Chapter 126: Nine-Tails Mode

Naruto swiftly gathered his chakra and psychomechanical energy, decisively hurling molten iron sand into the fierce exchange with the SSA. Under his exquisite control, the iron sand resembled a swarm of enraged hornets, surging toward the enemy with terrifying momentum.

At that moment, both Naruto and Sasuke were achieving results with the iron sand Gaara had refined through Magnet Release.

Gaara’s brows drew together slightly, and a flicker of displeasure passed through his eyes. He grumbled inwardly, “Hmph. It’s my iron sand, yet they’re the ones stealing the spotlight.”

He soon realized that this was hardly the time to quibble over such matters. With a cold snort, he stopped attacking and instead devoted himself entirely to refining iron sand and supplying medicinal pills.

At the same time, he continued manipulating the sand to provide everyone with solid, reliable protection. He also used the Wind Release at which Shukaku excelled to amplify the power of their Fire Release techniques. His hands danced as nimbly as butterflies, and under his precise control, sand and raging winds constantly rushed to wherever they were needed most.

The ferocious assault soon proved remarkably effective. The SSA robot’s body accumulated more and more wounds, while its once-fluid evasive movements became increasingly frantic. It seemed to be experiencing unprecedented pressure. Its icy frame trembled faintly, and the sickly green light on its Difference Engine flickered repeatedly, making it look utterly strained and helpless.

“This is bad. Sasuke looks like he’s about to reach his limit.”

Naruto’s heart clenched. His gaze burned as it locked onto Sasuke.

Blood tears were streaming from Sasuke’s eyes. It seemed that even the power supplied by the Sharingan was nearing its limit. His face was as pale as paper, utterly drained of color, and he looked exceedingly weak.

Naruto inwardly cried out in alarm, panic rising within him. “I’m running low on chakra too. If this continues, we’ll all die!”

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, while anxiety and fear filled his heart. He knew that they had entered the final stage of the battle. It was now a matter of life or death, and they had to find a way to reverse this perilous situation as quickly as possible.

“Hey, brat!”

At this critical moment, the Nine-Tails shouted from within Naruto, “Why don’t you rely on me for once? You haven’t even used my power yet!”

There was a trace of eager anticipation in the Nine-Tails’ voice.

Deep down, the Nine-Tails thought that Naruto might be the strangest jinchuriki it had ever worked with throughout its long existence.

In the past, every jinchuriki who had sealed it within their body had treated it with hostility. The moment it entered them, they had eagerly tried to seize its power.

But Uzumaki Naruto was entirely different.

Every day, he laughed and joked, boasting without end. He had never once tried to seize the Nine-Tails’ power, nor had he even mentioned borrowing it. Although he often shouted that the Nine-Tails needed to pay rent, in truth, he merely made occasional use of the chakra that unconsciously leaked from it.

Despite making almost no use of the Nine-Tails’ power, Naruto had always sought every possible way to improve its living conditions.

Now, the battle had reached its most desperate juncture. Watching Naruto sink into a hopeless situation, the Nine-Tails was overcome by turbulent emotions.

“At a time like this, if I still refuse to help, then what right do I have to exist in this world?”

A powerful sense of responsibility surged through it. If it did not act now, it would be haunted by guilt forever.

“How do I draw upon your power?” Naruto asked distractedly amid the fierce battle. “Do I have to undo your seal and release you?”

The Nine-Tails hesitated briefly. It was not reluctant to share its power; rather, it feared that Naruto might suspect it of harboring ulterior motives.

Will this brat trust me? it wondered. What if this makes him even more wary of me? What then?

After a long pause, the Nine-Tails slowly replied, “Yes. You need to open the seal and draw out my chakra. But don’t worry. Once you’ve taken out my chakra, you can reinforce the seal again. I am Kurama. If I say I will lend you my strength, I will never break my word! I will not take this opportunity to escape!”

Naruto heard none of what came afterward. The instant he heard the Nine-Tails’ proposal, he devoted himself entirely to fighting the SSA robot. Seeing that the battle had temporarily stabilized and would not immediately deteriorate, he unhesitatingly shifted his consciousness into the sealed space.

Naruto arrived before the great sealing gate. The Nine-Tails watched him with eyes filled with anticipation.

Come on, brat, it thought silently. Let me see whether you truly trust me.

Without a word, Naruto reached out and tore away the seal affixed to the gate.

Just as his hand was about to touch the sealing talisman, a gentle yet urgent voice rang out beside his ear.

“Naruto! Don’t!”

Naruto ignored the voice completely. He resolutely removed the seal and then left the sealed space.

“The rest is up to you, Kurama! I need a lot of chakra! An enormous amount!”

“Leave it to me, boy! Just watch!”

The Nine-Tails threw back its head and laughed heartily.

As its laughter rang out, Naruto felt an overwhelming force flood every part of his body. His chakra reserves instantly multiplied dozens of times over, and a golden chakra cloak enveloped him from head to toe.

“Take it! This is my power—the power of the strongest tailed beast!”

The Nine-Tails’ thunderous shout was filled with confidence and majesty.

Several dazzling golden chakra arms suddenly extended from behind Naruto. Like enormous golden serpents, they surged outward with tremendous force, reaching toward every person present.

A vast tide of vitality and chakra, as boundless as the ocean, immediately flowed along those giant arms. Everyone clearly felt a powerful force pour into their bodies, like a parched earth receiving a long-awaited spring rain.

At their wounds, new flesh writhed like nimble little snakes. In the blink of an eye, every injury was completely healed.

“Hmph. That stinking fox.”

Although Shukaku was deeply displeased, it could only watch helplessly as the Nine-Tails’ chakra healed its jinchuriki.

That stinking fox, Shukaku muttered inwardly. When did it become so kind? Still, healing has never been my strength. Whatever. Let it have this one.

Feeling the immense vitality surging through her body, Sakura widened her eyes in astonishment.

She had already recognized the power as that of a tailed beast. Memories surfaced in her mind of the legends about tailed beasts she had heard as a child. She had always assumed that the Nine-Tails, like Shukaku, excelled only at destruction and combat.

After all, that was what she had believed since childhood.

Yet now, the Nine-Tails’ true power had revealed itself to be something entirely different, possessing such vigorous vitality.

Sakura was filled with wonder.

“So the power of a tailed beast is truly this immense. It isn’t limited to destruction—it can even possess such miraculous healing abilities.”

“Hahahaha! Well done! You did wonderfully, Naruto!”

Feeling the abundant vitality within his body and the rapid growth of his ocular power, Sasuke flushed with excitement.

He shouted, “Keep it up! Let’s join forces and take that enemy down together!”

“This is far too powerful.”

Naruto stared at the astonishing scene he had created, his eyes filled with shock.

He could not help exclaiming, “I never imagined that a jinchuriki’s power could be this immense. No wonder every hidden village keeps such a close eye on them. This is an outright strategic-level force! With power like this, the casualties of any army could be reduced drastically. An experienced commander could completely create an army that never dies!”

The Nine-Tails’ healing was no ordinary healing. It replenished an enormous quantity of vitality—so much that it overflowed.

Such treatment would not shorten an army’s operational lifespan. On the contrary, it would greatly stimulate the army’s potential.

“Brat, that was only half of my power.”

The Nine-Tails cast a brief glance at the two wide-eyed figures in the corner of the sealed space and spoke in an indifferent tone.

“The other half of my power was taken away by your father. If you get the chance, go and retrieve it. Once I am whole again, I will be able to give you even more surprises.”