The Tailed Beasts Were Not Fearless of Death

There was great terror between life and death.

The Nine-Tails' former pride had been built upon the fact that it would never truly be harmed, never truly die.

When true death loomed before it, the Nine-Tails, blessed with an infinite lifespan, finally realized how precious life was. Dignity was not worth more than life.

Thus, sensing the threat of death, the Nine-Tails submitted.

The Nine-Tails let out whimpering pleas for mercy. It even endured the immense pressure to roll onto its back, exposing its belly like a wild fox.

With this humiliating gesture, it expressed its submission to Shazo.

Seeing the Nine-Tails surrender, Shazo stopped suppressing it.

Just then, he had already confirmed the Nine-Tails' immense research value by erasing the chakra imprint. Naturally, he would not kill it.

Even if it died, the Nine-Tails should die on his operating table.

Thinking this, Shazo watched it and considered how he should study the Nine-Tails.

The Nine-Tails instinctively sensed a cold terror devoid of killing intent. It became even more afraid of Shazo, trembling all over.

Seeing the Nine-Tails so frightened, Naruto Uzumaki laughed until he could not close his mouth. "Hahaha, that big fox is such a coward. Big Brother Shazo scared it so badly that it's trembling."

Naruto's smugness at having someone powerful behind him made the Nine-Tails feel humiliated. Yet it was truly afraid of Shazo; even with its eyes bloodshot from rage, it did not dare turn back over.

This kid really knew how to stab people where it hurt. He was also somewhat deliberately ignoring the Nine-Tails, but it would not be a good thing if the Nine-Tails truly fell out with Naruto.

"Alright, Naruto."

Seeing tears of humiliation flow from the Nine-Tails' eyes, Shazo quickly interrupted Naruto. "After all, the Nine-Tails lives within your heart. You should become good companions, not enemies who attack each other."

He raised his head and looked at the Nine-Tails. "Isn't that right?"

The Nine-Tails shuddered and nodded repeatedly. "You are right! Exactly!"

Naruto Uzumaki also hurriedly released the fox's tail and answered loudly, "Big Brother Shazo, I'll get along well with the big fox. We'll definitely become the best companions."

Shazo smiled. "Very good!"

"Naruto, you'll have plenty of time to spend with the Nine-Tails later. Now, it's time to meet your parents."

Naruto looked as if he had been struck by lightning. His voice trembled as he said, "Big Brother Shazo, you... you mean I can see my father and mother..."

Shazo pointed at the talisman paper on the bars. "Go on. Tear that paper off, and you'll see them."

Naruto Uzumaki trusted Shazo deeply, and his longing for his parents was overwhelming. The moment Shazo finished speaking, he sprang up and grabbed a corner of the talisman paper.

Just as the blond youth prepared to exert force and tear the talisman off, a long, fair hand suddenly appeared and seized his wrist.

A gentle, mature voice rang out. "Naruto, the seal on the Nine-Tails cannot be torn open."

Naruto Uzumaki looked at the man's face, at that warm smile like the sun. The tremor of blood ties made excitement and yearning surge within him uncontrollably.

Naruto Uzumaki took several deep breaths before barely managing to restrain his emotions. Then he asked in a trembling voice, "Are you my father?"

Minato Namikaze answered gently, "Yes, Naruto. I am your father."

Naruto Uzumaki's tears immediately poured down, but he did not burst into tears. Instead, he tried hard to smile, wanting to show his smile to his father.

Seeing his child be so sensible, Minato Namikaze's heart ached terribly. He pulled Naruto into his embrace, stroked his son's hair, and murmured, "Naruto, you're amazing. Truly, you're the best son. I'm proud of you."

Shazo could not help nodding at Naruto's reaction. Naruto Uzumaki truly had a gentle side hidden within him. Bringing him to meet Minato Namikaze had indeed been the right decision.

Just as father and son embraced each other affectionately, wisps of red chakra leaked from the seal and condensed into a striking red-haired woman.

"Kushina Uzumaki!!!"

The instant it saw this woman, the Nine-Tails forgot its fear of Shazo. Rage made every hair on its body stand on end, and it instantly swelled to its limit.

Some things were harder to endure than death.

Kushina glanced back at the Nine-Tails and sneered indifferently. "So it's you, you stinking fox."

"After all these years, you're still as hot-tempered as ever."

The Nine-Tails roared furiously, "I'll kill you! I'll definitely kill you!"

"I'll kill Minato Namikaze too! I'll kill both of you!!"

Kushina shook her head helplessly. "What a stupid fox. We're already dead. Do you still want to kill two dead people?"

Nine-Tails: "(⊙﹏⊙) Huh?"

"Right, you're both dead. Dead people can't be killed."

Suddenly, it came up with a wonderful idea. "Hahaha, it's fine, it's really fine!"

"You have a son, and I'm inside your son's heart!"

"Hehehehe, I'll kill Naruto Uzumaki. I'll definitely kill—"

Hearing the Nine-Tails say it wanted to kill her son, Kushina Uzumaki was displeased. She pointed at the Nine-Tails.

Golden chains sprouted from the Nine-Tails' body, instantly binding it into a dumpling and tightening further and further until even its chakra leaked out.

Kushina Uzumaki beckoned, and the Nine-Tails' chakra flowed into her palm, winding around her fingers like orange ribbons.

The Nine-Tails' rage and frustration reached a new peak. "This again! It's always this! You're stealing my chakra again!"

"Bastard!"

"Minato Namikaze, aren't you going to rein in your woman?!"

Minato Namikaze held his son with his left arm and scratched the back of his head with his right. "Hahaha, Nine-Tails, you really know how to joke."

The Fourth Hokage's response pleased Kushina Uzumaki greatly, and she gave her husband a radiant, seductive smile.

Then she strode up to her husband and pulled Naruto Uzumaki into her arms. "Naruto, I'm your mother."

Naruto Uzumaki stared dumbfoundedly at the red-haired woman, forgetting even to cry or be excited.

Shazo sighed in satisfaction. He had finally witnessed Kushina's legendary husband-taming scene. As expected, the Fourth Hokage was the greatest henpecked husband among all the Hokage.

But his expression immediately changed.

Just listen to the nonsense Kushina Uzumaki was feeding Naruto.

She said: "Son, never lose to anyone in anything. Back then, your mother was unbeatable throughout the Ninja Academy."

She said: "Son, don't worry about that old Third Hokage. Back then, your mother stormed straight into his office, grabbed his beard, and then made demands."

She said: "Son, no matter who you like, just rush in and cling to her until she gives in. With that handsome face of yours, I don't believe any girl could resist being moved by you."

She also said: "Son, don't be afraid of losing face when chasing girls. Back then, your mother only managed to win over your father because I never cared about shame."

The Blood Red Habanero recklessly spewed all kinds of adult nonsense. Naruto Uzumaki listened with his eyes wide open, while Minato Namikaze covered his face with both hands, too ashamed to face his son.

But the Fourth Hokage was henpecked. Not only did he not dare stop his wife from spouting nonsense, he even wore a fawning grin, proving that Kushina Uzumaki was right.