"Ten years ago, I gave Nine-Tails' key to Jiraiya-sensei." Minato said, glancing at Kurama behind him.
Kurama snorted and turned its head away.
Minato said with a serious expression, "And a few years ago, I gave that key to you. I want to ask a favor of you."
"Unless absolutely necessary, let this key never be opened."
Even if it was just a Chakra reincarnation, Minato couldn't feel at ease with a figure from over a thousand years ago.
"I understand." Shinji nodded.
He shared the same thought on this matter. Unless he was certain that Asura's Chakra carried no such risk, he would not give the key to Naruto.
"Then I'll trouble you." Minato said, bowing to Shinji.
"Alright, I'll leave first. You should think about how to say goodbye to Naruto." Shinji waved his hand, then looked at Kurama.
"Kid, what do you want?" Kurama glared at Shinji, clearly annoyed.
Shinji didn't respond. His entire body vanished from the Sealed Space.
Seeing this, Kurama immediately stood up and yelled curses, "Bastard! What kind of attitude is that from this kid!"
Beside it, Eight-Tails, also trapped in the Sealed Space, said, "He's warning you, you know."
Kurama pouted unhappily. After all, it might be the first time Naruto would emotionally break down in many years. If it tried to take advantage of the situation to tempt Naruto, it might actually succeed.
However, Kurama lowered its gaze, looked at Minato, and lied down again. It didn't believe Minato would have no backup plan, and several years had passed. If it really wanted to do such a thing, it would have done so long ago.
Shinji, back in his body, sighed as he looked at the sleeping Naruto.
What was inevitable had finally arrived.
—
Inside the Sealed Space.
After Naruto woke up, he looked at Minato before him, his face filled with a dazed expression.
"Why like this? I could have taken my time."
Although he was slow, anyone could tell that Minato's condition was not right.
"If only you had stayed longer, even if most of the time you were just recuperating—"
Minato interrupted Naruto, "Naruto, actually, I'm already very content."
"You know, these past few years inside you, I've seen your growth, and I've even celebrated your birthday with you."
Minato said, reaching out to stroke Naruto's head, "For me, that is already the greatest reward."
Looking at the gentle smile on Minato's face, Naruto felt a pang in his eyes, even though it was impossible to cry in the Sealed Space. For a moment, Naruto forgot what he wanted to say. He just stared blankly at Minato.
Minato continued to speak gently, looking at Naruto's face, "These past few years, I've always watched your growth. You're very serious about your training."
"Whether it's your Chakra reserves or the jutsu you've mastered, you're already qualified to be an excellent ninja."
Naruto lowered his head, not responding to Minato's words.
Minato asked, his eyes narrowing, "I remember, Naruto, your goal is to become Hokage, isn't it?"
"Yes, I will become the Hokage, a stronger Hokage than you, dad." Naruto nodded, tears seemingly welling in his eyes, his voice choked with sobs.
Minato watched Naruto silently, speaking slowly, "I believe you can do it. No matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, face them head-on and strive to grow."
"You know, your mother also held this dream."
"Really?!" Naruto looked up, an expression of disbelief on his face.
This was the first time Minato had mentioned his mother to him.
"Really." Minato nodded.
But the next instant, countless specks of light began to float around Minato's body.
'Is it time?'
Minato looked at Naruto, a hint of guilt in his eyes.
Naruto squinted, looking at the gradually dissipating Minato, and shouted loudly, "Dad, I'll grow up well! I'll slowly become stronger! I'll always remember everything you taught me."
Minato blinked upon hearing this, not speaking, just gazing steadily at Naruto. He wanted to see Naruto more in these final moments.
This child of his and Kushina, his son in whom he placed great hopes.
I really wish I could spend more time with you, Naruto.
"Dad! Goodbye!" Naruto shouted loudly again.
"Good…bye…"
The words trailed off, accompanied by Minato's figure gradually fading away.
Inside the space, a burst of glowing light scattered, briefly illuminating the Sealed Space.
Naruto stood in the Sealed Space, which had become somewhat dim again.
He murmured to himself, "I still had so many things to say—"
Kurama, who had been feigning sleep, slowly lifted its eyelids, then its Chakra fluctuated, and Naruto's consciousness was expelled from the Sealed Space.
Eight-Tails beside it couldn't help but ask teasingly, "Kurama, why didn't you take the opportunity—"
"I have no interest in bullying a child, and do you want to be absorbed by me?" Kurama bared its fangs, its expression dangerous.
The small form of Eight-Tails froze, then said nothing more. Kurama has changed somewhat.
Inside the room, Shinji, who had been waiting, looked at Naruto.
Watching the Chakra fluctuations around Naruto, Shinji's eyes flickered.
The next instant, Naruto opened his eyes.
"Sensei, dad is gone." Naruto said.
Shinji's expression stiffened. In fact, Minato had already passed away ten years ago. What was fading now was his spiritual imprint.
Shinji slowly sighed. He reached out to stroke Naruto's head, and said, "Naruto, you can cry now if you want to."
Upon hearing this, Naruto's eyes trembled. The first time he met Shinji, Shinji had said then that he couldn't cry because to become a ninja, he couldn't be weak. Now, his teacher said he could cry.
Naruto, who had been holding it in, felt an extreme surge of suppressed grievance suddenly erupt. Tears could no longer be held back and streamed down his face.
"Ahhhh… sensei!"
Looking at Naruto, whose face was covered in tears and snot, Shinji sighed inwardly, and slowly hugged Naruto. He gently patted Naruto's back, saying nothing.
This crying fit made the already exhausted Naruto fall into a deep sleep.
Shinji breathed a sigh of relief at this. It was good that he could sleep. Otherwise, he would have found a way to make Naruto sleep for a while.
Emotional outbursts were not good for Naruto. Even if Kurama currently had no intention of tempting Naruto, once it reached a threshold, the Chakra within Naruto's body would spontaneously erupt.
Looking at the setting sun outside the window, Shinji sat by Naruto's bed, quietly waiting.