Naruto said resolutely,
"Perverted Sage, what I want is absolute power!"
Sasuke's heart sank.
"Naruto..."
Jiraiya looked at Naruto's determined expression and sighed.
"Alright, Naruto."
"If you can accomplish just one thing, I'll teach you my ultimate technique—my greatest trump card."
Naruto's eyes lit up immediately.
"What is it? Tell me!"
Jiraiya chuckled.
"You'll find out when the time comes."
"I originally didn't intend to teach it to you this early because you're still not quite ready."
"But..."
"You really can't be judged by ordinary standards."
Naruto frowned.
"Still keeping secrets? You're so stingy, Perverted Sage!"
"Hahaha."
"As long as you complete the task I've given you, I'll teach it to you immediately."
"Great!"
"So what's the mission?"
Jiraiya's expression became serious.
"I'm afraid no one can help you complete this task."
"The key lies with..."
"...the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed inside you."
Naruto paused and instinctively touched his stomach.
"The Nine-Tails..."
"I almost forgot about that thing."
Inside the mental world...
Kurama blinked in disbelief.
"...???"
Jiraiya forced a bitter smile.
"Naruto, the Nine-Tailed Fox possesses the strongest power among all the Tailed Beasts. It is a natural disaster given form."
"But if you can truly control that power, it will become your greatest weapon."
"You should already understand that every major Hidden Village possesses a Tailed Beast."
"This system has existed since the time of the First Hokage."
"The purpose is simple—to maintain a balance of power through mutual deterrence."
"The Tailed Beasts are strategic weapons."
Naruto nodded, only half understanding.
"Konoha possesses the strongest of them all..."
"The Nine-Tails."
"And now..."
"That power resides inside you."
"It was the power the Fourth Hokage protected with his life."
"Before he died, he sealed the Nine-Tails into your body."
"Do you understand the meaning behind his sacrifice?"
Naruto nodded.
"You told me before..."
"...that I needed to master the Tailed Beast's power to protect the village."
"That's right."
"It's unfortunate that you've completely refused to use it."
Naruto shook his head.
"It's not that I don't want to."
"That power is too dark."
"Too dangerous."
"If it goes out of control, I completely lose myself."
"The last time I borrowed the Nine-Tails' chakra..."
"I almost attacked Iruka-sensei."
"Ever since then..."
"I promised myself I'd never use it again."
"...Except when I went to bring Sasuke back."
Sasuke silently lowered his eyes.
His emotions became incredibly complicated.
Naruto continued,
"And honestly..."
"I don't like borrowed power."
"I prefer strength I've earned with my own hands."
"It feels much more solid."
Jiraiya nodded.
"I understand."
"The Tailed Beast's power is indeed a double-edged sword."
"If it isn't controlled properly, it hurts both its wielder and everyone around them."
"The Nine-Tails caused exactly that kind of disaster."
"So did the Eight-Tails."
"The Hidden Cloud once suffered enormous losses when its Tailed Beast went berserk."
"If you truly don't want to rely on this dangerous power..."
"I won't force you."
"But..."
"The Fourth Hokage entrusted me with the key to your seal."
"He wanted me to guide you little by little."
"If you abandon this power completely..."
"It would be a tremendous waste."
"And..."
"It wouldn't be fair to Minato."
"Besides..."
"Even if you never intend to use it..."
"The Nine-Tails is still a problem that must eventually be resolved."
"Otherwise..."
"It may interfere with the ultimate technique I intend to teach you."
The technique Jiraiya referred to...
...was naturally Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode.
His concerns were not unfounded.
In the original timeline, when Naruto trained in Sage Mode, he attempted to fuse with the Great Toad Sages Fukasaku and Shima using the Two Great Sage Technique.
However...
The Nine-Tails rejected them from within Naruto's body, bringing the training to a halt.
Jiraiya's meaning was simple.
If Naruto insisted on never relying on the Nine-Tails...
Then he first needed to solve the problem of the Nine-Tails before beginning Sage Mode training.
Naruto frowned.
"So what are you saying, Perverted Sage?"
"Should I remove the Nine-Tails from my body?"
Jiraiya snorted.
"Idiot!"
"If you did that, you'd die!"
Naruto scratched his head helplessly.
"So..."
"There's really no way for a Jinchuriki to get rid of a Tailed Beast?"
