Kurama was torn. He hated the idea of becoming a chakra battery for this girl, but the curiosity was killing him. After a long, agonizing pause, he gave in.
"Fine," He muttered. "But in return, you have to find out what that chakra was."
Kushina's smile widened. "Deal. And don't try to back out-you know I won't let you off the hook if you do."
Kurama scoffed. "Unlike you humans, I'm not a liar. I'm Kurama, the Nine-Tails! I don't go back on my word."
"So, where did that chakra come from?" Kurama demanded, eager for answers.
"It's Xin's summon," Kushina said matter-of-factly.
Kurama blinked. "A summon? You're joking, right?"
"There's nothing funny about it. Xin's summon is a snake just like you, only it's white, way smaller, and has nine little fluffy tails. It even smells great," Kushina explained, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "It's way cuter than you, too."
Kurama's eyes widened in shock. A summoning creature... with chakra like his?
No way. Could it be?
Memories of his past came rushing back-the day Uchiha Madara had come and used the Sharingan to control him, forcing him into a summoning contract.
That day had been one of Kurama's greatest humiliations.
Could Xin's summon be in a similar situation?
"What... what kind of snake is it?" Kurama asked cautiously.
Kushina didn't hesitate. "Like I said, it's a white snake and better looking than you. Xin calls it Ophis."
Kushina had always wanted to cuddle Ophis, but no matter how hard she tried, Ophis simply ignored her. The only person allowed to touch Ophis was Xin, and anyone else who tried ended up with a quick swipe of Ophis's tail.
"A snake?"
"Tail Beast?"
"Smells good and is better-looking than me?"
Kurama's enormous head was filled with questions. For a moment, he wanted to dig up the Sage of Six Paths just to ask: when the Sage divided up the tailed beasts, did he hide away some chakra to create a different Tail Beast?
This whole thing was getting ridiculous.
It took a while for Kurama to calm down, and even then, he coughed awkwardly, his expression a little uneasy.
"Hey, brat-uh, I mean, Kushina, do you think I could... meet this little snake?"
"I can't make any promises," Kushina replied, a smirk tugging at her lips. "I can put in a good word for you, but what will you give me in return?"
Kurama flared up in anger. "I already agreed to lend you my chakra! Isn't that enough?"