Looking at the distress and self-blame in Minato Namikaze's eyes, Naruto merely shrugged his small shoulders indifferently, his face still bearing that sly smile:
"Suffering? I wouldn't really call it that!" Naruto's tone was relaxed, as if he was talking about someone else's business.
"It's just living alone on the mountain, catching and grilling my own fish, building my own house. It's quiet, a bit too quiet sometimes, just boring and no one to talk to."
He lightly glossed over the villagers' rejection and malice, his tone relaxed and normal!
However, it was this lightheartedness that acted like a sharper carving knife, piercing deeply into Minato Namikaze's heart!
He watched his son live alone from a young age, taking care of himself, without the love of parents, without the laughter of companions, only boundless loneliness!
His guilt as a father instantly reached its peak, and his illusory figure trembled slightly.
"Naruto... I..."
Minato Namikaze's voice choked. He wanted to say something, but at this moment, he felt any words would be pale and powerless.
"Alright, alright, it's fine, it's fine!"
Naruto waved his hand, interrupting Minato's self-blame, and a smile returned to his face! He was very familiar with how the Konoha villagers were! Without expectations, there was naturally no disappointment!
Naruto didn't take the Konoha villagers' difficulties to heart either. After all, Konoha Village had suffered so many disasters. If they treated Naruto this way, Naruto would certainly not repay their grievances with kindness like the original Crown Prince! Konoha would be destroyed several times, and without Naruto at the forefront, these Konoha villagers would certainly be in trouble!
Minato Namikaze took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and his gaze sharpened again as he said sternly:
"Naruto, why did you tear open that sealing tag? That sealing tag is a safeguard. Once it's completely torn, the Nine-Tailed will have a chance to break free from its cage! That's too dangerous!"
He subconsciously turned sideways, warily glancing at the Nine-Tailed still growling behind the iron gate.
"Hmph! Hypocritical human! Now you're scared?!"
The Nine-Tailed immediately caught Minato's wariness and let out an angry roar.
"Minato Namikaze! I haven't settled the score for you sealing me yet! And that brat! You two father and son are no good! How dare you toy with me!"
"Big Fox, shut up!" Naruto yelled at the gate without good humor, then turned to his father, his eyes serious.
"Fourth Hokage, I tore the sealing tag for two reasons."
He held up one finger:
"First, to draw you out. I knew that only by touching the core of the Eight Trigrams Seal would your residual Chakra imprint be activated and manifest. Otherwise, who knows how long you'd hide next door watching the show?"
Minato Namikaze: "..."
Naruto held up a second finger:
"Second, to prove my sincerity and ability to the Big Fox."
He pointed to the still angry Nine-Tailed behind the gate.
"It always thought I was deceiving it, that humans couldn't be trusted. I just wanted it to see with its own eyes that if I said I could draw you out, I really could! If I said I would break the rules, I would dare to tear the seal! This is my determination to fulfill my promise of future freedom to it!"
"But Naruto!"
Minato Namikaze's brows furrowed, his tone filled with a father's worry.
"The Nine-Tailed's power is too dangerous! Its hatred has lingered for a thousand years, and it's full of malice towards humans! This is like playing with fire! You..."
"Roar—!!! Minato Namikaze! Shut up!!!"
The Nine-Tailed's roar instantly exploded, interrupting Minato's words, and the crimson Chakra surged violently again.
"How I am is not for you to judge! That brat understands more than you hypocritical fellow!"
"Fourth Hokage!"
Naruto also raised his voice simultaneously, his clear blue eyes looking directly at his father, with a determination beyond his age and a hint of unquestionable assertiveness.
"This is my choice! And my promise! The matter between me and the Big Fox, we will resolve ourselves! You, don't interfere!"
Minato Namikaze looked at the unshakeable light in his son's eyes, then at the strange state of the Nine-Tailed behind the gate, which, though angry, seemed to genuinely be listening to Naruto. A storm raged in his heart.
This child truly seemed to be trying to communicate with the Nine-Tailed in a way he couldn't understand, and even... establish some kind of connection? This was too crazy! But looking at Naruto's confident eyes, he was momentarily speechless.
"Alright..." Minato Namikaze finally uttered two difficult words, choosing to temporarily trust his son, "But Naruto, you must be extremely careful! The Nine-Tailed's power..."
"Stop! Hold it!" Naruto interrupted again, waving his small hand, directly giving his father an order, "Fourth Hokage, now is not the time to discuss the Nine-Tailed! I have an important mission for you!"
Minato Namikaze was stunned: "A mission?"
