Hearing Naruto Uzumaki say that he was stubborn, Sasuke also rolled his eyes at Naruto Uzumaki, then said, "Eat quickly. Once we're done eating, we'll practice close-combat techniques together."
Hearing this, Naruto Uzumaki was also stunned, then nodded.
Originally, his plan was to wait until the end of the month when he received his business revenue share to exchange some stamina-enhancing potions for Sasuke, no matter how many.
But now it seemed Sasuke could not wait.
"Very well."
After eating, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke walked side by side toward the small riverbank.
This path not only led straight to the Uchiha Clan Compound, but was also a place where Naruto Uzumaki often came to play when he was a child.
Surest enough, as the two walked out the door, two sharp gazes landed on them from time to time.
Feeling the surveillance gaze of the Root, Naruto Uzumaki reined in his speech somewhat.
On the quiet street, Sasuke walked with lowered head, not knowing what she was thinking.
Soon the two arrived at an empty clearing.
Sasuke produced a kunai with a backhand motion and stared at Naruto Uzumaki with a serious expression.
"Naruto, watch out."
Seeing Sasuke's shifting gaze, Naruto Uzumaki could not help but rein in his focus as well, pulling out a kunai in response.
Instantly, two dark figures intersected within this training ground, continuously emitting the metallic crashing sounds of weapons clashing.
In a corner of the clearing, two Root members merely kept all their eyes fixed on Sasuke, as for Naruto Uzumaki, he was not within the scope of their surveillance this time.
The duel between the two lasted for about 20 minutes.
Twenty minutes later, the weapon clashes within the clearing finally vanished.
Sasuke was breathing heavily, her right hand holding the kunai trembling slightly due to the prolonged, intense clashes.
On the other hand, Naruto Uzumaki was much the same; because he was being monitored by Root shinobi, he could not directly defeat Sasuke, and during the duel even tried his best to suppress his techniques, falling into a disadvantageous position everywhere.
Sasuke naturally knew Naruto Uzumaki's true strength, yet she never expected that Naruto Uzumaki would put so much heart into sparing with her this time. For a moment, the gaze she directed at Naruto Uzumaki softened just a fraction.
"Hmph, I don't need you to hold back for me."
Hearing this, Naruto Uzumaki gave a wry smile and said, "Who's holding back for you? By the way, do you want me to walk you back?"
"No need." As soon as Sasuke finished speaking, she put away her kunai, turned, and paced away.
"Alright, see you tomorrow then."
Seeing Sasuke leave, Naruto Uzumaki also let out a heavy sigh of relief. He was just about to turn back when he heard Sasuke's voice.
"Naruto, can we practice together in the morning?" When she said this, Sasuke was obviously a bit fidgety. Seeming to feel it was inappropriate, she immediately remedied it by adding, "If you find it troublesome, then forget it."
Seeing Sasuke like this, Naruto Uzumaki smiled. "It's no big deal. Are you coming to find me, or should I come find you?"
Hearing Naruto Uzumaki's words, Sasuke let out a sigh of relief. "Tomorrow, run over to the main gate of the Uchiha and find me. I'll take you to the training ground."
"Alright, then I'm heading back first."
"Mn, ni... night."
After saying goodnight, Sasuke sprinted away rapidly, disappearing into the night in the blink of an eye.
Hearing that Sasuke had actually taken the initiative to say goodnight to him, Naruto Uzumaki was also stunned, immediately revealing a playful smile.
Interesting, this girl couldn't have fallen for me, right?
Vanishing along with Sasuke was also the Root's surveillance shinobi. Naruto Uzumaki did not think too much about it; cultivating alone was never as comfortable as doing it with two people where they could also duel and slash at each other, which was far more practical than holding a kunai to chop tree stumps.
Before long, Naruto Uzumaki returned home humming a little tune.
Looking at the neatly hung, washed clothes on the balcony, Naruto Uzumaki suddenly felt that he quite liked the feeling of being with Sasuke.
After taking a bath, Naruto Uzumaki sat cross-legged on the bed, his hands forming the gesture for condensing chakra.
He knew that his spiritual consciousness tonight would very likely go to Nine-Tails' Home once more, and he wanted to take advantage of the time before falling asleep to practice a bit more.
One hour later, at approximately ten-thirty.
Only then did Naruto Uzumaki open his eyes. Looking at the ghastly white moonlight outside the window, he found himself involuntarily wondering what Sasuke was doing at this very moment.
The thought had just risen in his mind when Naruto Uzumaki started awake, shaking his head fiercely to banish the numerous thoughts within it.
Strange, what is wrong with me?
Not delving too deeply into the thought, Naruto Uzumaki lay straight down on the bed to prepare for sleep.
