The colossal beast before Naruto
was none other than the Nine-Tails, Kurama!
Its fluffy, orange-yellow fur fluttered like flames in the wind, swaying constantly.
But unlike its usual ferocious appearance,
the Nine-Tails now had its eyes tightly shut. Its chest rose and fell steadily, and it looked perfectly calm and peaceful.
Anyone who didn't know better might have mistaken it for a well-behaved pet from the Senju Clan...
Naruto flicked his wrist, and the chakra chains instantly vanished into thin air.
Then he slipped his hand through the gap in the sealing gate and gently rested it on the Nine-Tails' forehead.
"Hmm?! It feels pretty nice!" Naruto couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
The moment he finished speaking,
"Shhk, shhk—" Naruto eagerly placed both hands on the Nine-Tails' forehead and ran them through its fur, indulging in the sheer pleasure of petting it.
He could understand why so many people in his previous life had loved petting cats and dogs. Its fur felt as smooth as silk—once you started, you couldn't stop!
And since the Nine-Tails was still fast asleep, there was no risk of it suddenly leaping up and biting him!
Once he'd had his fill, Naruto's expression abruptly changed. He tensed both arms and poured on the power!
In an instant,
Boom—
An incredibly powerful chakra burst from Naruto's body, illuminating the entire mindscape before swiftly gathering in his palm.
It slammed into the Nine-Tails' forehead.
Naruto wanted to see if he could use an immense surge of external chakra to pierce the Nine-Tails' mind and wake it.
But things didn't go as planned.
"Phew..." The Nine-Tails remained sprawled where it was, its heavy breathing rumbling like muffled thunder. There was no reaction at all.
"Could chakra alone not do it?!" Naruto rested his chin in his hand, furrowing his brow as he pondered. "The Nine-Tails is said to be the embodiment of hatred and bloodlust. Maybe if I mix bloodlust with chakra, it'll work?!"
No sooner had he decided than Naruto's bright eyes sharpened.
In an instant,
"Hiss—" An intense killing intent surged out, filling the entire mindscape. The surroundings turned dreamlike and surreal.
The moment that killing intent appeared, the Nine-Tails' enormous, glamorous-looking eyebrows twitched slightly.
The movement was almost imperceptible, but Naruto caught it.
He immediately broke into a delighted grin. "Just as I thought! You can use killing intent to overcome killing intent—and to awaken it, too!"
With that, Naruto didn't hesitate for a moment.
Boom—!
Terrifying killing intent and chakra soared into the air like two dragons. They merged, unleashing a world-shaking force before pouring into the Nine-Tails all at once.
The next instant,
the Nine-Tails' body shuddered violently. Its fur stood on end like steel needles, while a horrifying wave of resentment and hatred spread through the area.
Then,
"Hiss—" A strange, crimson glow burst forth like a blood moon rising in the sky.
It was the color of the Nine-Tails' eyes. It had awakened!
"This old man... what..." The newly awakened Nine-Tails was still dazed, gazing around in confusion.
Clearly, being plunged into sudden sleep three years earlier had left it disoriented.
Naruto withdrew both hands, stopping the flow of killing intent and chakra. A smile tugged at his lips as he looked at the Nine-Tails. "Hey, big fox. Have you been sleeping well these past few years?"
"Huh?!" The Nine-Tails froze. Its gaze shot down, and only then did it notice Naruto in front of the sealing gate. But it was confused all over again. "Who are you?!"
Wasn't this the mindscape of that little runt, Uzumaki Naruto?
How had this handsome young man with black hair gotten in here?!
"Fox, you're just as stupid as ever!" Naruto chuckled.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Kurama stared at him, then sensed Naruto's chakra.
In an instant, it understood!
The handsome black-haired young man before it was none other than that brat, Uzumaki Naruto.
Memories from the past immediately came flooding back.
It remembered now. Three years ago, Naruto had unleashed a sudden burst of power that sent it into a long slumber!
An overwhelming surge of fury and killing intent instantly flooded the Nine-Tails' heart. Its face twisted hideously, and its slit pupils gleamed with a cold light that seemed capable of destroying everything. It glared at Naruto.
Then it opened its enormous jaws and let out a deafening roar.
"Wretched human! How dare you use underhanded tricks against me? I'll tear you limb from limb and swallow you whole!"
The moment it finished speaking,
Boom—!
Chakra erupted from the Nine-Tails' entire body. It raised its right paw high and brought it crashing down at Naruto with enough force to crush anything in its path!
Against its enormous frame and razor-sharp claws,
the blow seemed to carry enough power to destroy the world, enough to pulverize anyone below Kage Level!
Unfortunately, no matter how powerful it was, it was still no match for Yondaime's seal...
The next instant, the beast's paw slammed into the gate.
Clang—! With a piercing metallic clang, the Nine-Tails' paw was caught in the gap like it had been clamped in an iron vice. It couldn't move an inch!
Its claws might have been long, but they couldn't reach Naruto.
"Nine-Tails... you look like such a clown right now!" Naruto burst into laughter at the sight.
"Grrr! You dare mock me? I'll make sure you die without a place to be buried!" The Nine-Tails flew into a rage and roared until its voice was hoarse.
An even more terrifying pressure burst from its body. Its red chakra blazed like a raging fire, turning the entire space a sinister, unnatural shade of crimson!
But Naruto showed no fear. Instead, he stared at the Nine-Tails with keen interest.
"What's going on?!" The Nine-Tails suddenly felt a chill in its heart.
Before it could recover,
"Heh..." Naruto let out a cold laugh and clenched his fists. "Mischievous Nine-Tails, looks like I'll have to discipline you a few times before you learn to behave!"
Naruto wasn't like the original owner of this body, who liked to win people over with words.
He knew only one way to win people over: with virtue!
And conveniently, his fists represented virtue!
With that,
Naruto walked straight toward the gate and raised his right hand, reaching for the seal tag attached to it.
"What's going on? What is this brat trying to do?!" The Nine-Tails watched, bewildered.
Because it could see that
Naruto meant to tear off the tag and set it free—but that made no sense!
And why was a powerful sense of danger rising from deep within it?!
At that moment,
"Nine-Tails, let me give you a proper lesson." Naruto's bright eyes glinted as he reached for the seal tag.
Suddenly, his hand stopped in midair. He murmured,
"Oh? That arrogant Uchiha Sasuke's brother is here?!"
Naruto withdrew his hand, then congratulated the Nine-Tails.
"Fox, you're in luck! Once I'm done taking care of things outside, I'll come back and teach you some manners!"
With that, Naruto's consciousness vanished on the spot.
"Huh?!" The Nine-Tails froze, then roared in anger. "Brat, quit playing tricks! If you really dare remove that seal, I'll send you straight to your grave!"
But though the Nine-Tails put on a brave front,
for some reason, it felt much more at ease inside...
The real world.
"Interesting..." As soon as Naruto's consciousness returned to his body, a playful glint appeared in his bright eyes. He gazed ahead as if he were a cat toying with a mouse.
Kakashi and the others beside him, however, were on high alert. Their faces were grave, and they stood ready with weapons in hand.
"Be careful! His genjutsu is powerful!" Kakashi shouted.
A figure stood silently before them.
His long black hair fluttered in the wind. His handsome face was made even more mysterious by the two distinctive tear troughs beneath his eyes.
But what drew the most attention were his utterly crimson eyes, in which three black Tomoe spun endlessly. The atmosphere around them grew increasingly tense.
And with that black cloak patterned with red clouds,
the answer was clear!
This man was none other than...
Vermilion Bird of Akatsuki, Uchiha Itachi!!!
Before you continue