“How about it, Naruto? If you want, I can lend you my power…” The Nine-Tailed’s voice echoed in Naruto’s ears, carrying a hint of ill-intentioned amusement. That seductive voice made Naruto’s heart yearn.
Naruto gazed at the Nine-Tailed inside the cage. Its nine tails danced like flames, exuding a powerful aura. Such power was dozens, even hundreds of times greater than his own.
“The power of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox!” Naruto pondered, a secret longing in his heart. Such power was indeed tempting.
However, in the next moment, scenes that had once caused him immense pain suddenly flashed through his mind.
He recalled the incident several years ago when he was training with his master, the Perverted Sage, and was severely wounded by his own four tails. The Perverted Sage lay on the ground, his clothes stained with blood, the claw marks on his chest—a sight Naruto could never forget.
And when he pursued Orochimaru at the Tenchi Bridge, he lost control again, unleashing the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox’s power, but he accidentally injured Sakura. Her terrified expression and painful moans still lingered in Naruto’s mind, leaving him with lingering fear.
He was afraid that he might, by accident, do something he would deeply regret.
That kind of power, like a fierce beast, was fine when kept in a cage.
Once released,
it would cause uncontrollable consequences.
It would only harm his comrades, and Uzumaki Naruto, deep down, absolutely did not want to see such a thing happen again.
“I will never use it!” Uzumaki Naruto told himself silently. He looked up, his gaze firm as he stared at the Nine-Tailed in the cage, shaking his head without hesitation. He extended his arm, his palm flat in a gesture of refusal towards the Nine-Tailed in the cage.
“Hey, Nine-Tailed, don’t try to tempt me anymore! I won’t agree to your terms,” Naruto said, his voice revealing a hint of determination. “Unless you can let me use your power for free, and it won’t cause any harm to me or my comrades. As for releasing the seal, don’t even think about it!”
Damn brat!
He actually wants to use your Lord Nine-Tailed’s power for free.
What a joke?
The Nine-Tailed seethed with anger, furious.
He thought of the Fourth Hokage who sealed him, and Uzumaki Kushina who treated him as a vessel.
From Uchiha Madara to Senju Hashirama, from Uzumaki Mito to Uzumaki Kushina, every single one of them treated him like a slave.
Every single one of them disregarded his will.
Uchiha Madara was fine; he merely treated him as a summoned beast, at least he had a certain degree of freedom.
He could move freely in the Ninja World,
But Senju Hashirama, that shameless bastard, was different.
He was clearly ridiculously strong.
Yet he would say, “Nine-Tailed, you’re too strong.”
And then he would seal him with one hand.
Is that something a human would say?
It was precisely because of this action by Senju Hashirama
that people in the Ninja World discovered the existence of a Jinchuriki.
This led to him being transferred from Uzumaki Mito to Uzumaki Kushina.
And then,
it was Uzumaki Naruto.
During this period, for nearly 60 years, he had been in a sealed state. If he didn't find a way to break the seal, he might continue to be sealed.
Not to mention,
that was sixty years!
As a sentient being, no matter how long its own lifespan might be, truly living life was still like that of ordinary people, enduring the frustrations of time. During these 60 years of torment, the Nine-Tailed truly wished it could tear those from Konoha into pieces and devour them all.
Thinking of the pain of being sealed in the sealing space for these 60 years, the Nine-Tailed’s hatred for Uzumaki Naruto was so immense that all the water from the five lakes and four seas could not wash away its resentment.
Under such circumstances,
how could he possibly give the other party power for free?
However,
the Nine-Tailed still said, “Naruto, you’re all talk. What can you accomplish with your power?”
“Whether it’s getting Sasuke back or protecting your comrades, you can’t do anything! You only come crying to me for help!”
“Without my help, unless you escape now, otherwise, facing those two Uchiha members, you are doomed to die!”
“I will quietly watch that moment arrive from this sealing space. Don’t regret it! You know, even if we Tailed Beasts die, we will be reborn in the Ninja World. I am immortal and indestructible, but your comrades, they are basically certain to die…”
The Nine-Tailed’s voice gradually faded until it disappeared.
In the dark cage.
