Chapter 19
... At the same moment.
North of the Land of Fire, on the distant border.
Winter had arrived, and Konoha's scout squad couldn't help but rub their hands, exhaling misty white breaths.
They had departed a day earlier, marching urgently without rest to reach this location.
This expenditure of effort was solely because their old rival, the Hidden Cloud Village, had suddenly extended an olive branch of friendship to Konoha.
They claimed they would sign a 'Treaty of Alliance' with Konoha.
This news garnered immense attention from Konoha's high-ranking officials.
It also coincidentally drew a connection to the 'mask shop arson and corpse burning' case.
The high-ranking officials realized that the murder case was likely a reaction from other countries.
Whether it was a feint from Kumogakure, or if other countries had caught wind and wanted to disrupt a potential alliance between Konoha and Kumogakure, both were highly possible scenarios.
But no matter what, since Kumogakure showed a tendency to negotiate peace, Konoha would respond with the utmost sincerity.
Thus, a special operations squad departed from Konoha.
Responsible for this mission was the scout squad's rising star... Gekkō Hayate.
Possessing the Transparent Escape Bloodline Limit, he had performed exceptionally well in numerous missions.
This unique Bloodline Limit also consistently allowed him to achieve great merits.
It was a case of debuting at his peak.
Such a sharp and explosively powerful invisibility ability also brought Gekkō Hayate the hidden danger of illness.
Commonly known as... Bloodline Disease.
The moment this ability reached its peak was also the moment his physical condition gradually declined.
This was similar to the legendary white-haired Bloodline Disease of the Kaguya clan.
Too strong, too easily broken.
His life would be as brilliant as a meteor, but the ending would also be a fleeting dimness... This was also why he usually spent time recuperating, with his childhood friend Yūgao Uzuki looking after him.
Standing on the border.
Gekkō Hayate's expression was serious.
The land on the other side of the boundary marker was the border of another country.
After a tense conversation with the Ninja team from Kumogakure, the other party presented a handwritten decree signed by the Fourth Raikage.
Kumogakure's diplomatic team would depart for Konoha shortly.
This meeting was to confirm each other's attitudes, serving as a preliminary warm-up.
Finally, Gekkō Hayate extended his hand, suppressing his excitement, and clasped hands with the other party... At this point, both sides simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere began to become harmonious.
Because... Gekkō Hayate: "Peace... is within reach..."
As the most powerful Ninja Village in the Ninja World, Kumogakure's advanced scientific technology and Ninjutsu were undeniable.
If they had them as allies, Konoha could ensure decades of peace.
After Kumogakure's team departed.
Konoha's squad could finally find a place to rest properly.
After a good night's sleep, they could return to the Village.
"Everyone, you rest first. I will immediately take this decree back..."
Gekkō Hayate didn't want to waste a minute, only wanting to relay the good news back to the Village.
"Hayate, you're not missing your girlfriend already, are you...?"
"Can't stand being apart for just two days? Young people these days..."
Watching the friendly teasing from his surroundings, Hayate, enveloped by the friendship of his companions, felt a warmth in his heart.
He smiled slightly, bid farewell to his companions, and immediately set off.
Running in the cold wind, he couldn't help but wonder... What was his childhood friend, Yūgao, doing right now?
Chapter 15, Chapter 16 [Two Chapters Combined]
"It's not easy for a child to live alone after all... I should replace these expired milks for him tomorrow or the day after..."
Yūgao thought to herself, the son of a hero should also be looked after.
Then, Yūgao remembered another main purpose of her visit today.
"Oh right, Naruto, can you properly control... the Nine-Tails Power?"
This question was a forbidden one.
Yūgao's heart couldn't help but pound faster.
She was still young in the year of the Nine-Tailed Demon Foxs Attack, but the destructive power displayed by the Nine-Tailed still left a huge impression on her. Just from the ruins of Konoha at the time, one could see how terrifying a Tailed Beast was.
Furthermore, this question was not entrusted by Hokage-sama, but came from her personal query.
"Nine-Tailed... What is that?"
Naruto tilted his head, indicating he didn't know the term.
"Hiss..."
