The massive cloud of smoke caused by the Tailed Beast Bomb slowly dissipated. The shockwave from the attack didn’t harm Nine Tails at all.

"To think you could withstand a Tailed Beast Bomb from a half-Tailed Beast state, and an attack from Gyuki’s beast form. You’re ridiculously strong. You bastard, you idiot."

Inside Naruto. Nine Tails had gradually taken control of Naruto’s consciousness.

"Now, tear off this sealing tag."

Nine Tails lifted Naruto and brought him to the gate that sealed him.

Naruto’s consciousness, invaded by Nine Tails, turned black and red. He slowly raised a hand and reached towards the sealing tag. If this tag were torn off, Naruto’s consciousness would be completely stripped away.

The sealing pattern on his abdomen also gradually loosened, just one step away from Naruto completely going berserk.

"That’s far enough, Nine Tails."

Naruto’s eyes suddenly regained clarity, and the hand he had reached out was stopped.

"Fourth Hokage, you really are persistent. Still interfering even after death."

A person wearing a Hokage cloak appeared beside Naruto; it was he who stopped Naruto.

Naruto froze for a moment, then finally came to his senses. He looked at the figure beside him. Although it was his first time meeting him, he felt an unusual familiarity.

"You are..."

"Now is not the time to talk about that. Let’s deal with the trouble in front of us first."

The Fourth Hokage took Naruto away from Nine Tails.

"Stop right there, Fourth Hokage, you meddling guy."

The Fourth Hokage ignored him. You’ll have a hard time later, just like when Nine Tails was sealed back then. Even after death, the Fourth Hokage still managed to reinforce the seal on Nine Tails. Nine Tails really hadn’t expected this.

This was the best opportunity in over a decade, yet it was easily thwarted.

After landing, the Fourth Hokage restored the seal on Naruto’s abdomen to its original state.

"Let’s talk somewhere else."

There would surely be many things father and son wanted to say during their first meeting.

The battle outside also continued.

The Tailed Beast Bombs from the two Tailed Beasts collided, destroying more than half of the forest. Although Nine Tails was only in its half-Tailed Beast form, the power of its Tailed Beast Bomb was comparable to Gyuki’s. This showed Nine Tails’ formidable strength.

However, after releasing the Tailed Beast Bomb, Nine Tails was restricted by the seal of the Fourth Hokage. The beast’s bones gradually disappeared, and it remained in its Tailed Beast form, with six tails left behind.

Yamato and his team, who were rushing back to Konoha village, also received this news. Yamato’s tense expression clearly eased.

"The number of tails has decreased, that’s great. It seems the First Hokage’s accessory worked."

Compared to the despair of having eight tails just now, seeing the number of tails reduced to six, Yamato was clearly much more relieved. However, they couldn’t be careless, and the team still returned to Konoha at their fastest pace.

Hatake Satoru watched the entire battle from outside. He was very surprised by the power of the Tailed Beast Bomb. Apart from the long casting time, its destructive power was almost the same as other attacks of comparable range.

It seemed that the top combatants in this world were very close to his own strength. However, Hatake Satoru still stood at the pinnacle of power.

"I didn’t expect this brat to have such strength."

Sasori watched the scene of the battle and couldn’t help but sigh. He was completely different from when they first met.

"Naruto’s number of tails has decreased. It seems the Fourth Hokage intervened in the space with Nine Tails to help."

Now Hatake Satoru was completely relieved. Although the reason for the seal’s release was different, the Fourth Hokage had appeared in time to resolve Naruto’s crisis.

He now only needed to watch from the sidelines.

"Brother!"

Kakashi and Jiraiya arrived near the battlefield and saw Hatake Satoru there as well, so they approached him.

"Sasori, you go back to the village and check on Itachi for me. Take care of him for Shisui."

"Understood. I’ll see you at the Uchiha Clan base then."

Sasori left after speaking and returned to Konoha village.

Hatake Satoru had Sasori leave first because he was afraid that Kakashi and Jiraiya, who were arriving, would become suspicious.

"Brother, who was that person just now? He seemed like a stranger, I haven’t seen him in Konoha village."

"Ah, reinforcement sent from the Hidden Sand Village. It’s not important, don’t worry about it."

As expected, Kakashi asked after seeing Sasori leave.

"How is Naruto doing?"

Jiraiya was more worried about Naruto. The crisis in Konoha village had not yet been resolved, and new enemies had been found on the wall. It was normal for Jiraiya to be so worried about Naruto now.

"Don’t worry, Naruto was just one step away from fully transforming. But it didn’t seem to be his own will."

"But he’s fine now. The number of tails has dropped to six, which is within a safe and controllable range."

"Is that so? That’s great."

Knowing that Naruto was alright, Jiraiya was clearly much more relieved.

"In that case, I will face this enemy together with my disciple."

Jiraiya rode on Gamaken’s head, intending to go and help Naruto fight Gyuki.

"Please wait a moment, Jiraiya-sama."

"Don’t rush. The opponent is the one who best controls the power of the Tailed Beasts among the current Jinchuriki. I believe fighting him will be of great help to Naruto."

"Don’t worry, I will save him before anything happens to Naruto."

Hatake Satoru stopped Jiraiya from going forward to help.

Naruto urgently needed to grow. Under his influence, Jiraiya had not died in the Hidden Rain Village, and Naruto had lost his best chance for growth. Fortunately, Gyuki had suddenly appeared in Konoha. This excellent opportunity could not be missed.

"Since you’ve put it that way, I have nothing to refute."

Jiraiya agreed with Hatake Satoru’s idea.

However, he did not have Gamaken dismiss the summoning. Facing an enemy in full Tailed Beast form, Jiraiya still wanted to help Naruto at the first opportunity.

"What’s wrong? Stinky Fox. Can’t even possess him?"

"It’s foolish not to accept the power that humans can’t yet defeat."

Gyuki was verbally attacking Nine Tails. However, Nine Tails could no longer hear him. The seal reinforced by the Fourth Hokage had completely severed Nine Tails’ connection to the outside world.

After reinforcing the seal on Naruto’s abdomen, the Fourth Hokage brought Naruto to a quiet space.

"Yo, Naruto. Hmm..."

Just as the Fourth Hokage was about to greet Naruto, he was punched in the abdomen by a sudden blow from Naruto.

"You damn old man, you were inside my body all along, yet you only show up now to meet me after so long."

Naruto said these words with a tearful voice. The Fourth Hokage was also heartbroken. He gently placed a hand on Naruto’s head to comfort him.

"I’m sorry, Naruto. But I knew that if it were you, you could do it. And the facts prove it, you really did it. You’ve worked hard for a long time."