Naruto: Reborn in His Younger Self

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After Jiraiya left, Tsunade once again asked Kakashi about all the circumstances surrounding Naruto's departure from the village.

After hearing everything, she realized that the Nine-Tails' rampage almost never happened!

Because if the Nine-Tails had truly gone berserk, Yamato would have been the first to notice!

The only real anomaly was that Naruto had suddenly fainted.

Thinking of this, Tsunade fell into deep thought.

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Outside, at night.

Under a streetlight in Konoha, Jiraiya sat on a bench.

Hurried footsteps echoed from the darkness. Jiraiya raised his head, his body shifting slightly as he asked in confusion, "Where have you been? It took you so long to buy something."

Naruto quickly sat down, tearing open the packaging bag and gasping. "I had to dig through the freezer for a long time to find this flavor. It took me a while."

Saying that, Naruto pulled out a twin popsicle, broke it in half, and handed one to Jiraiya.

"Here, Ero-sennin! Take it."

Jiraiya stared at the popsicle in mild surprise, his mind drifting to old memories.

The first time Naruto ate this type of popsicle, he had just begun learning the Rasengan under Jiraiya's guidance. Back then, Naruto had been thirsty and bought one himself.

At the time, Jiraiya thought Naruto was going to treat himself to something fancy, but it turned out to be something as simple as this.

And now, the flavor Naruto had chosen was the exact same one.

Jiraiya smiled slightly and accepted the popsicle.

Seeing this, Naruto grinned and happily took a bite of his.

A gust of autumn wind blew past, making both of them shiver slightly.

Jiraiya, feeling the cold, grumbled, "It's almost autumn, and yet you're dragging this old man out here just to eat popsicles?"

But to Naruto's ears, this lighthearted complaint sounded warm—like home.

After a moment, Jiraiya glanced at him.

"So, what did you call me out here for? It wasn't just for popsicles, was it?"

Naruto sucked on his popsicle, then shook his head.

"No, I came to ask you for the key."

Jiraiya stopped mid-bite, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"What key?"

Naruto met his gaze and said firmly, "The key to the Nine-Tails' seal. You have it, don't you?"

Jiraiya took another bite of his popsicle, his mind hesitating.

Originally, before the battle with Pain, he had already planned to hand over the Nine-Tails' seal key, instructing Fukasaku to return to Konoha and deliver it to Ibiki Morino.

However, after Naruto saved him—and especially after seeing the immense power and mysterious changes in Naruto's abilities—Jiraiya couldn't shake his unease.

He trusted his apprentice. He trusted Minato's decisions and foresight.

But... he couldn't ignore this strange feeling of anxiety.

He had seen Nagato fall into darkness before. What if Naruto followed the same path? If that happened... Jiraiya would truly have no disciples left.

Sensing his master's hesitation, Naruto smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Ero-sennin. My father already told me that he trusts me. He said I should ask you for the key so that, under your supervision, I can train and master the Nine-Tails' chakra."

Jiraiya blinked in surprise.

"The Fourth Hokage instructed you to do this?"

Naruto nodded.

"Yeah. You think I'd come up with this on my own?"

Jiraiya sighed and continued eating his popsicle, thinking it over.

In the end, he had planned to give Naruto the key anyway.

Now that Naruto had actively come to ask for it, Jiraiya figured this was as normal a time as any.

Finishing the last bit of his popsicle, Jiraiya stood up.

"Alright, get up. Lend me a hand first."

Naruto frowned.

"Huh? Why?"

Jiraiya rolled his eyes.

"Idiot. I need your hand to form the seal!"

Grabbing Naruto's hand, Jiraiya formed a summoning seal—calling forth Gerotora, the Toad Scroll.

A moment later, Gerotora emerged from Jiraiya's mouth, looking irritated.

"What the hell, Jiraiya?! Why are you summoning me out again?"

Then he noticed Naruto standing nearby, smiling and waving at him.

Gerotora's expression darkened.

"…Wait. Are you seriously going to entrust it to him?"

Jiraiya nodded.

"I made that decision a long time ago. Since Naruto has taken the initiative, I'm going to hand it over properly."

Gerotora eyed Jiraiya's missing hand and frowned.

"You're in no shape to stop the Nine-Tails if things go wrong. Are you sure about this?"

Jiraiya grimaced.

He had to admit, Gerotora had a point.

Naruto, however, just smiled.

"It's fine. I'm not the same Naruto I used to be. I have my own ways of dealing with the Nine-Tails."

Ever since returning from death, Naruto had been trying to actively train with the Nine-Tails' chakra.

He had even attempted to enter the sealed space—the familiar sewer-like chamber inside his mind.

But something was different.

The Nine-Tails had completely cut off their chakra connection. No matter how many times Naruto called out to him, there was no response.

That's why he urgently needed the key—so he could unlock the seal and figure out what was going on.

Gerotora snorted.

"Arrogant brat. Do you even understand how terrifying that fox is? Just opening Four Tails' mode nearly killed Jiraiya."

"That's enough, Gerotora," Jiraiya interrupted.

"My decision is final. Give the key to Naruto."

Gerotora sighed.

"…Alright."

Extending his small body, the Nine-Tails' seal pattern from the Fourth Hokage appeared on his skin.

He looked at Naruto.

"Place your handprint here, and I will enter your body."

Naruto, familiar with this process, immediately stepped forward and pressed his hand onto the pattern.

Gerotora sealed himself into Naruto's stomach.

Then, he looked up at Naruto and said, "Now, open your mouth wide. I'm going in."

Naruto's face paled.

He suddenly recalled the time Grandma Tsunade stuffed a frog into his mouth and locked it inside his stomach.

"Wait—wait—do I really have to swallow you?!"

Gerotora smirked.

"No other way, brat. Now, brace yourself."

Naruto gulped.

Jiraiya sighed, rubbing his temples in exasperation.

"Quit whining. Just take it like a man."

And with that, he slapped Naruto's back—shoving Gerotora inside his stomach.

"BLRRGHHH—!!"

Naruto gagged, his face twisted in pure disgust as he fought the urge to vomit.

Jiraiya, ignoring Naruto's suffering, dusted his hands off and smiled.

"There. complete."

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Bonus Chapter - 200 Power Stones

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