Passing through the waterfall, the three entered an ancient ruin.
The walls bore majestic carvings of the Eight-Tails, and headless Buddha statues stood solemnly on all sides, evoking a profound sense of awe.
Beyond the entrance hall, they arrived at a dimly lit chamber. The concealed door there served as the gateway to the sacred land. Beside the door stood a grotesque stone statue, its gaping mouth seemingly ready to devour any unwelcome intruders.
In his past life, Naruto Uzumaki had visited this place. Back then, his companion Killer Bee had jokingly mentioned that only those who passed the statue's test could enter the sacred land. Anyone harboring even a sliver of darkness in their heart would have their heads bitten off by the statue.
But the statue was merely a decoration, and the supposed test was nothing but a myth.
In his previous life, Naruto had played a prank, pretending to have his head bitten off, scaring Captain Yamato out of his wits.
Naruto's lips curled into a reminiscent smile: Speaking of which, Captain Yamato was with me that time too. He already looks so tense this time; maybe I should spare him the scare.
Retracting his gaze, Naruto pushed open the concealed door. What lay before him was a vast and breathtaking sight, a world entirely different from the one outside.
The sacred land was vibrant and colorful, resembling the spiritual realm of a jinchūriki.
Thus, it was often used as a battlefield for jinchūriki to purify themselves and confront their tailed beasts.
Returning to this familiar place, Naruto couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. The Land of Lightning truly lives up to its reputation as the inheritor of the Sage of Six Paths' legacy. Most relics related to the Six Paths' power are under its control.
With a loud clang, the concealed door shut, sealing the sacred land off from the outside world.
Naruto explained, "Here, all you need to do is close your eyes and clear your mind, and you'll be able to meet the tailed beast within you."
Yamato questioned, "Meet the tailed beast? Can't you already do that normally? Why go through all this trouble to come here?"
Naruto smiled, "Meeting the tailed beast in the spiritual realm is something any jinchūriki can do. But only here can you truly engage in a real confrontation. Otherwise, why would it be called a sacred land?"
Reaching the center of the sacred land, Naruto sat cross-legged.
Yamato murmured to himself, He seems so familiar with this place. It doesn't look like it's his first time here.
Naruto said calmly, "If there are no issues, I'll begin now."
"Wait!" Yamato interjected cautiously. "You're about to face the terrifying Nine-Tails! No one knows what might happen. Let me make some preparations first!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
With a series of hand signs, wooden stakes rose from all directions, their tips adorned with iron spikes.
This was the preparatory phase of the Wood Release: Binding Nest Technique.
Zzz!
Yamato placed his left hand on his right wrist. His open right palm revealed a black kanji for "seat" (座).
Treating the situation as if he were facing a great enemy, Yamato declared, "Alright, you can start now!"
Even though Yamato didn't fully understand Naruto's intentions, as a Konoha shinobi, his duty was to follow the Hokage's orders and assist Naruto in mastering the Nine-Tails' power to the best of his ability.
"Captain Yamato, you're as reliable as ever," Naruto said with a smile, closing his eyes. "Then, I'll be counting on you… Orochimaru."
The scene shifted.
In the spiritual realm, water rippled ankle-deep. Before Naruto stood the Four Symbols Seal's prison, where the Nine-Tails glared at him menacingly.
Naruto greeted, "Yo, it's finally time, Kurama. Judging by your expression, you don't look too thrilled."
The Nine-Tails roared, "Damn it! Where have you hidden the real Naruto?!"
Naruto chuckled, "The real Naruto is right here in front of you, Kurama. So, what will it be this time? Tug-of-war or a fistfight? Your choice."
The Nine-Tails lashed its tails in anger and bellowed, "Who the hell wants to fight someone like you?! Never in this lifetime!!!"
"That's truly unfortunate."
Whoosh! Naruto rolled up his left sleeve, revealing the key to the Four Symbols Seal etched on his left palm. The intricate markings extended down his arm. With a swift motion, he pressed his hand against the sealing formula on his abdomen, twisting his fingers.
Four Symbols Seal: Release!
Click! Click!
The locks materialized by the Four Symbols Seal began to turn and disengage.
Boom!
The Nine-Tails burst forth, breaking free from its prison!
The tug-of-war began—a battle of chakra between the jinchūriki and the tailed beast. The victor would gain control of the other's chakra.
The first step was to unlock the seal. The second step was to extract the tailed beast's chakra from its host.
