However, before returning to Konoha, Naruto had one more thing to deal with.
How many times had this damn Akatsuki organization provoked Naruto?
Did they really think Naruto had no temper?
But…
For now, he would stay in the Land of Snow for a few more days.
First, he needed to use the waterfall illusion to simulate enemies for Karin, helping her improve her combat experience.
Secondly, Karin needed to learn some ninjutsu so Naruto could leave with peace of mind.
…
In half a month,
Karin's strength had grown by leaps and bounds.
She was becoming more and more proficient in using the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
At the same time, due to frequent training and fighting, the Uzumaki blood in her body began to awaken.
Her Uzumaki bloodline seemed to activate, and her chakra amount began to increase explosively.
She also learned basic chakra control techniques such as tree climbing and water walking.
All ninjutsu-related training was taught by Naruto.
Clone Jutsu, Substitution Jutsu, Body Flicker Technique—she learned them all.
She also learned some low-level offensive ninjutsu.
Currently, Karin was training the Rasengan based on the method Naruto taught her.
Rasengan was a non-nature-type ninjutsu, so any ninja with any chakra nature could learn it.
As long as one found the right training method, this extremely convenient non-seal ninjutsu could be mastered.
And if she added chakra nature transformations later, she could develop her own versions of Rasengan.
The only problem was that the little Nine-Tails didn't truly accept Karin.
So Naruto wanted to prevent it from causing trouble while he was away.
Thus began the task of persuading the little Nine-Tails.
On this day, Naruto was about to leave for Amegakure.
Before leaving, Karin came to see him off.
The two hugged for a while.
Naruto then said to the little Nine-Tails inside Karin's body: "Little Nine-Tails, I know you don't really want to help Karin."
The cute voice of the little Nine-Tails replied, "As long as you know. These annoying Uzumaki brats… sooner or later, one day…"
Naruto shook his head slightly and said, "Little Nine-Tails, don't be so cruel. I know your grievances, and I understand how you feel."
"But right now, Karin is just beginning to grow stronger. I can't give you your freedom yet."
"But I can promise you this: as long as you sincerely protect Karin for ten years, I will set you free."
Inside Karin's sealed space, the little Nine-Tails sneered. "Do you think I'll believe human nonsense?"
Kurama spoke up, "This time I won't threaten you. I'll simply show you my memories."
Then Kurama condensed a small amount of chakra on Naruto's body.
Kurama said to Naruto, "Naruto, these chakra fragments carry certain memories I reproduced. Give them to the fox."
It seemed Kurama was not persuading the little Nine-Tails out of sympathy, but because Naruto wanted him to.
Kurama had a poor relationship with any of the little Nine-Tails, even bordering on hostility.
Naruto wasn't entirely sure why.
Naruto sent the chakra Kurama had given him into Karin's sealed space.
The little Nine-Tails absorbed the memory of Kurama's experience.
Naruto had once promised Kurama that if he helped him find Hinata, he would set Kurama free.
And Naruto kept that promise.
Finding someone was, after all, simple.
When the little Nine-Tails realized Naruto wasn't lying, it became excited. "Human! We agreed—I will only protect her for ten years! After ten years, you must set me free!"
Naruto smiled and nodded. "Of course. I won't lie to you."
The little Nine-Tails pouted. "Hmph! Then at least let me use a male voice when I speak?"
"No." Naruto warned, "Otherwise, I'll kill you. That's my bottom line."
Little Nine-Tails: "…"
…
Naruto had originally come to the Land of Snow by boat.
So he couldn't leave Flying Thunder God marks along the way.
There was no way to mark the ocean.
And Flying Thunder God kunai would sink to the bottom of the sea.
Even if a kunai were at the bottom of the sea, Naruto wouldn't dare teleport there.
The pressure in the deep sea was immense.
Naruto was confident in his physical strength—
But he wouldn't take such a risk.
No one in their right mind would go against the forces of nature intentionally.
So Naruto took the land route, leaving Flying Thunder God marks along the way.
Even so, it took him less than an hour to sense the first mark he had left back on the continent.
After that, the rest was easy.
Within a few minutes, Naruto appeared on a rock outside the Land of Rain.
Looking at the gloomy sky over Amegakure, Naruto's expression grew serious.
Naruto was very strong at this point, but he was about to face the entire Akatsuki organization.
Even Naruto had to be cautious.
Naruto raised one hand to form a seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Smoke burst forth, and five Shadow Clones appeared.
Naruto said, "Start gathering senjutsu chakra. I'll take action once you're ready."
The clones wasted no time and immediately sat cross-legged on the ground.
Senjutsu chakra was formed by fusing natural energy with normal chakra.
Naruto now possessed the Sage Mode of Shikkotsu Forest—Senju Hashirama's Sage Mode.
This didn't mean he had to physically be in the sacred land to gather senjutsu chakra.
It was simply that natural energy there was richer, making the process quicker.
Before fighting the Akatsuki, Naruto needed full preparation.
Naruto himself sat cross-legged and began to gather senjutsu chakra.
After a while, black markings appeared around his eyes, which turned orange.
He activated the Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique and floated into the air.
Then Naruto began applying buffs to himself.
"Lightning Style — Lightning Release Armor!"
Zzzzz—
Lightning burst across Naruto's body.
His durability and speed increased to terrifying levels.
Naruto: "Kurama."
Kurama: "Mm."
Zzzzz—!
A blinding golden flash enveloped Naruto, instantly covering the lightning armor beneath.
The terrifying Nine-Tails chakra flowed into Naruto.
Nine-Tails Chakra Mode—activated!
Naruto felt the enhancement from the mode and was stunned.
Because even Sage Mode and Lightning Release Armor combined couldn't increase his power as much as this form.
Kurama seemed to sense Naruto's confusion and laughed. "Hmph! I now possess chakra several times larger than my complete form. I'm not afraid even of the Ten-Tails!"
"The quality of my chakra is close to the Ten-Tails, and the amount exceeds it. Of course the boost is enormous!"
Naruto smiled and nodded.
At this moment, Naruto's body was wrapped in dazzling golden Nine-Tails chakra. Sage markings framed his eyes. The lightning armor surged beneath the golden glow.
His golden pupils narrowed, as if seeing through, across vast distances—
All the way to the central tower of Amegakure.
There, Nagato—whose condition had changed—also sensed the disturbance…
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