First, Let Me Make This Clear: This Is Absolutely Not Surrender

"Naruto."

"Not bad, not bad, truly not bad."

The system praised him three times in a row. "I never expected that in just two years, you would have already completed the second trial. Next, you may bathe in the Five Spirit Sacred Blood and be reborn."

Naruto was excited as well. Hard work paid off, and he was getting closer and closer to having friends.

"I observed the heavens. Tonight, the moon will be bright and the stars brilliant, the humidity favorable, and the wind mild. It is suitable for bathing in the Sacred Blood."

"Naruto, make the preliminary preparations for bathing in the Sacred Blood—calm yourself before entering the bath."

"Mm." Naruto nodded expectantly.

That night, Naruto looked up at the sky. Sure enough, just as the system had predicted, a waxing crescent hung high overhead, casting brilliant moonlight. Stars filled the sky, gleaming brightly, and the occasional gentle breeze made both body and mind feel at ease.

Following the system's instructions, Naruto took a petal bath, changed into loose, soft pajamas, prepared hot water, then sat cross-legged at the head of his bed. His eyes watched his nose, his nose watched his heart, and he emptied his mind and body.

The drifting of every particle around me has nothing to do with me.

In the chaotic void, I seek my true self.

Very quickly, Naruto's mind became clear. He could distinctly sense the subtle reactions of his body—the strong, powerful beat of his heart, the way the breeze gently brushed over him, bending the fine hairs on his skin ever so slightly.

"Mm, very good." The system's voice sounded in Naruto's mind without stirring the slightest ripple.

"The Five Spirit Sacred Bloods are, respectively: the Vermilion Bird of the south, governing fire among the Five Elements; the Black Tortoise of the north, governing water; the Azure Dragon of the east, governing wood; the White Tiger of the west, governing metal; and the Kirin of the central heavens, governing earth."

"The Sacred Blood of the five innate sacred beasts will be administered in five separate sessions. This Sacred Blood has been diluted to one ten-thousandth of its original strength; otherwise, your body would not be able to withstand it. Even so, it is enough for Foundation Establishment. Tonight, you will bathe in the Sacred Blood of the Kirin of the central heavens."

As soon as the words fell, Naruto saw it.

A wooden barrel appeared out of thin air, hovering silently above the bathing tub. It tipped over, pouring rolling streams of golden blood into the hot water. At the same time, phantom Kirins leaped out of the tub one after another, their bodies golden, their bearing majestic, radiating a heavy, solid presence.

"Enter the tub."

Naruto did as instructed. The moment he stepped into the bathing tub, he felt an immense heaviness envelop him. It was as though he had been buried beneath the earth, his entire body weighed down by the solidity of the land.

At the same time, every pore across his body opened. Miniature Kirins formed from blood burrowed into Naruto's pores one by one, slowly transforming his skin, muscles, bones, internal organs, and viscera.

Every cell in his body seemed to boil at that moment.

It was overbearing, agonizing.

Fortunately, Naruto's will was firm. He guarded his body and mind tightly, carefully sensing the process of the Kirin Sacred Blood transforming his body.

An hour later, when the last miniature Kirin entered Naruto's body, the hot water in the bathing tub turned transparent and colorless. Naruto's furrowed brow relaxed. He let out a long breath of stale air and stood up.

Bang.

Naruto threw a punch forward. In an instant, a dull, drumlike burst of air rang out, while a pale yellow aura faintly surfaced around his body, endlessly circulating.

He could clearly feel that his body had improved by at least an entire level.

I could definitely punch a cow to death with one punch.

Cow: ￣へ￣

"Naruto, Naruto..."

At that moment, Naruto heard a faint call. It was Nine-Tails calling to him from within his body.

A smug smile appeared on his face.

Nine-Tails, is this finally agreeing to my request?

Within the Sealing Space, Naruto's figure slowly appeared.