"Even if they want to?"
Jiraiya remained silent for a moment before sighing.
"That..."
"...is the fate of every Jinchuriki."
"So there really isn't any exception?"
"...No."
"Perhaps..."
"There is only one way."
"What way?"
"Death."
Naruto froze.
"...You're kidding."
"I'm not."
"As long as you're alive, you'll remain a Jinchuriki."
Naruto rolled his eyes.
"If I'm dead, why would I care anymore?"
Jiraiya shrugged.
"Unless someone dies..."
"...and is somehow brought back to life."
"There is no other way."
Naruto sighed.
"That's impossible..."
Jiraiya didn't know it, but he was actually correct.
In the original story, Gaara had exactly that experience.
After the Akatsuki extracted Shukaku from him, he died.
Later, Chiyo sacrificed her own life using a forbidden technique to resurrect him.
As a result, Gaara lost his identity as a Jinchuriki forever.
Naruto lowered his head.
"So there's really no other way..."
Jiraiya gently patted his shoulder.
"Naruto."
"There are many things even I don't understand."
"And just because I say something can't be done..."
"...doesn't mean it's truly impossible."
"Think about your Wind Release Chakra Mode."
"Before you created it..."
"Didn't everyone believe it was impossible?"
Naruto's eyes brightened.
"Perverted Sage..."
"You mean..."
Jiraiya smiled.
"Rely on your own strength."
"Find your own answer to the Nine-Tails problem."
"Maybe..."
"You'll discover the best solution."
"I believe in you."
Naruto sighed helplessly.
"...You really don't leave me any other choice."
Jiraiya burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"You're finally learning."
Naruto rubbed his stomach.
"Fine."
"I'll figure something out."
"Damn fox..."
"You just take up space."
"You barely help."
"And you're always causing trouble."
"You're like someone occupying the toilet without ever using it!"
Inside the mental world...
Kurama's eyes twitched violently.
"...???"
"You brat!"
"Do you think I enjoy being locked inside your body?"
"If you really want to get rid of me..."
"Then remove this seal immediately!"
"We'll both finally be free!"
Naruto snorted.
"Do you think I'm stupid?"
"If I release you..."
"I die."
Kurama growled coldly.
"Then stop saying such annoying things."
"And don't claim I've never helped you."
"When you saved Iruka..."
"When you chased after Sasuke..."
"Didn't you borrow my chakra both times?"
"If it weren't for me..."
"Iruka would've died."
"And you never would've caught Sasuke."
Naruto remained unmoved.
"Not necessarily."
"If you hadn't been inside me..."
"I might've become even stronger much earlier."
"I wouldn't have needed to borrow your power in the first place."
Kurama stared blankly.
"...What kind of ridiculous logic is that?"
Naruto refused to back down.
"Nine-Tails..."
"Tell me honestly."
"If you weren't sealed inside me..."
"Wouldn't I have become stronger through my own talent and hard work?"
"Don't lie."
"You've watched me ever since I was born."
"You know me better than anyone."
Kurama suddenly fell silent.
It was true.
Since Naruto's birth...
He had witnessed every moment of Naruto's life.
Every word.
Every action.
Every struggle.
If he answered honestly...
Naruto really might have become stronger without him.
Naruto's strength had come from his own talent, determination, and relentless effort.
Kurama had contributed very little.
In fact...
During Naruto's early years, his existence had often been more of a burden than a blessing.
Kurama finally snorted.
"Believe whatever you want."
"I wasn't the one who sealed myself inside you."
"In the end..."
"I'm nothing more than a weapon used by humans."
Naruto folded his arms.
"Then go complain to the people who used you."
"I never asked for you."
Kurama roared,
"They're all dead!"
"The First Hokage!"
"The Fourth Hokage!"
"They're all gone!"
Naruto shouted back.
"What does that have to do with me?"
"You didn't choose this..."
"And neither did I!"
"I've never had a choice since the day I was born!"
Kurama fell silent once again.
Naruto was right.
A newborn baby could never choose to become a Jinchuriki.
After a long silence...
Kurama growled,
"Then what exactly do you want?"
Naruto answered without hesitation.
"I want you to leave."
"Nonsense."
"So do I."
"Then break the seal."
Naruto shook his head.
"I can't."
"I want you gone..."
"But I want to stay alive too."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)