First Learning Nine-Tails Mode

"I don't want to."

Kurama finally spoke.

The voice resonated directly in his ears; this method of communication, unaffected by the vacuum of the environment, was truly perfect.

"I thought you were actually going to pretend to be a mute."

Naruto had long since become the true master of this place, sitting directly on the ground and looking up at the Nine-Tails.

The Nine-Tails lowered its head to gaze at Naruto, feeling particularly strange.

Why did humans look so insignificant, yet manage to become so powerful step by step?

And why did the Sage of Six Paths believe that a new version of himself could appear in this world once again?

Time made the Nine-Tails feel that such a day would never come.

Wars in the Ninja World occurred one after another; what humans were best at was slaughtering one another.

"I simply couldn't be bothered."

The Nine-Tails continued to look down at Naruto.

It thought to itself.

When did its perspective on this mere genin from Konoha begin to change?

Was it from watching him grow up, or from seeing him act foolishly time and again, risking his life to save others?

Perhaps it was when he suddenly awakened his talent and started talking to himself.

Or perhaps.

It was simply because he had called out the name Kurama.

"It seems you've been bottling up a lot of words. A jinchuriki from the Sand Village named Gaara came to the village recently."

"One-Tail Shukaku is also attempting to awaken from its seal, to the point that the kid doesn't dare to sleep and is always sporting panda eyes."

"What about you?"

"Don't you find it damp staying in here? Go outside and take a look, Kurama!"

Naruto walked toward the sealing gate.

The sound of strange chains appeared behind him.

The Nine-Tails looked at Naruto in disbelief.

A few days ago, Naruto had said he was trying to awaken the sealing jutsu passed down through the bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan.

He had been quiet about it all these days; could it be that he had actually succeeded!

"Human words are nothing but lies."

"You only seek to possess greater power to seize more land and slaughter more of your own kind, and I am merely what you call a Tailed Beast."

"Naruto, you are a monster just the same. Humans will always reject those who are different, including jinchuriki."

The Nine-Tails did not like the labels of Tailed Beast or jinchuriki.

In the past, they held no particular meaning, but now they felt like two pathetic wretches bound together.

A storm that could erupt and collapse at any moment.

"Jinchuriki? What is a jinchuriki?"

Naruto had indeed awakened the bloodline-inherited sealing jutsu of the Uzumaki Clan.

Adamantine Sealing Chains!

He could erupt chains from within his body; not to mention ordinary ninjas, even Tailed Beasts could be forcibly dragged back into his body.

With the Adamantine Sealing Chains, combined with the Eight Trigrams Seal composed of the dual Four Symbols Seal.

Whether the Nine-Tails liked it or not, Naruto could extract a portion of its chakra to use!

As his strength grew, the amount of chakra he could extract would only increase!

Once the Nine-Tails' chakra permeated his entire body, he would instantly activate Nine-Tails Mode!

"Kurama, you seem to have misunderstood."

"I no longer intend to be a fragile lifeform like a jinchuriki. The path I intend to walk is to become the new Sage of Six Paths, or even the God of Chakra!"

"Whether it be humans or Tailed Beasts, rather than waiting for their happy reconciliation, I would rather create a new Ninja World myself!"

A massive amount of chains erupted from within Naruto's body.

These chains emerged from every direction of the Sealing Space, locking the Nine-Tails firmly to the ground.

In an instant.

Naruto, lying on the roof, opened his eyes.

A flash of golden light appeared for a fleeting moment.

He had forcibly extracted a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra for conversion.

"Kurama."

"Instead of wailing in the old world, why not help me shatter this rotten, decaying era?"

Naruto extended his hand.

The Nine-Tails struggled violently, pinned to the ground by the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Figures flashed before its eyes.

Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, Mito Uzumaki, Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, Asura, Indra, and the Sage of Six Paths.

Each one was different, yet they were all powerhouses the Nine-Tails had encountered throughout its life.

There were those it loathed, those it acknowledged, and those it had relied upon.

But from the birth of the Ninjutsu Sect to the era of Ninja Villages.

Humanity was always chasing a new future, attempting to find a world that everyone could accept.

Once again.

The Nine-Tails stood at the center of the Ninja World's storm.

And the Nine-Tails was the ultimate spectator; it had been present for every shift in the era.

Thus, the Nine-Tails had witnessed countless chapters of human history with its own eyes.

Regarding the past.

It was truly too dazzling, yet it had also held too many moments of helplessness.

Without exception.

All the slaughter committed by others using it as a tool eventually fell upon the Nine-Tails.

The Nine-Tails, who felt emotions, the embodiment of negativity, the world-destroying demon fox.

In the end.

Naruto had issued his invitation with such righteous confidence.

Every time it had been defeated in the past, people would seal the Nine-Tails away again, only to exploit it.

They would take that nearly endless chakra and put it to use.

People like Naruto, who would temporarily suppress it with Adamantine Sealing Chains yet still extend a hand, were few and far between.

"What are you thinking, you idiot!"

The Nine-Tails said, flustered and exasperated.

This reminded the Nine-Tails of the Sage of Six Paths' kindness, and Mito, who advocated for a world filled with love.

[Ding!]

[Sensing the host's earnest persuasion, Nine-Tails favorability has increased by 30%. Achievement unlocked: Friend of Tailed Beasts.]

[Received reward: 10 Goodwill Points.]

Good grief!

Naruto truly hadn't expected Kurama to be such a tsundere.

Adding in the previous favorability increases, it was nearly at 100%!

"Then, I'll thank you for your chakra!"

Naruto released the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Yet, some of the Nine-Tails' chakra was still being converted by the Eight Trigrams Seal, albeit somewhat reluctantly.

Whoosh!

In that moment, Naruto turned gold!

Nine-Tails Mode!

When he first mastered it, Naruto had been incredibly fascinated.

After a while, he grew accustomed to it and pretended not to care.

On the busiest street in Konoha.

Gaara felt that Shukaku within him seemed somewhat restless.

Only after forcibly suppressing a new wave of sleepiness did he manage to maintain his current state.

Naruto finally had a new trump card.

He lay on the rooftop, basking in the warm sunlight.

Beneath the shadows of Konoha.

Whether it was Orochimaru, who was determined to destroy it, or Danzo, who was destined to stand by and watch, they were nothing more than gears in the collapse of the Ninja World's old era.

Orochimaru, Akatsuki, Obito Uchiha, Madara Uchiha, Kaguya Otsutsuki.

The prologue began.

Konoha, under a clear sky, was suddenly covered by dark clouds and a torrential downpour.

Naruto lay on the rooftop, letting the rain drench him, feeling the wind and rain were merely trivial tricks.

[Ding!]

[Host's good deeds are finally rewarded. This lottery draw has granted you one "Thank You for Your Patronage." Once the remaining two "Thank You for Your Patronage" draws are completed, the Epic-tier prize pool will be upgraded!]

[Thank You for Your Patronage - Prize Pool Guaranteed Reward: You may choose one of three prizes: Shuriken * 1000, Kunai * 1000, or Military Rations * 1000.]

"There's a guaranteed reward too? You're not completely insane, System!"

Naruto pointed at the kunai.

With these 1000 kunai, he could use the Flying Thunder God Technique without restraint.

It also gave Naruto's already struggling life a much-needed boost.

After the heavy rain.

Naruto went home and took a hot shower.

Tomorrow was the official match of the Chunin Exams. It was time to open Konoha's eyes!