I'll Think of Another Way

The burly Kumogakure ninja was exaggerating a little.

In all of Kumogakure, his Lightning Release Ninja Taijutsu ranked third... Saying something like that could only fool little brats like Team Seven from Konoha.

If he said those words back in his own village, the other jonin would probably join forces and beat his head open.

There were many jonin in Kumogakure who specialized in Lightning Release Ninja Taijutsu. Aside from the Fourth Raikage A and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer B, the rest of them basically looked down on everyone else.

Even the recently renowned jonin Darui was no exception, despite that laid-back young man already serving as a guard ninja for the Fourth Raikage.

And even though the Fourth Raikage personally guided Darui in cultivating Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Kumogakure's other jonin still refused to acknowledge him...

The Fourth Raikage was the strongest, having inherited the name "A," so he naturally ranked first. Lord Killer B had the Eight-Tails Gyuki within him and was also the Fourth Raikage's partner in performing the ultimate Lightning Release Ninja Taijutsu, so he ranked second.

As for the rest of the jonin, none of them accepted the others.

Everyone believed they were third.

Most Kumogakure ninja were a bunch of brutes, and their village prized strength and fierceness. If one wanted these rough men to acknowledge them, they had to beat them into submission one by one with their fists.

This was not something an ordinary person could accomplish.

On the battlefield in the forest.

Just as Naruto Uzumaki was secretly on guard because of his enemy's identity, a rapidly moving flash of lightning suddenly streaked through his vision, followed by a ninja blade slashing toward him!

"Too slow, brat!"

The burly Kumogakure ninja shook his head disdainfully. His blade swept past, and even though Naruto avoided the vital point, it still cut a wound across his body!

Blood immediately stained his orange jacket red...

Naruto Uzumaki did not dare focus on his wound. He condensed a Rasengan in his hand and stared fixedly at the burly Kumogakure ninja, trying to observe the movements he made before attacking...

In a blur, that tall figure charged at him again!

Naruto Uzumaki thrust out his palm. The Rasengan transformed into a beam of chakra light and crashed head-on into the charging burly Kumogakure ninja. "Rasengan Impact Wave!"

That tall figure turned into smoke and dispersed...

It was only an ordinary clone!

The burly Kumogakure ninja suddenly attacked from Naruto's flank, swinging his ninja blade down at him. "Brat, your ninjutsu is truly surprising! Its speed can actually rival Lightning Release Ninjutsu..."

He's fast...

Naruto Uzumaki furrowed his brow as he looked at the two new wounds on his body. The burly Kumogakure ninja was simply too fast!

The Rasengan Impact Wave had failed to hit the enemy, instead making him more wary. It would be difficult to use it again afterward!

Moreover, this guy had been attacking with swordsmanship the whole time!

That was precisely Naruto's weakness. His kunai was too short!

If he tried to use ninjutsu, the enemy could easily seize an opening. Even the slightest mistake might get him killed by a single slash...

Faced with this predicament...

Naruto Uzumaki sank into his mental space and walked toward the giant beast inside the cage. "Nine-Tails, it's time to pay rent. Lend me your chakra!"

"..."

The fox snorted and ignored his request.

The small figure extended his palm and threatened, "If you refuse, I'll absorb the chakra inside you..."

"Brat..."

The Nine-Tails opened its eyes and stared at the boy, who was not even as tall as one of its eyes. It shook its head. "The chakra last time took me a long time to leak out through the seal. Do you think breaking through the seal is that easy?"

"Right now, I have no way to send chakra out! Unless you undo the seal on the gate, I can lend you enough power!"

"..."

Naruto Uzumaki raised his head and glanced around the watery prison. Though he did not know how much of the Nine-Tails' words were true, the red bubbles of chakra that often rose from the prison had indeed vanished. Even he could no longer sense them.

In truth, the Nine-Tails was naturally lying.

Ever since Naruto Uzumaki had erupted into his four-tailed fox state, the Nine-Tails had come up with a plan. It stopped using chakra to erode the seal, lest its chakra leak out...

When Naruto Uzumaki encountered danger next time and came to borrow Tailed Beast Chakra, the Nine-Tails could take the opportunity to demand that he undo the seal. This plan had a high chance of succeeding!

"Is that so?"

Naruto Uzumaki scratched his hair.

A hint of delight flickered in the giant fox's pupils. Clearly, this blond brat had been tempted. He would surely act soon!

To keep Naruto Uzumaki from noticing its ulterior motives, the Nine-Tails suppressed its excitement and forced itself to remain calm. "Naruto, the two of us are one. If you die here, I won't survive either. I wouldn't joke about something like this."

The blond ninja nodded and suddenly asked, "Nine-Tails, then how much chakra can you lend me right now? Can it make me faster than the enemy?"

The Nine-Tails froze. "..."

If it gave too little chakra, that would obviously seem fake...

If it gave too much chakra, this little bastard would use its chakra to defeat the enemy, then absorb it with his own technique.

The Nine-Tails Fox lay back down. A small stream of chakra seeped out from beneath the bars and entered Naruto Uzumaki's body. It spoke weakly, "Brat, there wasn't enough time. I can only lend you this much for now..."

The Nine-Tails had calculated it precisely. The little chakra it lent Naruto was not even enough to form the fox cloak of the first tail!

"..."

Naruto Uzumaki looked at the fox's weak appearance, frowned, and said softly, "Then rest first. I'll think of another way myself."

Nine-Tails: "..."

Wait, what did you mean?

I already told you the solution!

As long as you undid the seal on the cage, we could be honest with each other and discuss the relationship between master and servant face-to-face. What other solution were you going to think of?!

The Nine-Tails watched the blond brat vanish from before its eyes and gritted its teeth... Was something wrong with this Jinchuriki's brain?

On the battlefield in the forest.

Because Naruto Uzumaki had not obtained enough Tailed Beast Chakra from the Nine-Tails, a faint look of worry appeared on his face...

Naruto Uzumaki swung his kunai, fending off the enemy's attacks while pulling back to instruct his teammate. "Sakura, find an opportunity and take Sasuke away first..."

"Naruto! What about you?"

Sakura Haruno immediately became nervous.

Another wound appeared on Naruto Uzumaki's body, but he forced himself to endure it. "Don't worry. I may need to use a ninjutsu I want to develop here..."

"If that technique fails, its explosion will become extremely powerful. That's why I'm telling you to take Sasuke and leave first..."

"Alright, I understand."

Sakura Haruno carefully hid behind a large tree. Noticing that the enemy did not seem to be paying attention to her, she simply rushed toward Sasuke's position.

However, just as Sakura Haruno reached Sasuke's side, shuriken traced arcs through the air and struck into all four of her limbs in succession!

The burly Kumogakure ninja smiled contemptuously. "Brats, all I truly want are the Sharingan. You're the ones who came to throw your lives away..."

"...Sigh."

Naruto Uzumaki shook his head helplessly.

Although his goal of getting his teammates to leave first had failed, the burly Kumogakure ninja had at least given him a moment to catch his breath by throwing shuriken, allowing him to condense a Rasengan...

Second update

Nine-Tails: I have no way to give you more chakra...

Naruto: Really?

Nine-Tails: Really. If you don't believe me, look for yourself. I don't even have the strength to undo the seal. Only if you undo it can I give you more chakra...

Naruto: Then how much can you give me right now...

Nine-Tails: ...I... can only give this much...

Naruto: Alright, then I'll think of another way...

Nine-Tails: Damn it... Little brother, what is wrong with you?!