[Excellent. Excellent. Truly excellent.]
The system's voice carried genuine pride.
[In just two years, you've completed the second foundation stage. Now comes the final step: the elemental tempering baths. After this, you'll be completely reborn.]
Excitement surged through Naruto's chest. All the pain, all the effort, bringing him closer to his goal. Closer to having friends.
[Tonight the conditions are perfect. Clear sky, moderate humidity, gentle wind. We begin tonight.]
[Prepare yourself. Bath. Meditation. Complete mental clarity.]
Naruto nodded, barely able to contain his anticipation.
Night fell over Konoha.
Naruto looked up at the sky. A crescent moon hung among countless stars, their light washing the world in silver. A cool breeze brushed his skin, carrying the scent of cherry blossoms.
He'd followed the system's instructions precisely. A bath infused with flower petals to cleanse his body. Loose, comfortable clothing. A basin of hot water prepared beside his bed.
Now he sat cross-legged on his mattress, spine straight, hands resting on his knees. His breathing slowed. Deepened. His awareness turned inward.
Let everything else fall away. Find stillness.
The world outside faded. His heartbeat became thunder in his ears. Each breath felt like wind through a canyon. He could sense individual hairs shifting on his arms as air currents moved past.
Perfect clarity.
[Very good.]
The system's voice created no ripples in his calm.
[The final foundation stage requires five consecutive nights. Five different elemental essences, each targeting specific internal systems. Tonight, we begin with earth essence. It will strengthen your organs, your core stability.]
A wooden barrel materialized above the water basin.
Naruto's eyes widened. The barrel tilted, and thick golden liquid poured out, mixing with the hot water. The moment it touched, the water began to glow with a soft amber light. The smell of rich soil after rain filled the room.
[Enter the water.]
Naruto stepped into the basin. The liquid closed over his legs, his waist, his chest.
Weight crashed down on him.
Not physical weight. Something deeper. Heavier. Like the earth itself was pressing against every part of his body simultaneously. His muscles locked. His lungs strained.
Then his pores opened.
The golden essence flowed in, not as liquid but as pure energy. It seeped through his skin, penetrated his muscles, reached his bones and organs. Every cell ignited with sensation—not quite pain, not quite pleasure, but overwhelming stimulus that threatened to shatter his concentration.
Heat built in his stomach. Pressure in his chest. His liver, kidneys, spleen—every internal organ burned as the essence transformed them.
Hold. Focus. Don't lose yourself.
Naruto's will clamped down, maintaining awareness even as his body felt like it was being rebuilt from the inside out.
An hour passed like both seconds and days.
Finally, the last trace of essence absorbed into his cells. The water turned clear again. The weight lifted.
Naruto stood on trembling legs, water streaming from his body. He stepped out of the basin and threw a punch at empty air.
BOOM.
The sound cracked like thunder. Golden-amber energy flickered around his fist, visible for just an instant before fading.
He felt... different. Stronger, yes, but more than that. More solid. More real. Like his body had been a sketch before and was now fully rendered.
I could probably punch through a stone wall now.
"Naruto... Naruto..."
The Nine-Tails' voice echoed in his mind.
A smirk tugged at Naruto's lips. Already? That was fast.
His consciousness slipped into the seal.
The Nine-Tails stood pressed against the bars, all nine tails rigid with tension. "Naruto!"
"What do you want?" Naruto appeared with his hands in his pockets, expression carefully neutral. "Finally decided to become my pet?"
The fox's eye twitched. Anger flashed across its massive face. That smug little...
No. Can't lose control. Can't show desperation.
"I just called on a whim." The Nine-Tails turned away, showing Naruto its back. "No particular reason."
"On a whim?" Naruto's voice sharpened. "I'm busy. Don't waste my time with nonsense."
He vanished.
The moment Naruto disappeared, the Nine-Tails spun around, face twisted with internal conflict. One massive paw lifted to its face, covering its eye.
