When they returned to camp, Kakashi looked at the two of them in surprise.
“What happened to you two…?”
Naruto had changed into a clean set of clothes, while Sakura was also wearing one of Naruto’s outfits.
On top of that, Sakura was following behind Naruto with a red face.
The two of them looked as though they were hiding some unspeakable secret.
“I took Sakura to practice water-walking just now, but she accidentally fell into the river.”
“She didn’t bring spare clothes, so she had no choice but to wear mine.”
Naruto briefly explained what had happened, yawned, found his usual tree, walked up to a branch, and promptly went to sleep.
Kakashi: “…”
Kakashi looked toward Sakura, who was sitting beneath the tree in a daze.
Assuming she was upset because she had failed the water-walking exercise, he walked over to comfort her.
“Water-walking is fairly difficult to begin with. You’ll get it after practicing a few more times.”
“Mm. I will.”
Sakura responded absentmindedly.
She touched the clothes Naruto had lent her, then glanced toward Sasuke, who was still training desperately in the distance.
Sakura sighed.
An hour later—
Sasuke finally achieved his goal and completed the tree-climbing exercise.
However, he had also exhausted himself completely, so Kakashi decided to let him rest for a few hours before they headed back.
Several hours later, once Sasuke had recovered, he walked over to Naruto and asked about the special training Naruto had given Sakura.
Naruto briefly explained the method and purpose of water-walking training.
“Thanks.”
“No need.”
Naruto waved dismissively.
He didn’t have any particular feelings toward Sasuke, but he wasn’t going to refuse such a minor request either.
After all, aside from calling Naruto the dead last in the past, Sasuke had never really done anything to offend him.
Hmm…
Dead last!
Two days later—
Team 7 returned to the village and reported the mission to the Third Hokage.
Naruto didn’t feel like going, so he sent a Shadow Clone in his place.
The other three members of Team 7 could only grind their teeth at the sight.
The first thing Naruto wanted to do after returning to Konoha was take a bath and then go see Hinata.
Unfortunately, it was already too late in the day, so the bath would have to come first.
Naruto had earned several tens of thousands of ryō from the C-rank mission, so this time, he decided to visit a public bathhouse.
Konoha’s bathhouses were divided into men’s baths, women’s baths, and mixed bathing areas.
The women of Konoha were relatively conservative, and usually only a few elderly women chose the mixed bath when the regular baths were too crowded.
So Naruto had no intention of using the mixed bath.
Besides, mixed bathing was more expensive.
As for why it cost more…
Those who understood, understood.
Naruto soaked in the warm water.
Gradually, he drifted off to sleep.
His consciousness sank into the seal where Kurama was imprisoned.
“Yo, Kurama!”
Kurama completely ignored Naruto’s greeting.
The massive fox lay on the ground and pretended to be asleep.
This wasn’t Naruto’s first time coming here.
At first, Kurama had been extremely aggressive and constantly threatened to kill him.
But later, some mysterious force had continuously strengthened the seal, and Kurama had gradually learned to behave itself.
Even worse, it had discovered that the more it raged and shouted, the weaker its control over its own chakra became while the seal grew increasingly stronger.
This brat called Naruto was provoking it on purpose to steal its power!
“Don’t be so cold.”
Naruto walked up to Kurama and knocked on the iron bars of its cage.
At this distance, Kurama could reach him with a single swipe of its paw.
And yet—
Kurama didn’t move.
“Hmph. What a pathetic attempt at provocation.”
Kurama sneered disdainfully.
There was no way it would let Naruto anger it so easily and steal even more of its power.
[Ding! Detected Kurama mocking the host. The seal inside your body has worked hard and strengthened itself by 100%!]
The instant the System notification ended, Kurama’s prison shrank to half its original size!
Kurama, who had previously had plenty of room to stretch out, froze.
I didn’t even do anything!
I only mocked this brat once!
Why did the seal get stronger?!
Am I not even allowed to insult him?!
Thinking this, Kurama glared at Naruto through gritted teeth.
[Ding! Kurama is gnashing his teeth at the host. Your body has worked hard and gained control over another 10% of the Nine-Tails’ chakra!]
The corners of Naruto’s mouth curved upward.
He stared at Kurama as though looking at an enormous piece of juicy meat.
Combined with all the provocation over the past several months, Naruto could now control ninety percent of the Nine-Tails’ power!
Kurama suddenly felt another large portion of its strength inexplicably disappear.
“Brat! What did you do?!”
“I’ll kill you! You damned brat!”
Kurama pressed itself against the bars and repeatedly slammed its paws against them, roaring furiously.
“What did I do?”
Naruto smiled faintly at Kurama.
“Take a look at my eyes.”
The Two-Tomoe Sharingan spun within Naruto’s pupils.
“SHARINGAN!!!”
“How… How is that possible?! How could you possibly have the Sharingan?!”
Anger.
Fear.
Terror.
All three emotions flooded Kurama’s mind.
As though it had encountered its natural predator, the massive fox helplessly backed into a corner of the cage.
Why is this Jinchūriki so terrifying?
Kurama muttered to itself.
[Ding! Detected that the Nine-Tails has completely submitted to the host. The host has awakened Nine-Tails Mode.]
Nine-Tails Mode was divided into Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and Kurama Mode.
One allowed Naruto to wield the Nine-Tails’ power while remaining in human form.
The other allowed him to use its power in tailed-beast form.
Different techniques could be used in each state.
Nine-Tails Chakra Mode granted access to chakra arms, miniature Tailed Beast Balls, and the ability to sense malicious intent.
Kurama Mode allowed the use of Tailed Beast Balls and full Tailed Beast Transformation.
“Hmm~ Does that mean I’m basically a perfect Jinchūriki now?”
Naruto wondered.
[Ding! Successfully frightened the Nine-Tails. Your Sharingan is extremely pleased and has worked hard enough to evolve into the Three-Tomoe Sharingan!]
“…”
“Sure enough, the Sharingan really does need emotional stimulation to evolve.”
Having successfully driven Kurama into depression, Naruto left the Nine-Tails’ prison and returned to reality.
“Ah~”
Feeling a surge of power rise through his body, Naruto couldn’t help letting out a moan.
“Hey, keep it down over there!”
“Ichikawa-san, aren’t we the ones in the mixed bath?”
“Then what’s on the other side?”
“The men’s bath.”
“…”
The two men suddenly felt a chill run down their spines.