Lucky Draw

The moment Uchiha Siming appeared.

Everyone had already stopped looking at Naruto Uzumaki, but Naruto himself trembled at the snarling, vicious beast, his azure-blue eyes filled with terror.

"What... what is this?"

"Why am I here?"

He seemed to realize something, a layer of dust settling over his azure-blue eyes.

Was this... the reason he was called a demon fox?

Was he... really a demon fox?

"Heh heh heh, be afraid, you damned brat! That's the look!"

The Nine-Tails bared its fangs, its twisted malice and killing intent instantly enveloping Naruto Uzumaki, like being surrounded by lightning, the fear that one wrong move meant death!

"Be afraid! Let me out, and I'll... kill everyone who ever looked down on you!"

Naruto Uzumaki's body shook, and he couldn't help murmuring, "Sensei Siming, am I... am I really a demon fox?"

Uchiha Siming gave a faint glance.

How to put it.

Naruto was the type to put on a brave face while being genuinely strong, so he never spoke up when facing hardship. Whenever a problem arose, he only ever blamed himself—if it was wrong, it was his fault.

If it wasn't his fault.

Everything was his fault. He only ever wronged himself.

Snap.

Uchiha Siming slowly pressed his palms together, a pattern like the sun god appearing on his face as he instantly activated Sage Mode!

"Damn it! Sage Mode! What are you doing?!"

The Nine-Tails froze, then let out a terrified shriek. Memories etched into its very soul made its fur stand on end from the marrow of its bones, like a porcupine.

It seemed to see a man who had long since died.

That man had unleashed True Several Thousand Hands, one hand pinning the Armored Susanoo-wielding Nine-Tails into the ground, saying it was too dangerous, and sealing it away.

Under its terrified gaze.

Siming showed no mercy, coldly intoning each word: "Sage Art: Gate of the Great God!"

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

Five massive crimson torii gates descended from the sky, slamming down with pinpoint accuracy, trapping the Nine-Tails' limbs and neck, leaving it unable to even rise, prostrate on the ground like a dead dog.

Everything in its sight was humiliating!

"Again!"

"Again!"

The Nine-Tails' beastly pupils were splitting, its gaze at Uchiha Siming filled with deep wariness and fear: "How could there be someone who can use Wood Release after that man!"

"You bastard... aren't you an evil Uchiha?"

The world had gone mad.

It was seeing an Uchiha using Wood Release.

"Nine-Tails, since you don't want dignity, I'll give you dignity."

Uchiha Siming stepped closer, one step at a time, until he stood before the Nine-Tails, staring directly into its pupils.

"ROAR—!"

The Nine-Tails roared, suddenly erupting, opening its massive maw like an abyss that devoured everything, lunging toward Uchiha Siming, a flash of glee in its beastly pupils.

It believed.

As long as it swallowed him, even that man couldn't escape death!

But the next instant.

A searing pain shot through its neck!

The torii gate slammed down hard in an instant, simultaneously absorbing the chakra in its body, leaving it like a starving dog collared and starved for days.

"Nine-Tails, this is the first time. If there's a next time, you know the consequences."

Uchiha Siming's crimson shuriken-patterned Mangekyo appeared, the corner of his mouth curling up: "Unless you want to experience that feeling of being controlled again, unable to struggle even a little."

A demon.

The Nine-Tails' pupils constricted, a flicker of fear finally rising in its heart.

In the past, whether it was Uchiha Madara or Hashirama Senju, each only had one way to bully it—but this young man before it had two, and he tormented it with endless variations. This was absolutely terrifying!

It lay sprawled on the ground, knowing when to bow to circumstance.

After all, it wasn't the first or second time it had lost face; one more wouldn't make a difference.

"Not bad. You know how to behave."

With that, Uchiha Siming offered a word of praise before shifting his gaze to Naruto Uzumaki, changing the subject:

"This is a Tailed Beast, not some demon fox. To be precise, they were originally born to coexist with humans and promote peace."

He paused for a moment.

Naruto Uzumaki, a child brimming with empathy, immediately had his watery blue eyes fill with sympathy: "Then how did they end up like this now? They look so pitiful."

Tsk.

Uchiha Siming also wore a look of pity, but it was directed at Naruto.

Poor kid. Anyone else would have fallen to darkness countless times by now, yet you still have the heart to pity others. He glanced sideways at the Nine-Tails, whose ears twitched slightly, pretending to turn away while its fox ears stood tall.

"It's just that the chasm of human hearts is hard to bridge."

Uchiha Siming's gaze grew distant:

"Rather than coexisting peacefully with Tailed Beasts, humans preferred to control their power. Thus, Tailed Beasts and humans completely broke apart, evolving into the mutual hatred you see now. Just like this moment, the Nine-Tails is sealed inside you, with the hope that you can reform it."

If it were earlier, he would have let Naruto ask the questions himself.

But this time, he didn't. Instead, he continued:

"And the one who did all this was your father, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."

"Before he died, he hoped you would become an excellent ninja."

"So you're not a demon fox, and the Nine-Tails is a gift left to you by your parents."

Siming had always believed that only by knowing the truth could a person move forward on that foundation—especially for someone like Naruto, who had such an incredible sense of empathy that he could even pull himself back from the brink of darkness. What he needed wasn't deception, but trust and encouragement.

Different horses need different reins—that was the idea.

"What?"

Naruto Uzumaki opened his mouth, his pupils slowly dilating, and in an instant, tears streamed down his face. He stammered:

"I, I was never a demon fox, never an orphan? My dad... is the Fourth Hokage, and the Tailed Beast inside me is a gift they left me?"

Years of abuse, grievance, heartbreak, and sorrow.

In that moment, they vanished like raindrops under the sun, leaving only radiance and warmth.

"That's right, the Tailed Beast is a gift they left me."

He repeated it: "And I'm going to become an excellent ninja!"

Then, Naruto's gaze turned to Uchiha Siming, his eyes filled with genuine gratitude and reverence: "Siming-sensei, thank you for telling me this. I will definitely work hard to get stronger!"

His blue eyes were shining.

If not for Siming-sensei, he would never have known who his parents were.

He would have probably stayed in self-pity and sorrow forever. But now, he feared nothing. He had Siming-sensei by his side, and the gift his parents had left him.

[Ding! Mission: Help Naruto establish correct values—Mission Complete!]

[Mission Reward: Random Draw once! (Can draw any ability from the Naruto world.)]

[Would you like to draw now?]

Uchiha Siming grinned. Draw, draw, draw!

Draw immediately!

He couldn't wait to see what he'd get!

Light bloomed before his eyes, and a massive, seven-colored wheel appeared, engraved with countless rewards.

[Otsutsuki Bloodline]

[Rinnegan]

[Tenseigan]

[Shikotsumyaku]

[Ice Release]

The pointer spun rapidly, then slowly came to a halt.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have received the draw reward: Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song Technique!]

Siming: "..."

Damn.

System, you really are damn shady!