Inside the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not immediately bring up the heavy topic. Instead, he lightly tapped the desk with his Pipe, his gaze settling on Naruto's face with a hint of barely perceptible scrutiny.
"Naruto." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice softened, like an ordinary elder making small talk. "You said earlier that the Sheep Talisman seemed to let you communicate with the Nine-Tails?"
At the mention of this, Naruto immediately grew angry. Forgetting all decorum in front of Hokage Grandpa, he waved his fists as though trying to pummel some invisible target from a distance and shouted indignantly:
"Communicate? Don't get me started, Hokage Grandpa! That stinking fox! What a liar! It said we'd defeat that bad guy called Mahito together, but then it turned around and tried to eat me!"
"It even chased after my soul! I almost let it succeed! It has no sense of honor at all! You bastard fox!"
His cheeks were puffed up, and his blue eyes were full of accusation. Clearly, he still held a grudge over the Nine-Tails' betrayal.
Looking at Naruto's lively, energetic appearance, then comparing it with the bitter and tragic struggles between the Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts recorded in the archives, a complicated, unfathomable light flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.
He did not reprimand Naruto for his rudeness. Instead, he chuckled, his laughter carrying the vicissitudes of someone who had seen through the ways of the world.
"Heh heh heh! The thoughts of Tailed Beasts really are difficult to fathom." He spoke slowly, then made a move that left Naruto dumbfounded.
He actually took out the Talismans engraved with the character "Sheep," which he had just put away, and handed it to Naruto.
"Eh?! Hokage Grandpa? This..." Naruto stared blankly at the Talisman held out before him and stammered, "Isn't