But the moment its burning gaze met Kushina's calm eyes, which silently conveyed "if you disagree, I'll call Ryo," the peak of its fury felt as if doused by a bucket of cold water. The fire fizzled, leaving only smoke and stifled frustration.
Its roar of rage got stuck in its throat, turning into a bitter whimper.
That figure on the beach outside, as if still standing beyond the bars, watching coldly.
"Fine, I got it!" It finally shouted. The voice was loud but lacked substance, filled with reluctant compromise. Its massive tail slammed restlessly against the ground in the darkness.
"Also," Kushina ignored its tantrum and raised a third finger. "When I sleep, no noise. No mental drumming or knocking. When I'm in a bad mood, no mumbling or spreading negativity. When I want peace and quiet, you stay quiet too. Got it?"
The Nine-Tails snorted twin jets of hot air from its huge nostrils and froze.
It felt like its fur was standing on end from sheer rage.
Was it a watchdog now?
Did it have to follow human moods and schedules?
It was the Nine-Tails. The embodiment of disaster. A symbol of destruction. This was a disgrace like none before.
"You...!" It opened its mouth, ready to roar again.
But Kushina's calm eyes turned toward it once more, wordlessly reminding it.
All curses, threats, and fury lodged in its throat.
It twisted its head sharply with a growl, its massive red tail slamming into the dark waters with a loud splash.
Silence.
A heavy stillness filled the sealed space.
Only the cold clink of heavy chains echoed from the trembling beast.
After a long pause, the Nine-Tails let out a low, muffled grunt. The voice came from deep in its soul, saturated with reluctant surrender.
"...Fine."
Its final pride, drained.
"Good." Kushina lowered her hand, a satisfied smile appearing on her face like a cat who just stole a fish. Her eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Since your attitude is so sincere..." she deliberately stretched her words, watching the giant fox's ears perk up nervously, "...I'll let you off just this once."
The Nine-Tails spun around suddenly, its massive golden eyes locking onto Kushina. Its pupils shrank in disbelief.
That was it?
No further humiliation?
Relief came so suddenly, it almost seemed like bliss.
"But," Kushina's tone shifted. Just as a flicker of hope rose in the Nine-Tails' heart, she poured a bucket of cold water over it. "The rent, pure chakra, starts today. Full amount, on time. Non-negotiable."
Her tone was firm and direct.
"As for other rules..." she shrugged indifferently. "That depends on your future behavior." And if it misbehaved, the terms could get worse at any time.
The Nine-Tails stared.
It felt like it was being roasted on a volcano and then dunked into an ice pit, again and again.
Humiliation. Unprecedented humiliation.
But compared to the outside world, compared to the red-haired demon's unreasonable and brutal "physical persuasion," this kind of shameful restraint... maybe it was still bearable?
At the very least, in this seal space, it was relatively safe.
This damned seal space... even felt slightly... warm?
Its massive head drooped, drained of all strength.
A long, defeated sigh escaped its throat, the hot breath forming mist over the water before slowly fading.
Was the negotiation over?
On the surface, yes.
Its enormous golden eyes stared blankly at its reflection in the water.
A supreme force, brought to heel by a mere human girl, relying on borrowed authority.
It had despised humans for a thousand years, yet now it was forced to "accept" a human host.
Let alone... trying to coexist?
Even... become friends? Absurd.
But that monster outside...
A flash of a nightmare surfaced in its mind. That moonlit night on the deserted island, the moment it broke the seal and lunged.
What greeted it was a fist shrouded in strange black energy, ignoring all its defenses.
Every strike hit its soul directly, bringing unbearable pain. Its chakra defenses crumbled like paper.
Months of one-sided beatings had become the darkest humiliation of its life.
That soul-rending pain made it instinctively tremble.
It needed a barrier.
A wall between itself and that monster.
Maybe... this sly red-haired girl, who at least could "communicate," was the only relatively safe human it could try to approach?
Or rather, the only "friend" it was forced to choose?
Even if the relationship was born from absolute humiliation.
That thought, like a seed, took root in soil watered by fear and quickly spread.
Anything was better than being dragged out of this cage for another round of brutal "conversation." It struggled to adjust its mindset, trying to ignore the deep-seated sense of shame.
Maybe it needed to... change? Adapt?
"...Hey." The Nine-Tails finally spoke again. Its voice was low and thunderous. It tried its best to suppress its violent and impatient tone, attempting to sound calm. The result was still stiff and awkward.
Kushina was just about to leave. She paused and turned her head, meeting those conflicted golden eyes behind the bars.
Was it trying to lower the rent?
