Isobu's blunt reply left Naruto's two tailed beasts inside the seal space completely stunned.
Especially Kurama—his expression was on the verge of breaking.
Just how much had Isobu suffered if it couldn't even recognize the unique resonance shared among Tailed Beasts?
Matatabi seemed slightly better off. After snapping out of her shock, she tried reestablishing contact with her old friend.
"Calm down, Isobu. You're not under genjutsu—we're really Kurama and Matatabi."
"I'm not falling for that! There's no way both of you could be sealed inside the same person! The real Matatabi is still in the Land of Earth!"
"You—!"
Matatabi's eyes bulged, her tails flicking rapidly behind her—clearly furious.
Kurama, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes—not angry at Isobu's disbelief, but furious at the bastard who had used genjutsu to manipulate Isobu in the first place.
"Isobu, we don't have time to argue. We only came because we sensed something was wrong with you.
Since you've broken free from your Jinchūriki's control, then listen carefully."
"First—the Ten-Tails has broken free, and the Rinnegan has reappeared.
Second—there's now an organization in the ninja world called Akatsuki that's actively hunting down tailed beasts.
The one who holds the Rinnegan is their leader. Warn your Jinchūriki to stay alert."
After relaying the message, Kurama growled in the seal space:
"Naruto, wait a little longer. If he doesn't come up, we're leaving."
Naruto, confused, entered the seal space.
He didn't know what the two were saying to Isobu, but from their expressions, the conversation clearly wasn't going well.
Down in the ocean, Isobu's massive shadow hadn't moved an inch.
Ten breaths passed.
Kurama snapped:
"Let's go!"
Matatabi opened her mouth to suggest waiting a little longer, but after glancing at Kurama's expression, she just sighed and nodded.
Naruto was about to exit the seal when both tailed beasts suddenly lit up.
"Wait—he's coming up!" (x2)
Naruto quickly left the seal space and sensed the ocean's surface begin to churn.
Moments later, a massive spiked turtle head rose from the depths.
"You're the Jinchūriki of Kurama?"
Naruto nodded.
Isobu surfaced fully, his jagged shell glistening. Naruto took note of the large spikes covering his body—and especially his single visible left eye.
"Then why is Matatabi also sealed inside you?"
Naruto replied calmly:
"If you really want to know, just use your resonance as tailed beasts to ask Kurama and Matatabi.
It's faster that way."
Isobu closed his left eye and began swaying his flat tails like ribbons—clearly communicating.
Just as Naruto thought he was chatting with his old friends, Isobu suddenly opened his right eye.
"Wait—his right eye can open?"
Naruto blinked.
He'd never seen Isobu open his right eye in the original timeline.
He had always assumed it was blind.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, Isobu suddenly lifted a claw and slammed it down toward Naruto.
Naruto's eyes narrowed—he almost used the Body Flicker to dodge, but then something made him pause.
He raised his fist instead.
Boom!
His fist met Isobu's claw directly—and his consciousness was instantly pulled into the seal space.
"You said Yagura is dying—what's going on?"
The two tailed beasts didn't answer immediately. Their expressions were heavy and frustrated.
Kurama twitched his tails and muttered darkly:
"As I thought—communicating through the seal isn't working…"
Matatabi nodded.
"I'll tell Isobu to switch to another method."
Naruto frowned.
"Another method?"
Kurama lowered his head, his expression unusually serious:
"There's no time to explain—just return to the physical world and seal a portion of Isobu's chakra."
Naruto's eyes sharpened.
Earlier, when he thought Isobu was attacking, Kurama and Matatabi had suddenly told him not to move—to let them try a "fist bump test" with Isobu.
It had clearly failed.
And now they were saying Yagura was dying.
If Yagura died, Isobu would die as well, even if temporarily.
Connecting the dots, Naruto left the seal space without hesitation.
As soon as he came to, he saw something squeeze out of Isobu's mouth—
—a miniature version of Isobu, barely the size of a child, flopped onto the ocean surface.
Its tiny tail wiggled as it swam to Naruto's feet.
Before Naruto could say anything, the real Isobu's massive body shifted.
He pulled into himself—his massive armored shell enclosing his entire body—and his three tails curled in tightly.
Isobu formed a spiked wheel of chakra and shell, floating upright on the water like a colossal battle chariot.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he spoke, "Kurama and Matatabi explained everything.
Yagura also asked me to thank you in his place.
Now, let's head to Coral Island."
The wheel began to spin rapidly, kicking up enormous waves before rolling forward across the ocean like a living vehicle.
The waves soon calmed—and Naruto vanished along with the mini Isobu, having used Flying Thunder God the moment Isobu finished speaking.
Whoosh!
Naruto returned to a forest in the Land of Waves.
He placed mini-Isobu on the ground and quickly weaved hand seals.
"I'm starting the seal."
Mini-Isobu looked up weakly.
"Okay."
With permission, Naruto placed his palm against its shell.
"Seal!"
Dark sealing runes erupted from the ground, swirling between Naruto and the tiny tailed beast.
Markings raced across their bodies—intense, intricate, glowing.
Moments later, the mini Isobu dissolved into a mass of red chakra, which surged into Naruto's hand.
After a few breaths, mini Isobu appeared inside Naruto's seal space.
The moment he appeared, he cheerfully greeted the others:
"Kurama, Matatabi—it's been a while. Never thought we'd meet like this."
"Hmph."
Kurama snorted and turned away, lying down and deliberately facing the other direction.
Matatabi lowered her head with a smile:
"Well, Isobu. Still think you're under genjutsu?"
Naruto couldn't help but smile at the way the tailed beasts interacted.
But just then, a message came from one of his Shadow Clones—
Sasuke had woken up.
"Right on time."
Naruto used Flying Thunder God and returned to the daimyō's residence.
"What the hell is going on?!"
The moment he appeared, the Shadow Clone in the room dispelled itself.
Naruto was immediately met by Sasuke, face dark and stormy, holding several bloodied bandage wrappings and fine surgical tools.
Naruto remained calm:
"Five minutes till class ends. You sure you want an explanation now?"
Sasuke's Sharingan flared to life.
After a long breath, he growled:
"Back to Konoha. Now."
Naruto chuckled and grabbed his arm.
Whoosh!
In an instant, the two appeared in the forest by the Naka River.
Sasuke steadied himself, then barked:
"You touched my eyes!"
Naruto nodded.
"I did.
You said my training method was wrong—so I borrowed your eyes for a little test.
The results weren't ideal… but I did make some progress."
Sasuke paused, slightly confused.
"What progress?"
Naruto smiled, lifting his left hand.
Crackle!
Black lightning surged and danced across his palm.
Sasuke's crimson eyes narrowed in shock.
"That intensity…!"
Naruto waved the lightning away.
"See for yourself?"
Sasuke slowly nodded.
Naruto grinned and turned away.
"Well, I'm heading home. See you tomorrow."
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