**Chapter 13: Nine-Tailed Rasengan**
After treating Haku to ramen, Naruto spent the rest of the day playing with him in the shopping district before finally heading home.
Now, Haku was fast asleep.
With Haku settled in, Naruto still had something he needed to do.
*Boom! Swish!*
Landing on the trunk of a large tree, Naruto gazed down at the slightly open area below. With a flash, he dropped to the ground, exerting a slight force on the trunk to send leaves fluttering down.
"Hah! Rasengan!"
With a shout, a blue chakra sphere instantly formed in Naruto's right palm.
"Nine-Tails!" Naruto roared inwardly.
"Understood!"
The Nine-Tailed Beast released its chakra, and two crimson fox tails materialized instantly.
*Gurgle...*
Extending the tails before him, Naruto manipulated them to form two fox claws, enveloping the Rasengan.
*Bubbling...*
The blue chakra sphere was immediately engulfed in darkness.
"Hah! Nine-Tailed Rasengan! *Boom!*"
As Naruto slammed the black chakra sphere into the ground, he was startled by the rapidly deepening crater.
"Just a small amount of the Nine-Tailed Beast's chakra created this level of destruction?"
Naruto stood dumbfounded in the massive crater, roughly twenty meters in diameter. "If I only used the Nine-Tailed Beast's Chakra to create the Rasengan, then..."
"Kid, this technique has some serious power! If you went all out, it could be even more devastating than my Hollow Dog Cannon!" the Nine-Tailed Beast's excited voice boomed in Naruto's mind.
"Heh heh, thanks for the compliment," Naruto replied, basking in the Nine-Tailed Beast's praise.
"Kid, how about letting me out for some fresh air?" the Nine-Tailed Beast asked tentatively.
"No problem," Naruto agreed readily.
"Kid, you're a true bro!" the Nine-Tailed Beast exclaimed, his tone a mix of relief and excitement.
"But you have to go back before dawn. I need to get back to take care of Haku," Naruto warned, worried the Nine-Tailed Beast might get carried away and forget the time.
"No problem!" the Nine-Tailed Beast assured him.
"Alright, come on out then. I'm gonna catch some sleep." Naruto yawned, his eyelids already drooping.
Pale golden fur gradually enveloped his body. His eyes flashed with a piercing, feral intensity, transforming into wild fox-like pupils. An overwhelming aura of savage power radiated from his entire being.
"Huff! Finally, I can get some fresh air again," the Nine-Tailed Beast's booming, raspy voice echoed.
"Already five tails? Not bad!"
Glancing behind him, the Nine-Tailed Beast felt a surge of pride. "It seems it won't be long before all nine tails emerge. Naruto, you and I need to keep pushing ourselves."
"Kid, kid!"
Growing bored in the forest, the Nine-Tailed Beast called out a few times in Naruto's consciousness.
"Tch, already asleep? Fine, I'll go have some fun myself."
The Nine-Tailed Beast surveyed his surroundings, picked a random direction, and darted off.
"Wow! The ocean! We meet again."
Leaning comfortably against a scorched rock, the Nine-Tailed Beast inhaled the faintly salty sea breeze, feeling utterly at ease. "Ah, this is the life... If only I had a fox girl to share it with. Sigh, I miss those fluffy, soft tails so much..."
After a long silence, the Nine-Tailed Beast finally couldn't contain himself and roared at the sea: "Aaaah! I want a wife!"
"Damn it, Nine-Tailed Beast! Are you crazy? What's with all the racket this early in the morning? You're ruining my peaceful dream!" Naruto's frustrated shout echoed in the Nine-Tailed Beast's mind.
"I want a fox girl!"
The Nine-Tailed Beast roared, his face twisted with frustration.
"Uh... been lonely for too long?" Naruto asked, stunned by the Nine-Tailed Beast's sudden longing for a mate. When had the Nine-Tailed Beast become so desperate for companionship?
"More or less," the Nine-Tailed Beast mumbled evasively.
"Got anyone in mind?" Naruto asked, his tone flippant.
"Of course," the Nine-Tailed Beast replied matter-of-factly. "If I could win her over... that would be the ultimate pleasure!"
"Uh... given your current situation, that's a pretty distant dream," Naruto said, tugging at the corner of his mouth in resignation. "Fine, seeing how pathetic you are, I'll give you some advice. If you're really that lonely, just think about her and... do something that feels good."
"Uh... I refuse!" the Nine-Tailed Beast declared firmly. "My essence must be reserved for its proper purpose!"
"Damn it, you stubborn old fool!" Naruto stretched lazily. "Fine, do as you please. Alright, I'm heading out."
"Hmph. After a night of freedom, this great one is going back to sleep. Sleep is the ultimate pleasure, after all."
The moment sleep entered his mind, the Nine-Tailed Beast forgot everything else.
"Ugh... that changed fast!"
Naruto listened to the Nine-Tailed Beast's words, utterly speechless.
"Huff! Judging by the sky, dawn is breaking soon. Time to head back."
Regaining consciousness in his own body, Naruto glanced up at the sky.
Just as he was about to leave, his body froze in place.
"Nine-Tailed Beast! Are you crazy?! Where the hell did you drag me all night?!"
Surveying the completely unfamiliar surroundings, Naruto's expression instantly became priceless as he roared in fury.
"Huff... finally back. That Nine-Tailed Beast is such a pain."
Exhausted, Naruto realized all the energy he'd regained overnight had been completely drained.
Since it was still early, Haku likely hadn't woken up yet. Rather than foolishly knock on the door, Naruto simply leaped through the window.
"Sleep, sleep!"
Naruto mentally cheered as he scrambled onto the large bed, casually pulling Haku into his arms and immediately falling into a deep slumber.
After an unknown amount of time, Naruto slowly stirred awake.
"Haku, what time is it?"
Opening his eyes, Naruto saw Haku sitting obediently beside him, gazing at him. He gave a sheepish grin, sat up, and asked.
"Hmm... Naruto-nii, it's still early. The sun just rose a little while ago," Haku said with a gentle smile.
"Heh, looks like I didn't oversleep after all. Good thing," Naruto thought to himself, stretching lazily. *Today's Team Seven's assembly day. If I'd slept through it, I'd be in trouble. Glad I didn't go wild with the Nine-Tailed Beast last night.*
"Alright, Haku, I'm going to get up and wash up now." Naruto instinctively ruffled Haku's silky hair before sliding out of bed and slipping into his slippers.
"Haku, I'm heading out now. Take good care of yourself and eat on time," Naruto said, waving goodbye.
"Mm-hmm," Haku replied softly, walking over to Naruto and pressing a light kiss to his cheek. "This is a farewell kiss, Naruto-nii."
"Oh, so there's a kiss like that too? Then I'll give my little darling a farewell kiss as well." Naruto leaned in and nibbled on Haku's fair, smooth, and tender cheek.
"Mmm, so fragrant!" Naruto smacked his lips a few times, his face radiating bliss.
"I've decided! From now on, I'll give you a kiss every morning and evening!"
"Ah?..."