Namikaze Minato in the Sealing Space

"I'm talking about you, you tsundere."

Uchiha Kei remained calm and composed.

Although Tailed Beasts possessed peerless combat power, for someone who possessed the Mangekyo, he was already standing in an invincible position.

What's more, he wasn't the only one in this sealing space.

"Damn brat!"

Kurama exhaled a puff of crimson gas, and the power throughout the sealing space became even more violent.

"Kushina treated you quite well, so why be so harsh on Naruto?"

"Well?"

Kurama was furious.

"You call being locked up in a place like this 'well'?"

Kurama was indignant, its massive body twisting restlessly.

"At the very least, you are more than just a weapon in their hearts."

Kurama fell silent.

Compared to other controlled Tailed Beasts, its situation was indeed not bad; whether it was Uzumaki Mito or Kushina, both had treated it as a friend rather than a tool of war.

"Through Naruto's eyes, you can see the outside world. To him, you are not a badge of honor."

Uchiha Kei spoke slowly, and Naruto's life flashed through his mind like lightning.

In his past life, many people said that the Nine-Tails was Naruto's cheat code.

It was precisely because of the Nine-Tails that Naruto achieved what he did.

But was that really the case?

Uchiha Kei did not think so. It was true that the Nine-Tails provided help to Naruto in the later stages.

However, what truly allowed Naruto to become the Seventh Hokage was his resilience, his indomitable spirit, and his kindness.

As the person in the village most qualified to turn to darkness, he chose to spend his entire life protecting the very village that had hurt him.

Such magnanimity was not something everyone could achieve.

"I came here today because I hope you can coexist peacefully with Naruto."

"Impossible!"

Kurama refused instinctively.

As a Tailed Beast, it had its own pride.

This pride did not allow it to become someone else's appendage.

"Don't be in such a hurry to refuse."

Uchiha Kei was not at all surprised by its answer.

If it had agreed so easily, Kurama wouldn't be Kurama.

"I can promise you that when conditions permit in the future, I will undo your seal and grant you your freedom once more."

Kurama's eyes lit up.

Freedom...

What a distant and unattainable thing that was...

"Why should I believe you?"

Even though it was tempted, Kurama remained vigilant.

"Because of these eyes of mine?"

Uchiha Kei pointed to his own Mangekyo.

"Or perhaps, it's because I believe in that guy Naruto—even without you, he would still become an outstanding ninja!"

Kurama stared at him blankly. It could see that his eyes were filled with trust for the Naruto brat.

"Why trust this brat so much?"

"Because he has a friend like me."

The words sounded arrogant, but for some reason, Kurama found itself somewhat believing them.

After a moment of contemplation, Kurama finally agreed.

It would take the gamble!

If it won, it would gain the freedom it had dreamed of.

If it lost, it would be no worse off than it was now.

But if this guy dared to lie to it, it would make the Naruto brat's life a living hell!

"I will restrain the leakage of my chakra."

"It's not just about restraint; I want you to become friends."

Uchiha Kei said this with sincerity.

"Friends?"

A flicker of confusion crossed Kurama's eyes, only to vanish in an instant.

"Don't dream. How could the great Nine-Tails ever be friends with a brat?"

"I believe you will become friends."

Uchiha Kei smiled and did not press the matter further.

In Boruto, you were willing to sacrifice yourself to protect Naruto.

Being stubborn won't do you any good.

After a few casual words, the surging Tailed Beast chakra in the sealing space had mostly dissipated.

Returning to his physical body, Uchiha Kei settled the unconscious Naruto before heading back into the sealing space.

"Brat, why are you back again?"

Kurama lay bored in its cage, looking at Uchiha Kei with curiosity.

It was actually quite happy that he had returned.

The sealing space was simply too dull.

Having someone to talk to was better than nothing.

Perhaps, it could chat with that brat Naruto?

It was definitely not to be friends with him, just purely out of boredom...

Kurama thought, acting aloof.

"There is something that needs to be done in advance."

Uchiha Kei walked to the gate of the cage, staring intently at the seal upon it.

"What thing..."

Before Kurama could finish, it watched in utter shock as Uchiha Kei placed his hand upon the seal.

What is he doing? Is he breaking the seal?

Kurama grew excited.

Under Kurama's shocked and expectant gaze, the seal was shattered by chakra erupting from within his body!

The very moment the seal was destroyed, a blinding golden light suddenly burst forth.

An ethereal figure appeared within their line of sight.

With yellow hair and blue eyes, wearing a white Hokage haori over a green jonin flak jacket, his gaze was deep, like a bottomless spring.

"Damn it! Namikaze Minato!"

Kurama went berserk again, slamming a paw hard against the cage as crimson chakra rose, permeating the entire sealing space.

"Was it you who broke the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, Kurama?"

Namikaze Minato floated in mid-air, looking calmly down at the enraged Kurama.

"Namikaze Minato!"

Kurama pounded the cage frantically, the massive sound echoing through the sealing space, the cage itself swaying precariously under the assault.

"Calm down, Kurama."

Uchiha Kei stepped forward, patted Kurama on the head, and then turned his cold gaze toward Namikaze Minato.

The Yellow Flash—Namikaze Minato, the hero of Konoha during the Third Great Ninja War, who had established such a fearsome reputation that many Ninja Villages trembled at the mere mention of his name.

On the Night of the Nine-Tails, in order to protect the entire village, he and his wife had resolutely used the forbidden Dead Demon Consuming Seal to split the Nine-Tails in two.

One half was sealed within his own soul, and the other half was sealed inside his newborn son.

Heh, what a great Fourth Hokage indeed.

"Hmm? You are from the Uchiha Clan?"

Seeing Uchiha Kei soothing Kurama, Namikaze Minato looked him over with curiosity.

"I am Uchiha Kei."

"Naruto's only friend in the village."

Uchiha Kei's tone was flat.

As for Namikaze Minato as a person, he had liked him quite a bit in his past life.

Pure, powerful, and selfless.

With such qualities and character, it was hard for anyone to harbor ill will toward such a man.

But that was in the past.

Ever since he had transmigrated into this world and witnessed Naruto's plight with his own eyes, Uchiha Kei had felt not a shred of goodwill toward Namikaze Minato.

He had even suggested fleeing Konoha back when Naruto was being bullied.

However, Naruto had refused.

"Naruto!"

Namikaze Minato's tone turned agitated the moment he heard his son's name.

"Is he doing well?"

"Heh, thanks to you, he's doing just fine."

Uchiha Kei looked at him with a cold, mirthless smile.

Namikaze Minato was a competent Hokage and, by some measures, a competent husband.

But without a doubt, he was a failure as a father.

It was precisely because of him that Naruto's childhood had been so incredibly miserable.

Seeing Uchiha Kei's attitude toward Namikaze Minato, Kurama also calmed down and let out a few strange, mocking chuckles.

"It really is thanks to you, Namikaze Minato. Naruto has had a very difficult life in Konoha."

"What?"

Namikaze Minato froze.

What was that supposed to mean?

A difficult life? How could that be? Even if the son of a hero wasn't exactly revered, he shouldn't have been living a difficult life, right?

"What do you mean by that?"

Namikaze Minato was worthy of the title Yellow Flash; even without the Flying Thunder God Technique, his mastery of basic Body Flicker techniques was flawless.

With a flash of yellow light, he appeared right beside Uchiha Kei in the next instant.

"Exactly what I said."

Kurama turned his head away with a huff, unwilling to engage in further conversation with him.