Yūgao gasped, realizing then that Naruto might not even know the professional concept of a 'Tailed Beast'.
It should be said that most people in Konoha, including low-ranking Ninja, did not know the specific information about such creatures.
"That would be me, the great one..."
The Nine-Tailed, lying behind the sealing iron gate with its eyes closed, spoke its true identity in a deep but majestic voice.
"Oh, so you're called Stinky Fox Nine-Tailed." Naruto nodded, indicating he understood.
"Just Nine-Tailed will do, brat!"
The Nine-Tailed immediately opened its eyes, somewhat exasperated and baring its fangs.
Mention the Nine-Tailed, and anyone who's been around the Ninja World for a while would tremble.
How come it had no deterrent power when it came to him?
The Nine-Tailed's grumbling clearly meant: Wandered half a life, only to regret not meeting a wise lord... How did I end up with such a Jinchuriki!
Yūgao, seeing Naruto talking to himself, immediately realized he was conversing with the Nine-Tailed.
"It's called the Nine-Tailed, huh? Is this Chakraeasy enough to control...? Oh, Anbu-san~, I still don't know your name..."
Seeing Naruto's innocent expression, the Nine-Tailed knew that this kid, full of mischief, was planning some evil scheme again.
Of course, this also foreshadowed that the female human in front of him was about to have bad luck again.
"My name is Yūgao Uzuki..."
After a moment of hesitation, Yūgao still told Naruto her name.
"This is a secret. Anbu Ninja generally aren't allowed to reveal information to others. You have to keep it a secret for me, okay?"
"Okay, no problem! Yūgao-san~."
Naruto, feigning excitement, looked especially happy, as if he had made a new friend.
"Then, Yūgao-san, I'll also tell you a secret... Actually, my strength is very great, even greater than yours."
Naruto, fishing again, began to actively entice Yūgao to take the bait.
Yūgao, who was still bothered by being instantly defeated by a child, naturally wouldn't agree.
Naruto: "For example, right now, Yūgao-san~, I can still defeat you in one move."
"..."
Yūgao did not have a personality that refused to admit defeat.
But faced with a child's wild claims, she was naturally provoked into a desire to refute.
Beneath her mask, Yūgao's face began to flush, her past too unbearable to recall.
Being defeated by a child... Hokage-sama had instructed her to take good care of Naruto.
If Naruto's strength was that great, what would she be needed for?
"I'm going to use the Nine-Tails Power on Yūgao-san."
Naruto, feigning harmlessness, spoke these childish words.
Wind rose... clouds surged!
Boom!
The normally calm room was suddenly engulfed by a storm of Nine-Tailed Chakra!
Orange, visibly surging waves instantly rushed to the ceiling, forming a roaring Chakra Nine-Tailedhead there!
"Roar~~~!"
The Nine-Tailed head, letting out a roar, its materialized sound creating a shockwave that violently struck Yūgao.
"Ugh~!"
One second, Yūgao's mind was calm, even a little eager, but the next second, her expression beneath the mask turned to shock.
Blasted by the storm, her long purple hair violently flew backward.
She was almost immobilized by the forceful storm, barely able to stay in place, which consumed nearly all her strength.
"How can this be... Chakra can actually materialize...?"
Before she, shielding herself from the strong wind with her arms, could react.
Naruto, whose body had undergone an even greater change, covered by a layer of orange transparent Tailed Beast Cloak, suddenly pounced!
Bang!
What Yūgao saw before she fainted, besides a pair of vertical pupils shining with a needle-like red glow, was a certain part of his clothing bulging abnormally high... Thud!
"Kid, you hit too hard! Now let's see how you'll clean up this mess!"
Watching Yūgao fall to the ground with a thud, instantly knocked out, the first to exclaim was the Nine-Tailed.
Its gaze fell upon Yūgao's bruised forehead, where Naruto had given her a fierce punch.
It wasn't a normal straight punch, but a fist covered by the Tailed Beast Cloak.
In this state, the Jinchuriki's offense and defense would not only increase dramatically but would also be accompanied by a 'toxic' attack.
The Tailed Beast's Chakra possessed corrosive power.
In other words, not everyone was qualified to become a vessel for a Tailed Beast.