Having obtained the Four-Tails' power, Naruto would now get twice the results with half the effort when training his Lava Release.
After thanking Roshi, Naruto turned to leave, gold dust already gathering beneath his feet.
But from behind him came Roshi's solemn, earnest voice. It was entirely different from his earlier hearty, easygoing tone, carrying an almost sorrowful resolve.
"Sixth Hokage, please wait."
Naruto stopped and glanced back.
Hikari stopped as well. Her scarlet eyes quietly watched the kneeling figure below through a gap in her white cloak.
Roshi continued, his voice clear and slow:
"I know what you did in Kusagakure. Although you annexed the village, you left its civilians unharmed. You even restored order."
"So only after giving you some of the Four-Tails' chakra could I have the nerve to make this request."
With that, Roshi dropped to his knees with a thud.
Naruto's eyes widened slightly, and he slowly turned around.
The red-haired giant Roshi, who had just bumped fists with him so openly, his bold spirit undiminished, now knelt on both knees with his head lowered. His red hair and beard trembled faintly in the night wind.
His torn monk's robes were stained with dust and mud, and his burly frame now radiated helplessness and pleading.
"Your power... is too great."
Roshi's voice was a little hoarse, bitter with resignation.
"Even if I gave it everything I had and burned away my life, I couldn't stop you from doing anything you wanted."
He raised his head. His rugged face was filled with exhaustion, inner conflict, and the resolve of a man who had finally made his decision.
He looked straight at Naruto, without a trace of fighting spirit, only the deepest entreaty:
"I've never gotten along with the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki-that stubborn, rigid old fool who's