In the training ground where he trained with Yue Yan, a figure quietly appeared: it was Naruto, who should have been recuperating in the hospital.
"Kyuubi, are you sure it's in that direction?"
Naruto slightly adjusted his position and quickly dashed into the woods.
The Nine-Tails replied, "If I'm not mistaken, it's underground about two kilometers ahead."
"What could it be that you're so concerned about?" Naruto asked, frowning as he jumped from tree to tree.
He had refrained from using the Nine-Tails' chakra to heal his injuries to sow discord between Yue Yan and the swift Moonlight, so he was still feeling weak.
In this situation, sneaking out could become troublesome if he encountered any danger.
However, the Nine-Tails had sensed an unusual energy fluctuation deep in the woods during the day when Naruto had used its chakra. It insisted that Naruto come and investigate when no one was around.
With no other option, Naruto waited until late at night, when Yue Yan had returned home to rest, and left a shadow clone behind in the hospital before sneaking out.
"It's hard to say right now," the Nine-Tails said lazily from within the sealing space. "Although I feel it's necessary to investigate, if you think it's no big deal, you can head back now."
"Why are you saying that now that I'm already here?" Naruto couldn't help but feel speechless.
Was the Kyuubi just messing with him?
Two kilometers was hardly a distance for Naruto's teleportation technique. Before he knew it, he had already reached the spot where the Nine-Tails had sensed the energy.
However, in front of him stood a massive boulder, blocking the way entirely.
"Just concentrate, and you'll know. The energy fluctuation is underground, right beneath the rock; there must be an entrance here," the Nine-Tails reminded him just in time.
In fact, Naruto had already sensed an unusual energy fluctuation.
If it were just an abnormal energy, the Nine-Tails might not have cared much.
But in Naruto's perception, he subconsciously felt repelled by this energy, and the Nine-Tails likely felt the same way.
Before long, Naruto discovered a cave entrance, though it was partially obscured by a smaller boulder.
Utilizing the Nine-Tails' chakra mode, he managed to push the boulder aside with difficulty and quickly slipped into the cave.
Using the golden light from his chakra mode for illumination made things much easier.
A winding passage capable of accommodating three people walking side by side led downward, and he encountered nothing along the way.
As Naruto delved deeper, the feeling of repulsion intensified, causing him to grow increasingly wary.
After a few hundred meters and about thirty meters beneath the surface, a massive chamber came into view.
In the center of the chamber stood an altar, inscribed with a sealing formation.
Since it had not been activated, only residual energy waves faintly emanated from it.
The energy fluctuation that both Naruto and the Nine-Tails had sensed originated from this sealing formation.
"What is this thing?" Naruto instinctively felt resistance.
He hadn't expected that such a thing would be hidden underground near the training ground. What was it used for?
The Nine-Tails also sensed the energy for a while before scoffing, "Clearly, it's a sealing formation."
"A sealing formation?" Naruto frowned, somewhat puzzled, as he had never encountered such a thing before.
"You're really slow to react!" the Nine-Tails mocked. "This is the Four Purple Flames Sealing Array, built based on the Fire Altar, and its purpose is obvious: it's meant to seal me!"
Actually, Naruto had already suspected as much; he just didn't know the specifics.
But one thing he was certain of: this place was definitely related to Danzo. Only that shady guy would construct something like this in such a location.
Hearing the Nine-Tails' words, Naruto inquired, "Is it to prevent the power of the tailed beasts from going out of control?"
"Maybe yes, maybe no."
The Nine-Tails lay back down, looking disinterested, and said, "Its function is to completely suppress the Jinchuriki from using the tailed beast's power. Simply put, if the formation is activated while you're inside, you won't be able to tap into any of my power."
"Besides that, the core of that formation can also completely extract my power from your body and seal it away."
In summary, this Four Purple Flames Sealing Array was entirely designed to target the Nine-Tails.
Once Naruto was trapped inside, regardless of whether the Nine-Tails was safe or not, as the Jinchuriki, Naruto would be at the mercy of others.
"Ha! That old schemer actually left such a trap!" Naruto couldn't help but chuckle.
No wonder a mere hint of residual energy waves made him and the Nine-Tails feel instinctively repelled; it was clearly a formation aimed at them.
Remembering that in the original story, Danzo had the Sharingan and Hashirama's cells, which were also means to control the Nine-Tails, Naruto couldn't accept this as the targeted party.
It seemed he needed to find an opportunity to eliminate that old rat underground.
Naruto curiously asked, "Is this Four Purple Flames Sealing Array really that powerful? Even you can't resist it?"
"Who are you looking down on, brat?"
The Nine-Tails seemed to bristle and replied, "It's just some self-important fools' grand ideas. This formation does have a suppressive effect on tailed beasts, but it's only effective against Jinchuriki."
"If I were truly extracted, I could easily tear it apart. Even if it were a simpleton like Shukaku who was trapped, he would still have a chance to break free from the seal."
But could one truly break free from the seal?
Naruto smiled knowingly and didn't bother arguing with the Nine-Tails, who always had such a prickly disposition.
"So what are you going to do now, Naruto?"
The Nine-Tails seemed to realize its earlier attitude had been a bit harsh, so it softened its tone and teased, "This is clearly the handiwork of Shimura Danzo!"
"Although from the visions you shared with me about the future, he didn't get a chance to make a move against you, your current actions don't align with the past, so the original future has already changed."
Of course, Naruto was well aware of this without needing the Nine-Tails' reminder.
"Then... let's destroy it!" Naruto stepped toward the altar.
Since it was a deadly move aimed at him, it certainly shouldn't be left intact, even if it attracted Danzo's attention.
Whoosh!!
The Flying Thunder God barrier was deployed around the chamber. Naruto concentrated a massive amount of chakra and slammed a large Rasengan down onto the altar.
Boom!!
The entire chamber erupted in a thunderous roar, but thanks to the presence of the Flying Thunder God barrier, there was no sign of collapse.
Once the energy dissipated, the chamber was left in ruins, and the Four Purple Flames Sealing Array was no more.
An unactivated formation was easily destroyed from the outside.