The Nine-Tailed smirked sinisterly. As long as Naruto cared about his comrades as he always did, he would have no choice but to seek power from him.
That would be his opportunity.
The Nine-Tailed silently awaited that moment.
…
“Naruto, you’re awake! That’s great…”
Uzumaki Naruto, in reality, also furrowed his brows and slowly woke up, opening his hazy eyes. What greeted him was Sakura’s pink hair resting on his face, and a pair of tear-filled green pupils, which made his heart ache. Seeing him awake, she immediately became excited.
“Sakura, I’m fine!” Uzumaki Naruto forced a smile despite his mental exhaustion, and sat up. Then he suddenly remembered something and asked, “Oh right, Sakura, where are Yamato Captain and the others? Where are they now?!”
“Yamato Sensei!” Sakura Haruno wiped away her tears, turned her head to look towards the central area of LouLan, and as she pointed her finger towards that place, she said, “Yamato Sensei and those Konoha comrades are holding off the enemies there. Just now, Sensei’s Wood Clone brought you out and told us to take you and leave first!”
“Yamato Sensei said he doesn’t know if LouLan’s Dragon Veins can send us back to our original time, fearing that if we go too far, we won’t be able to return. So, Yamato Sensei told us to hide in the outer perimeter, and he would figure out a way to kill Hyakuzu.”
“What?! How can that be!” Uzumaki Naruto grew anxious. Given Yamato Captain’s displayed strength, he wouldn’t be much stronger than himself. If even he was easily defeated, wouldn’t Yamato Captain and that kind of enemy be doomed to die?
“No, I have to go back and help…”
Uzumaki Naruto instinctively wanted to go back and help.
However, Sakura Haruno instinctively blocked his way and immediately stopped him, saying, “No, Naruto, you just recovered from a serious injury. Going now will only worsen your injuries!”
“What are you talking about?! Yamato Sensei is our comrade, how can I let Yamato Sensei face the enemy alone?!” Naruto angrily rejected Sakura’s words.
And just as Naruto insisted on acting,
“Damn it, the situation is getting out of control!”
Sai’s expression changed drastically as he looked into the distance. He immediately controlled his Super Beast Scroll to create a giant ink eagle, which swooped down. His hands moved non-stop: “Ninjutsu: Super Beast Scroll – Giant Eagle!”
As the Super Beast Scroll was activated, two more giant ink eagles appeared in mid-air. He quickly said to Naruto and Sakura, “Naruto, Sakura, hurry up and get on!” He didn’t have time to say more. Although Naruto and Sakura were still dazed, they decisively jumped onto the giant eagle, and he immediately fled into the distance.
“Sai, what are you doing?!” Seeing the giant eagle flying away, Uzumaki Naruto couldn’t help but say angrily, “Why are you running away? What about Yamato Captain?!”
“Naruto, look back…”
Sai said calmly.
From the sky, looking down.
The central area of the LouLan Dragon Veins was originally a burning forest, a sea of fire, with all-out destructive attacks.
It seemed to incinerate everything within it.
Under such an attack,
how could anyone possibly survive?
“You’re kidding, right?!” Uzumaki Naruto was stunned, tears streaming uncontrollably from his eyes. The next moment, he couldn’t help but clench his fists and say, “I’m going to take a look!”
“Maybe someone is still alive!”
“No need! My Ninjutsu has already seen it!” Sai said with a grim expression, “Indeed, there are still people alive, but the ones who survived are those enemies. This is what my Ninjutsu told me!” Then, Sai accelerated the flight of the giant eagles beneath him, quickly leaving this dreadful place before the enemies noticed them.
Amidst the burning flames, a giant purple skeleton appeared out of nowhere, turning its interior into a safe zone.
Uchiha Tenxiu and Uchiha Chiri, as well as the Queen of LouLan, and the captured Hyakuzu, were all alive and well.
In the flames,
Akimichi Choza and Shibi Aburame’s bodies had already been incinerated.
As for Minato Namikaze and Yamato, they had disappeared.
Looking at the ink mouse not far away, Uchiha Tenxiu’s pupils widened, and an invisible aura of pressure emanated, a powerful mental attack that shattered all remaining vision in the area.