[Sponsored] Chapter 78: Asking the Three-Tails

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Terumi Mei glanced at Karin and lowered her voice, "We hope to hire Naruto to help us with a sealing."

She paused for a moment before cautiously uttering a word: "The Three-Tails."

This was an issue that the Mist Village was eager to resolve.

The village needed a new Jinchuriki, a "deterrent" in times of war.

When they were applying pressure on the Konoha Village, their initial demand was to obtain Zabuza and the Ice Release, but they quickly changed their request, hoping that the Konoha Village could provide at least a sealing team to help the Mist Village seal the Tailed Beast.

However, this proposal was decisively rejected by the Konoha Village.

When Terumi Mei first heard the news of Uzumaki Naruto's arrival, the idea of asking him for help occurred to her.

After all, according to the Mist Village's intelligence, this "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki" who had left the village to travel had a rather impressive level of sealing techniques.

The recent interaction further solidified her decision, leading her to voice her request now.

"Seal the Three-Tails?" Naruto was slightly surprised.

Terumi Mei nodded, her eyes firm. "Yes, we will offer very generous compensation."

"The Mist Village's research on Uzumaki sealing techniques, or other Mist Village secret techniques or information you might be interested in."

"You can ask for anything. As long as we can fulfill it, we will agree."

Naruto asked, "Has the Three-Tails caused a lot of trouble for the Mist Village?"

Terumi Mei was stunned, "Trouble?"

She seemed a bit puzzled by the word.

"Like destroying the village, attacking villagers, or affecting the environment?" Naruto elaborated on the term.

Terumi Mei shook her head, "No, not really."

Most ninjas' understanding of Tailed Beasts is that they are "ferocious beasts" and "natural disasters." Indeed, most Tailed Beasts are hostile to ninjas, fitting this stereotype.

But the Three-Tails was an exception among the Tailed Beasts.

Its temperament was much calmer, currently residing in the depths of a lake outside the Mist Village.

If undisturbed, it would not initiate an attack.

"Is that so?" Naruto raised his hand and placed it on his stomach. "Then I should ask for its opinion. If it's willing, I can agree to help you create a Jinchuriki."

"It?" Terumi Mei found it a bit unbelievable. "Do you mean the Three-Tails?"

Naruto responded with a "hmm."

"Why ask for the Tailed Beast's opinion?" Terumi Mei questioned.

Naruto looked at her, "The Mist Village should know that I am also a Jinchuriki?"

Terumi Mei nodded.

The Konoha Village had once tried to hide this information.

However, when Naruto left the village and his identity as the Fourth Hokage's son was revealed, combined with the persistent rumors about him being a "Demon Fox," it wasn't hard to deduce that he was a Jinchuriki.

"I made a promise to the Nine-Tails," Naruto continued candidly, "that I would no longer forcibly use its power."

"I think..."

"Since the Three-Tails is behaving itself, there's no need to punish it."

"After all, no creature willingly remains imprisoned in a cage."

"And since I've made such a promise to the Nine-Tails," Naruto paused slightly and then smiled, "now helping someone else to oppress its kind would make that promise a joke."

Terumi Mei stared at Naruto, the incredulity in her eyes gradually solidifying.

This guy... is this the kind of person he is?

"We can offer 'a lot' of compensation," Terumi Mei said, repeating her request and emphasizing the word "a lot."

Naruto responded frankly, "This isn't about the compensation."

Terumi Mei frowned.

Things were starting to develop in an unexpected direction.

"Talk to the Three-Tails?" She lowered her voice, "Then let's give it a try."

"I'll take you to it after we eat."

"However, it's a Tailed Beast. I'm really skeptical that you can communicate with it."

During the meal, Terumi Mei couldn't help but observe Naruto.

She finally realized the "sense of incongruity" she had always felt from this blond-haired youth.

He didn't seem like a ninja at all.

After the meal.

Terumi Mei notified the village, took two Anbu members with her, and led Naruto to a dense forest outside the Mist Village.

Here lay a vast lake.

The wind blew, causing slight ripples on the surface.

Fish swam joyfully in the lake, in schools, but on the shore, there were few waterfowl or other wild animals to be seen.

"The Three-Tails is here," Terumi Mei said.

Naruto used a body flicker technique to reach the lake's edge.

He stared at a specific spot in the lake, where deep underwater, there was an immense amount of Tailed Beast chakra.

"Nine-Tails, can you call out the Three-Tails?" he asked the fox within his heart.

Nine-Tails didn't act immediately but instead asked, "If the Three-Tails doesn't want to, you really won't help the Mist Village?"

"Of course," Naruto replied, "I'm not a ninja."

"If the Mist Village tries to use me to attack the Three-Tails, I'll stop them too."

Nine-Tails yawned, "In that case..."

"I'll help you this time."

The Tailed Beasts have their own way of communicating.

They originate from the same source and share a common space of consciousness.

