're far more outstanding than I ever anticipated."
"To meet you in such a scenario is truly wonderful."
Naruto swallowed hard before striding forward with purpose.
Minato opened his arms, smiling brightly, ready to embrace his son.
Instead, he received a punch—a precise strike honed through countless sessions with Yoruichi.
It delivered the greatest pain possible without dispersing the chakra construct completely.
Minato's features twisted in agony as he stumbled and fell to the ground.
The Nine-Tails chuckled, its resentment slightly alleviated.
"It really hurts." Minato clutched his stomach, reminiscing this long-lost familiar sensation, grinning. "In this, you truly resemble your mother."
"Why did you seal the Nine-Tails inside your own son?" Naruto clenched his fist. "Although things are good now, before..."
"Thanks to you, I really went through a lot of hardship!"
Minato turned his head, sighing. "All I brought to my son's childhood was bittersweet memories."
"I truly don't deserve to apologize to you as a father."
Naruto turned his head away, looking upwards.
"But still, listen to my reasons." Minato continued softly, "The reason I sealed half of the Nine-Tails' chakra inside you..."
"On one hand, it was the best I could do at the time."
"On the other hand..."
"On the night Kushina was giving birth, a powerful ninja broke in and released the Nine-Tails."
Naruto interrupted him, "I've already heard about this from the Nine-Tails. Jiraiya-sensei speculated that person might be Uchiha Madara."
Minato fell silent, frowning and shaking his head. "I didn't figure out his exact identity, unsure of which Uchiha he was."
"But he came from the 'Akatsuki', a man wearing a spiral mask."
"He is very strong and harbors a deep grudge against Konoha."
"When I fought him, he almost anticipated all my moves."
"I feared he might strike again in the future, so I left the Nine-Tails within you."
Naruto spoke softly, "The Akatsuki, huh?"
That organization he once encountered, he thought they merely coveted the Tailed Beasts, unaware of a deeper connection to himself.
Minato stood up from the ground.
"I've left Konoha and am no longer a ninja." Naruto raised his gaze, meeting his father's eyes.
"I've seen it all." Minato smiled gently. "It's something that surprised me greatly."
"But,"
He lifted his hand, placing it on Naruto's head, his smile blossoming even brighter. "No matter what you choose, you're still my son."
"Not falling into the abyss of hatred."
"Being able to break free from the ninja system."
"It's quite a good decision."
"Just follow your heart firmly and stride ahead."
Minato paused, pondering, then continued, "The chakra is getting weaker and weaker."
"Naruto, I don't have much time left here, so let's get down to business."
"Have Master Jiraiya bring out the key."
He glanced back at the Nine-Tails.
"You're truly remarkable, this is something not even your mother, Kushina, managed to accomplish."
"Getting along so well with the Nine-Tails."
The Nine-Tails bared its teeth, turning up its nose. "This brat's still a child. I can't just go bullying a kid, can I?"
Minato smiled back at it.
The Nine-Tails turned its head away, not wanting to look at him.
Naruto left the consciousness realm and opened his eyes.
In the real world.
Jiraiya's expression grew heavier, watching the crimson ribbon of Naruto's sword. "It's been silent for so long. Could something unexpected have happened?"
Although there weren't many indications, he could easily see that the number of ribbons on the hilt of Naruto's red sword signified "Tailed Beast Transformation."
Everything from the Six-Tails to the Seven and Eight-Tails had passed in just moments.
But now the prolonged time at "Eight-Tails" transformation was concerning.
Nearly ten minutes passed without any changes.
There was no conversation exchanged.
At the center of the sealing formation, Naruto abruptly opened his eyes.
A sweep of his gaze sent forth an imposing aura.
This time, not only did Gamakichi retreat, but even the sages, Fukasaku and Shima, instinctively shrank behind Jiraiya's head.
However, seeing the clarity in his eyes, no one seemed to lose control.
"Master Jiraiya, the key." Naruto spoke.
Jiraiya responded, "Is it safe?"
Even as he inquired, his hands were already weaving seals without delay.
Chakra surged.