"Naruto..." Seeing Naruto appear, Nine-Tails hurriedly called out.

"Why did you call me here? What, have you finally thought it through and decided to be my pet?" Naruto wore a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

Seeing that smile,

Nine-Tails became angry again.

Is this guy feeling smug?

What an infuriating fox!

No, I still can't agree...

"Nothing. I just felt like it, so I called you." Nine-Tails turned away, refusing to let Naruto see his expression.

"What? You just felt like it?" Naruto was a little unsettled. "I'm very busy, you know. Could you not be so bored?"

After saying that, Naruto left the Sealing Space.

The moment Naruto disappeared, Nine-Tails turned back around, its fox face filled with conflict. Ah, what a conflicted fox. Should I agree or not?

But that smug expression of his...

No, I need to hold out a little longer...

Still, it had no idea what that human brat was up to. The seal was becoming more and more secure. It could already foresee that if it did not get out soon, it might never get out for the rest of its life.

A lifetime was far too long for Nine-Tails.

Too lonely!

Nine-Tails squatted on the ground, resting its chin on one soft forepaw while using the other to draw circles on the floor, utterly melancholy.

After coming out, Naruto checked out his body. Once he was thoroughly satisfied, he poured out the water in the bathing tub, washed the tub clean, and went peacefully to sleep.

On the second night, Naruto bathed in the Sacred Blood of the southern Vermilion Bird. This Sacred Blood was scorching and overbearing, like fire burning Naruto's body and internal organs.

But Naruto endured it.

On the third night, Naruto bathed in the Sacred Blood of the western White Tiger. The western White Tiger belonged to metal and governed slaughter and weapons of war. The moment the miniature White Tigers entered his body, it felt as though countless blades and swords were tearing him apart. The sensation was beyond words.

Fortunately, the remaining two Sacred Bloods were comparatively gentler.

After five nights, Naruto finally finished bathing in the Five Spirit Sacred Blood. He had been reborn, and the foundation of his Hardening training had been perfected.

Under the candlelight, Naruto lightly clenched his fist, and the muscles across his body bulged one after another. His entire body seemed to grow a size larger. Naruto was extremely satisfied with the explosive power filling every inch of him.

When he relaxed his fist, the muscles receded, revealing a tall, well-proportioned figure. Combined with his handsome, clean-cut features, if he wore white robes and had black hair, he would be like a jade-like gentleman on a distant road, peerless in all the world.

He looked exceptionally good!

"Naruto."

Nine-Tails' voice rang out in his mind again.

Naruto appeared outside the Sealing Space. Seeing Nine-Tails looking somewhat dejected, he smiled inwardly.

"Naruto, I..." Nine-Tails paused, finding it somewhat difficult to say, but it still continued.

"Let me make this clear first: this is absolutely not surrender. I simply see that you are a child whose parents are not at home, and out of kindness, I have come to wash your clothes, cook for you, and take care of you."

A fierce expression appeared on Nine-Tails' face.

Although it had agreed to the human brat's request, it still had to preserve its basic dignity. Sigh, I have no choice but to agree. The seal has become completely secure, Nine-Tails thought resentfully.

Nine-Tails,

So it's a tsundere fox.

Understanding flashed through Naruto's mind. He did not expose Nine-Tails and merely nodded with a serious expression. "Mm-hm, Nine-Tails really does pity me. That's why you're coming to my home to warm my bed, cook, and do housework for me."

"Phew..."

Nine-Tails sighed inwardly in relief. This human brat might be big, but his brain was not stupid. Thinking this, Nine-Tails said again, "Now, can you let me out?"

"Sure."

After saying that, Naruto disappeared from the Sealing Space.

"Hey, hey, I'm not out yet! I already humbled myself and agreed to your conditions, what more do you want from me..." Seeing Naruto disappear, Nine-Tails panicked.

After a night had passed,

A massive hand reached in, and the entire Sealing Space immediately began to shake violently...