The Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at the crystal ball, his expression grim, not even lighting his usual pipe.
"Even Jiraiya isn't his match anymore?"
"Isn't this growth rate a little too fast?"
He recalled how, just moments ago, Lock had forced Jiraiya to release the seal within a few moves, allowing Naruto to exert suppression.
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a deep sense of fear and unease.
"This sub-personality, Lock, definitely wasn't born just three months ago!"
"Perhaps he existed from the very beginning, but just never showed himself!"
"He continuously hid himself, slowly undergoing unknown training, and mastering the Nine-Tailed Chakra!"
"It's only now that he has enough self-preservation capability that he started communicating with Naruto and appearing frequently!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that things must be exactly as he had inferred.
Otherwise, being able to perfectly control the Nine-Tailed Chakra in just three months—
—and possessing terrifying combat experience sufficient to defeat a Ninja of Kage-level strength.
This simply couldn't be explained by talent; it was too outlandish!
Moreover, there was that inexplicable Taijutsu mastery; why couldn't Naruto display it?
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that Lock was shrouded in a huge mystery.
He even suspected that Lock had been cultivating within the Nine-Tailed seal for all these years.
And was being guided by the residual Chakra of Minato or Kushina!
However, even this couldn't fully explain the mystery surrounding Lock.
But one thing was certain.
In the past three months, Lock had firmly established himself in Naruto's heart.
Given Naruto's personality, convincing him to cooperate in eliminating or sealing Lock would definitely be difficult and would cause conflict.
Therefore, the best course of action was to ensure Naruto remained dominant while continuously researching Sealing Techniques as a backup plan.
"Although it's just speculation, I must make plans soon."
Thinking this, Hiruzen Sarutobi lightly tapped the desk with his finger.
Soon, an Anbu emerged from the shadows.
"After Jiraiya and Naruto separate, have him come see me."
"Yes."
...Meanwhile, within the consciousness.
Watching Jiraiya take Naruto away.
Lock knew that the Five Elements Seal would soon be undone.
And Naruto would be able to perceive and attempt to utilize the Nine-Tailed Chakra again.
Because of his frequent usage and the body's long-term adaptation to the Nine-Tailed Chakra as a foundation.
Naruto certainly wouldn't need a long time to successfully guide and utilize it, unlike in the original work.
The degree of control would also become very easy because of him.
Therefore, Lock also needed to make some plans in advance, lest Naruto break free from his dependence.
"It's time to go see the Nine-Tailed, and my nominal 'parents'."
After the trust and reliance value reached 50%, Lock gained a certain degree of autonomy over the body.
Thus, he didn't have to remain trapped in this desolate space of consciousness; he could travel to other spaces within this body.
For example, the Sealing Space where the Nine-Tailed resides.
"Drip-drop!"
In the blink of an eye, the environment around Lock rapidly changed.
He arrived in a dim space with standing water on the floor and many dripping pipes around, resembling a city sewer.
At the far end of this space was a row of massive iron bars, identical to those in a prison.
A Sealing Talisman was quietly affixed to the keyhole of the gate in the middle of the bars.
Standing before the bars, Lock gazed steadily into the dark void behind them and spoke.
"Kurama, come out and show yourself."
The moment Lock finished speaking, a pair of scarlet vertical pupils appeared in the darkness.
Following that.
Swoosh!
Tear—!
A sharp claw, carrying a strong gust of wind, scraped across the bars, sending sparks flying, and stabbed out from the darkness behind the enclosure.
Clang!
Lock didn't move; a massive golden-red Fox Tail extended from his back and stood upright in front of him.
It firmly blocked the extended sharp claw barely a centimeter away from Lock's brow.
"Heh ha ha ha... Interesting, so interesting!"
"The Chakra on you is indeed mine!"
"And it's not the Chakra from my other half, the yin attribute one!"
A massive quantity of foul, rank wind rushed out from behind the bars.
The Nine-Tailed finally emerged from the darkness, revealing its long, fox-like face split into a wide grin.
"Actually, you're not the sub-personality of that brat outside, are you?"
The Nine-Tailed retracted its claw and continued speaking to itself, giving Lock no chance to refute.
"You don't need to deny it. I've lived for so long that I've seen more things than you've eaten rice."
"Based on the extreme negative emotions emanating from you, and your ability to generate and perfectly control my Chakra..."
"You are clearly a Tailed Beast wearing human skin!"
"And specifically, a newborn Tailed Beast created from my Chakra!"
The more the Nine-Tailed spoke, the more excited it became, and the more sense it felt it was making. By the end, its entire fox body stood up.
"There must have been an issue with the half of me sealed inside the Shinigami's stomach, which allowed you to be born and condense Chakra!"
"Although I don't know why you possess the yang attribute, it was likely influenced by my own attribute!"
After this whole analysis, the Nine-Tailed began vigorously pounding the enclosure bars.
"Wonderful, this is truly wonderful!"
"My little brother, quick, hurry, and let me out!"
"From now on, I'll look out for you! I can even lend you my Chakra to use!"
The Nine-Tailed, which didn't understand Outer Heaven Demons or Systems.
Could only force a self-explanation to rationalize the powerful Chakra on Lock's body, which was equal to its own.
Lock: "..."
Listening to the Nine-Tailed's inexplicably self-deceiving and self-convincing words.
Lock's prepared speech was momentarily forgotten; he didn't know how to begin speaking!
After frowning for a while, Lock finally spoke.
"Unfortunately, you guessed wrong."
"I am not an consciousness born from your Chakra, but the original owner of this body."
"If you must know, the one outside is the consciousness that developed later."
Lock's latter statement was not meant for the Nine-Tailed.
But rather for the residual Chakra of Minato and Kushina, who had not yet appeared.
Furthermore, he had no habit of being a fox's younger brother.
Especially not a fox that was imprisoned and slightly deranged.
"What do you mean!?"
The Nine-Tailed's smile froze on its face.
It then clung to the bars, opening its gaping maw to reveal dense rows of sharp teeth inside.
It furiously roared a foul wind toward Lock.
"You dare question my words?"
A stench of foul breath accompanied by saliva assailed him.
Lock moved aside with a cold expression, his eyes filled with chill.
"I originally wanted to communicate properly with you and even let your consciousness out to relax."
"But now it seems an animal is just an animal. It truly needs a beating before it listens to its master..."
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A/N: 40+ Advance Chapter Has Been Uploaded.
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