Chapter 347: The Nine-Tails' "Kind Guidance"
"No, you're not a stranger."
After his expression shifted for a moment, Naruto suddenly seemed to realize something. His eyes sharpened as he stared at Kushina.
"Of course I'm not a stranger. Naruto, you finally felt it, didn't you? I already said I'm…"
Kushina felt like crying, but unfortunately, an Impure World Reincarnation body couldn't produce tears.
"You're an accomplice of that guy who tried to drill into my butt last time!"
Naruto pointed at Kushina, wearing a "I've already seen through everything" expression.
That's right, Naruto 'had' remembered something.
But it wasn't from his infancy. He was recalling what happened earlier in his consciousness space.
At that time, Naruto had been punishing that blond man who claimed to be his father using Wind Release: Rasengan Thousand Years of Death. Then this red-haired woman suddenly appeared.
Just like the blond man, this red-haired woman had shown up and immediately tried to seal the Nine-Tails again. Clearly, they were on the bad guys' side.
Back then, Naruto had relied entirely on the Nine-Tails' power to resist the "drill" attack from outside.
There was no way these people could be his parents.
What kind of parents show up and immediately try to have their son drilled through?
Impossible!
These two were inherently evil enemies. The moment they appeared, they started messing with Uzumaki Naruto's beloved partner and sworn brother, Kurama.
They even tied him up.
Naruto hadn't even played bondage games with Kurama himself!
Unfortunately, at the time, he had only punished the blond guy and didn't get a chance to deal with this one.
"Wait… could you actually be Shiromo-nii using the Transformation Jutsu?"
Just as Naruto was about to attack, another possibility suddenly crossed his mind.
After being guided and coached by the Nine-Tails for so long, Naruto felt that he had gained some intelligence. He even believed he now had the potential to become Konoha's strategist like Shikamaru.
"Transformation Jutsu? Of course I'm the real one! Naruto, you…"
Kushina couldn't understand how a perfectly normal reunion had turned into this situation.
Now she had to prove that she was herself.
"Let me poke your forehead first. I'll believe you halfway."
Naruto interrupted her and made his demand.
If she really was Shiromo in disguise, then she definitely wouldn't agree. Because once he touched her forehead, she'd lose the "test."
"…Alright, then come…"
Kushina sighed. Even though it felt inappropriate for a younger generation to do this to an elder, she was still prepared to agree.
But halfway through her sentence, she suddenly remembered what Naruto had just been using his hands for. Her expression instantly changed.
As Naruto reached toward her forehead, Kushina quickly stepped back.
"See? You're definitely a bad guy!"
Seeing her dodge, Naruto immediately pointed at her with an "I knew it" look.
"…Wash your hands first, then I'll let you touch me."
Kushina took a deep breath and continued explaining patiently.
[Naruto, this woman is tricking you. Asking you to wash your hands in the desert, she's obviously messing with you. Don't believe her!]
The Nine-Tails' "kind" reminder echoed in Naruto's mind.
"Kurama, you don't need to say it. As the brains of Team 7, I already figured out she's no good."
Naruto nodded, then clapped his hands together and effortlessly entered Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
[Wait, Naruto. Look at her eyes. She's an Impure World Reincarnation body. Normal attacks won't work on her.]
The Nine-Tails continued offering helpful advice.
"Huh? So she's not Shiromo using the Transformation Jutsu? But she dodged just now…"
Naruto looked puzzled.
[Of course not. If he wanted to deal with you, he wouldn't use something as low-level as a Transformation Jutsu. This is her real body. But she's definitely not a good person, you have to trust me.]
"Of course I trust you, Kurama. You're my partner."
Naruto confidently patted his chest, then hurriedly asked, "So how do I deal with someone reincarnated like this? Do you have any good ideas?"
So much for being the "brains of Team 7."
The Nine-Tails complained internally, but still quickly offered a plan.
[To subdue someone like her, you need sealing techniques. Unfortunately, Naruto, you don't know any.]
[Any normal ninjutsu won't work. No matter how much damage you deal, her body will regenerate, and she won't even feel pain…]
"So there's really nothing I can do?"
Naruto grew anxious.
[Don't worry, Naruto. Even if you can't harm her physically, you can attack her mentally!]
"Mental attack? I don't know any genjutsu!"
Naruto didn't understand.
He continued asking Kurama anxiously within his mind.
But he had a strange feeling.
For some reason, Kurama seemed to be getting more and more excited as he spoke.
Why?
Was it because the opponent was a powerful reincarnated ninja, igniting Kurama's fighting spirit?
Or was it because this inherently evil ninja had once bound Kurama with golden chains in the mind space, and now Kurama wanted revenge?
[It's a pity… you can't enter Sage Mode right now.]
The Nine-Tails sighed.
"But I'm already in Sage Mode?"
Naruto didn't understand what Kurama was lamenting.
Kurama curled his lip and didn't explain further.
What he wanted wasn't the result, it was the process.
[Naruto, she's a powerful ninja. Do you remember the technique you've practiced the longest and are most skilled at?]
The Nine-Tails began his "kind guidance."
"Kurama… you mean…"
Naruto's eyes suddenly lit up. He remembered!
That technique, the stronger the opponent, the more effective it was!
So this was what Kurama meant by a mental attack!
"I get it!"
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Naruto grinned confidently and formed hand seals.
"Still going to fight? Fine… I'll just treat this as sparring practice for Naruto."
Kushina sighed helplessly.
After all, she was in an Impure World Reincarnation body. Even if she got injured, she would recover quickly.
Better to fight first. Maybe during the fight, Naruto would notice their similarities and realize the truth.
If not, she could explain everything afterward.
As for Shiromo watching from the sky.
Kushina felt that if she called him down to help now, it would make her look completely incompetent, unable to handle even something like this.
"Uzumaki Naruto's Secret Technique…"
Bang, bang, bang!
The shadow clones all used Transformation Jutsu at the same time. A thick white mist spread across the desert.
As the mist gradually cleared, figures appeared within.
Their key areas were still covered, but…
Just as Naruto himself had said, this was the technique he had researched, developed, and practiced the longest.
To perfect it, Naruto had even conducted "public opinion surveys" during the Chūnin Exams and in his spare time.
He had put pictures of several male ninjas into questionnaires and asked female ninjas which one they preferred. He even confidently included himself among the options.
The result?
Every single vote went to Shiromo.
He himself had filled out one vote for Sasuke.
As for Sakura, Naruto didn't dare give her a questionnaire. He was afraid of getting beaten.
So this time, every transformation target was Shiromo.
"NARUTO!!!!"
Kushina froze for a moment, then quickly looked away. Finally reacting, her hair flared upward in rage as she charged forward, fists swinging.
It had to be said, the presence of that white mist made Kushina decide to spare Naruto's life.
At least she wouldn't beat him to death.
(End of this chapter)