Raikage A glanced at Killer Bee and continued speaking, "The Falls of Truth are not located within the Land of Lightning."
"They are on an island."
He paused, his tone growing more sincere.
"Please believe, Lord Uzumaki, that the words that follow are not lies."
"The island moves, its location is never fixed, and Hidden Cloud has stationed ninjas on the island to keep in touch, enabling us to find the correct location."
"Therefore."
"If Lord Uzumaki wishes to step onto the island, our Hidden Cloud must dispatch ninjas to guide the way."
Naruto nodded, his thoughts churning, "Moves?"
"An unusual landscape?"
"Or..."
"Some special creature?"
In his mind, the image of the Three-Tails flickered past, as did the unusually large toads of Mount Myoboku.
A strange look flashed in Raikage A's eyes, and he replied honestly, "It's an enormous sea turtle."
But inside, he was muttering to himself.
Was he not worried it was a lie he concocted?
Just as this thought came to mind, he met Naruto's half-smiling expression.
His body trembled involuntarily, the helplessness of that day surged again from within, engulfing his remaining numb shell.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the others around him.
Their eyes were clear, earnest, and serious.
They obviously did not have the same thoughts.
The alarm bell sounded!
Raikage A immediately understood, it wasn't that Naruto did not care, but that he had no need to care.
This person.
Strong in power, and also a member of the Uzumaki clan, skilled in sealing techniques.
The "medical ninjutsu" he performed on Karin that day, though glimpsed briefly, was sufficient to confirm his excellent skills.
The "genjutsu" was the only unknown.
Yet the fact that he could instantly defeat his opponent, it was clear he was not lacking in this capability either.
Naruto Uzumaki was an all-around powerful ninja.
The words just landed a moment ago, echoed again in his ears.
"I also gave you a chance."
Raikage A took a deep breath.
He wasn't particularly concerned himself, but his people had to be.
If Naruto were truly to misunderstand and think that this group harbored ill intentions towards him, then the entire Hidden Cloud might not be doomed, but the individuals in this room could face catastrophic consequences.
He adjusted his expression, trying to appear as harmless as possible. "Lord Uzumaki, once you are ready, feel free to choose your personnel and set off at any time."
Naruto nodded slightly.
Raikage A raised his left hand with a gesture.
Mabui, with deep skin and white hair, pushed a cart piled with dozens of scrolls.
"These are the techniques that Lord Uzumaki requested," she introduced, "gleaned from the Uzumaki clan's sealing technique knowledge."
"And the results of Cloud's research on these."
"Including the Heavenly Transfer Technique, Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Thunder Armor, and other techniques."
As the list went on, Raikage A's face increasingly displayed his reluctance.
These techniques were practically the Hidden Cloud's most secretive treasures, yet now they were to be handed over as compensation.
Once Mabui had named all the techniques like she was reviewing an army, Raikage A forced a smile and asked, "Lord Uzumaki, is there anything else you need?"
Naruto picked up a scroll titled "Heavenly Transfer Technique," and smiled while shaking his head. "No rush, let the Tailed Beasts have their talk first."
Raikage A was taken aback.
Tailed Beasts?
Talk?
Were they planning to fully manifest the Tailed Beasts somewhere?
Or did the Nine-Tails have something to say?
Yet Naruto merely opened the scroll and read it, not uttering another word.
Raikage A did not dare disturb him, lowering his gaze to observe the Nine-Tails sprawled on the table.
In the shared consciousness of the Tailed Beasts.
"Kurama, what do you want to discuss with us?"
The Eight-Tails and Two-Tails stood before the Nine-Tails.
Especially the Two-Tails, bristling with flames, appearing almost like an angry feline.
"That squirt Naruto asked me to inquire," the Nine-Tails spoke, amplifying its voice to emphasize the point. Its tone was serious, attempting to persuade the two Tailed Beasts before it.
The Eight-Tails and Two-Tails exchanged a knowing grin.
"He's figured out a way to free us from our Jinchuriki," continued the Nine-Tails. "Well, what do you think? Do you want him to perform this technique on you?"
"Free us?" The Two-Tails' voice trembled with excitement.
This was a dream for every Tailed Beast. Even if they were on good terms with their Jinchuriki, who could resist the temptation of escaping their prison and tasting freedom?
The Eight-Tails spoke with a heavy heart, "Will this harm Bee?"
"Gyūki, how you've fallen," the Nine-Tails sneered, sarcasm dripping from every word. "You're worried about a mere human, willing to sacrifice your freedom for him?"
The Eight-Tails shook his head, "Bee isn't just any human; he's my partner."
"Besides, Kurama,"
"It seems even you, the infamous fox, have softened towards humans. What right do you have to talk?"
The Nine-Tails turned its head, "I only clipped your horn, not your brain."
"Think about it,"
"If this technique affected Jinchuriki, would Naruto be as lively as he is now?"
Gyūki bobbed its head, "As long as it won't harm Bee, I'm all in."
