Naruto had originally prepared a more complicated set of excuses, even planning to "casually" mention that he seemed to have dreamed of a fierce, large fox confined behind a cage, thereby gradually leading the Sandaime to suspect the seal was loosening, and subsequently prompting the Sandaime to offer instruction in Sealing Techniques.
However, he never expected that things would progress far more smoothly than he had anticipated.
The Sandaime actually revealed the truth that he was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, along with the embellished "hero narrative," directly and proactively. This completely saved him the trouble of laying groundwork and guiding the conversation, causing the entire process to accelerate abruptly.
Things were simpler than Naruto had imagined.
The image of the young hero he meticulously portrayed—one who awakened his abilities amidst fear, yet possessed profound righteousness and was willing to sacrifice everything for the Village—had clearly moved the Sandaime deeply.
That performance, a blend of vulnerability and resolve, was undoubtedly the best catalyst.
Thus, encountering almost no resistance, and without needing much pleading, he successfully obtained the scroll containing important Sealing Techniques knowledge.
After returning home, Naruto immediately began flipping through it, unable to wait.
The initial parts contained basic Sealing Techniques, such as the One-String Light Formation and the Fire Sealing Technique. Although the Fire Sealing Technique is a B-rank Ninjutsu, it paled in comparison to the subsequent Four Symbols Seal, Five Elements Seal, and Eight Trigrams Sealing Style.
The initial Sealing Techniques not only had singular functions but were also less secure than the later ones.
What surprised Naruto even more was that the Sandaime's Three Directions Seal and the Four Red Yang Formation used by several Hokage together were also included.
The Three Directions Seal is the grasping skill used by Boruto's Konohamaru when he splits into two clones in the mobile game, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.
Flipping to the end: Four Symbols Sealing Technique... Reaper Death Seal... Myojinmon?!
The Sandaime Old Man really dared to give this!
Naruto gasped inwardly.
Of these three techniques, two are S-rank Forbidden Ninjutsu that result in mutual destruction with the enemy.
The other is a Sealing Technique capable of suppressing the Ten-Tails!
This was clearly the essence, even the core secret, of Konoha's Sealing Techniques!
"Naruto, this is... Myojinmon?!"
At the same time, Kurama in the Consciousness Space also saw the contents of the scroll through Naruto's vision. Its massive body instantly tensed up, and its crimson giant eyes were filled with unbelievable astonishment.
The psychological trauma left by the previous user of this technique was simply too deep for it.
Naruto's consciousness sank into the Sealing Space, and he nodded at the Nine-Tailed, a look of disbelief equally etched on his face.
"Kurama, I seriously suspect right now... did the Sandaime Old Man give me the wrong scroll? Did he accidentally give me Konoha's Master Scroll of Sealing Techniques, thinking it was the most basic introductory textbook?"
The content was simply too advanced, leaving him no choice but to be suspicious.
Kurama recovered from its initial shock, scoffed, and its tone returned to its usual arrogance: "Hmph, why bother worrying about that? It's simple. This great one has already memorized everything on the scroll."
"Huh?"
This time, it was Naruto's turn to be stunned.
Kurama flicked its tail and glanced at Naruto with the look one gives a country bumpkin: "What's wrong? This great one is the Nine-Tailed that has lived for thousands of years. Photographic memory—is that so strange? It doesn't matter even if you return the scroll now."
Naruto looked at its smug expression and deliberately put on a skeptical face, provoking it: "I don't believe you. You make it sound too real. Then recite it for me, starting from the 'One-String Light Formation' section."
Being questioned like this, Kurama immediately bared its teeth in anger and embarrassment, revealing gleaming fangs, and roared, "You damn brat, are you doubting this great one?"
Naruto said nothing, only staring intently at the Nine-Tailed.
"Forget about this mere scroll, I clearly remember every single word the Six Paths Old Man said a thousand years ago when he divided his Chakra and created the nine of us!"
Naruto: Stare~
Kurama's imposing aura immediately deflated, and it sullenly lay back down, its voice dropping a few octaves: "But... I don't know how to read... Who would bother learning those convoluted human symbols!
I just treated these things as pictures and 'imprinted' them in my mind exactly as they were, not a single symbol wrong! But... I can't read them out loud to you."
The situation instantly became a little awkward.
A thousand-year-old intelligent being with photographic memory, yet illiterate.
Of course, the fact that Kurama was illiterate was not something to be criticized in itself.
The Six Paths Sage died after dividing the Ten-Tails, although Naruto didn't know why a being like him would die so easily.
But the Six Paths Sage certainly didn't have time to teach the Tailed Beasts.
And Kurama is a Tailed Beast of immense size, possessing world-destroying power, completely incompatible with human civilization.
In its long life, most of the time it was either feared and coveted by humans, or sealed and imprisoned.
Simply making out the tiny human writing was difficult for it, let alone having someone patiently and kindly teach it literacy.
This was not its flaw, but the result of the era and fate.
However, upon hearing this, Naruto's eyes lit up.
He didn't mock it; instead, he seemed to have discovered a new, interesting, and meaningful goal, and a warm, brilliant, sun-like smile bloomed on his face, free of any shadow.
"Then—"
He drew out the sound, his tone light and sincere, "I'll teach you how to read!"
This sentence was like a stone tossed into a lake, creating ripples in the silent Sealing Space.
This was not charity, nor was it a command, but a simple invitation carrying the meaning of sharing.
As if saying: Look, there are interesting things like this in the human world too; let me introduce them to you.
"No way!"
Without thinking, Kurama immediately turned sideways, presenting its back of the head to Naruto, adopting a stance of absolute disinterest and firm refusal.
However, Naruto had long since figured out Kurama's tsundere personality. The smile on his face didn't fade in the slightest; he continued to watch Kurama's massive, disgruntled-looking back with patient amusement.
Silence spread throughout the Sealing Space.
Kurama maintained its arrogant posture. After waiting a while, it secretly shifted its gaze back slightly, looking at Naruto out of the corner of its eye, only to find that the other party was still steadily watching it with that smile that made it inexplicably furious yet slightly helpless.
A sense of being seen through mixed with a subtle, indescribable feeling of being taken seriously.
"Fine, fine!"
It suddenly turned its head back, as if utterly annoyed, and compromised in a gruff voice, trying to salvage its last bit of dignity.
"You're impossible! It's not like I want to learn your human writing! I'm only learning this to give you face, understand?"
Naruto readily agreed, immediately nodding and cooperatively saying, "Yes, yes, yes, I requested you learn this. Thank you very much, Lord Kurama, for giving me this face."
"Hmph!"
Only then did Kurama give a satisfied huff, yet its nine tails unconsciously began to sway gently.
It then spoke, seemingly to change the subject, or perhaps genuinely urging him: "Teach me when you have time. Right now, your most important task is to learn Sealing Techniques as quickly as possible and completely master this Sealing Space. That's the real priority!"