"Where...where is this place?"
Naruto's turquoise eyes were filled with fear: "Big brother...who are you? What is this fox, and why am I here?"
As a child, Naruto witnessed a scene beyond his understanding.
Aomi sat atop the Nine-tails, a terrifying demon fox exuding an ominous Chakra aura, but at this moment it looked like a startled cat, cowering on the ground, its sharp slit pupils trembling comically.
It was as if the young man with the gentle smile sitting on its head was a creature more formidable than it!
In front of the man and the fox lay an iron gate, entirely fallen on the ground, its purpose unknown...
"This is inside your body..."
Smiling, Aomi looked at the young Naruto and spoke softly: "Or rather, this is inside your heart, your spiritual space, or where your soul resides, you can interpret it however you wish."
"This big fox, called the Nine-tails, is the Tailed Beast sealed within you..."
"And I am a traveler passing by, who saw this interesting scene inside you, and thought of temporarily staying to witness the scenery of the Ninja World..." Aomi had several spheres of different colors swirling around his hand, looking incredibly cool...
Naruto stared at these light spheres, his heart brimming with curiosity.
These so-called light spheres were the Chakras within Aomi, apart from the Nine-tails.
They were Asura, Namikaze Minato, and Kushina...
Aomi casually waved his hand, and the Chakra representing Asura dimmed instantly, silently moving to the corner.
"I'm sorry for intruding without seeking your consent."
Aomi beckoned to little Naruto, a charming curve forming at the corner of his mouth: "Could we discuss a few things? As compensation for my presumptuousness..."
Naruto stared blankly at Aomi, his eyes gleaming with an unusual sparkle.
For the first time...
This was the first time someone spoke to Naruto so kindly, with such a courteous, gentle, and respectful tone...
Especially since Aomi seemed to be a very powerful being.
Such treatment had never been experienced in an environment where the villagers viewed Naruto as a demon fox...
Not to mention someone as polite as Aomi, even such a polite and courteous smile was something unattainable.
"This big brother seems so gentle..."
Thinking this, Naruto's feet moved honestly toward Aomi, carefully standing beside him, and cautiously spoke:
"Big brother, I'm not really angry... I'm just surprised there's such a big fox inside me! As for compensation, and compensation..."
Naruto hesitated for a long time, unable to say what he wanted, his small face gradually turning red, worried that his indecisiveness would leave a bad impression on Aomi, becoming more anxious.
And a large hand quietly rested on Naruto's shoulder.
Aomi squatted down, aligning his gaze with the small Naruto, and gently said: "Is there nothing you want for now? How about this, I noticed you were watching this big fox and the light spheres in my hand..."
"So, how about I teach you Ninjutsu? And teach you how to control this fox inside you, as rent for staying here?"
Seeing Naruto's exceptionally delighted expression, Aomi chuckled.
Still a child, Naruto had just become a Ninja School student, truly too immature...
"If there's anything else you need, feel free to tell me..."
Aomi blinked: "Is this arrangement alright?"
Naruto nodded vigorously.
This arrangement was more than alright!
"Big brother, with someone as formidable as you, you surely can teach me to become a powerful ninja!"
Naruto cheerfully raised his head, glancing sidelong at the subservient Nine-tails lying on the ground, initially shrinking down a bit.
After all, the lying Nine-tails was still the Nine-tails, the beast dreaded by countless ninjas in the Ninja World!
But when his eyes turned to the kindly smiling Aomi, courage suddenly welled up inside Naruto, swiftly seeking shelter behind Aomi, hiding himself entirely before poking his head out to make a funny face at the silent Nine-tails.
"Bleh~ Big Fox, you're so impolite! I finally understand why everyone calls me a demon fox, turns out there's a guy like you inside me!"
Naruto said indignantly:
"Look at Big Brother, so gentle and polite, he proactively asked me what compensation I want...you fox, hiding inside me for so long without telling me, how despicable!"
"Because of you, everyone in the village calls me the demon fox!"
The Nine-tails exhaled two long streams of white air through its nostrils.
Damn, this annoying little brat!
Hiding behind this terrifying man, what's the big deal?
Just try facing me alone! If you can withstand me for three seconds, tomorrow I, the Nine-tails, will call the One-tailed bastard my father!
But that was just a thought...
Having once crossed paths with Aomi, or more accurately, been instantly defeated by him, the terrifying aura sensed from Aomi was something that a child like Naruto couldn't comprehend...
It was a power surpassing the Six Paths Sage and Ten-tails, reaching another dimension of existence known to the Nine-tails!