Unlocking the Seal

He knew that in the next stage of the exam, he would definitely encounter Orochimaru.

Naruto began to record some key knowledge and core formulas in the blank space of the new scroll.

These were guiding principles for certain key research projects concerning the future Five Great Shinobi Villages, including Orochimaru's own research.

Having experienced countless reincarnations, Naruto was, in a sense, truly omniscient and omnipotent.

Naruto planned to use these as one of his bargaining chips during his next meeting with Orochimaru.

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That guy would definitely be extremely interested in these things.

Naruto carefully put away the scroll in his hand, ensuring all blueprints and content were properly encrypted and sealed.

He then went to the bedside and lay down on his back, the only light in the room being the faint moonlight filtering in from the window.

Naruto slowly closed his eyes, gently placing his right hand over the Eight Trigrams Seal on his abdomen.

His palm could faintly sense the circulating chakra fluctuations within.

It was time to undo the seal.

In a sense, it was time to safely undo the Eight Trigrams Seal left by his father.

Normally, this would require the special sealing key held by Jiraiya.

But the current Naruto, after countless reincarnations of accumulation and study.

His mastery of fuinjutsu had long surpassed that of ordinary people.

Therefore, Naruto did not need the key and could steadily release this seal without leaking the slightest bit of chakra.

Naruto concentrated slightly, gathering chakra in his palm and injecting it slowly into the fuinjutsu array on his abdomen in an extremely skilled manner.

"Drip... drip."

The sound of water droplets falling from above echoed around him.

Naruto opened his eyes and found himself standing in that familiar sealed space.

The surroundings were dimly lit, with shallow water underfoot.

And directly ahead, a massive iron railing stood, forming a sturdy cage.

Inside the cage, a huge orange figure lay on the ground.

It was Naruto's old friend.

The Nine-Tails, Kurama.

Below the cage door, a sealing paper covered in runes was affixed.

Kurama seemed to have already sensed Naruto's arrival. Its massive head lifted slightly, a pair of scarlet eyes glowing in the dimness, locking onto Naruto.

"Hmph..." Kurama let out a low growl, laced with a hint of amusement, "I can't believe after only thirteen years, the seal has already begun to loosen? You brat, you've finally come to this place."

"Bang!"

As it spoke, Kurama's massive paw suddenly lifted and slammed onto the iron railing, emitting a dull thud that sent ripples across the water beneath Naruto's feet.

Kurama lowered its voice, speaking in a voice that could bewitch people, "Come here, brat... Help this old man tear off this bothersome seal."

Seeing Kurama's ferocious appearance trying to tempt him into undoing the seal, Naruto, even though he had seen it countless times before, couldn't help but feel amused.

In Naruto's eyes, the fox's appearance was not terrifying at all; rather, it was overwhelmingly cute.

Thinking this, Naruto suppressed the urge to smile.

He ignored Kurama's temptation but did not hesitate. He strode forward, stepping through the shallow water, walking step by step towards the massive cage, and finally stopping before the sealing paper.

"Oh?" Kurama's pupils contracted slightly, a flash of surprise in them, "You're actually so obedient?"

Internally, it muttered, this Jinchuriki doesn't seem very bright?

Just as Kurama thought Naruto would actually raise his hand to tear off the sealing paper.

Naruto suddenly raised his fist. The fist did not strike the seal but passed through the cage, stopping steadily in mid-air.

"Before I undo the seal, let's have a fist bump first."

"Kurama!"

Kurama's massive body stiffened abruptly. Its scarlet pupils constricted sharply, filled with disbelief.

"You..." For the first time, Kurama's voice carried a hint of genuine shock as it growled, "How do you know that name?!"

That name, logically, should only be known by itself, the other Tailed Beasts, and the Sage of Six Paths!

"As long as we have a fist bump..." Naruto explained patiently, his gaze calm as he looked into Kurama's huge scarlet eyes, "You'll know everything."

Kurama stared intently at the small yet exceptionally calm blond youth before it.

After a moment of contemplation, it weighed its options internally.

Finally, intense curiosity and a certain inexplicable premonition overcame its doubts.

His arm slowly rose, retracting its sharp claws as he clenched his massive fist. He then carefully pressed it against Naruto's relatively small fist.

"I'll be the judge of what you're really up to!"

The Nine-Tails said fiercely, but the moment their fists met, it fell into a daze.

A vast and complex wave of memories surged into the depths of the Nine-Tails' consciousness.

These were countless scenes of fighting side-by-side, of jointly confronting Madara Uchiha and Kaguya Otsutsuki during the Fourth Shinobi World War, and even the final showdown with Uchiha Sasuke at the Valley of the End.

Following that were Naruto's countless Reincarnations, his repeated attempts and failures over an immense period of time.

And it, the Nine-Tails, had always been by Naruto's side, witnessing everything.

The sheer volume of information plunged the Nine-Tails into complete silence. Its crimson eyes instantly lost focus, as if immersed in their shared memories.

Naruto knew the Nine-Tails needed time to process the fragments and emotions from its countless Reincarnations.

Without any hesitation, he reached out towards the sealing tag stuck to the large cage door.

But just then, an incredibly familiar, gentle yet urgent voice suddenly rang out.

"Wait!"

Appearing out of nowhere like a golden flash, he stood between Naruto and the sealing tag.

He was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

Minato was currently gazing at Naruto, his eyes filled with concern.

This was the first time Minato had seen his own son in thirteen years, though he had anticipated it.

Minato's gaze was soft, but his tone was serious as he explained, "The Nine-Tails is far too dangerous. Don't be swayed by it and rashly break the seal."

In previous Reincarnations, Naruto had met his parents many times, even personally resurrecting them.

Therefore, Naruto wasn't overly excited to see his parents at this moment.

Naruto simply shook his head gently, his voice steady, "It's alright, Father. It's not an enemy; it's a companion who can fight alongside me."

"What?"

Minato was clearly stunned by this, his face full of disbelief.

His son claimed he had become companions with the Nine-Tails?

How was that possible?

Minato had existed as a Chakra construct within the seal and hadn't noticed anything between Naruto and the Nine-Tails.

What confused Minato even more was how Naruto knew he was his father.

Based on Minato's observations within Naruto over the past decade, Naruto shouldn't have known.

But...

"Hahahahaha!"

Having finished receiving the memories, the Nine-Tails suddenly burst into laughter, its mockery completely undisguised. "Fourth Hokage, I never expected the first meeting between father and son to be like this."

The Nine-Tails reveled in Minato's bewildered expression, his utter confusion.