Back home, after a quick wash, Naruto opened a book on chakra and began to review its contents.
He hadn't always been someone who enjoyed reading, but under Aizen-sensei's tutelage, he had gradually come to understand the importance of knowledge.
Beyond mere strength, intelligence was an indispensable component.
He had once heard Aizen say, "The sharpness of a weapon is certainly important, but without a mind to wield it, that very sharpness can turn against its owner."
Naruto read quietly for an hour.
For him, this hour wasn't just for review; it was a time to calm his mind, to reflect on everything he had done.
Through the experiences of the past few days, he had also come to a general understanding of the conspiracy surrounding him.
The most pressing headache for him now was the Nine-Tails.
Naruto put down his book, sighed, and skillfully formed the hand seals.
"Clone Jutsu!"
A swirl of smoke, and a bizarrely misshapen human figure appeared before Naruto.
Naruto smashed his clone with a single punch, a perfect smile gracing his features.
The Nine-Tails was still diligently interfering with his chakra.
"If you insist on being cruel, then don't blame me for being unjust. Let's suffer together."
Drip, drop. The familiar sound of water dripping in the sealed space echoed once more. Naruto opened his eyes to a dim, murky view, and a cold smirk instantly touched his lips.
He brushed off non-existent dust from his clothes and sauntered leisurely towards the massive iron gate.
The moment Naruto entered the sealed space, the Nine-Tails had sensed him. It let out a disdainful snort and closed its eyes, feigning sleep.
It wasn't as foolish as those humans believed. For years, it had been lying low, using its own red chakra to continuously erode this sealed space.
Though the effect was minuscule, it was indeed working. Perhaps in a few decades, it could completely escape this prison named Uzumaki Naruto.
However, this interference also meant Naruto's chakra control would plummet, resulting in his inability to perfectly execute ninjutsu.
That brat Naruto had previously disdained its power, little knowing that without proper chakra control, he couldn't even become a proper ninja.
I'd like to see how you, little brat, will beg me, the Nine-Tails thought, unable to suppress a surge of smugness.
Clack. Naruto's footsteps halted before the iron gate.
"Stop pretending. I know you're awake," Naruto's gentle voice reached the Nine-Tails' ears.
The Nine-Tails didn't answer. It scratched its cheek with a claw, muttering to itself, "Where did this mosquito come from? How strange."
It then continued, as if thinking aloud, "My, my, what's that Uzumaki Naruto brat up to? This old fox just had a nap. Is my chakra working? Still interfering, eh? This mosquito is so annoying; let's increase the chakra output a bit."
Red chakra seeped from the Nine-Tails' body, suffusing the sealed space.
Witnessing this, Naruto felt no anger. Instead, a flicker of amusement danced in his eyes.
"So you want to play these games with me, huh? Interesting."
He had read many books from the Human World—ones Aizen had likely procured through Soul Society—that dealt with psychology and the human condition. He understood that for a prisoner confined long-term, every day was a monotonous bore.
Trapped in the darkness of the sealed space, one's mental state could easily crumble. Perhaps this was one reason for the Nine-Tails' extreme irascibility.
To the Nine-Tails, he was undoubtedly an outlet for its pent-up emotions.
Having craved interaction for so long, the Nine-Tails was surely eager to communicate with him in any way possible.
Naruto sat down on the cold floor, feigning nonchalance as he mused aloud, "This sealed space is really small. You're an animal, so how do you manage, you know... eating and waste? And what's that smell? Nine-Tails, haven't you bathed? Oh, right, my bad. I forgot you can't exactly bathe in here."
The first characteristic of a prisoner: an inconvenient, undignified life.
Hearing this, the Nine-Tails snorted coldly, its nose twitching.
Smell? What smell?
Naruto, unhurried, used his Reiatsu to condense a barbecue grill. He skewered some chicken wings and placed them over the conjured flames.
"Suddenly, I'm a bit hungry. Guess I'll have some barbecue."
He sprinkled on some cumin and chili powder, even thoughtfully using his Reiatsu to condense a fan, wafting the fragrant smoke towards the iron gate behind which the Nine-Tails resided.
The Nine-Tails' nostrils flared wildly, its throat bobbing.
"Grilled over natural charcoal, every fiber of the chicken dances, perfectly enveloped in the smoky aroma. The high heat crisps the surface while locking in the juices. One bite, and the fragrance explodes—tender and succulent. Ah, truly delicious~~" Naruto expertly turned the chicken wings, the tantalizing scent relentlessly drilling its way into the Nine-Tails' nose, seeping through every possible opening.
The second characteristic of a prisoner: a desperate craving for delicacies.
Damn brat!
The Nine-Tails pressed its claws against its nose, saliva flooding its mouth.
Within the sealed space, it had no need to eat, drink, or excrete, but it definitely retained vivid memories of tasting delicious food from its time of freedom. Back then, it would sometimes hunt for wild game in the forests.
This aroma was a hundred times—no, ten thousand times—more fragrant than any delicacy it had ever tasted.
"Stinking brat! Your skewers reek! Get lost!" the Nine-Tails roared.
Naruto paid it no mind, continuing his grilling motions.
When a prisoner is confined for too long, they develop an intense longing for good food.
Once this craving was awakened, it would become utterly uncontrollable.
For a prisoner, the greatest torture was to see and smell, but not be able to taste.
"You enjoy interfering with my chakra control, don't you? Well, I'll let you experience what it truly feels like to wish for death," Naruto thought viciously, elegantly rotating a skewer.
"A pair of grilled wings brings double the happiness, wouldn't you say?"
"Something this delicious really ought to be shared," he mumbled loudly.
"Hmph! Brat! You think this great me would like such low-class food? Let me tell you, I've tasted countless delicacies! This little stuff of yours is trash in my eyes!" the Nine-Tails retorted haughtily.
"Oh, I know," Naruto said, blowing gently on a skewer. "That's why it's for me. A high-class demon beast like yourself naturally has your own gourmet fare to enjoy. Why would you ever deign to look at mere mortal food?" Then, under the Nine-Tails' gaze—its pupils looking like they might just shatter from sheer intensity—Naruto thrust the skewer into his mouth.
Chewing, he even offered a critique: "The flavor is actually quite decent."
Gulp.
Naruto thought he heard a certain creature swallow hard. His perfectly elegant smile almost broke, threatening to twist into a mischievous grin.
But Naruto knew that tormenting its appetite alone wasn't enough.
He intended to break the Nine-Tails completely, body and soul.
Thus, he used his Reiatsu to create a computer just inside the iron bars of the Nine-Tails' cage.
"Farewell for now, Nine-Tails. I hope you'll have learned to be a bit more cooperative by our next meeting."
As he was about to leave, he seemed to remember something. He turned back and added, "Oh, by the way, aren't the Three Academy Jutsu supposed to be basic ninjutsu? Why are they so incredibly difficult to master?"
With that, he gave a meaningful smile and vanished from the sealed space.
"What tricks is that stinking brat playing now?" After Naruto left, the Nine-Tails turned, muttering to itself. Its gaze was immediately drawn to the strange machine.
It was a square, television-like object, with a mouse-like thing beside it, a rectangular tray, and a cylindrical tower.
"What is all this?" The Nine-Tails approached curiously, poking at the setup with its claws.
It didn't know what it prodded, but the square object suddenly lit up, and the word "Windows" appeared on its screen.