Seal Unlocked, Minato Appears

"Kurama?"

The Nine-Tails' mouth twisted, its entire body radiating a terrifying aura.

"Who allowed you to call me that?!!"

"Weren't you calling me the Demon Fox just now?"

The Nine-Tails stood up, frightening Naruto so badly that he wet himself.

"Ahhh? Big Brother, save me!"

"You mean this guy has been inside me with me since I was little?"

"How did such a huge guy even get inside my body?"

Naruto was utterly miserable. The other's claws dug fiercely into the pillar, its long nails reaching straight toward him.

However, when they were still two inches away, the seal finally stopped them.

Seeing its Jinchuriki looking so pathetic, the Nine-Tails clicked its tongue in disdain.

"All right, Kurama. You should know what's happening outside. I'll be frank with you: I want to cooperate with you."

The Nine-Tails looked toward Nagato. That unmistakable red hair made it bare its teeth.

Unfortunately, this move failed to frighten Nagato.

"I'll give you freedom. In return, you'll help our Empire build a transportation channel. All you need to do is contribute your Chakra. Of course, you won't be working for nothing. Once our two worlds are connected, you can follow the Kurama in our Empire and learn Sage Art."

The Nine-Tails was not swayed by Nagato's offer.

"You humans are the most cunning of all. You make it sound nice—freedom—but then tie me down with this so-called cooperation!"

Nagato smiled and did not refute its words.

The Tailed Beasts were indeed treasures. They were practically perpetual-motion machines, accumulating Chakra countless times faster than a single ninja. Even members of the Uzumaki Clan could not compare to them.

The Empire was developing rapidly, so their Chakra was naturally a strategic treasure. There was no way the Empire would casually grant them freedom.

However, the Empire did not work them twenty-four hours a day. They worked at most twelve hours each day, and once their shifts ended, they were served delicious food and drink. How was that anything like being inside a Jinchuriki, sealed up so tightly they could not even stretch their bodies, while being forced to provide their power for free on a regular basis?

"Kurama, have you forgotten the meaning behind your creation?"

Nagato narrowed his eyes slightly.

The Nine-Tails froze, then became even more furious from embarrassment.

"You're not qualified to talk to me about that!"

"In that case, I'll let you slowly experience the Empire's love in the future!"

Nagato's eyes slowly transformed into the Rinnegan.

"Wait! Wait! We can discuss everything! You should have said so earlier! You should have said so!"

The moment it saw those eyes, the Nine-Tails was startled. It truly did not want to become a puppet again!

That feeling of going berserk while being out of control was unbearable!

You should have said you had the Rinnegan!

"I choose to join the Empire! I'm joining the Empire!"

The Nine-Tails nodded repeatedly to show its willingness.

Only then did Nagato's expression ease slightly.

"Those who understand the times are the true heroes. Kurama, you will feel honored by the choice you made today."

The Nine-Tails did not hear him at all. It was already plotting how to escape with its life later.

"Naruto, relax. I'm preparing to release the Nine-Tails inside you!"

The instant he entered this mental space, Nagato had already deduced a plan that could perfectly extract the Tailed Beast.

As long as Naruto relaxed and the Nine-Tails did not cause trouble when it came out, the process would not harm the Jinchuriki in the slightest.

"Mm!"

Naruto nodded.

Outside, Nagato separated a wisp of consciousness and began undoing the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style on Naruto's stomach.

The others outside stopped chatting and all turned their eyes toward Naruto and Nagato.

Inside the mental space, Nagato formed hand seals as well. Only by undoing the seal both inside and out could he immediately eliminate the influence of the powerful Chakra leaking from the Nine-Tails on Naruto.

Eight Trigrams Sealing Style—Release!

Outer Path Extraction Technique!

Nagato was now using the grafting method. The moment he released the seal inside Naruto, he would immediately transfer the Nine-Tails' excessive Chakra into his own body.

That was the main reason he had come to the mental space.

Naruto watched as the door sealing the Nine-Tails slowly opened. A familiar Chakra began spreading and surging throughout his body.

That was the Chakra that usually disrupted his circulation whenever he trained!

"Kehehehe! Uzumaki brat! You're still too naive! How could I, the great me, so easily fall into your human trap again?"

The Nine-Tails roared and prepared to break through the seal.

Nagato shook his head. This Nine-Tails was truly naïve and simple-minded.

Just as he was preparing to activate the Rinnegan, a familiar yellow flash suddenly streaked past. Then, the door of the seal was sealed shut once again.

Naruto and Nagato stared blankly at the man who had appeared out of thin air before them.

"This is... a spirit-body state..."

"He is... Minato Namikaze!"

Nagato glanced at the two of them, then consciously withdrew from the mental space.

Inside the mental space, Minato only let out a slight sigh of relief after seeing Nagato leave.

The pressure emanating from that man was far too strong. He had no idea how the man had come here. Was he after the Tailed Beast?

Was he friend or foe? Had Naruto been deceived? But judging by the timing, the Nine-Tails' seal should indeed have weakened within the past two years...

Moreover, with that red hair, he could be certain the man was a pure-blooded member of the Uzumaki Clan. The Nine-Tails was so important, and with the village watching over him, Naruto should be fine...

Why am I, a dead man, worrying about all this? The most important thing now is to get a good look at my son!

Minato glanced over Naruto, who had already grown up, and his eyes finally revealed a trace of relief.

"Are you Naruto?"

Minato looked at Naruto with a smile.

Naruto stared at the newcomer, who looked seventy percent like him, and froze.

"You're the Fourth Hokage?"

The man's Hokage robes and the several large characters on his back clearly revealed his identity.

"Hmm? Looks like you already know who I am."

"The Fourth Hokage!!"

The Nine-Tails roared and tried to break through the seal, but Minato had immediately locked it down again.

"It's too noisy here. This isn't a place to talk. Let's go somewhere else!"

After saying that, Minato snapped his fingers. In an instant, the space around them changed.

For a moment, the two of them simply looked at each other in silence.

Minato greedily swept his gaze over Naruto from head to toe.

He was not particularly tall, but he was sunny and handsome. His clothes had faded a little from washing, but it was clear that they were still fairly good quality.

"Naruto..."

Minato spoke.

"You're... the Fourth Hokage? And... my father?"

Minato smiled and nodded gently.

Seeing the deep affection in the other's eyes, Naruto began trembling uncontrollably.

That look... those eyes...

I almost wish I could die here!

From childhood until now, all he had ever received were looks of hatred, disgust, and contempt.

This was the first time he had seen love in someone's eyes! Deep love! A love no one else could compare to!

When faced with those hateful looks, he had already gained plenty of experience dealing with them.

But this gaze filled with love—honestly, he had no experience with it at all!

Although tears streamed down his face uncontrollably, Naruto smiled. He smiled with immense happiness.

However, he also clenched his fists, very tightly.