Naruto Spoke, Nine-Tails Listened

Seeing Naruto stop, everyone restrained themselves significantly, but those gazes and stares were not withdrawn; they simply became quieter.

His hand clenched within his sleeve, but he eventually let go, for in his perception, several Anbu were monitoring him not far away, among them members of Root.

"Danzo again?"

There was no need to wonder; only Danzo would pull such stunts in Konoha. Though he knew it, there was nothing he could do.

He returned home in silence and began to boil fish soup for himself.

Eat, sleep, train.

Meanwhile, Naruto's behavior had reached the Third Hokage. He didn't pay much mind to the training, perhaps thinking that since graduation was near, the boy finally knew how to put in the effort.

"However, with this kind of training method and without proper nutritional supplements, his body will be ruined sooner or later. It seems I should send him some more living expenses."

The Third Hokage was still pondering how to boost Naruto's favorability.

At the same time, Danzo, who was also keeping an eye on Naruto, felt nothing but disdain. Why did so few people in the ninja world train their physical bodies? The results were slow, it caused injury, and ten years of practice couldn't compare to learning a single S-rank ninjutsu.

Naruto's strength was progressing without anyone's knowledge, though there was one person who knew: Hinata, who was secretly observing him. Hinata had tried Naruto's training method, but her body couldn't handle even a single set.

With the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Naruto naturally knew of Hinata's observation. Even without this ability, Naruto knew from the original story that Hinata liked to watch him from the shadows. Naruto did not reach out to her; the surveillance by Anbu was one reason, and his own strength was another.

Another fulfilling day passed, and Naruto strolled slowly back home. This was the time when Konoha was at its busiest, with villagers eating and taking leisurely walks, watching families stroll and chat on the streets.

Naruto couldn't help but pause for a moment.

"Phew, what am I thinking? Having one lifetime of this kind of life is enough."

He turned his head and used the Body Flicker Technique, his figure vanishing instantly. Naruto still knew the basic Three Body Techniques; with no other ninjutsu, he could only practice these. Transformation Technique went without saying—the original Naruto had plenty of experience with it. The Clone Technique was merely a chakra phantom, and while he would learn the Shadow Clone later, he didn't practice it further since he was already familiar with it. As for the Substitution Technique, Naruto practiced it as well; honestly, no matter where you are, things that can be popularized are good things.

Do not look down on the Three Body Techniques as low-level; they are not simple. The Clone Technique, needless to say, is quite practical for those without sensory abilities or bloodline limits like the Byakugan; for instance, the swordsmanship Dance of the Crescent Moon is an advanced application of the clone technique.

The utility of the Transformation Technique goes without saying; although it can be seen through, it is still very practical for ordinary ninjas.

As for the Substitution Technique, it is arguably the only ninjutsu an ordinary ninja can access that resembles space-time ninjutsu. It can be considered a type of space-time ninjutsu; as long as a substitute log is prepared in advance, the substitution can be achieved.

After a few flickers, Naruto's body had already arrived home.

After eating his fill, his consciousness arrived once again in the Sealing Space.

"Hey, fox, I'm here."

Seeing the Nine-Tails, Naruto felt a bit happy. After all, the days of being monitored always made him feel restricted, so only this guy, the Nine-Tails, could listen to him talk.

Of course, the Nine-Tails, having failed to trick Naruto, couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind, but this didn't affect Naruto's talking in the slightest. As for "Talk no Jutsu," don't joke—Naruto was simply feeling bored and looking for someone to listen to him.

If it weren't for the fact that his Six Thief Immortals couldn't digest the Nine-Tails yet, Naruto wouldn't mind devouring it completely. More importantly, as a fellow long-lived being, how boring would it be if no one remembered him?

"Hmph, brat."

The Nine-Tails naturally wouldn't give Naruto a pleasant look, yet it followed its usual routine and sent a wave of chakra to Naruto.

Of course, the Nine-Tails knew this was ineffective against Naruto, but its chakra wasn't just being given away; while providing it to Naruto, it was also corroding the seal.

The Nine-Tails knew this, and Naruto, having read the original story, naturally knew it too. But the man and the fox each had their own schemes and didn't point it out. As for the Nine-Tails breaking the seal and getting out, honestly, Naruto wouldn't die, and if that happened, he could just devour the Nine-Tails.

At least he would be free of the mental burden; after all, one develops feelings for a pet kept for a long time.

Naruto talked, and the Nine-Tails listened. As for what Naruto said, it was naturally some boring nonsense, like novels he had read in his past life—Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, Ten-Tailed Immortal Fox, Eleven-Tailed Divine Fox, Twelve-Tailed Chaos Fox. Although these were things he had seen in his past life, now that he had transmigrated, those things naturally existed. He didn't know the upper limit of the Six Thief Immortals, but immortality was achievable; he just didn't know how long he could live.

As long as one is alive, anything is possible. So, when Naruto recounted those stories, he was full of excitement, believing he would definitely be able to see those things. Who wouldn't be curious about the myriad worlds? With the capital of immortality, he wanted to go and see them. If the Nine-Tails wasn't enough, then he would devour the Ten-Tails.

"Devour organic matter, and strictly speaking, the Ten-Tails seems to be a tree, right? If the Ten-Tails isn't enough, then devour more Otsutsuki. If that's still not enough, then devour planets. He didn't know if he could do it, but becoming stronger was his favorite thing."

After finishing, Naruto didn't look at the Nine-Tails and turned to vanish.

But the Nine-Tails felt a bit apprehensive. Hearing Naruto's words, and seeing the look in his eyes when he told those stories, the Nine-Tails felt a sense of dread.

The Nine-Tails didn't know what it was worried about, but that look in Naruto's eyes was terrifying.

The Nine-Tails was, after all, a Tailed Beast and didn't understand humans. Naruto had poured his heart out like this; one could imagine the consequences. Sometimes, never think it's a good thing when someone tells you their innermost thoughts, because telling you means your time is running out.

Sleep, go to school, play with friends, and then train in secret.

After several days of this routine, Naruto grew accustomed to it, no longer needing to think about the future or worry about Danzo and the others.

"Naruto-kun, you work so hard, why do you still pretend to be a dead last?"

Watching Naruto train so arduously, Hinata was somewhat puzzled. Just yesterday, in the sparring class, Naruto had lost to Sasuke. Seeing Naruto being mocked and Sasuke's smug expression, Hinata felt very indignant for him.

"Because training is for myself, not to put on a show for others."

Just at that moment, a gentle, sunny voice rang in Hinata's ear.

This immediately startled Hinata, and she realized that Naruto, who had been training in front of her, had already vanished. Seeming to realize something, she turned around, and sure enough, Naruto was right behind her, looking at her with a smile.