Just as expected.
Right past twelve o'clock, Naruto Uzumaki opened his eyes once again.
"Here it comes again, here it comes again."
Although depressed, Naruto Uzumaki did not feel much resistance in his heart, seeing as he had slept comfortably during the day.
"It seems that in this life, I can subdue the Nine-Tails through other means."
Wading through the puddle of water ankle-deep, Naruto Uzumaki paced toward the Nine-Tails' place of imprisonment.
"Yesterday, Old Xiao's story was wildly modified by me. Today, the Nine-Tails is probably already dying to hear the story, right?"
Every time he thought of this, Naruto Uzumaki could not help but smile. Sure enough, implementing a targeted plan was precise and effective.
The reason the Nine-Tails resented past jinchuriki and shinobi was none other than forcible confinement, treating it as a weapon to deter other nations.
Yet Naruto Uzumaki deliberately did the opposite, recounting in great numbers to the Nine-Tails legends similar to the Nine-Tails from fantasy novels in his previous life.
This invisible infusion of ideas into the Nine-Tails would gradually change the Nine-Tails' view of him as time went on.
When the time arrived, he could completely reach a cooperation with the Nine-Tails using the stories from fantasy novels, and by then he could also transform himself into a Perfect Jinchuriki, using the Nine-Tails Chakra at will.
"I wonder if there's any hope of achieving this within five years."
Naruto Uzumaki constantly contemplated this possibility. "If I handle the Nine-Tails within five years, then after I defect I won't have to fear being hunted down by ANBU and Root shinobi."
Thinking this in his heart, Naruto Uzumaki stepped right into the Nine-Tails' place of imprisonment.
As soon as he walked inside, he heard low and angry whimpering.
Lifting his gaze, Naruto Uzumaki saw two huge vertical pupils staring fixedly at him through the gaps in the iron gate.
"Yo, Fox Lord, good evening."
"Naruto Uzumaki, you're late today."
The Nine-Tails was actually somewhat dissatisfied due to Naruto Uzumaki arriving slightly late.
"No big deal. Fox Lord, today's story is extremely wonderful, you know. Want to hear it?"
Naruto Uzumaki spoke quite unhumanly.
"Hurry up and tell this lord the story! What on earth happened in the end when Lin Xiao and the Three-Tails Fox Demon encountered the Three-Headed Lion?!"
Although imprisoned within the seal for a long time, the Nine-Tails was after all a tailed beast that had lived for hundreds of years. Although its intelligence could not compare to strategists like Shikamaru, it was on par with a normal person.
Seeming to think of something, the Nine-Tails immediately added, "You must finish telling me the entire story today!"
Hearing this, Naruto Uzumaki's expression remained calm and unruffled, while inwardly he laughed secretly. Finish telling you the entire story tonight? What are you daydreaming about? That novel of several million words, you couldn't finish reading it in a night even glancing at ten lines at a glance.
"Cough cough... Fox Lord, I can only say I'll do my best."
"Hmph, dare to leave Fox Lord hanging again, and I'll eat you when I get out," the beast threatened with an unkind tone.
Naruto Uzumaki did not waste words either, directly activating Talk No Jutsu.
Surest enough, as Naruto Uzumaki's novel story began, the Nine-Tails grew quiet. Not only that, it quickly entered the state, obviously having immersed itself into the Three-Tails Fox Demon in the novel.
Seeing this, Naruto Uzumaki intentionally stirred the Nine-Tails' emotions, making the plot of the story rise and fall dramatically; several times the protagonist of the story fell into crises multiple times precisely because of saving the Three-Tails.
Just as the plot reached a crucial point, Naruto Uzumaki's voice stopped abruptly.
This deeply immersed fantasy was instantly shattered, which also caused the Nine-Tails to fly into a rage, urging him to continue quickly.
Seeing this, the corner of Naruto Uzumaki's mouth hooked into a smile as he nodded. "Even a baby has to wait for its clothes to be unbuttoned to nurse. Telling the story for so long has exhausted all my stamina. Wait for me to recover a bit of chakra before continuing."
The novel was stuck at a crucial point, and the Nine-Tails felt an itch in its heart that was hard to bear, but seeing Naruto Uzumaki putting on an appearance of extreme weakness, it also swallowed its anger.
Time ticked away second by second.
Seeing that there was still over an hour left until dawn, the Nine-Tails also said anxiously, "Kid, don't resist. I'll split my chakra and give it to you to help you recover your stamina."
Naruto Uzumaki was on the verge of falling asleep from waiting.
However, hearing the Nine-Tails actually take the initiative to say it would split its chakra and give it to him, he immediately perked up.
Before you continue