"Naruto, even though we have achieved the state of a perfect Jinchuriki, we are still far from being able to stand against the Ten-Tails." Kurama's voice was unusually serious.
"So you know what needs to be done now, right?" he lowered his head slightly, golden eyes fixed on Naruto.
Naruto thought for a moment, then nodded with a grave expression. "So my strength is still too weak, huh?"
Kurama stared at him speechlessly. "What, do you want to become some eternal emperor of legends just to feel satisfied?"
"Huh? I wouldn't dare dream that far. How about becoming a Sage King instead?" Naruto rubbed his chin as if he were discussing dinner plans.
Kurama tilted his head up proudly. "Speak my true name and achieve eternal life through reincarnation."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Come on. It is just the two of us here. No need to act cool when no one is watching."
Kurama huffed, then Naruto continued, voice more grounded. "I know what you're thinking. You want to stop Akatsuki from collecting the Eight-Tails and your chakra, right?"
Kurama nodded. That was indeed his concern.
"It's a good thought, but simply stopping them is only delaying the problem." Naruto waved his hand lightly.
Seeing Kurama look unconvinced, Naruto explained. "You remember the boy Akatsuki took from Fire Temple, right?"
Kurama nodded. The boy carried traces of his chakra. Tiny, insignificant, but Kurama could feel it all the same.
"You tailed beasts have lived for a thousand years. Who knows where fragments of your chakra have been left behind? If someone were determined enough, they could eventually gather all of it. Even if we stop them now, one day the Ten-Tails could still be revived."
Naruto clenched his fist. "Stopping them is necessary, but I also need to grow strong enough that even if the Ten-Tails comes back, I can face it head on."
He took a deep breath. "If I can suppress it with my own power, so what if it revives? I will just beat it down again."
Kurama was silent. Not because he disagreed, but because Naruto's words hit the truth directly. There is no guarding against thieves forever. Kill the threat, and the danger ends. To kill it, one must have power.
Kurama finally asked, "What are you planning to do? Your strength is already at this level. How will you push further?"
Naruto grinned with confidence. "I've been preparing for this for a long time. Trust me, Kurama. Even if the Ten-Tails returns one day, I won't let you get taken away. Not a chance."
He gave a bright thumbs-up, teeth shining like sunlight.
For the first time, Kurama felt a strange sense of security while residing inside Naruto. A warmth that felt like home.
Their conversation ended with many secrets revealed.
Naruto now understood Akatsuki's ultimate goal, but unfortunately, even Kurama did not know the true ability of the Rinnegan. After all, he had been separated from the Ten-Tails after the Sage of Six Paths no longer had to use his power.
"Still, it is the eye technique of the Sage. Even if I have Kurama's power and Truth-Seeking Orbs when working with Sasuke, I cannot underestimate it." Naruto slapped his left fist into his right palm determinedly.
"Naruto!" A voice called from outside.
Naruto stepped out to see Tenten standing there, holding two weapons and a pair of gloves.
He quickly invited her inside.
"This is the weapon set you commissioned. The master smith of the Land of Iron forged them exactly as you requested. Since I was free today, I brought them over." Tenten placed the weapons on the table.
"Thank you so much, Tenten." Naruto poured her a cup of fragrant tea with genuine appreciation.
In truth, he had completely forgotten about this commission. His strength had advanced too quickly. He could command Truth-Seeking Orbs now. Compared to that, even master-forged chakra weapons felt like toys. If they clashed with a Truth-Seeking construct, they would probably twist into scrap instantly.
But Tenten put effort into this and personally delivered them. Naruto could never respond coldly.
"You better use them well. The smith poured his heart into these. Chakra-forged metal like this is rare. Even my family would treat weapons like these as heirlooms." Tenten looked at the blades with admiration.
"If I find better weapons in the future, I'll save them for you." Naruto patted his chest confidently.
After all, he knew that later neither he, Sasuke, nor Hinata would need weapons like these anymore.
"Deal." Tenten's eyes lit up, not even pretending to be polite. She could always pay for them herself later. The problem was that such weapons rarely exist.
After sending Tenten off, Naruto called Sasuke over and pointed at the table. "A sword and a blade. Pick one."
After tasting the power of Truth-Seeking Orbs and with the Kusanagi already in hand, Sasuke found these forged weapons unimpressive.
"Whatever. I do not need either." Sasuke shook his head.
"Alright then. I'll give the blade to Konohamaru, and the sword can wait until you have children one day."
Sasuke paused. "Isn't that a little early?"
Naruto stared at him. "Hey now, do not forget your goal is to restore the Uchiha clan. No children means no revival. You should start thinking about it. Sakura, Ino, and Lily all like you. Why not marry them all?"
"Not happening. Not now." Sasuke replied expressionlessly.
Naruto shrugged. They were only fourteen after all. It was early, but for the sake of Sasuke's clan dream, Naruto would nag again someday. That is what big brothers do.
Naruto kept the gloves for Hinata and took the blade with him.
He found Konohamaru in the Sarutobi training grounds, doing frog jumps with a massive boulder strapped to his back. Sweat dripped from his lean but strong body.
"Konohamaru!" Naruto called.
Konohamaru dropped the boulder instantly. Wind chakra surged at his feet and in the blink of an eye he appeared before Naruto.
"Nii-chan!" Konohamaru greeted him excitedly.