"Yes!" Naruto nodded heavily, his small face full of solemnity, "Use your current power to also release Kushina's Chakra imprint! Just like you manifested! I want Kushina to come out too! Our family of three needs to reunite! Once Kushina comes out, you can resume your role as a father!"
Naruto's words were decisive, carrying an unquestionable expectation.
Since the Eight Trigrams Seal was set by the Fourth Hokage, even if the key was with Jiraiya, the Fourth Hokage should be able to create another key or find other methods!
Just like a teacher assigning a difficult homework problem, besides the standard answer, there should be many solutions! For Minato Namikaze, who was proficient in sealing techniques, this shouldn't be difficult!
Minato Namikaze looked at the intense longing for a mother's love in his son's eyes, and the softest part of his heart was deeply touched. He glanced at the Nine-Tailed, which was still growling behind the door but seemed to have temporarily quieted down due to Naruto's assertiveness!
Yes... Kushina... their son was waiting for his mother!
Minato Namikaze's eyes instantly became incredibly gentle and firm. He gave Naruto a warm smile: "Alright! Naruto! Dad will... bring Kushina out now!"
"You haven't done it yet! Talk when you've done it!"
Naruto mumbled.
The Fourth Hokage smiled gently, then said worriedly:
"But I don't have much time left. Originally, I left my Chakra to protect you, but now coming out is a bit of a waste!"
The Fourth Hokage was a little annoyed and regretful. The only chance to meet had been wasted like this. Although he had seen his son, he still felt it was a bit of a loss!
"It's okay! This is simple!"
Naruto waved his small hand, a foxy, cunning smile appearing on his face, and his gaze turned to the still angrily roaring Nine-Tailed.
"Isn't there a ready-made power bank right here!"
"Big Fox!"
Naruto shouted at the door.
"Stop howling! Lend me some Chakra! Not much, just enough to charge my dad so he can last longer! And by the way, let him help me bring my mom out too!"
"Roar?! Brat! You tore the seal just for this?! And you dare to ask me to be your power bank?! You're asking for death!!!"
The Nine-Tailed's roar was full of anger at being used.
"Don't forget our deal!"
Naruto shouted fearlessly.
"You just experienced the taste of freedom! If you want to experience it often in the future, or even truly come out, aren't you even willing to pay this small 'rent' now? Besides, letting my parents manifest means I'll have someone to accompany me, and I'll bother you less for 'Chakra-shearing.' Isn't that a win-win?"
Although Naruto could allocate a small amount of Chakra from his idle state to replenish the Fourth Hokage's Chakra, wasn't this the most famous power bank in the Ninja World? It wasn't a leaky one like Romoss, so continuing to 'shear the sheep' was the right way!
Replenishing Chakra for others was a unique ability of the Nine-Tails Chakra. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, the Crown Prince used this ability to gain a lot of goodwill and save a large number of people.
The only regrettable thing was, Neji, you died so tragically!
The Nine-Tailed's roar sputtered. Its giant beast eyes flickered, weighing the pros and cons. That brief taste of freedom... indeed made it itch with desire.
Moreover, Naruto's words seemed to make some sense? Letting those annoying couple manifest was better than having this brat bring dozens of clones for meditation every day, right?
Although providing them with Chakra still made it extremely unhappy... "...Hmph! This once! No more!"
Finally, a muffled, extremely reluctant growl came from behind the door. Immediately after, a massive stream of Chakra, deliberately guided by the Nine-Tailed, penetrated the gaps in the seal.
Naruto used the Nine-Tails Chakra Control Technique to intercept a large portion of this Chakra, then directed a small amount of purified, gentle Chakra towards Minato Namikaze!
Although it was said to be a small amount, this was the Nine-Tails' Chakra, which was a large amount for Minato Namikaze, as he was only a wisp of Chakra himself!
Minato Namikaze felt this pure Nine-Tails Chakra, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. This power flowed into Minato Namikaze's body. His originally somewhat illusory figure quickly became solid and clear with the infusion of the Nine-Tails' Chakra, like a real person!
His consumption was greatly replenished!
"Thanks, Big Fox!"
Naruto nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Minato Namikaze, his eyes full of anticipation.
"Fourth Hokage, now there's plenty of energy! Hurry! Figure out how to release my mom too! Our family should reunite!"
Minato Namikaze looked at his son, who was incredibly intelligent, and felt the abundant power within him. His heart was filled with mixed emotions, which finally resolved into a warm and firm smile.
"Alright!"
He nodded heavily, sat down to think about how to safely release Kushina's Chakra without destroying or unsealing the Eight Trigrams Seal!