This was the result of half a year of training. He had mastered all five chakra natures.
With chakra to help, everything was quick and convenient. The hot pot was ready in no time.
He placed it on the table, brought his hands together, and said, "Let's eat."
After following local customs, Naruto felt that little rituals like this were important. Life needed a bit of ceremony; otherwise, it was too boring.
After finishing his meal and tidying up his room, Naruto, with no other entertainment, prepared to go to bed.
He wanted to do something he'd been meaning to do for a long time.
Inside the Sealing Space.
Naruto appeared, and the Nine-Tails noticed him at once.
"Kid, you're here." The Nine-Tails no longer looked down on Naruto. His eyes were full of caution. Only because he was inside Naruto did he know just how terrifying Naruto was.
"I'm guessing you've already figured out what I'm here to do." Naruto looked at the Nine-Tails and smiled.
"Kid, do you think you're strong enough to beat me now?" The Nine-Tails wasn't stupid. In fact, he was clever. He'd known Naruto's intentions from the very beginning.
"Who knows? How can I find out if I don't try?"
Naruto smiled brightly as he spoke, walking step by step toward the seal.
"The highest good is like water: it benefits all things and does not contend." Naruto glanced down at the water beneath his feet. He wasn't stupid; he knew the water was really his own negative emotions. As he spoke, it began to disappear, turning into a stone floor.
His body slowly rose toward the sealing talisman.
The instant his finger touched it, a large hand reached out from the side and grabbed his wrist.
"Naruto, do you know what you're doing?" a gentle voice asked.
Naruto had expected this. He turned around and saw a sunny young man with golden hair and a warm smile, looking at him with a serious expression.
"I know what I'm doing."
Naruto wasn't in a hurry to explain. In fact, the Fourth Hokage was one of his goals this time.
"Fourth Hokage!" The Nine-Tails sprang to his feet at the sudden appearance.
His eyes blazed with fury. Not only had this man sealed him away, he'd split him in two as well. He was even more detestable than Hashirama.
The Fourth Hokage glanced at the Nine-Tails, then turned back to Naruto.
"It seems this isn't the best place to talk." The two vanished, reappearing in a space glittering with golden light.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you as you grew up. I failed in my duty as your father." Minato Namikaze looked at Naruto's calm expression, his face full of guilt.
"Don't worry about it. I'm doing pretty well now." Naruto didn't mind. In fact, he was quite satisfied with his life.
"I'm sorry. As your father, I didn't take your feelings into consideration." Though Minato didn't know the details of Naruto's life, he could sense a little of what was happening outside.
"I have friends, and someone I like. I'm doing pretty well."
Naruto didn't explain further.
"All right. Study hard and eat well. Why do you want to break the Nine-Tails' seal?" Minato could tell Naruto truly didn't hold it against him and was doing fine, so he relaxed and asked about Naruto's plans.
Naruto had never used the Nine-Tails' chakra while under surveillance, so no one knew how strong he was—not even Minato.
"I've made peace with the Nine-Tails, so I want to let him out."
Naruto frowned. It wasn't easy to explain how strong he was, so he gave a simple answer.
"Naruto, think this through. The Nine-Tails is no joke. He's incredibly powerful. If the seal breaks, there's probably no one in Konoha who can stop him right now." Minato frowned. He wasn't satisfied with Naruto's answer.
"Then let's not talk about that. Since we've met, Dad, do you know any ninjutsu? I haven't learned any yet, and I'd like you to teach me some."
Naruto didn't try to force an explanation. Instead, he stated his real purpose.
"The Third Hokage hasn't taught you ninjutsu?" Minato frowned. Naruto was old enough to have graduated by now, yet he hadn't even learned any techniques. Before he died, Minato had entrusted Naruto to the Third Hokage.
It was one thing if the Third Hokage hadn't personally taught Naruto. But why hadn't he even taught him ninjutsu?
That annoyed Minato.
"Wait a moment. This fragment of my chakra can pass all my memories of ninjutsu on to you." Minato thought for a moment, then spoke apologetically.
In the Ninja World, mastering more advanced techniques wasn't necessarily better. Even Jonin usually specialized in one or two high-level techniques. Training was one factor, but the most important thing was the principle behind it: ninjutsu was meant to kill, not to put on a show. It was best to master one technique thoroughly. Kakashi, for example, knew many techniques, but used only the Lightning Blade against his enemies.
Naruto's outlook was different. He wasn't focused on fighting, and he was practically immortal. He had time, so it was best for him to develop in every direction.
Naruto nodded. As for releasing the Nine-Tails, neither of them said anything more, but Naruto had already decided he would act once Minato disappeared.
The chakra fragment wouldn't last long. When Minato disappeared, Naruto reached out, grasped the fragment, and absorbed it.
His mind filled with knowledge of how to train in and use countless techniques, along with the experience behind them.
Naruto didn't know whether he could learn them all, but with this knowledge and experience, he could create his own techniques.
One of them was the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. Any Jonin could use the Shadow Clone Technique, but they usually created only one clone. Any more would drain too much chakra and overwhelm their minds.
Naruto was an exception. He didn't know whether it was because of his Uzumaki Constitution or the Asura Chakra.
With this technique, he could carry out many of his experiments. He'd also learned about the Flying Thunder God, which made him even more interested.
Naruto appeared again, standing beside the gate.
"Kid, you still want to let me out?" The Nine-Tails was confused to see Naruto return. Even after meeting Minato, he still wanted to release him.
Apparently, Minato had seen through Naruto's intentions, so this time he hadn't reinforced the seal. The Nine-Tails had been wearing it down, and Naruto had deliberately let him. The seal was already weak.
Naruto placed his hand over the keyhole. He knew the key was at Mount Myoboku.
So he decided to break it by force.
Devour and Absorb
The power of the Six Thief Immortals activated. In an instant, the gate began to twist, transforming into tadpole-shaped marks—the sealing symbols.
At last, Naruto's body absorbed them, turning them into chakra.