In his past life, Naruto had only succeeded with the intervention of Killer Bee and the Eight-Tails. But this time, he intended to do it on his own.
Universal Pull!
Whoosh!
A powerful gravitational force dragged the Nine-Tails forward. However, its limbs released an intense chakra that adhered to the water's surface, rendering it immovable despite the pull.
While its body remained stationary, its chakra began to take on the form of a monstrous fox, surging forward.
"Curse that Rinnegan! You've mastered it well, brat!!!"
Whoosh! The Nine-Tails tilted its head back, rapidly forming a Tailed Beast Bomb and launching it at Naruto.
Preta Path!
Naruto extended his hand, and a translucent barrier materialized, absorbing the Tailed Beast Bomb before sealing it.
The second step was complete. The third step was to bind Naruto's chakra with the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Gurgle!
Naruto's chakra took on a humanoid form, emerging from his shoulder and extending a chakra rope to connect with the Nine-Tails' chakra.
The moment they connected, the tug-of-war truly began!
The Nine-Tails growled, "Damn it! How is this brat's chakra so strong that I can't overpower him?!"
Naruto smirked, "As I expected, this is way too easy. At this rate, it won't work at all."
In the outside world.
Orochimaru quietly rose to his feet.
Rustle! Rustle!
Wood tendrils immediately coiled around Orochimaru's body.
Yamato demanded, "What are you trying to do, Orochimaru?!"
Orochimaru replied calmly, "When the Fourth Hokage, Minato, set up the Four Symbols Seal, he infused it with the chakra of Naruto's mother, Kushina Uzumaki. The condition for triggering Kushina's chakra was for Naruto to be at a disadvantage in his confrontation with the Nine-Tails."
Yamato narrowed his eyes. "And then?"
Orochimaru smiled faintly. "Given Naruto's current capabilities, it's nearly impossible for him to be at a disadvantage against half of the Nine-Tails. That's why he needs my help."
Yamato hesitated. "I don't understand. Isn't having the upper hand a good thing? Why deliberately create a disadvantage?"
Orochimaru explained with a knowing tone, "Ah, it's no wonder you don't understand. Back then, Konoha completely disposed of Kushina's body to prevent the Uzumaki clan's exceptional lineage from leaking. Not a single cell was left behind, making it impossible to revive her through Edo Tensei."
"In other words, this is Naruto's only chance to meet his mother. How could he not seize it?"
Yamato pondered deeply. "Can I trust your words?"
Orochimaru smiled slyly. "This was something Naruto and I agreed upon before we came here."
Recalling their cryptic exchanges earlier, Yamato realized, So that's what their hidden agenda was all about?
Rustle! Rustle!
The wood bindings loosened.
Yamato warned, "I'll be watching you closely. Don't try anything funny!"
Orochimaru chuckled, "Yamato, you're truly dependable. Tsunade made a wise choice in sending you."
Yamato's thoughts raced in frustration. Seriously, with these two scheming like this, what's the point of me even being here? What am I supposed to do, really?!
Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
Flames ignited at the tips of Orochimaru's fingers. With a crisp sound, he pressed his hand against Naruto's abdomen.
"This Five Elements Seal will temporarily suppress Naruto's own chakra. Incidentally, I used this same technique on him when he was a child. The odd-numbered Five Elements Seal combined with the even-numbered Four Symbols Seal will cause the Nine-Tails' chakra to interfere heavily with his own, making it nearly impossible for him to mold chakra properly."
"But for the current Naruto, this measure is too simplistic. I'll add a curse mark as well."
Whoosh!
Orochimaru's neck extended, coiling around Naruto once before sinking his teeth into the latter's neck. The curse mark's chakra flowed continuously, disrupting Naruto's own chakra.
Ugh!!!
In the spiritual realm, Naruto staggered as the Nine-Tails' chakra suddenly gained the upper hand, gradually pulling Naruto's own chakra out of his body.
Yet Naruto smiled. "Finally, it's happening."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Just as Naruto was about to lose completely, several Adamantine Sealing Chains erupted from the water's surface, binding the Nine-Tails tightly.
The Nine-Tails' eyes burned with rage. "This chakra… Kushina?!"
In a radiant corner of the spiritual realm.
After what felt like a lifetime, Naruto finally saw her again—the beautiful woman with red hair.
His determined gaze softened into one of tenderness. A thousand words condensed into a single heartfelt call, transcending time and space.
"Mom."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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