Naruto guessed, "To use the tailed beasts to balance the strength of the various nations, making them wary of one another and thus afraid to start another great ninja war?"
A human-like smug smile appeared on Kurama's face. "That's right! Now do you understand what impact it would have on Konoha if you let this old man leave?"
What it meant was—
See how amazing us tailed beasts are?!
Seeing how proud he looked, Naruto could not help asking, "Then let me ask you this: did the First Hokage achieve his goal?"
Kurama's smile froze.
It had been waiting for Naruto to realize its importance, then beg it to stay.
Naruto really knew how to bring up the one thing no one should mention.
Seeing that Kurama's expression was off, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly waved for the surrounding Anbu to withdraw.
Kurama's appearance had already caused panic throughout the village.
Because of Kurama's enormous body, it could be seen from anywhere in Konoha.
And the night from more than a decade ago had once again come to the minds of countless villagers.
To Konoha, Kurama was absolutely synonymous with disaster.
Quite a few ninja had already begun evacuating the civilians.
Even more elite ninja were rushing over at top speed.
But they were all stopped outside by the Anbu Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took two steps forward. His weathered face was covered in deep wrinkles, and there was a hint of ingratiation in his humble smile. "Nine-Tails, Naruto is just a child. He doesn't know how to speak properly, so please don't take it to heart."
Today, more than a decade later—
Hiruzen Sarutobi faced the Nine-Tails once more.
He no longer possessed the vigor he had in those days.
The old man's back was hunched. A trace of wariness lingered in his deep eyes, yet even though his wife had died on the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, he bore not the slightest hatred.
Everything he did truly was for Konoha.
Kurama looked at the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and said disdainfully, "Hmph, foolish human."
"This old man is speaking with his friend. Why are you butting in?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with a forced smile, then frantically signaled Naruto with his eyes.
He wanted Naruto to keep the Nine-Tails in Konoha!
That would be better for Konoha.
However, Naruto did not care about Konoha. He said to Kurama, "Kurama, you finally gained your freedom. Are you really willing to remain in Konoha?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
Kurama burst out laughing. "As expected of the person this old man has taken a liking to!"
It could also hear the deep concern in Naruto's words.
This foolish fox had not noticed at all that Naruto had passed its trust test from the very beginning by exploiting a bug without taking any risks.
At that moment, Naruto thought, Hurry up and leave so I can find the next one.
Because Naruto still had a complete version of the Nine-Tails in his System Backpack!
Kurama first laughed wildly for a while, then said to Naruto, "Naruto Uzumaki, you're right. You truly are a friend of the tailed beasts."
"Because all these years, no human has ever been willing to truly trust a tailed beast, yet you possess such courage..."
"You fulfilled your promise. For that, this old man is willing to make a small sacrifice."
"This old man knows you like a peaceful life. Since that is the case, this old man will not leave the Land of Fire."
"That way, the balance of the ninja world can be maintained as much as possible."
Naruto smiled and said to Kurama, "Thank you!"
After that—
Kurama did not waste any words. It pushed off with its feet and leaped toward the Forest of Death.
It intended to find a suitable habitat within the Land of Fire.
Although its body was enormous, Kurama's speed was not affected in the least. It vanished from Konoha like a violent gust of wind.
When Konoha's villagers saw the Nine-Tails, as they called it, disappear—
Although they did not know why, they still began cheering.
Because...
They had escaped another potential disaster.
At the training ground—
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Naruto with concern. "Little Naruto, should I call a doctor?"
As the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally knew—
What kind of backlash a Jinchuriki would suffer after being separated from a tailed beast.
But Naruto's situation was too unusual.
Because from the outside, Naruto had only sweated a little and seemed completely fine.
Even his breathing was not disordered.
After seeing the Nine-Tails, Hiruzen Sarutobi had broken out in a colder sweat than Naruto!
"No need," Naruto replied.
This way—
Naruto was no longer bound by his promise.
He could first recover his body, then consider sealing the other Nine-Tails.
Naruto asked Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Now that the Nine-Tails is no longer inside me, do I still need Anbu protection?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly found Naruto difficult to understand.
Because Naruto, as a Jinchuriki, had suddenly lost his tailed beast.
Not only did he appear completely unharmed—
He could even communicate normally with a tailed beast.
And the Nine-Tails had even regarded him as a friend.
Now, he was voluntarily asking for the Anbu to be withdrawn.
After this whole series of events—
Naruto had remained calm from beginning to end, as though everything had been under his control.
Could it be—
That Naruto's strength had already reached a level where he could ignore a tailed beast?
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought that was impossible.
After all, Naruto was still far too young.
But Naruto's Chakra could not be faked under Hiruzen Sarutobi's perception...
That left Hiruzen Sarutobi extremely conflicted.
Without waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi to finish struggling with the matter, Naruto turned around and went home to rest.
Once his body had recovered, Naruto could consider sealing the complete Nine-Tails.
After being separated from the Nine-Tails, Naruto had not remained unaffected.
Nor had the effects been minor.
It was simply that the effects remained within Naruto's tolerance.
After returning home, Naruto lay down on his bed and fell into a deep sleep.
He did not wake up until the next day, when the sky was already bright.
Naruto glanced at the clock on the wall, and his drowsiness instantly vanished.
Today was graduation day.
But...
Had he overslept?
It was probably because his body had been too exhausted.
Still, he had slept quite well. After getting up, Naruto felt light and refreshed all over.
Naruto tidied himself up at home, then set off for the Ninja Academy.
What had happened yesterday had left Konoha's villagers deeply unsettled.
But when everyone saw Naruto Uzumaki safe and sound today, they were all extremely surprised.
Clearly, the rumors said Naruto was a demon fox.
But why had the Nine-Tails Fox clearly fled Konoha yesterday—
While Naruto was perfectly fine?
Anyone who saw Naruto—
Had a drastic change in expression.
Because they also realized that they might have hated the wrong person all along.
When Naruto arrived at the Ninja Academy, he discovered that the graduation exam had already ended!
His classmates were discussing their results in the classroom.
Hinata looked worriedly at Naruto's empty seat.
Everyone knew that the Nine-Tails Fox had suddenly appeared yesterday.
And Hinata knew some things about Naruto.
She was afraid that something had happened to Naruto.
Just as Hinata's heart was heavy with worry—
Iruka suddenly called out toward the door, "Naruto? You finally made it!"
Hinata looked toward Naruto.
She found that Naruto was uninjured, and he seemed to be in good spirits.
Hinata grew excited and hurried over in small steps. "Naruto, are... are you okay?"
Hearing Hinata's concern, Naruto's mood, which had been somewhat heavy because of his earlier experiences, instantly relaxed.
Before you continue