"Who goes there"
Kurama yanked his fist back, claws hooking the bars as it bellowed toward Namikaze Minato outside the gate. Its crimson eyes narrowed, scanning the seal-space for the source of the voice it had just heard.
It had been linked to Naruto's mind when the voice rose from deep within, as if from the fox's own heart. That meant someone else might be in the seal. The thought irked it. After all, the Fourth Hokage was already here. Four years sealed in this child, and only today did it discover Minato had been lurking all along. Embarrassing. If there was another it had missed, that would be intolerable.
Minato, meanwhile, was still reeling from Naruto's earlier answer, the one that had treated Konoha's fate with such indifference. When he saw the fox turn volatile again, he shot Naruto a look, urging him to step back out.
Naruto shook his head. Kurama's suspicion almost amused him.
He skimmed through the Mirror World's functions in his mind. After weighing his options he called out, "Kurama, relax. That voice is not human."
The fox dipped its head, red pupils full of skepticism. "Not human"
A blue glint rippled through Naruto's eyes. "Hold out your fist."
Kurama flicked an ear, curled its claws into a knuckle, and raised it. Naruto lifted his small fist to meet it.
Their minds linked once more.
Warning. Mental world under attack. Under current defense you may choose Forced Expulsion or Forced Capture.
Kurama's ears twitched. "This voice is coming from you, Naruto."
"Right. It is one of my secrets. I will show you."
He sent a brief explanation of the Mirror World into the link, then used his authority there to open a guest channel for the fox.
A flat, mechanical voice bloomed in Kurama's mind, identical to the one Naruto heard.
Authorization open and verified. Permission granted. Role set to Spectator
First guest binding initiated
Binding complete. Guest Kurama, welcome to the Mirror World
When the final line faded, Kurama found itself standing in a jade sea of forest beneath a cloudless sky. Naruto stood in front of it.
Outside the gate, Minato startled. His son and the fox went still as statues. The feeling was like watching the Reaper Death Seal draw a soul free.
"Where is this" Kurama's gaze drifted across a spine of mountains. Its voice sounded strangely lonely.
Naruto waved. A giant translucent window flared into being in Kurama's view. Lines of glyphs crawled across it while that same mechanical voice ticked onward.
"I knew it. Only my awareness is here. An unreal world, yet as powerful as you claimed."
"It does remind me of unpleasant memories of genjutsu," the fox muttered, shadows flickering in its eyes.
Naruto nodded. "Then let us go back. If you want to visit, tell me anytime."
"Wait."
Naruto paused. Kurama had already learned that a thought from the boy could end the session.
"What is it"
"Will you tell your father about this place"
"He is only residual chakra. He will not be here much longer. Telling him changes nothing."
Naruto truly had not expected the fox to ask that.
Kurama grinned. "He is your father. He is the Fourth Hokage. I know his strength. This place will make you stronger, but with his guidance you will grow far faster."
"I understand that. The problem is he cannot remain for long."
"I have a way," the fox barked. "I can keep him here longer."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "Even without his help, I can manage. That little extra time is not necessary for me."
"No," Kurama cut him off. "You have no idea how tightly Konoha watches you."
"Of course I do," Naruto answered, voice cold. "There have always been eyes at my door. When I walk the streets, there are shadows at my back."
Kurama's grin showed teeth. "Then hear this. From the moment you left the house this morning, someone was within an arm's length of you. Invisible. He only left when you walked the white eyed girl home."
"And he has been at your side since the day you first stepped outside at three years old. Sometimes he checks your books after you sleep."
Moonlight Hayate.
Naruto's face darkened. A thin red shimmer flickered in his eyes before he fell silent. In Konoha, only that man could slip through walls like water.
After a time, Naruto spoke. "You would help my father linger in the seal. I thought you despised him."
Kurama tossed its head. "I hate that he sealed me. But if he remains, he can make you stronger faster. The sooner you grow, the closer my freedom."
"Then we return now."
They were back in the seal the next instant. Boy and fox still held their fists together. Time here had barely moved. Naruto nodded to Kurama and turned toward the bars.
"Naruto, are you all right What just"
Minato was about to press him for answers when his son's focus sharpened.
"Father, how long can you stay"
Minato's face fell. "I am a contingency. Tomorrow at the latest, I fade."
"I see." Naruto's eyes hardened. He looked back to the other side. "Kurama, I leave it to you."
The fox flicked a glance at Minato. "Come in, Fourth Hokage. I can keep you a while longer."
"What does that mean"
Minato looked utterly lost.
Kurama's ears flattened. "Do not dawdle. I said come in. Or is your courage smaller than your son's"
Naruto sighed, stepped out past the bars, and took his father by the wrist. Under Minato's stunned gaze, the boy led him into the shadow of Kurama's paw.
Back at the Hokage's office.
"Shikaku, you have seen the records of Naruto's life. Do not worry. When Shikamaru approaches him, it should be safe."
"This is for the peace of Konoha."
"I understand, Lord Hokage," said Nara Shikaku, though his face was helpless. In an unguarded moment he had praised Shikamaru's early maturity. Now the Third had handed him a task. Have Shikamaru befriend the jinchuriki who seemed just as mature. No matter what, make them friends.
Hiruzen clapped Shikaku's shoulder and smiled. "I believe in you. I believe in Shikamaru. He can do it. Now, let us review the reception for the delegation from Kumogakure and the alliance talks."
Naruto knew nothing of these schemes. He had already left home again, cloaked by the Transformation Technique. Kurama had told him something odd. Today, there were no watchers at his shoulder.
He crossed a bustling market street and stopped before a sizeable compound.
"So this is the Ninja Academy"
"Yes, Naruto. This is the back gate. Your mother and I met here. Back then we were"
Kurama's snarl cut across Minato's reminiscing. "Fourth Hokage. Did you take too much chakra. Will you ever stop talking."
"Ah. Sumimasen." Minato's apology came quick, his face sheepish within the seal.
Naruto had already glanced once and turned to go when a jagged laugh cut through the fence slats.
"Ha. He is bleeding and still hitting the post."
"What a big idiot."
"Ha ha. That is right. The dead last, full of hot blood."
Naruto stepped to the wall and peered through the gap. A boy with braided hair leaned against a training post, blood matting his brow. Children ringed him, and some stooped to pick up stones, pitching them at the boy on the post every few beats.
The laughter spread. Soon every child watching was roaring with glee.
Rock Lee, perhaps.
"Father, look how happy they are."
"Er, Naruto, this"
Naruto's gaze went deep and distant. "Laughter is the most contagious thing, is it not"
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