"Not bad. That year or so at the academy wasn't wasted."
Natsuki praised Naruto.
"I brought you here today so you could get to know the Nine-Tails."
"The suffering you endured all these years was because of him. But back then, he came to Konoha because someone controlled him."
"Since you already know you're a Jinchuriki, you need to learn how to get along with a Tailed Beast."
"Living peacefully with a Tailed Beast isn't just about improving your abilities. It's also what your father hoped for."
At the mention of his father's hopes, light gradually appeared in Naruto's eyes.
"Don't worry, Senior Natsuki! I'll definitely work hard, dattebayo!"
Hearing Naruto end with that familiar "dattebayo," Natsuki knew Naruto had regained his spirit.
Natsuki led Naruto forward. This scene was merely a Mental Illusion.
The gate that seemed to be at the edge of the sky was actually not far away.
As Natsuki led Naruto onward, the Sharingan in his eyes spun.
The distance between Natsuki and Naruto and that gate visibly shrank at an incredible speed.
"You're an Uchiha!!"
A thunderous voice exploded beside Naruto's ears, and he instinctively covered them.
Clang... A massive claw struck the gate. The character "Seal" in the center of the gate shone with dazzling light.
"Roar! Damn it!" The Nine-Tails' claw was violently knocked away.
Yet it slammed into the gate again with even greater ferocity, producing dull booms.
"Calm down, Nine-Tails!" Natsuki glared.
The Nine-Tails' entire body stiffened, and it crashed straight to the ground with a tremendous bang, unable to speak or move.
Such powerful ocular power!? Could it be that person!?
The discomfort of being unable to move was far less than the fear in the Nine-Tails' heart.
He was afraid. He had encountered such overwhelming ocular power from only