He opened his mouth wide, and an orange-blue toad popped its head out from his mouth, dragging behind a long scroll that quickly unfurled.
"Jiraiya, you called me out—" It spoke with a hint of irritation, but then abruptly stopped, turning suddenly to stare in terror at what appeared behind.
A gleaming, six-armed Naruto burst into view.
"What's going on here?" The toad swallowed back what it intended to say, posing the question instead.
Jiraiya's voice was serious: "Things are a bit complicated. It's hard to explain right now."
"But open the scroll and give Naruto the key."
The scroll toad sized up Naruto: "Is this kid Naruto?"
"But that is the key that seals the Nine-Tails' power."
Jiraiya's tone was firm: "Naruto is ready."
"He's reached the Eight-Tails form, but hasn't lost his sanity yet."
The scroll toad was even more surprised, staring at Naruto, muttering: "Since you say so."
It shuffled around, swaying back and forth, but after a few paces, it returned swaying even more.
"Hey kid! Hold back your power a bit, I can't get through!"
The words came out with some frustration.
This tangible aura was something else entirely, the air around Naruto seemed to solidify, the resistance increasing as one moved closer, the body becoming more rigid.
It was impossible to move forward.
Naruto nodded, reining in his energy: "Go ahead."
The scroll toad made it through this time, unfurling its body to reveal a dense array of complex seals and incantations.
"Place your hand here," it extended a hand, pointing to the upper right corner of the scroll, "and you can receive the key."
It was a square-shaped seal.
"But be sure to think it over carefully," as Naruto extended his hand, the scroll toad couldn't help but warn, "Unlocking the Four Symbols Seal means fully releasing the Nine-Tails."
"I'm ready," Naruto's movements didn't falter at the toad's words.
He lifted his right hand, chakra swirling at the tips of his fingers.
He solemnly pressed it into the frame, leaving an imprint.
The ink on the paper twisted, transforming into a rushing river, flowing from the fingertips up his arm.
Naruto closed his eyes.
Once again, he entered his inner world.
"Did you get the key?" Minato Namikaze looked up.
During Naruto's absence, he had been communicating with the Nine-Tails.
The atmosphere between man and fox remained cordial.
Just before Naruto left, the Nine-Tails still held a grudge against Minato Namikaze, but within a matter of minutes, its emotions had stabilized.
Naruto nodded.
"Then let's do it." Minato stood up, making way. "Both Kushina and I support your decision."
Naruto raised his right hand.
He pulled back his sleeve, revealing the Four Symbols Seal inscribed on his palm, the script stretching to the end of his forearm.
He stepped forward, treading on the void as if ascending a long staircase.
Behind the red barred door, the Nine-Tails sat up, straightening its upper body with anticipation in its eyes.
Step by step.
He approached the person-tall charm paper marked "Seal" and reached out to remove it.
It revealed the "Lock" on the barred gate.
It was the spiral-patterned Four Symbols Seal.
Naruto placed his hand on his abdomen and turned it.
Creak—
The lock on the door rotated, opening like folding fans from inside out, leaving only a hollow space.
The Nine-Tails stood up, pressed its paws against the door, and pushed forcefully.
Boom!
The door frames swung open strongly in both directions.
The Nine-Tails surged out eagerly, raising its claw to reach Naruto.
Minato squinted and gathered the last trace of his chakra strength.
Naruto neither dodged nor resisted.
The Nine-Tails didn't attack; its claw landed lightly on Naruto's head, and it cracked a grin, "You've got some nerve, kid."
"Aren't you afraid I'm just pretending to gain your trust, waiting to escape and devour you?"
Naruto beamed brightly, raising his fist to bump it against the Nine-Tails' claw, "We're friends, aren't we?"
The Nine-Tails grinned widely.
Naruto looked down, turning to Minato, "Dad, how did I do?"
"My son, you're amazing!" Minato gave him a thumbs-up, his tone genuine.
But in the next moment, without changing expression, he sensed his own condition, shifting the topic, "With the little time left, let me tell you something."
"Something related to that jutsu of mine."
(End of Chapter)