Chapter 11 Nine-Tails' Seclusion

Unleashing the seal of the Nine-Tails, leaving aside whether he can do it now, if he really does so, the Nine-Tails will undoubtedly swallow him without hesitation.

After a long silence, Naruto smiled bitterly, "Alright, I admit, at present, there is no equality between us."

"So let's compromise, a fair trade. How about it?"

Nine-Tails: "Hmph! What kind of trade? I lend you my power, and you help me find the other half of my body?"

Naruto: "As far as I know, if I'm killed, you won't survive either. So as long as I'm facing a life-threatening situation, you won't just stand by."

"Therefore, let's forget about lending me your power. Instead, you'll become my teacher, guide me in my training, and then I'll help you find the other half of your body."

The Nine-Tails froze, its lips cracking to reveal its sharp white teeth. "Interesting. You want to apprentice under me, a fox spirit?"

Naruto: "Yes."

Nine-Tails: "Do you know what you're saying? I killed your parents, and you want to be my apprentice?"

Naruto: "Lord Nine-Tails, it seems you've forgotten. I'm not the real Naruto. I'm also an outsider who has taken over Naruto's body. In a sense, the original Naruto is already dead, killed by me. So there's no father-killing grudge between us."

Nine-Tails: "What about my resentment towards Konoha? I want to kill everyone in Konoha."

Naruto: "That's not my concern. In the eyes of the villagers of Konoha, I am the Nine-Tails. Did you see the look in the eyes of the person who just passed by me? That resentful look. I don't see any reason to stand with those who resent me."

Nine-Tails: "So if I ask you to destroy Konoha, would you do it?"

Naruto: "If all my abilities are taught by you, then your will naturally becomes my will. I have no reason to refuse. But I have one condition."

Nine-Tails: "Interesting, tell me."

Naruto: "It's a simple condition. Those who support me, those who are loyal to me, I cannot kill. Even though you, Lord Nine-Tails, want to avenge yourself on Konoha, you wouldn't want to ally with those who forget kindness, right?"

"So, at the moment, Iruka and Hinata cannot be killed."

"Do you agree with what I said, Lord Nine-Tails?"

Nine-Tails: "Hmm... what you said makes some sense. Despicable ingrates are indeed more disgusting."

"But if everyone in Konoha supports you, wouldn't that mean no one can be killed?"

Naruto: "Lord Nine-Tails, you're joking, right? Do you think that's possible? Would the people of Konoha support me?"

The Nine-Tails pondered for a moment, feeling it was indeed impossible.

During the years inhabiting Naruto's body, it had witnessed the cold looks others gave Naruto.

Naruto: "So, Lord Nine-Tails, are you willing to take me as your disciple?"

Nine-Tails: "Since you've brought it up to this point, why not?"

Naruto: "Then may I know your name?"

Nine-Tails: "Kurama."

Naruto: "Then from now on, I'll call you Kurama Senzai."

Nine-Tails: "I didn't expect to take on a disciple, but you seem to have forgotten to tell me your name."

Naruto: "I'm Naruto."

The expression on Kurama's face froze.

Who was the bastard just now claiming not to be Naruto?

Nine-Tails: "Brat... are you fooling me?"

In a fit of rage, even through the seal, Naruto could feel Kurama's volatile chakra.

Naruto: "Kurama Senzai, you misunderstand me. Although I'm not the real Naruto, my soul came into this body, indicating that the original me is dead. So I am Naruto, but Naruto is just a name."

It sounded reasonable...

Naruto: "If Kurama Senzai doesn't like the name Naruto, you can call me whatever you want in the future—Naruto, kid, brat—as long as Kurama Senzai likes it."

Kurama: "..."

Naruto: "Kurama Senzai, now that you've taken me as your disciple, how should I improve my strength?"

Has the master-disciple relationship begun?

The corner of Kurama's mouth twitched involuntarily.

It felt strangely awkward.

But after thinking for a moment, nothing seemed wrong.

Kurama: "Human cultivation essentially revolves around chakra training. Chakra is a fusion of spiritual power and the power extracted from cells within the body. Therefore, the basic direction of cultivation is to enhance spiritual power and train the body."

"Spiritual power originates from the soul, and your soul, after devouring Naruto's, is far superior to that of ordinary people."

"As for the body, due to inheriting the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan, you also possess great potential."

"In other words, your current chakra level far exceeds that of ordinary people, so what you need to do is convert this chakra into power."

Truly the wisdom of Kurama, who had lived for countless years. Just a few casual words made Naruto feel enlightened.

Naruto: "So what I need to do now is to learn powerful ninjutsu?"

Kurama: "You could say that. Didn't you memorize all the ninjutsu on that scroll? The Eight Gates technique on there is quite suitable for you."

Eight Gates? Isn't that a suicidal forbidden jutsu?

Naruto: "Kurama Senzai, did I hear you correctly? You want me to learn the Eight Gates technique? If I remember correctly, the Eight Gates technique involves burning one's life force..."

Kurama: "The first four gates of the Eight Gates technique are within a safe range. It's only when you reach the fifth gate that it causes permanent damage to the body."

Naruto's mind stirred, entering the memories of the forbidden scroll.

Surprisingly, the practice of the Eight Gates technique was unexpectedly simple, summarized in four words: "Train the body, Open the gates."

As long as the body's strength meets the requirements, one can use chakra to impact designated acupuncture points to open the gates.

And the requirements for bodily strength are quite simple.

The first gate of the Eight Gates technique requires the ability to bear a weight of 500 kilograms.

The second gate requires the ability to bear 750 kilograms.

The third gate requires the ability to bear 1000 kilograms.

The fourth gate requires the ability to bear 1500 kilograms.

...

In addition, there's a chart of the body's meridians, indicating the locations of the eight gates.

Note: As long as the corresponding conditions are met, the gates can be opened without harming the body.

Furthermore, if the body doesn't meet the corresponding requirements, one can forcibly open the gates with willpower, but

 it will cause corresponding damage to the body.

Simple, right? Looks simple.

But to bear 500 kilograms for the first gate... Is that something a person can achieve?

And the third gate... 1000 kilograms, that's a ton! Seriously?

No wonder Rock Lee carries such terrifying weights every day; this technique is simply not for human cultivation!

Naruto: "Kurama Senzai, how long do you think it will take me to open the first gate?"

Kurama: "The first gate... It shouldn't take long. My chakra can enhance your recovery. If you practice diligently, you should be able to open it in a month, right?"

To increase strength to 500 kilograms in a month...

What kind of terrifying training would that be?

Just imagining it sent shivers down Naruto's spine.

Naruto: "Can't I learn other ninjutsu? Like... the Flying Thunder God technique? I remember it also requires a vast amount of chakra, which I happen to have."

Kurama: "Chakra quantity is only one aspect. The Flying Thunder God technique primarily requires a talent for changing chakra nature into Yin attributes. One must be able to condense chakra into a seal to get started."

"Kid, put your hand on my chakra. Let me see the nature of your chakra."

Kurama's chakra overflowed from the cage.

That bubbling, boiling chakra, even with just a small portion overflowing, made one tremble.

Naruto gritted his teeth and placed his hand on the chakra.

It felt like sticking one's hand into boiling oil.

Incredibly painful!

Kurama: "Strange... your soul is different from ordinary people's. You only have Wind attribute chakra nature changes."

"Wait a minute! Your soul can actually devour me!"

"Your soul has changed. Besides Wind attributes, it has fused with my Yang attributes! What kind of freak are you?"