"Isobu, it's been a long time," Nine-Tails greeted the creature submerged in water within this space.

"Ah, Kurama, it really has been a long time," Isobu responded. "Is there something you need?"

Nine-Tails spoke softly, "This kid who is currently my jinchūriki wants to talk to you."

"It seems you've found someone decent?" Isobu laughed. "What does he want to discuss?"

Nine-Tails shook his head. "I don't know what that kid is thinking."

"But," Nine-Tails flicked his tail, "for now, he can be considered a fairly decent person."

"He promised me that he wouldn't lay a hand on you."

"Then I'll do you a favor," Isobu agreed, and its voice fell silent in this space of consciousness.

In reality.

The lake surged like boiling water, with waves crashing.

Two members of the Mist Village's Anbu moved forward to protect Terumi Mei on either side, while Karin took a step back. She wasn't afraid, knowing that with Naruto in front of her, nothing would happen. She was just a little worried that the splashing water might wet her skirt.

A massive figure rose from the lake, slowly swimming toward the shore.

It was a creature resembling a turtle, covered in silver-gray armor filled with spikes, with three flat, similarly armored, spiked tails swaying behind it.

Isobu had truly appeared.

Terumi Mei looked up at it and took a deep breath.

Could it really be possible to communicate?

Isobu extended its head onto the shore, with only one golden eye open, its gaze sweeping over everyone before finally resting on Naruto. "Are you the kid Nine-Tails mentioned?"

"What do you want with me?"

Naruto glanced back at Terumi Mei. "The people of the Mist Village wish to borrow your power."

"A jinchūriki?" Isobu's tone was displeased.

It didn't have a good impression of being a jinchūriki.

But unlike Nine-Tails's negative impression, its dislike stemmed from bad experiences.

The first time it became a jinchūriki, it was inside a little girl. But before they could even become familiar with each other, the jinchūriki was killed, and Isobu "died" along with her.

Tailed Beasts are immortal.

Death is only a temporary loss of consciousness. After some time, their chakra gathers again, and they are reborn.

But... the experience is not pleasant.

The second time it became a jinchūriki was better, but later in that person's life, he was inexplicably controlled by an evil eye, leaving Isobu powerless as well.

That feeling was truly awful.

"Terumi Mei, don't you have anything to say?" Naruto turned back, gesturing to the red-brown-haired woman.

Terumi Mei stepped past the Anbu and came forward. "The Mist Village desperately needs your power right now."

"I have some impression of you," Isobu said. "It was you and that man with the Byakugan who broke the genjutsu on Yagura."

Karin was shocked, her eyes widening.

Had she just heard something incredible?

Yagura was the Fourth Mizukage, right? Had he been controlled by someone before?

"Yagura-sama mentioned that he enjoyed his time with you," Terumi Mei took a deep breath, glancing at Karin and Naruto.

Now they knew.

Well, it's been so long; even if people find out, it won't have much impact. The Mist Village had already survived that disaster.

Right now, persuading Isobu was the most important thing.

It was a bit strange, though...

The scene she had imagined of "sealing Isobu" required her to use her mouth, but not in this way.

Isobu responded quietly, "The days with Yagura were indeed not bad."

"But will the next jinchūriki be Yagura?"

Terumi Mei spread her arms. "I can become the jinchūriki, and I will be someone like Yagura-sama."

Being a jinchūriki is both an ability and a responsibility, though it's not exactly a pleasant one.

But it is the duty of a Kage.

The Fourth Mizukage once chose to do this.

Though she wasn't yet a true Mizukage, she had no hesitation.

"Life here is rather nice," Isobu shook its head, indicating refusal. "Being sealed inside a jinchūriki is a very painful thing, so let's forget it."

Terumi Mei opened her mouth, but Isobu began retreating into the lake, fixing its gaze on Naruto. "That kid Nine-Tails, you promised us you wouldn't make a move against me."

Naruto smiled and nodded.

Terumi Mei glanced at Naruto and sighed, her eyes sweeping over the Anbu behind her.

Now is not the time to act...

She called out, "Can I come to see you when I have free time?"

Isobu paused. "Human woman, you are quite strange."

"I won't deny that my purpose is to borrow your power and become a jinchūriki," Terumi Mei said bluntly. "I promise you, like Naruto, I won't force you."

"I only hope we can understand each other."

"The Mist Village needs the power of a Tailed Beast."

Isobu glanced at Naruto, but the blond kid didn't respond.

"If you don't bring too many people, I suppose it might be possible to meet with you," Isobu thought for a moment before giving an answer.

Terumi Mei breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

Water splashed as Isobu's body fully submerged into the lake, leaving only its head visible. It looked at Naruto. "You're the first good person I've met since Yagura."

"Nine-Tails was right."

"You are a good person."

With a glistening wave, it sank back into the lake.

In the inner world, Nine-Tails bristled. "It's talking nonsense! I never said that!"