Aomi smiled as he watched the scene unfold.
The Nine-tails was right about Naruto's good fortune, indeed it was.
Aomi, who had awakened Bonke Jizaiten, needed Naruto to change that predetermined line of destiny and to cultivate the feelings behind him to increase the power returned to Aomi…
And all of this was accomplished seamlessly through Aomi's teaching of Naruto.
Naruto met Aomi, and through a changed Naruto, Aomi would receive gifts far exceeding the Chakra Fruit—
If Naruto could break free from his original destiny and grow enough to overturn the Ninja World of the Otherworld, even reaching the degree of the Six Paths Sage…
After all.
The current Naruto was no longer a suitable Asura Chakra reincarnation.
But an independent individual!
The Six Paths of Yang Power would likely not appear on Naruto, and might instead be used as a weapon against him.
"Nine-tails, do you want to learn? If you want to, I can teach you..."
Aomi chuckled as he looked at the Nine-tails, who was envious but didn't dare to speak, and said slowly:
"And Naruto as well."
"I've said it before, I don't need you to repay me…"
"I've already received gifts from you and the Nine-tails, so you don't need to worry about my gains or losses, just focus on getting the power you want from me…"
"Think about the kind of life you want to lead, and just do what you want to do."
A gentle smile, perhaps even described as kind, appeared on Aomi's handsome face, causing both Naruto and the Nine-tails to shudder internally.
Is this what it means for a master to be like a father?
How could Aomi have gained anything from them?
Neither Naruto nor the Nine-tails felt like they had anything of value to offer Aomi...
Even if it wasn't valuable.
Aomi hadn't taken anything from them!
On the contrary, Naruto and the Nine-tails had been continuously receiving his gifts since they met Aomi…
And they were extremely precious!
Compared to Aomi's gifts and teachings, the Nine-tails was more moved by Aomi's attitude towards it.
Aomi truly didn't treat it as an outsider but genuinely regarded it as a human just like Naruto…
Even when it had first attacked Aomi, Aomi treated it with a smiling face, as if dealing with a mischievous child.
"Is he someone like the Six Paths old man?" the Nine-tails mused, but felt it was somehow different.
Although the Nine-tails liked the Six Paths Sage very much, it had to admit, the old man was kind and good to the Tailed Beasts but never regarded them as completely independent individuals...
When the Six Paths Sage parted with the Nine-tails…
That scene was etched deep in the Nine-tails' mind.
"...Shukaku, Matatabi...Gyuki, Kurama, even if you're separated, you will always be together, one day you will become one…"
"... You will be guided correctly..."
Those words, in themselves, were not problematic.
But in contrast to Aomi's constant emphasis to the Nine-tails and Naruto—"Find your own path, live your own life, without the influence of others…"
Even if that other person was himself, Aomi didn't want the Nine-tails and Naruto to be influenced by him, but to focus on their true intentions.
No predetermined fate, no inherent arrangements, and no prophecy of a blue-eyed boy playfully calling out the names of nine beasts.
Only the freedom to choose and the strength and love demonstrated during teaching...
In comparison, the Six Paths Sage felt like an ancient, rigid patriarch, treating his children well but setting their future paths in stone.
Aomi also felt like a father but was much more open-minded, making the Nine-tails feel he genuinely had its best interests at heart!
As for Aomi's claim that he had already received something valuable...
The Nine-tails did not believe it!
This was just a ploy to comfort a child like Naruto. How could the worldly-wise Lord Nine-tails be fooled by such an obvious excuse?
Aomi must have gained nothing, but his heart was simply too vast and generous, not wanting Naruto and itself to feel burdened by his gifts…
"I was just thinking how Naruto is a stinky brat blessed with incredible luck, lucky enough to make me jealous…"
The Nine-tails, having realized many things, couldn't help but raise its fox chin.
"But I am lucky too, aren't I?"
And beside him, Naruto's heart was in turmoil, his eyes glistening with tears as he stared straight at Aomi.
He wasn't foolish…
After meeting Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, meeting his father and mother definitely brought Naruto joy, but also some disappointment.
It turned out that even his closest family had arranged a fate for him without his choice…
Not that it was a reproach, just disappointment.
In the original timeline, when Namikaze Minato and Naruto met, Naruto punched Minato in the abdomen while crying hard.
And now, Naruto understood Minato's choice at the time, it was a betrayal of Konoha that led to his childhood mistakes...
But no matter what.
Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina had arranged a life for him as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
This was something Naruto couldn't choose, regardless of whether his childhood was embraced by Konoha or frowned upon by the entire village.
But Aomi was different from his parents.
Aomi gave Naruto so much, including warmth and joy he had never experienced before, as well as the fulfillment and satisfaction of gaining strength…
But he always emphasized—
No need for repayment, do not let the existence of his presence become a constraint on one's future.
Follow your heart and grow freely and comfortably…
This kind of kindness.
Little Naruto didn't understand much, only feeling that thinking about Aomi brought more happiness than meeting Minato and Uzumaki Kushina did.
Aomi looked at the small person and the large fox, each trying to maintain their composure, but unable to hide their excitement, and smiled with a gentle gaze as always.
One could say only Zetsu is truly clever…
Even if Aomi told Zetsu about the system named Mangekyo Dojutsu, his dear brother or rather sister would believe it without a doubt.
But clumsy Naruto and the Nine-tails still questioned Aomi's sincerity…
Why couldn't they just believe it?
"Alright, let's put this topic aside for now. For living freely, you two kids are still lacking in power…"
Aomi glanced at the Nine-tails, speaking with a bit of puzzlement:
"Little fox, do you want to learn or not?"
"If not, say a word…"
The Nine-tails nodded vigorously, instantly switching from a melancholic memory mode to a fawning smile: "Aomi bro, I want to learn, I really do!"
Whether it was little fox, stinky boy, or kid…
Aomi's various names for the Nine-tails did not provoke any opposition from it, instead, it felt endearing…
The Nine-tails didn't feel discontent, but Naruto on the side was not happy.
"Fox, you even called him Aomi bro? You're copying me!"
Naruto glared at the Nine-tails angrily: "You can't call him that!"
"Haha…" This time, the Nine-tails made a face at Naruto: "I'll call him, I'll call him! Makes you mad, makes you mad, makes you mad..."
This time, even Aomi couldn't help but chuckle.
These two childish brats…
"Okay! It's time to continue training Dust Release, Nine-tails, come over too…"
Aomi cleared his throat, added two Dust Release Barriers, and handed them to the Nine-tails and Naruto…
The Nine-tails and Naruto immediately tensed up, too busy to bicker, and threw themselves into a new round of learning.
The man and fox secretly pumped themselves up, both wanting to master Dust Release faster than the other, to prove they were the ones most qualified to call Aomi bro!
While Naruto and the Nine-tails were learning Dust Release.
Uchiha Itachi, filled with the Will of Fire and concerned about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki going berserk, was reporting information about Naruto to Sarutobi Hiruzen in the Hokage Office.
And explaining the situation within the Uchiha Clan.
"In short, Third Lord, the Uchiha hawks are likely to target the unstable Naruto, which is extremely dangerous."
"At this point, perhaps only some extreme measures can stop them!" Uchiha Itachi knelt halfway on the ground, reporting to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Itachi, I still remember when you first joined Anbu, you were only seven…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took up his pipe: "But even then, you could think through problems with the mind of a Hokage…"
"So, is there really no peaceful solution left?"
The Hokage exhaled a heavy puff of smoke:
"No matter what, the Uchiha are part of Konoha, they are Konoha's ninjas, members of the village…"
"Itachi, do you understand what I mean?"