Late at night, at Naruto's house.
Naruto was currently sprawled out on his bed, fast asleep, completely unaware of the sudden appearance of Natsuro beside him.
Perhaps it was because Natsuro's presence was one Naruto felt he could always trust, which is why it didn't disturb him at all.
Or maybe… this is just Naruto, careless and oblivious.
Natsuro felt that the second possibility was probably more accurate.
At this moment, in the seal space of the Nine-Tails, as Naruto fell asleep, the Nine-Tails, too, seemed to rest.
Although the Tailed Beasts didn't necessarily require sleep, after spending so much time with their Jinchuriki, they eventually picked up human habits.
They woke with the sunrise and rested at sunset.
In the center of the large door sealing the Nine-Tails, a small figure suddenly emerged from the seal symbol in the middle.
Unlike Naruto, who would remain undisturbed by even the smallest of movements, the Nine-Tails opened its eyes upon sensing the change.
It felt another 'guest' had arrived.
However, when the Nine-Tails opened its eyes and scanned the area, it didn't see anyone.
Finally, after Umbreon jumped down from the sealing paper, the Nine-Tails noticed this tiny creature.
Indeed, it was incredibly small. The Nine-Tails' size, even when crouched down, would be several meters tall, and if it stood fully, it could be dozens of meters tall.
Meanwhile, Umbreon, which could perch on Natsuro's shoulder, was no more than a meter in total size, and when it shrank, it was only a few dozen centimeters tall.
Putting these two next to each other really felt like the difference between heaven and earth.
"Little one, how did you get in?" The Nine-Tails looked at Umbreon, its voice much gentler than the anger-filled tone it used with Naruto or Natsuro.
Umbreon tilted its head, but didn't seem interested in answering. To be honest, Natsuro had never heard Umbreon make a sound.
The Nine-Tails lay there, its head close to the sealing door. Even so, it still thought the small creature before it was incredibly tiny.
If it weren't moving, the Nine-Tails might have mistaken it for one of its dropped fur strands. Actually, even one of its fur strands would be larger than this little creature.
Although Natsuro didn't respond, the Nine-Tails didn't seem to mind. It stared at the small being, sensing a familiar aura from it.
However, the Nine-Tails was sure it had never seen the little creature before, it had no memory of it.
This sense of familiarity puzzled the Nine-Tails. Could it be that the old man created this little one just before he died, but they all overlooked it because it was too small?
At this moment, Natsuro, undeterred by the enormous fox before it, vanished in an instant and reappeared right on the Nine-Tails' face, very close, locking eyes with the Nine-Tails' large eyes.
"Hey, get down!" The Nine-Tails said, shaking its head and attempting to catch Umbreon with its paw.
However, just as it was about to grab it, it vanished again.
The Nine-Tails, a bit frustrated, searched the area once more. Finding such a small being wasn't easy.
Eventually, it noticed that Umbreon had been sitting on the big screen Natsuro had created to observe the outside world. The little creature had been curiously watching the Nine-Tails on the screen.
At that moment, the Nine-Tails cautiously extended a paw towards its head, only for Umbreon to vanish once again.
This time, it was right at the tip of its nose, the spot closest to the screen.
"Space-type? What a troublesome ability," the Nine-Tails grumbled, watching its own animated actions on the screen, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Originally, Umbreon was already very small compared to it, making it hard to catch. Now, knowing that the creature had space abilities, it seemed virtually impossible to catch.
So should it give up?
The Nine-Tails stared at the image of itself on the screen and then at the seemingly cute and obedient being on its nose, suddenly realizing why Natsuro liked to pet it so much…
The next moment, the Nine-Tails' massive body seemed to collapse, transforming into a dense, fiery red chakra.
With nowhere to land, Umbreon naturally fell from the air.
In that moment, a small figure shot out from the fiery red chakra, none other than a shrunken version of the Nine-Tails.
Since its original form was too big to catch, shrinking down would make it easier, right?
Umbreon looked at the small Nine-Tails lunging toward it, its red eyes blinking as it wondered why such a large fox had suddenly become so small.
