After the bell-stealing test ended, Jiraiya hadn't even noticed when the bell had been taken.
To comfort the older man, Naruto invited Jiraiya and the members of Team 7 over to his place for a meal.
As expected, the conversation at the table soon turned to the earlier battle.
"Lord Jiraiya is still very strong."
Kakashi offered some comfort. "The way Naruto looked just now was his strongest form at the moment."
"I don't know about the other stuff, but his speed was truly ridiculous."
Jiraiya looked deeply frustrated. "I even entered Sage Mode, but I still didn't notice when Naruto took the bell."
"Heh, impressive, right?"
Naruto grinned like a fox. "That's the super~ duper~ form that Kurama and I can use by working together—and by giving up just a tiny bit of our life force!"
"Life force?!"
Jiraiya grew tense. "Isn't that a forbidden technique? Why didn't Tsunade stop you!?"
"Don't get so worked up, Grandpa Jiraiya."
Naruto reassured him before explaining, "Like I said, it's just a tiny bit of life force—not that we're burning through our lifespans. We're only using the life force we'd otherwise expend naturally. When you get down to it, it's pretty much the same as stamina."
"I see."
Jiraiya let out a sigh of relief, then asked in puzzlement, "As far as I know, any technique that consumes life force should use more than just a tiny bit."
"That's right."
Naruto nodded. "Without my master's Sealing Jutsu, if I used that form, Kurama's life would be exhausted in just a few minutes."
"A few minutes is all it would take to drain the Nine-Tails' life force? No wonder it gives you that kind of power!"
Jiraiya reminded him sternly, "Naruto, try to use that form as little as possible from now on.