Shinigami in the Ninja World

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Jiraiya stared at the large orange figure on the throne.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't understand how those two words could possibly relate to Naruto—unless they were actually referring to the "Nine-Tails."

But even with Naruto being so powerful, was he still unable to avoid being influenced by the "Tailed Beast"?

The Great Toad Sage spoke softly, "Jiraiya-chan."

The white-haired man snapped back to reality.

"In my original prophecy, he was supposed to be entangled with a black-haired, red-eyed boy," the sage continued in a peculiar tone. "But now, I can no longer be certain whether the future will unfold as I had seen."

"He is a very peculiar child, destined to bring some changes to this world."

"Just like…"

It was reminded of the prophecy it made to the Sage of Six Paths more than a thousand years ago.

That child was searching for the Pure Land, and eventually, the two of them would meet.

Jiraiya kept these words in mind. After confirming that the Great Toad Sage had nothing more to say, he left Mount Myoboku.

In a small town in the Land of Fire, at a snack shop.

Karin carefully read through the transcribed text word by word, frowning as she muttered, "Something feels a bit strange."

Naruto leaned in and noticed her gaze resting on the story of "that woman."

"He lied in that part," Naruto shook his head, decisive and firm in his judgment.

Karin was taken aback, blinking before realizing, "You used your Mind's Eye of the Kagura on it?"

This technique has the ability to detect lies through chakra.

Naruto nodded. "Yes, I did. But only that part was a lie; for the rest, it didn't lie."

"From the point where the Sage of Six Paths defeated his mother, everything else was true."

Naruto wasn't too concerned about why the Great Toad Sage lied about the story of the "Sage of Six Paths and his mother."

He understood well that sometimes the truth is not always fit for public knowledge.

After all, the Sage of Six Paths was the founder of "Ninshu" and needed to maintain a completely positive image. Perhaps the sage was mindful of that.

Karin was thoughtful.

In fact, when she was at Mount Myoboku, she also wanted to use the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, but she didn't dare to—the aura of those toads was too intimidating, far beyond the level of an ordinary jonin.

She was about to say something when a puff of white smoke appeared across the table.

Karin immediately closed her mouth.

Jiraiya was reverse-summoned back. He looked at Naruto and grinned, "It seems the Great Toad Sage didn't clear up much of your confusion either."

"At least I've learned part of the history," Naruto shook his head, his tone calm. "It's easier to search when you can eliminate some wrong guesses."

And one more thing was confirmed: the "Great Toad Sage" had indeed lived for over a thousand years.

That place known as the "Holy Land," Ryuchi Cave, likely had similar beings with "a thousand-year lifespan."

"How well are you controlling the Nine-Tails' power?" Jiraiya finally asked the question that had been weighing on his mind since earlier.

Naruto replied with a smile, "I'm getting along with it fairly well now."

"I probably won't need to use my dad's technique."

Jiraiya made a sound of acknowledgment, a bit puzzled.

What did he mean by "won't need to use"?

"I made an agreement with the Nine-Tails not to forcefully use its power," Naruto said seriously. "So I won't need to…"

Jiraiya laughed heartily, "You're really just like your father."

"But you're mistaken, Naruto. Minato's technique wasn't created to suppress the Nine-Tails."

His expression turned nostalgic as he looked down.

"Your mother was also a Jinchuriki, and Minato was always worried about her."

"So the technique was designed to help Kushina coexist better with the Nine-Tails."

Coexist better with the Nine-Tails?

In Naruto's inner world, the Nine-Tails flicked its tail.

It acknowledged those words. Minato was indeed a good person. If it could choose a Jinchuriki, between Kushina and Minato, it would certainly choose the latter.

Jiraiya's expression became serious. "But before I teach you this technique…"

"There's a very important question: can you fully resist the Nine-Tails' power?"

"Within you, there's still a 'gate' that Minato set up. To learn this technique, you'll have to open that gate first."

He paused, then continued, "You've probably noticed that the more you use the Nine-Tails' power, the harder it becomes to control, and the greater the risk of losing control."

Naruto nodded. Before he unlocked the "Ashura" blade, there was indeed a significant risk of losing control when he used the Nine-Tails' power.

"This is because the Tailed Beasts have a unique life form, where their chakra and consciousness are intertwined," Jiraiya continued. "When you borrow the Nine-Tails' chakra, its consciousness comes along with it."

"When Minato sealed the Nine-Tails within you, you were just a baby."

"So for your safety, Minato added an extra layer of sealing to the Nine-Tails' seal."

"This prevented the Nine-Tails' power from greatly influencing you."

"If you open that gate, the full power of the Nine-Tails will be released."