Then, seeing the Nine-Tails, it seemed to think the fox was playing with it. It opened its mouth, wanting to cheer, but still didn't make a sound.
"I got you!" The Nine-Tails grinned, its paw reaching out as it closed in on Umbreon.
However, the paw once again missed, and Umbreon reappeared behind the Nine-Tails.
After many back-and-forth chases, the Nine-Tails finally realized something: even though it had shrunk, it would never be able to catch the space-powered little creature.
It seemed to shift through space without using chakra…
The Nine-Tails' plan of stalling and exhausting the Umbreon's chakra was also useless.
At this point, the Nine-Tails was a bit frustrated. It had shrunk its body, but still couldn't land a paw on Umbreon.
Feeling defeated, the Nine-Tails lay down, closed its eyes, and muttered like a defeated fox.
"Space-type abilities are really the worst!"
Meanwhile, Umbreon, still enjoying itself, watched the red little fox no longer chasing after it. It blinked its eyes and instantly appeared in front of the Nine-Tails.
At that moment, the Nine-Tails suddenly opened its eyes and extended its paw again.
"Got you!"
This time, Umbreon did not dodge. Instead, it met the Nine-Tails' blood-red eyes with its own gem-like crimson gaze.
For a moment, the Nine-Tails blinked. Why was it trying to catch it again?
It didn't really seem to have any purpose. But, feeling the strange sense of joy inside, perhaps that was the biggest reason of all.
Just then,Natsuro arrived in the Nine-Tails' space and witnessed the scene before him.
His pupils instantly contracted.
A tiny Nine-Tails and Umbreon standing side by side, two ridiculously cute creatures!
At that moment, a thought flashed through his mind: So the Nine-Tails can shrink on its own?
Umbreon seemed to sense his arrival as well, its face lighting up with joy.
In the next instant, it appeared in Natsuro's arms, and along with it… the tiny Nine-Tails.
Silence.
Natsuro was speechless and so was the tiny Nine-Tails.
For a moment, the small Nine-Tails didn't even get angry about being held. Instead, it glanced at him, then back at the sealing barrier behind it.
So… was it unsealed?
At that moment, the tiny Nine-Tails couldn't shake off a strange feeling. Something absurd, something surreal.
Natsuro didn't know what to say either. He knew Umbreon had spatial abilities, but he hadn't expected it to completely ignore the Nine-Tails' seal and bring the beast out of its prison.
A bead of cold sweat formed on his forehead.
It was fortunate that he had arrived. Otherwise, if Umbreon had accidentally taken the Nine-Tails outside…
The Nine-Tails would be fine. The Hidden Leaf would be fine, as long as he was there.
But if Naruto lost the Nine-Tails?
Natsuro didn't even want to imagine it.
However, there was no point in overthinking now. This was a golden opportunity. If he missed it, there would be no second chance!
So, Natsuro stretched out his wicked hands and placed them on the Nine-Tails' fur.
After a few good strokes, the tiny Nine-Tails finally reacted, its beautiful large eyes glaring at him.
"Brat, let go of me!"
The little Nine-Tails struggled, but it seemed that along with its shrunken form, its strength had also been proportionally reduced.
For the moment, it couldn't break free.
He gave the Nine-Tails a few more firm pets before finally letting go. Any longer, and he could already sense the creature's chakra fluctuating, growing stronger.
Finally freed, the small Nine-Tails glared at hum before turning its gaze back toward the sealing barrier.
Its mind was still in a haze.
The tiny Nine-Tails could feel it now, the seal that had bound it for so long was gone.
It could leave Naruto's body right now and regain its freedom!
Natsuro remained silent.
As he gently stroked Umbreon's fur, he quietly watched the small Nine-Tails.
He wanted to see what the Nine-Tails would choose.
Would it abandon Naruto and reclaim its long-lost freedom?
Or… would it return to the boy and continue staying by his side?
If you want to read more...
Check out the patreon and get 55 chapters in advance -> SaintXI
Currently on Chapter 335 - Natsuro and Orochimaru's Conspiracy