The giant fox hesitated. Its gaze flickered. Its massive claws scraped the ground impatiently.
Finally, as if it had made a do-or-die decision, it suddenly raised its head. Its giant beast eyes locked with Kushina's, and it spoke with an awkward but resolute tone.
"Little girl. My name is Kurama."
Its name.
It had finally said aloud the real name given to it by the Sage of Six Paths. The name that carried its pride and dignity.
It was like handing over the key to its inner walls.
An overwhelming wave of shame welled up again.
But beneath that ocean of shame, there was a faint trace of... relief?
As if a heavy burden had been lifted. Sage of Six Paths, you'd understand, right?
Kushina's blue eyes showed genuine surprise for the first time.
She hadn't expected this prideful beast to actually reveal its true name.
What did that mean?
A clumsy, tentative olive branch?
The result of her persistence and Ryo's physical persuasion?
The playfulness on her face faded. Her expression turned calm and sincere.
She looked into those enormous, conflicted golden eyes behind the bars and spoke clearly.
"Big fox, I'm not called hey, and I'm not little girl."
She lifted her chin slightly. Her red hair looked even brighter in the dim space.
"Call me Kushina."
"Kurama." She said the name firmly and respectfully, as if confirming an ancient pact. She nodded seriously, her gaze clear and unwavering. "I'll remember it."
Inside the seal space, the massive fox fell silent.
Kushina's consciousness quietly faded. Her crimson silhouette gradually vanished into the dim light.
Behind the cold iron bars, only darkness remained. Still water whispered in the silence. Kurama hung in the center of the cage.
Its massive head drooped. In its molten gold pupils, turbulent hatred and rage stirred like deep currents.
But in the lingering echo of "I'll remember it," in that solemn recognition of its name, those dark emotions began to slowly settle.
A complex emotion spread quietly, like warmth deep beneath an ancient glacier.
Beside the campfire on the deserted island, Kushina's body trembled slightly. She inhaled a breath of salty, warm sea air and opened her eyes.
Her blue pupils shimmered clearly in the flickering firelight.
"You're back?" Ryo's voice came from beside her, calm as always.
"Yeah." Kushina sat up and rolled her shoulders. Her face carried a strange lightness and a sense of accomplishment.
"We're done talking." She turned to Ryo, a sly and slightly proud smile curving her lips.
"The rent's settled. From now on, it'll pay on time. Pure chakra, full supply. It gave in."
Ryo's lips twitched ever so slightly.
"Good." He replied. His eyes glanced at her abdomen, as if seeing the obedient tenant inside. "It knows what's good for it."
"Also," Kushina added, her tone serious with a hint of curiosity. "It told me its name. It's Kurama."
"Kurama?" Tsunade repeated the unfamiliar name, surprised. "The Tailed Beasts... have real names?"
"Yeah." Kushina nodded firmly, a smile spreading across her face. "Sounds way better than just Nine-Tails. More... human, right?"
She stood up and brushed the sand from her clothes, sensing the vast, calm chakra source inside her. It felt subtly different now.
Even though there was still a seal of ice and past hatred between them, a strange, faint bond was starting to form.
Hearing the name Kurama, Ryo, who already knew the story, understood that the proud fox had started to accept Kushina. It was a good start.
His gaze moved away from Kushina and toward the black sea. Only the sound of waves lapping at the shore remained.
He stood up. "Time to head back."
Tsunade got up too. Kushina took one last look at the beach.
Ryo placed a hand on Tsunade's and Kushina's shoulders.
Space rippled silently. Their figures blurred and vanished.
Only the lonely campfire remained, burning quietly, resisting the endless darkness of the sea.
Back in Konoha, under the warm lights of Ryo's house, the clone maintaining the illusion disappeared with a soft puff of smoke.
Kushina sank comfortably into the sofa, picked up the snacks Mikoto had prepared, and took a satisfied bite.
The sweetness melted on her tongue, more pleasant than the Five-Tails' chakra she had used recently.
She squinted contentedly.
Deep within the cold, silent seal space, the massive fox Kurama lay coiled in the darkness and stagnant water.
Its lava-like golden eyes slowly closed.
From the vast chakra core within its body, a steady flow of pure energy, free from hatred, quietly began to form.
The process was still humiliating, like being forced to pay rent with its very soul.
These clean energy streams trickled through the seal, steadily entering Uzumaki Kushina's body.
This was the price Kurama paid for shelter. Traded with its dreams of freedom and a thousand years of pride and dignity.
The soft sound of water echoed like a voiceless sigh, resounding in its eternal cage.
The old era had ended. A new relationship, maintained by "rent," had just begun.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)