"Hey, Naruto, last time… why did the Nine-Tails' chakra start eating away at your body?" Jiraiya asked casually as they walked along the dirt road, his tone sounding almost indifferent, though his sharp eyes betrayed concern.
Naruto chuckled loudly, rubbing the back of his head. "Hahaha, for a moment I thought you guys really weren't curious about that."
"It's not curiosity, you blockhead. It's concern. Concern for you!" Jiraiya barked, swinging his fist in exaggerated irritation.
Naruto grinned before suddenly lowering his voice, eyes turning serious. "Say, Pervy Sage… have you ever heard of the term Perfect Jinchūriki?"
"Perfect Jinchūriki…" Jiraiya repeated slowly, tasting the word. His brow furrowed in thought before he nodded. "Yeah, there is such a thing."
Naruto's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh? So, who else in the shinobi world managed to become one?"
"The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. He was the host of the Three-Tails. And then there's Killer B, the host of the Eight-Tails. Both of them displayed the power of perfect synchronization with their tailed beasts," Jiraiya explained in a low, steady voice.
So far, only two names in history stood as true Perfect Jinchūriki.
"Then they must be insanely strong, right?!" Naruto clenched his fists, the joints cracking audibly. Just imagining the fight made his blood burn with excitement.
"Strong? I couldn't say for sure. I've never fought them myself." Jiraiya shrugged. "But I do know this much compared to ordinary Jinchūriki, they're on a completely different level. I heard that your father, Minato, clashed with Killer B and the future Fourth Raikage once. The fight ended with everyone walking away alive."
Naruto's eyes sparkled with admiration. "So Dad went head-to-head with both of them by himself? Did he win?"
Jiraiya's lips curved upward with pride. "Minato fought them to protect Konoha's shinobi during a mission. He wasn't aiming to win just to buy time for a retreat. Still, holding off both of them and leaving unscathed… that's not something you'll find in history books."
The thought only made Naruto's chest swell with pride. Every time he heard stories about his father, his respect grew deeper. The man really deserved the title of Fourth Hokage.
"I see. Then what Dad couldn't finish, I'll finish for him!" Naruto slapped a hand to his chest with a wide grin. "I'll take on the Raikage and Killer B myself one day. That's a promise."
Jiraiya chuckled at his student's fiery resolve. "So that's what this is about. You want to become a Perfect Jinchūriki too, huh?"
Naruto nodded firmly. "Yeah. Remember how Fukasaku couldn't fuse with me to help me master the second stage of Sage Mode? That was because Kurama doesn't like sharing space with him. The Nine-Tails is a stubborn beast it only wants to work with me."
"And you think it'll actually cooperate?" Jiraiya raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Last time, its chakra nearly devoured you."
Naruto placed a hand over his stomach where the seal rested, his smile softening. "It will. Because even the Nine-Tails needs someone to be there for it. It doesn't want to be alone forever either."
For a fleeting second, Jiraiya felt his heart ache. Naruto's expression, gentle yet determined, reminded him of Minato so vividly that he had to look away. "You really are your father's son, kid."
Then Jiraiya broke into booming laughter. "Hahaha! I was planning to train you to control the Nine-Tails during this trip. Guess you're already a step ahead of me. That saves me the trouble."
Naruto scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Well, I'll still take whatever help you're willing to give."
"Good. Because there's something I think it's time you had." Jiraiya's voice dropped into a more serious register as he stopped walking.
Naruto blinked, tilting his head. "What is it?"
"The key to the seal. A special summoning jutsu." Jiraiya bit his thumb, slamming his palm against the ground. In a puff of smoke, a squat toad appeared, carrying a massive scroll on its back.
"This… this is the key Minato left behind, meant to unlock the seal on the Nine-Tails. For years, I couldn't understand why he would leave something so dangerous behind. But now…" Jiraiya turned, his gaze settling on Naruto. "Now I think I understand. He must have believed that one day, you'd reconcile with the Nine-Tails. That you'd master its power and become a Perfect Jinchūriki."
Naruto's throat tightened, awe filling his chest. "Dad even thought that far ahead? Even in the middle of a life-or-death battle?"
Jiraiya smiled softly, eyes distant with memory. "That was Minato for you. Always so meticulous, always one step ahead. Your mother, on the other hand, was brash and fiery. Maybe that's why they fit together so perfectly." His face softened with nostalgia as he spoke, and for a brief moment, it was like he was reliving the past.
Naruto leaned closer, excitement bubbling in his voice. "Hey, Pervy Sage, tell me more about them! About their story!"
Jiraiya chuckled. "Plenty of time for that. The road's long, and we'll have many nights to talk. But first… swallow the key." He pointed mischievously at the scroll-bearing toad.
Naruto's eyes widened. "S-Swallow it?! Where exactly am I supposed to "
"Down the hatch, of course!" Jiraiya grinned like a prankster.
Before Naruto could bolt, Jiraiya gestured, and the toad unfurled the scroll, revealing a square seal mark inside.
"Focus your chakra into your fingertip and press here," Jiraiya instructed.
Swallowing nervously, Naruto did as told, channeling chakra into the seal. The toad nodded in approval.
"Alright. Open wide!"
"No way!" Naruto recoiled instantly.
"Come on, it won't taste that bad."
"Ugh it's already at my throat!" Naruto gagged as Jiraiya shoved the toad toward him.
"Wider, Naruto, wider! Just a little more!"
With one final push, Jiraiya crammed the toad and the scroll straight down Naruto's throat.
"Blugh!" Naruto doubled over, coughing and gagging, his eyes watering as the unpleasant sensation lingered.
Jiraiya, meanwhile, crossed his arms with satisfaction. "Well? How does it feel?"
Naruto wiped his mouth, still grimacing. He closed his eyes briefly, focusing inward, then opened them with a look of astonishment. "Yeah… I can feel it. If I want to, I could release the seal right now."
"So… are you going to try it?" Jiraiya asked.
Naruto shook his head, expression sobering. "Not yet. Last time I lost control, I only managed to come back because Sasuke and Hinata were there to snap me out of it. Until I'm sure I can handle it, I won't risk it again."
Jiraiya studied him for a long moment, then nodded with quiet pride. "You've grown, Naruto. You're not letting power blind you. That's what makes me trust you."
The two resumed their journey, the sun setting behind them, casting long shadows across the path. And with the key now inside him, Naruto's steps felt just a little heavier but his resolve burned brighter than ever.
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