The Fox Awakens

In this matter, Naruto demonstrated remarkable spiritual acumen and intelligence. He had mentally prepared himself for the inevitable consequences of concealing his true identity, well aware that revealing himself as the host of the Nine-Tails would subject him to baseless accusations and widespread hostility from those around him.

Anticipating this, Naruto proactively gathered the necessities he needed. By the time others began to notice the distinctive beard-like marks on his face, it was already too late.

Naruto embarked on thorough research, driven by his curiosity. Eventually, he came to the realization that the facial pattern was not a real beard but rather resembled a birthmark. Could it be that the offspring of Jinchūriki, the hosts of the tailed beasts, possessed unique attributes?

The question of whether other Jinchūriki had children before or after becoming hosts to the tailed beasts remained unclear, warranting no further discussion. In essence, only Naruto's descendants bore the distinctive facial feature, rendering it an exceptional case.

To sum it up, Naruto paid little attention to the opinions of others. With an unperturbed countenance, he continued carrying his belongings and effortlessly returned home.

From that point onward, Naruto's exceptional strength began manifesting in extraordinary ways. Though these feats were not simple, he made them appear so with his casual handling of various objects, often leaving onlookers baffled.

How could a child of such tender years exhibit such remarkable power?

"Be cautious; that's the demon fox."

Consequently, more and more people capitalized on Naruto's supposed identity as the demon fox's reincarnation.

They were a persistent lot, resorting to slandering him. What motivated such behavior? Was there profit to be gained?

Naruto found it perplexing. Had he inadvertently offended someone? What puzzled him even more was his lack of familiarity with many individuals.

Those who inflicted pain upon others seldom comprehended the suffering they caused. When faced with such trials, they were quick to lament why such hardships befell them, rarely reflecting upon their own actions.

Naruto had no intention of stirring up conflict or involving himself in such a tangled web. He chose to head straight home, seeking respite from the turmoil.

Taking a moment to rearrange his living space and lay fresh bedding, Naruto settled down comfortably.

"Indeed, the quietude of home is preferable. While it might bring a touch of loneliness, it's still better than being subjected to whispers behind one's back. And you, stupid fox, when do you intend to wake?"

Naruto mused aloud, resuming his customary habit of addressing the Nine-Tails, albeit with a cheeky moniker.

Initially, he held no expectation of the Nine-Tails responding. After all, three whole years had elapsed without receiving any acknowledgment.

In this particular instance, it appeared that things might unfold in the usual manner. However, to Naruto's surprise, a commanding voice resounded, breaking the silence: "Well, young one, where are your manners?"

"What?" Naruto was startled and quickly sat up, his face and eyes lighting up with joy. He exclaimed, "You're finally speaking to me, you stubborn fox! Were you playing games by pretending to be asleep all this time?"

"Hmph," Nine Tails snorted, projecting its thoughts directly into Naruto's spiritual realm. "That cursed Fourth Hokage! He forcibly split me in two, sealing this fragment within your body, leaving me incredibly weakened. I've only recently started to regain my senses. If you hadn't called out to me, I might have slumbered for a few more years."

So, the Nine Tails had experienced a period of weakness, explaining its three-year silence. Indeed, being forcefully divided by Minato had left it severely debilitated. In such a state, most entities would not have survived, whether physically fragmented or stripped of their essence.

Naruto furrowed his brow and made his stance clear: "Don't disrespect my father, you stubborn fox. The Fourth Hokage is my dad."

In this life, Naruto had come to recognize his parents through a heart-wrenching revelation: witnessing their sacrifice to protect him.

Therefore, he couldn't tolerate any insults against his parents, even from the Nine Tails.

"And what if he is?" Nine Tails retorted with a mocking laugh, a touch of arrogance in its words. "What can you do to me, you impudent child?"

Naruto's gaze turned contemplative, his demeanor serious yet composed. Instead of engaging in a heated argument, he calmly revealed, "Perhaps I didn't mention this earlier, or maybe you were napping at the time. I've met the Sage of Six Paths, Nine Tails, or should I say, Kurama."

"What?" Nine Tails' voice carried surprise and disbelief, a momentary genuine astonishment breaking through its facade.

But soon, it resumed its laughter. "Hahaha, don't be ridiculous! Do you realize how many centuries have passed since the death of the Six Paths? Besides, what chance does a youngster like you have of meeting the old man?"

Nine Tails' skepticism was evident, yet its reverence for the Sage of Six Paths remained discernible.

On the contrary, Naruto wore a triumphant expression, having carefully orchestrated this encounter over the past three years.

He had decided to play the long game, aiming to thoroughly deceive the Nine Tails.

He had strategized that merely declaring himself as Kurama's chosen one or some prophesied hero wouldn't be enough to win Nine Tails' favor. Instead, invoking the revered title of the Sage of Six Paths was his chosen approach.

As mentioned earlier, the tailed beasts originated from Chakra extracted from the Ten Tails tree by the Sage of Six Paths, their creator and progenitor. Consequently, they held a deep respect for him.

Considering the crucial role that the Six Paths played in their existence, Naruto's strategy had merit.

Now, upon hearing Nine Tails' disbelief, Naruto maintained his composed demeanor, expressing his conviction: "Haven't you sensed it yet? Don't you feel the familiarity in my Chakra? You weren't there, were you? I am the reincarnation of Ashura, the descendant of the Sage of Six Paths."

"So, Kurama, I know everything about you."

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