Jiraiya stared at the colossal orange figure seated on the throne.
No matter how much he pondered it, he couldn't fathom how those two words could possibly connect to Naruto, unless those words met a "Nine-Tails."
Even with Naruto's immense strength, he still couldn't avoid being influenced by the "Tailed Beasts."
The Great Toad Sage spoke softly, "Little Jiraiya."
The white-haired man returned to his senses.
"In my original prophecy, he was destined to be entangled with a black-haired, red-eyed boy," it continued with an odd intonation, "but now I cannot confirm if the future will unfold as I envisioned."
"He is a unique child, destined to bring some change to this world."
"Just like..."
The Great Toad Sage fell silent, recalling the prophecy it made over a thousand years ago to the Sage of the Six Paths.
That child was seeking the Pure Land, implying their meeting was inevitable.
Jiraiya etched these words into his mind. After confirming the Great Toad Sage had nothing more to say, he left Mount Myoboku.
In a small town in the Land of Fire, within a confectionery shop.
Karin meticulously read through the transcribed text, furrowing her brows, and muttered, "Something feels off."
Naruto leaned in, noticing her gaze fixed on the story about "that woman."
"He lied in this part." He shook his head, decisive and straightforward, providing his conclusion.
Karin paused, blinking, before understanding: "Did you use Kagura's Mind Eye on it?"
This technique enables one to detect whether someone is lying through chakra.
Naruto nodded, "Yes, I did. However, only this part was a lie; everything else is true."
"From the point where the Sage of the Six Paths defeated his mother onwards, the rest is the truth."
Why would the Great Toad Sage lie about the story of the "Sage of the Six Paths and his mother"?
Naruto wasn't overly concerned.
He understood clearly that sometimes the truth isn't suitable for the public.
After all, the Sage of the Six Paths was the founder of Ninjutsu, needing a purely positive image; perhaps the sage was considering this.
In deep contemplation, Karin recalled her time at Mount Myōboku. She had wanted to use her Kagura's Mind Eye but was too intimidated by the imposing presence of the toads, their aura surpassing that of ordinary jōnin.
Just as she was about to speak, a puff of white smoke appeared across the table, causing her to snap her mouth shut instantly.
Jiraiya had been reverse summoned back. Looking at Naruto, he grinned, "It seems the Great Toad Sage hasn't resolved many of your doubts, has he?"
Naruto shook his head, his tone calm, "At least I now know part of the history. It helps eliminate some incorrect assumptions, making future searches easier."
Moreover, one thing was confirmed—"The Great Toad Sage" has indeed lived for over a thousand years.
Would the similarly named "Sacred Place" of Ryūchi Cave also harbor similar entities with thousand-year lifespans?
"How is your mastery of the Nine-Tails' power progressing?" Jiraiya asked, finally voicing the concern that had been occupying his thoughts.
Naruto replied with a smile, "I'm getting along with it quite well now."
"I probably won't need to use my father's technique."
Jiraiya uttered a puzzled "Hmm."
What did he mean by not needing it?
"I made a pact with the Nine-Tails not to forcefully use its power," Naruto said earnestly. "So, there's no need for it."
Jiraiya laughed heartily, "You really are like your father."
"But Naruto, you're mistaken. Minato didn't leave that technique to suppress the Nine-Tails."
He lowered his head, his expression tinged with nostalgia.
"Your mother was also a jinchūriki, and Minato was always worried about her."
"So the technique was a formula to help Kushina co-exist better with the Nine-Tails."
Better co-exist with the Nine-Tails?
In the inner world, the Nine-Tails lashed its tail.
It agreed with the statement. Minato was a good person, and if it could choose a "jinchūriki," between Kushina and Minato, it would definitely choose the latter.
Jiraiya's face turned serious, "But before I teach you this formula—"
"There's an important question: can you completely resist the power of the Nine-Tails?"
"Inside you, there is also a 'gate' set by Minato. To learn that technique, you must first unlock that gate."
He paused, then continued, "When you're using the power of the Nine-Tails, you must feel that the more you use it, the harder it gets, and the greater the risk of losing control."
Naruto nodded. Before he unlocked "Asura," there was indeed a considerable risk of losing control when he used the Nine-Tails.
"This is because of the unique life form of the tailed beasts, which mixes their chakra with their consciousness," Jiraiya went on. "When you borrow the chakra of the Nine-Tails, its consciousness comes along with it."
"When Minato sealed the Nine-Tails inside you, you were just a baby."
"For your safety, Minato added an additional layer to the Nine-Tails' seal."
"This prevents the Nine-Tails' power from influencing you to a large extent."
