In the courtyard, Nawaki grit his teeth and faced Kaito, his expression resolute.
Kaito stared at him for a moment, the icy mask on his face gradually melting away. He dispelled the intimidating aura he had created with his [Aura Power] and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Nawaki. You passed the test."
"I... I passed?" Nawaki said, stunned.
The moment his focus broke, he collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
"Mmm," Kaito nodded. "You weren't perfectly composed, but your will is firm enough. You won't be easily swayed by the Nine-Tails. So, we can try moving on to the next step."
"That's great!" Nawaki leaped to his feet, as if all his previous fatigue had vanished. "Teacher Kaito, what should I do next?"
"After overcoming your psychological barriers, the next step is practical application. For the sake of Konoha, go and give it your all... to win over the Nine-Tails' heart!"
"Huh?"
Kaito led Nawaki to his bedroom. "Take off your shirt," he said.
"Oh."
Nawaki obediently removed his shirt, revealing his small frame.
Next to his navel, the intricate characters of a sealing formula were linked together like an iron chain, creating a peculiar sight.
"Is this the jutsu that seals the Nine-Tails?" Kaito asked curiously.
"Yeah," Nawaki explained. "It's the Adamantine Sealing Chains formula, an improved version of the original jutsu that only the Uzumaki clan can use. The seal's strength is top-notch; what happened last time was a special case. But it has to constantly absorb my chakra, which is why I run out after using just a few ninjutsu."
A sealing jutsu naturally requires a constant supply of chakra to be maintained.
A more basic seal would use the caster's chakra, requiring them to inject new energy before it's completely depleted. The seal Mito Uzumaki had placed on Nawaki, however, was more advanced; it could supplement itself using the chakra of the one being sealed.
This was also why Nawaki, who should have had a massive chakra reserve, was now only slightly stronger than an average ninja.
His current power was at a standard genin level. He was no match for a Naruto or Sasuke at his age, let alone someone like Boruto.
"Hmm, a sturdy seal, is it?"
Kaito placed his hand on Nawaki's stomach. As expected, the chakra plate remained dormant.
The sealing jutsu not only prevented the Nine-Tails' chakra from leaking out but also blocked external energy from entering, acting as a protective layer. Even someone as powerful as a member of the Otsutsuki clan could only draw it out bit by bit.
'Still, if Sasuke can just waltz in there with his Sharingan, my Aura Power should be able to get in too.'
With that thought, Kaito said, "Close your eyes and focus all your attention on the seal on your stomach."
"Okay."
Nawaki did as he was told.
Kaito also closed his eyes, preparing to use his Aura's telepathic abilities to enter the sealed space.
Following Kaito's instructions, Nawaki sank his consciousness into the seal. When he opened his eyes again, the scene before him had changed dramatically.
He was no longer in his bedroom but in a dark, reddish space. Before him stood a massive cage, more than ten stories high.
Inside the cage, a demon fox, its limbs and neck bound tightly by chains, snapped open eyes that were larger than Nawaki's entire body.
"You brat, how did you get in here?"
"You're the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox?" Nawaki gasped, but he quickly remembered Kaito's warning and calmed himself down.
"Why can't I be here?" he said, pointing at the Nine-Tails. "Remember this! My name is Nawaki, and I came here specifically to see you! Let's live together in peace!"
"Idiot. I wasn't talking to you." Kurama's gaze passed over Nawaki to land on another figure behind him.
"Nawaki, he's talking to me." Kaito walked forward from behind, a smile on his face as he patted Nawaki's shoulder.
"Eh? Teacher Kaito, you can come in here too?"
"Mmm, it's just a little trick. Don't worry about it."
Kaito waved at Kurama. "Yo! Nice to meet you. How are you?"
"Look at me! How do you think I am?!"
The irritable Kurama immediately opened its mouth, revealing terrifying fangs. "You bastard! If you hadn't interfered last time, I would be free by now! And you still dare to show your face before me!"
It lunged forward, and if not for the chains holding it back, it would have torn Kaito to shreds.
"Now, don't be angry. You're the one who attacked me first, remember?"
Kaito pulled Nawaki a few steps forward, closer to the cage. The massive form of Kurama filled their entire vision like a small mountain.
"The reason we're here is that I want you to become good friends with him," Kaito said to Kurama, patting Nawaki's head. "Right, Nawaki?"
"Yeah!" Nawaki nodded earnestly. "Nine-Tails, let's be friends!"
"Friends? Hahahaha, what a joke!"
The Nine-Tails sneered. "Don't think I don't know what you're plotting. Even in here, I can still sense what's happening in the outside world. So don't waste your effort. There is nothing but hatred between me and you humans. When I get out, I'll kill every last one of you!"
"..." Seeing such a violent Nine-Tails, Nawaki's confidence wavered significantly. "Teacher Kaito, can we really become friends with it?"
"As long as you're sincere, of course you can."
"Sincere?" Nawaki took a deep breath. "Okay, I'll try again."
He turned to the Nine-Tails and shouted, "Since you can sense the outside, you should know what kind of person I am, right?"
"Hmph. Just an idiot, aren't you?"
"Er, what I mean is that I never lie!"
Nawaki pressed on, "So, I'm serious about wanting to be your friend. You've been all alone for so long, don't you get lonely? Don't you want a friend who'll be there for you?"
"No! Only weak humans need something like that," Kurama said disdainfully. "Now get out of here. Don't disturb my rest."
With that, Kurama swung its tails, stirring up a hurricane that blew the two of them back.
Nawaki's vision blurred, and when he opened his eyes, he was back in his bedroom.
"Ah, I failed."
He looked up at Kaito, only to see that his teacher's eyes were still tightly shut. He couldn't help but wonder, "Teacher Kaito is still in there?"
Inside the sealed space within Nawaki, Kaito swaggered into the cage, floating up into the air to hover right before the Nine-Tails' eyes.
"What are you still doing here? Aren't you afraid I'll swallow you whole?" the Nine-Tails snarled.
"If you could have, you would have done it already."
Kaito said nonchalantly, "Alright, Kurama, I'm here to make a deal. Let's make this quick while Nawaki's not around."
"?" Kurama's slitted pupils contracted sharply. "You know my name?"
"Uh-huh. Not only do I know your name, but I also know you have a tsundere personality, you love getting belly rubs, and you can't easily stop laughing once you start."
"??? What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"Your other ball of chakra is living quite comfortably at my place. Want to join it?"