"Its hateful will would pour out. If you can't resist, the Nine-Tails will devour you and fully revive."

"Naruto… are you prepared for this?"

Naruto took the small golden short sword from his waist and placed it on the table.

This puzzled Jiraiya; he wasn't quite sure what this meant.

"When I use the power of the Nine-Tails now, I no longer feel like I'll lose control," Naruto said softly, staring at the sword. The power brought to him by Ashura wasn't just an enhancement of his techniques.

It also connected him with the Nine-Tails.

Especially after making that promise to the Nine-Tails, this connection had been significantly strengthened.

"However, I still haven't tried to borrow more of the Nine-Tails' power," he continued.

Naruto had mastered "Ashura" on the night when Hirako Shinji and the others encountered trouble.

Immediately after, Urahara Kisuke and Shihōin Yoruichi fled to the human world, their whereabouts unknown.

His initial reconciliation with the Nine-Tails happened a year ago when he learned the truth about his parents' deaths from Jiraiya.

Before returning to the Soul Society, Naruto worried that if he lost control, no one would be able to stop him. He was also concerned about hurting Karin.

As a result, he never found the right opportunity to try releasing more of the tails.

"Is that so?" Jiraiya nodded.

"But you can give it a try." Naruto gripped the sword's hilt, raised his head, and flashed a bright smile at Jiraiya. "I feel like the Nine-Tails isn't the embodiment of hatred as you described, Jiraiya-sensei."

Karin recalled something Naruto had said to that annoying lady in Mist Village, who weighed much more than she looked.

"The Tailed Beasts are like mirrors."

If that's true, then the reflection of Naruto shouldn't be all that bad.

"Nine-Tails, shall we give it a try?" Naruto sent the message inwardly.

The Nine-Tails snorted but didn't refuse.

"It agreed," Naruto said to Jiraiya. "Let's choose a place."

After eating, they found a clearing in a remote forest, far from any human presence.

Jiraiya sent a message back to Konoha to prevent the release of such powerful energy from causing panic and chaos in Konoha and the Land of Fire.

Naruto set up sealing techniques around them.

This was also a precaution—if he lost control after "transforming into the Tailed Beast," the seals would activate, suppressing and imprisoning his irrational self.

Jiraiya was very cautious; he summoned the Great Toad and called for the two sages, Fukasaku and Shima, preparing to enter Sage Mode at any moment and coordinate with the sealing techniques to stop Naruto.

Once everything was in place, Naruto stood in the center of the seal formation, raising the dual blades.

He began chanting the incantation.

"Roar With Lamentation, Sing With Compassion, The Cycle Of Rebirth, Nine-Tailed Ashura!"

Chakra surged, and a golden light cloaked his body.

A massive pressure rolled out, stirring the wind and shaking the trees.

The toad beneath Jiraiya, wearing a necklace with the word "Loyalty(忠, chū)," couldn't help but step back a few paces.

Even just the scattered residual energy was somewhat overwhelming for it to bear.

This wasn't something a toad of its level should face.

"Toad Boss (Boss Gamabunta)" would be more suited to such a scene.

"What an awe-inspiring power," Fukasaku said seriously. "Is this the power of the Nine-Tails?"

"However, I don't recall a Jinchuriki having such a form."

Jiraiya, surprised and deeply moved, said, "This must be Naruto's own development of the Nine-Tails' power."

"It feels completely different from what I've experienced with the Nine-Tails before."

In the past, whenever he sensed the Nine-Tails' power, it was always a collection of negative emotions—hatred, ferocity, fear. It was nothing short of a natural disaster of pure destruction.

But now, the Nine-Tails' power being used by Naruto felt surprisingly positive, radiant, open, and full of vitality, though undeniably powerful.

Naruto took a deep breath, lowered his head, and glanced at "Nine-Tails," the sword.

At the end of the hilt, six red tassels fluttered.

When the "tails" didn't manifest, the number of tassels on the hilt represented the extent of his transformation into the Tailed Beast.

"Nine-Tails," he called inwardly.

The fox said nothing, but it didn't hold back its power, lending it freely.

The tassels on the hilt split, revealing a seventh.

His rationality remained intact; there was no sense of being corroded or about to lose control.

Naruto assessed the situation. At this level, he could continue experimenting.

He accepted more of the Nine-Tails' power.

The eighth tassel split and appeared.

His rationality was still present, but… Naruto suddenly noticed that within his inner world, a strange chakra emerged.

It wasn't his, nor was it the Nine-Tails'.

And it wasn't Ashura's power either.

It was just a small thread, its presence faint but not weak. Its owner must have been someone very powerful.

What was this power?

Why was it in his body, and when was it planted there?

Naruto focused his mind, delving into his inner world.

~~~

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