Chương 17: The Nine-Tails
A month passed calmly, carrying a deceptive tranquility after the storm of recent events. The village of Konoha had settled into an uneasy rhythm, with whispers of Danzo's death and Mirai's confrontation with the Third Hokage still fresh in the minds of many. Despite the tension, life moved on.
Mirai had returned to his mundane routine of teaching Naruto how to refine and control chakra. He knew that children from the prominent clans had already started their training at an early age, and he wanted to give Naruto the same foundation. However, Naruto was struggling. Despite his massive chakra reserves, he found it difficult to control and refine his chakra, leading to growing frustration with each passing day.
One afternoon, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the village, Mirai observed Naruto from a distance. The boy's usually bright and determined expression was marred by confusion and discontent. Mirai had noticed the telltale signs of interference in Naruto's chakra control, something that should have been easier given his lineage and natural talent.
With a furrowed brow, Mirai decided to investigate further. He knew that the seal containing the Nine-Tails, played a significant role in Naruto's chakra control issues. He delved into his memories of the sealing techniques he had learned with Minato from Kushina, a master of Fūinjutsu.
Mirai examined the seal on Naruto's abdomen closely, using his chakra to trace its intricate patterns and understand its structure. He recognized the twin [Four Symbol Seals] working in tandem to create the [Eight Trigrams Sealing Style], a complex and powerful seal the Uzumaki clan. This sealing style allowed small amounts of the Nine-Tails' chakra to naturally mix with Naruto's own, a necessity to ensure the young Jinchūriki's future but also a source of his struggles.
Minato's seal was a masterpiece of Fūinjutsu, intended to give Naruto access to the immense power of the Nine-Tails while preventing the beast from overwhelming him. However, it also meant that Naruto's chakra control would always be challenging, especially without proper guidance. And it seems that Naruto was receiving more than that he could manage.
Mirai sighed, his mind racing with possibilities. Reinforcing the seal was a solution, but it required a key which probably in Jiraiya's hands.
Mirai knew that reasoning with the Nine-Tails was likely futile. The beast's long history of enmity towards humans and its resentment for being imprisoned meant that diplomacy was not an option. Force, if necessary, would be the only way to gain the cooperation of the formidable fox.
That evening, as the village settled into its nightly rhythm, Mirai and Naruto sat in a quiet room. The walls were lined with scrolls and diagrams, remnants of Kushina and Minato's teachings.
"Close your eyes, Naruto." Mirai instructed gently. "We're going to do something important tonight. Trust me."
Naruto nodded, his blue eyes filled with determination. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, just as Mirai had taught him.
Mirai placed his hands on Naruto's shoulders, channeling his chakra in a precise, controlled manner. He formed a series of complex hand seals. The seal on Naruto's abdomen glowed with a bright blue light, the intricate patterns of the [Eight Trigrams Sealing Style] becoming visible.
In an instant, Mirai and Naruto found themselves transported to Naruto's mindscape. The place resembled an underground complex, with pipes running along the ceiling and various hallways. The floor was flooded with a shallow layer of water, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Arriving there, Naruto opened his eyes and glanced around, bewildered by the dreary atmosphere. "Where is this place? How did I get here?" He asked, his voice tinged with fear as he felt the oppressive air suffocate him.
Before his anxiety could escalate, a gentle hand landed on his head. Mirai's calming presence and soft voice eased Naruto's tension slightly. "Where are we, Uncle?" Naruto asked, his eyes wide with curiosity and unease.
Mirai paused for a moment, searching for a simple way to explain the complex reality. "Naruto, we are inside your mind." He began. "This place is the source of your problems, the prison of the Nine-Tails. The fox that is sealed within you."
Naruto's eyes widened further, a mix of shock and confusion crossing his face. "The Nine-Tails? The one everyone talks about? It's inside me?"
Mirai nodded, keeping his voice calm and reassuring. "Yes, Naruto. The Nine-Tails's chakra is interfering with yours, making it difficult for you to control your own power. But we're here to confront it and find a way to help you gain control."
Naruto took a gulp of his saliva, gathered his courage and nodded, not fully understanding but nonetheless knowing the seriousness of the situation.
As they ventured deeper into the mindscape, the oppressive atmosphere grew stronger. The hallways seemed endless, the shallow water on the floor rippling with each step they took.
At the end of their path, they soon found themselves standing before a large cage with enormous bars, towering and imposing. In the darkness within, a pair of glowing red elongated pupils glared at them with pure hatred, their intensity cutting through the shadows.
Naruto's breath hitched as he took in the sight, his body instinctively recoiling from the malevolent presence, inching closer to Mirai for comfort. "Wh-what is that?" He whispered stammering, his voice trembling with fear.
Mirai tightened his grip on Naruto's hand, offering a reassuring squeeze. "That, Naruto, is the Nine-Tails." He said, his voice steady. "The source of your struggles and the reason we're here."
The beast's eyes narrowed further as it recognized Mirai and its jailer, Naruto. A low, menacing growl reverberated through the chamber, shaking the very ground they stood on. "So, the brat has brought a guest." The Nine-Tails snarled. "What do you want, human?"
Mirai stepped forward, his expression calm yet resolute. "Nine-Tails, we need to talk. Naruto is struggling with his chakra because of your interference. We need your cooperation to help him gain control."
The Nine-Tails's laughter was dark and mocking. "Cooperation? You expect me to help you? Pathetic."
Mirai's eyes hardened. "A peaceful solution was never in my expectation, I will use force."
The Nine-Tails's eyes glinted with amusement and disdain. "Force? You think you can compel me with force? Foolish human."
Naruto, still hiding and shielding himself behind Mirai's back, asked hesitatingly, "Uncle Mirai, can you really defeat it?"
Mirai turned his head and smiled at him, ruffling Naruto's hair gently. "If it were the complete Nine-Tails, it would be debatable." He replied. "But now, with only half its size and power, it's doable."
Naruto nodded slowly, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe as he peeked around Mirai to get another glimpse of the monstrous beast within the cage. The Nine-Tails's eyes narrowed, still filled with a simmering fury, but its earlier thrashing had subsided.
With a deep breath, Mirai walking trough the huge bars of the cage towards the fox. "Naruto, stay back." He instructed. "This might get intense."
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