"I'm not the Nine-Tails!"
Naruto stood frozen, staring at Hiruzen Sarutobi in disbelief.
"But everyone hates me, and no one's ever told me about my parents, or the whiskers on my cheeks..."
Mizuki's words had burned deep into Naruto's mind. They'd made him essentially accept that he was the Nine-Tails.
"That's because they don't know what really happened. Mizuki doesn't either."
Hiruzen patted Naruto's head gently.
"Twelve years ago, the Fourth Hokage sealed the Nine-Tails inside you at the cost of his own life."
"So you aren't the Nine-Tails."
"I'm not... I'm not the Nine-Tails!"
Tears streamed down Naruto's face like a waterfall. These weren't sad tears—they were tears of joy. Mizuki's words had weighed on him too heavily. Knowing he wasn't the monster he'd been told to be unleashed everything at once.
Watching Naruto cry so hard, Hiruzen shook his head with an amused smile. Only after the sobs quieted did he continue.
"Naruto, all the suffering you've endured these past years was a trial."
"A trial to let you master the power of the Nine-Tails."
"A trial to master the Nine-Tails' power?" Naruto asked, still sniffling. "Why me? Why not someone else?"
Hiruzen's expression said he'd expected that question.
"Because you have the aptitude. Because we believe in you."
"The Fourth and I both believed you could master the Nine-Tails' power and keep it from harming anyone."
"Use it to protect the village. To protect everyone."
"Like the Fourth did."
Hearing this, Naruto's body trembled. He stopped crying and looked up with hopeful eyes.
"Like the Fourth... Does that mean I can become Hokage after I master the Nine-Tails' power?"
Hiruzen's smile wavered for just a second before he recovered.
"Naruto, no one can be certain about the future."
"But I can tell you this—as long as you use the Nine-Tails' power to protect the village, there's a high probability you'll become Hokage."
"High probability" was just a chance, and chances could fail. But Naruto, at his age, wasn't thinking about that. Instead, Hiruzen's words turned his sorrow into pure excitement.
"I'll be Hokage someday! Hahaha!"
Watching Naruto get fooled so easily while grinning like an idiot, Hiruzen finally relaxed.
But the old Hokage hadn't come here just to talk to Naruto. He needed to figure out what that consciousness was—the one that had occupied Naruto's body during the fight with Mizuki.
"Alright, Naruto. I've explained the Nine-Tails situation. Now it's your turn."
"Tell me—what was that thing that helped you kill Mizuki?"
Hiruzen's tone left no room for argument. His eyes locked onto Naruto, not missing a single expression.
"That thing that helped me kill Mizuki!"
Naruto's face filled with panic at the thought of his secret being exposed.
Seeing Naruto's reaction, Hiruzen's heart sank. It seemed his suspicions were right—the Nine-Tails' consciousness had broken free. Given the Nine-Tails' combat experience, it made sense that Naruto could overwhelm a chunin with his body alone.
Meanwhile, Naruto was frantically calling out in his mind.
Menma! Menma, what should I do?
Should I tell the Third Hokage about you?
Won't we be treated like monsters?
Won't they dissect us for research?
I—
Sensing Naruto's endless worry, Menma cut him off.
Calm down. You can't hide this anyway.
Menma was bold enough to speak openly, so he had no intention of hiding. After all, he'd be taking control of the body multiple times later. It would be too much trouble to make excuses every single time. Besides, it was just multiple personalities—with Naruto as the primary one. It wasn't a big deal.
As long as he demonstrated enough value, Hiruzen would be thrilled. And offering him up for dissection? Don't be ridiculous. You don't risk damaging your jinchuriki.
Just tell him the truth about us. There won't be any problems.
Menma had barely finished speaking when he remembered Hiruzen's repeated mentions of mastering the Nine-Tails' power.
Oh, and tell him I can control a small portion of it.
With that, Menma used his Corruption Points to purchase the One-Tail Chakra Mode.
[System Notification: Exchange Successful!]
[Corruption Points -2000]
[Current Corruption Points: 1400]
The emotional rollercoaster of Naruto's conversation with Hiruzen had earned him another 100 points. So: 3300 + 100 - 2000 left him with 1400.
"I'm relieved to hear that!"
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief after Menma's instructions. He turned back to Hiruzen and began to explain.
Hearing Naruto's explanation, Hiruzen was completely stunned.
"Another you... born from painful memories?"
"Strong enough to possess a small portion of the Nine-Tails' power... but can't control the body?"
Hiruzen's mouth widened as he spoke. By the end, it was completely open in an "O" shape, looking like it could swallow a fist!
After the initial shock, Hiruzen asked with a serious expression.
"Naruto, can you really regain control?"
Naruto nodded solemnly. "Yes!"
"When he was outside, I just thought about it for a second and took control back."
"That's too... too..."
Hiruzen stammered for a long time without finishing the sentence. However, the excitement on his face showed he was in a good mood.
"Can Grandpa see him?"
"And can he demonstrate the Nine-Tails' power? That way, I can help you analyze if there's any risk of it going out of control."
Naruto nodded again.
Then his entire expression changed. From warm and friendly to cold and indifferent.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Sarutobi. I am Menma Uzumaki, Naruto's dark personality."
Menma couldn't call him the Third Hokage or Hokage directly. If his strength weren't so low right now, he wouldn't even address Sarutobi as "Grandpa"—he'd just call him "Old Geezer."
"Menma Uzumaki... that's a nice name. From now on, you can call me Grandpa, just like Naruto does."
Hiruzen tried to ingratiate himself, hoping to build rapport.
Menma wasn't going to bother with his pleasantries, and he didn't need his concern. Ignoring the offer, he immediately activated the One-Tail Chakra Mode.
"This is my initial grasp of the Nine-Tails' power—the kind I have complete control over."
As he spoke, pale red chakra enveloped Menma's entire body. A thick, long, pale red tail extended from between his legs. At the same time, a violent and evil aura filled the entire room.