"If you open that gate, the power of the Nine-Tails would be fully released."
"Its hateful will would surge forth entirely; if you can't resist it, the Nine-Tails might devour you and fully resurrect."
"Naruto, are you prepared for this?"
Naruto took the small golden dagger from his waist and placed it on the table.
This puzzled Jiraiya; he wasn't quite sure what it meant.
The "Asura" brought him enhancements not only in techniques.
It also linked him and the Nine-Tails together.
Especially after he made the promise to the Nine-Tails, this "link" had grown much stronger.
"However, I haven't tried to harness more of the Nine-Tails' power yet," he continued.
He mastered the "Asura" on the night when Unohana and others had their incident.
Then Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihouin escaped to the living world, disappearing without a trace.
And his initial reconciliation with the Nine-Tails happened a year ago, after he learned the truth about his parents' death from Jiraiya.
Before returning to the Soul Society, Naruto worried that if he "lost control," no one would be able to stop him, and he also worried about harming Karin.
Thus, he never had the right opportunity to try and release more tails.
"Is that so?" Jiraiya nodded.
"But it's worth trying," Naruto grasped the hilt of his sword and looked up at Jiraiya with a bright smile. "I feel like the Nine-Tails isn't just an embodiment of hatred as Jiraiya-sensei says."
Karin recalled something Naruto had said back in the Hidden Mist Village to that unpleasant woman, whose weight was far more than it appeared.
"This Tailed Beast is like a mirror."
If that were true, then the reflection Naruto shows wouldn't be so terrible, would it?
"Kurama, are you willing to give it a try?" Naruto sent the thought inward.
Kurama gave a dismissive grunt but did not refuse.
"It agreed." Naruto informed Jiraiya. "Let's find a place to do this."
After eating, they found a clearing deep in a remote forest, far from any human activity.
Jiraiya sent a message back to Konoha, ensuring they were aware of the immense power that could be released, preventing panic in both Konoha and the Land of Fire.
Naruto set up a sealing array around the area. It was a precaution—should he lose control when "transforming" into a Tailed Beast, the seals would activate to subdue his mindless self.
Jiraiya was extremely cautious, summoning the Great Toad and calling upon the two sage mentors, Fukasaku and Shima, to be ready to assist with sage transformations to bolster the sealing techniques against Naruto's potential outburst.
Once everything was ready.
Naruto stood in the center of the sealing array, raising his twin swords.
A chant began to flow from his lips.
"Cry with fury, sing with mercy, rotate with anger, Nine-Tails Demon God!"
Chakra surged, enveloping his body in a golden glow.
The sheer pressure of his aura washed over the clearing, making wind stir and trees tremble.
Jiraiya's summoned toad, with "Loyalty" etched on its necklace, involuntarily shuffled back a couple of steps.
Even the residual waves of power were more than it could bear in that moment.
This was not something a young toad should face.
"Boss Gamabunta" would be more suitable for such a challenge.
"Such terrifying power," Fukasaku remarked solemnly. "Is this the strength of the Nine-Tails?"
"I just don't recall Jinchuriki having such a form."
Jiraiya expressed his surprise, marveling, "This must be Naruto's own development of the Nine-Tails' power."
"The feeling I get is completely different from when I encountered the Nine-Tails before."
He had sensed the Nine-Tails' power a few times before: a collection of hatred, menace, and terror. It was indisputably a harbinger of destruction.
Yet now, as wielded by Naruto, the Nine-Tails' power felt surprisingly positive—bright, magnanimous, and teeming with vitality, and, of course, undeniably powerful.
Naruto took a deep breath, lowered his head, and glanced at the "Nine-Tails" blade in his hand.
At the end of the hilt, six red tassels fluttered.
Without manifesting the "tails," the number of tassels on the hilt reflected the level of his transformation into the tailed beast.
"Nine-Tails," he called out internally.
The great fox did not speak but was generous with lending its strength.
The tassels on the hilt split, and a seventh one appeared.
Despite this, his sense of reason remained intact, with no sensation of being corroded or losing control.
Naruto assessed that at this level, he could continue to try further.
He welcomed more power from the Nine-Tails.
An eighth tassel split and unfolded.
His rationality was still present, but suddenly Naruto noticed a peculiar chakra emerging within his inner world.
It wasn't his own, nor was it the Nine-Tails'.
Neither was it the power of Asura.
It was just a faint trace, with a weak presence, yet not insignificant—the owner must be someone powerful.
What is this power?
When did it get planted within him?
Immersed in his thoughts, Naruto sank into his inner world.
(End of Chapter)