The Nine-Tails glanced at the Two-Tails.
The cat's face was a mix of emotions, "If it doesn't harm the Jinchuriki, what about us Tailed Beasts?"
"Kurama, you seem to have split in two. Is it because of this technique?"
"Of course not."
The Two-Tails pondered, its curiosity piqued, "Then why are you split?"
"Don't ask stupid questions!" Kurama snapped, slamming a paw down in irritation, "Even in the realm of consciousness, I can still thrash you!"
After a brief pause, it diverted the conversation awkwardly, "I assure you, this technique won't harm us."
"However... It's harmless to both sides, meaning we still can't stray far from our Jinchuriki."
"Chakra will always bind us together."
Matatabi muttered and nodded, "Is that so?"
"It's not perfect freedom, but it's still freedom."
The Eight-Tails remained unchanged in stance.
Seeing both of them agree, The Nine-Tails coughed twice and shook its fur, somewhat embarrassed, "Besides that, Matatabi, there's something else I need to ask of you."
The Two-Tails looked at it in surprise. "Really?"
The Nine-Tails is approaching me first?
My gosh, it's incredibly unbelievable that it didn't use 'commands'. "Slice off a piece of chakra and give it to Naruto," the Nine-Tails said, trying to keep its voice calm.
The Two-Tails shook its head, "Give it chakra?"
"He wants to do some research on chakra," continued the Nine-Tails. "I think the chakra of Tailed Beasts would be a fascinating subject for study."
The Eight-Tails burst out angrily, "You damn filthy fox!"
"Is that why you struck me so hard the other day?"
"You even chopped off my horn!"
The Nine-Tails stretched its body, "Cutting off your horn was indeed to benefit Naruto."
"But your horn, that was my war trophy."
The Two-Tails sat back, tilting its head in thought, "Since Kurama, you say so, I'll agree to it."
The Nine-Tails grinned and passed the message to Naruto.
Inside the meeting room, Naruto was reading, with Karin occasionally leaning over to him, chatting quietly.
However, the people from Cloud Village were all sitting upright and tense, barely daring to take a breath, fearing they might disturb something. They remained so tense, and their anxiety only grew.
Until several minutes passed.
Naruto put down the scroll and looked at the two Jinchuriki. "The Nine-Tails has agreed."
"Then let's do it," came the response, leaving the Fourth Raikage bewildered.
What was agreed upon?
Was anything discussed?
He turned to look at the two Jinchuriki from his village. They stood up with serious expressions, clearly understanding what Naruto meant.
Killer Bee caught the Raikage's glance and explained, "The Nine-Tails and the Eight-Tails said that Uzumaki has mastered a technique that allows Tailed Beasts to leave their Jinchuriki's body and move freely within a certain range without harming either the Jinchuriki or the Tailed Beasts."
"Now, Uzumaki intends to use this technique on us."
Raikage A suddenly understood. "Is this why the Nine-Tails can appear outside the Jinchuriki?" he contemplated.
Asking a "former enemy" to unseal the Jinchuriki is enormously risky.
His instincts compelled him to immediately reject the idea.
But.
Almost instantly, he restrained this instinctive reaction.
If Naruto genuinely intended harm to the Jinchuriki, he could have killed them effortlessly back then, without needing to make such a demand now.
The Hidden Cloud Village had neither the capability to resist him nor to change his mind.
This was inevitable.
Raikage A remained silent, not uttering a word.
"Let's start with me." Yugito walked over with calm assurance. "The Two-Tails is eager to come out."
Naruto didn't rush to perform the technique.
His method was based on the Four Symbols Seal.
The Hidden Cloud's seal for Tailed Beasts, the "Iron Armor Seal," although different, was nonetheless derived from Uzumaki knowledge.
With minor adjustments, in no time at all.
Two Tailed Beasts were released, small in stature, just like the Nine-Tails, standing on the table.
"This is the scent of freedom," Two-Tails remarked, stepping on the tabletop. The cold, hard surface wasn't to its liking.
It looked up at the blond boy before it, speaking in a joyful tone, "Uzumaki Naruto, is it?"
"You're quite remarkable."
"This portion of chakra is yours to keep."
The Two-Tails then bit off a chunk of its own chakra, tossing it before Naruto.
Without hesitation, it leapt out the window.
Yugito's expression shifted slightly.
She realized that once the Tailed Beast was unsealed from her body, she lost complete control over its chakra, making it difficult to forcibly withdraw and use it again.
If she wished to utilize the Tailed Beast's power, she needed the Two-Tails' permission.
The Eight-Tails perched on Killer Bee's shoulder: "I won't be giving you my chakra."
"The Nine-Tails has already collected enough from me."
Naruto sealed the chakra mass in front of him.
Raikage A watched the direction in which the Two-Tails had fled, seeing Yugito shake her head with a grave expression.
The Hidden Cloud's control over the "Tailed Beasts" had weakened considerably.
Though he had no other choice, he continued discussing compensation with Naruto.
(End of Chapter)