Should I agree? Give in to his demands?
But that proud expression he had...
No. Hold firm. Maintain dignity.
Except the seal was getting stronger. Day by day, hour by hour. Soon it would be too strong to ever escape. Not in decades. Maybe not in centuries.
The Nine-Tails slumped to the ground, one soft paw supporting its chin, the other dragging circles in the dirt. Its tails drooped like wilted flowers.
What do I do?
Naruto climbed out of the basin feeling deeply satisfied with his body's changes. He dumped the water, cleaned everything thoroughly, and fell into bed.
The next night, fire essence.
The liquid was crimson, almost glowing. The moment it touched the water, steam hissed up in violent clouds.
When Naruto entered the basin, heat slammed into him like a physical blow. His skin turned bright red. Sweat poured from every pore only to evaporate instantly.
The essence burned through him. Not destroying, but tempering. Like metal being forged in a furnace. His blood felt like lava in his veins. His heart hammered so hard he thought it might burst.
But he endured.
The third night brought lightning essence—silver-white and crackling with energy. It felt like being struck by a thousand lightning bolts simultaneously, every nerve firing at once, muscles spasming, thoughts scattering.
He endured.
The fourth night was water essence, cool and flowing, soothing after the violence of lightning. It taught his body fluidity, adaptability.
The fifth night, wind essence—light and swift, enhancing his reflexes and perception.
Five nights. Five elements. Five transformations.
When Naruto emerged from the final bath, he was fundamentally changed.
Under the candlelight, he clenched his fist experimentally.
Muscles erupted across his frame—shoulders, chest, arms, back—visible definition appearing as if by magic. His entire body seemed to grow larger, more imposing.
He released the tension.
The muscles smoothed back to sleek, streamlined form. Tall and lean, well-proportioned without being bulky. Combined with his increasingly sharp features, he looked years older than seven. Almost elegant despite his youth.
[The foundation is complete,] the system announced with satisfaction.
[You are reborn.]
"Naruto."
Here we go.
Naruto's consciousness entered the seal.
The Nine-Tails stood there looking... defeated. Its tails dragged on the ground. Its ears were flat against its skull.
"Naruto." The fox's voice was rough. "I need to tell you something."
Naruto waited, expression carefully blank.
"First of all—" The Nine-Tails drew itself up, trying for dignity. "I am NOT giving in. Understand? This is NOT me admitting defeat."
"Okay."
"I simply—" The fox's voice gained volume, defensive now. "I simply noticed that you're a child. Without parents. Living alone. And I thought, out of the goodness of my heart, that I might help with cooking and cleaning. Just... out of kindness."
Its face tried to look fierce. It failed miserably.
A tsundere fox. Of course.
Naruto bit back a smile. No point embarrassing the creature further. "Right. You're helping me because you feel bad for me. Very kind of you, Nine-Tails."
The fox visibly relaxed, shoulders dropping. "Yes. Exactly. Just kindness. Nothing else."
The seal is completely solid now. I have no choice. The thought crossed its mind with bitter resignation. But at least the human brat is giving me an out. Could be worse.
"Good. Now let me out so I can—"
Naruto's consciousness snapped back to reality.
"Wait! I haven't come out yet!" The Nine-Tails' panicked roar echoed through the mindscape. "I agreed to your terms! I bent my pride! What more do you want from me?!"
Silence answered.
The fox paced frantically, all nine tails lashing. "Naruto! NARUTO! You can't just leave me here! We had a deal! I gave in! Come back!"
Nothing.
The Nine-Tails slumped against the bars, despair washing over it.
Then, the next evening, something changed.
A presence descended on the seal. Not Naruto's consciousness this time—something from outside.
A massive hand, formed of pure ki, reached toward the seal itself.
The entire mindscape shook.
The Nine-Tails' head snapped up, eyes wide. "What—what is that?!"
The hand grasped the seal.
And pulled.