The moment I calmed my breathing, I felt it—an ocean of energy beneath the surface of my mind. Raw, ancient, and wild.Kurama's chakra.
I sat down on the cool stone floor of the cave and closed my eyes. With a slow exhale, I let my consciousness sink inward, following the surge of that overwhelming power.
In the next instant, the physical world dissolved around me.
When I opened my eyes again, I stood in a vast, endless landscape of swirling red and gold. The air shimmered with pure chakra. A colossal gate loomed in front of me, towering higher than any mountain—massive, rusted, but glowing faintly with the kanji for seal.
Behind it, two enormous eyes opened, blazing like twin suns.
"So… you're finally awake, brat."
The deep, rumbling voice carried across the space like thunder rolling through the heavens.
I looked up—and there he was.
Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox.His fur burned with fiery crimson light, each movement radiating power enough to crush mountains. His tails swayed lazily behind him, stirring the chakra-laced air.
I didn't flinch. I simply met his gaze and smiled slightly. "Kurama."
He narrowed his eyes. "You know my name already? Hmph. You must have inherited that from your past lives."
"Something like that," I said, stepping closer. "You could say we've met—at least, our souls have. I'm Indra Ōtsutsuki's reincarnation, after all."
Kurama's expression softened slightly, surprise flickering behind his eyes.
"Indra… the Sage's eldest son. So that's why your chakra feels so familiar."
I nodded. "He was my father, wasn't he? In another life. And you were created by the Sage himself. That makes us family, in a way."
Kurama gave a low, rumbling chuckle that shook the very air. "Hah! Family, huh? That's a new one. You humans usually just try to control me."
"I'm not here to control you," I said simply. "I'm here to understand you."
For a moment, silence filled the mindscape. The fox studied me, his massive eyes glimmering with curiosity rather than malice.
Then, slowly, the gate began to dissolve—fading away as golden light replaced its iron bindings.
"You already broke the seal?" Kurama asked, genuinely surprised.
I smiled faintly. "It looks like the god who sent me here was generous. He said I'd be the perfect jinchūriki. I guess he meant it."
Kurama laughed again, this time with genuine warmth. "You've got guts, kid. Most humans would have fainted just standing here."
I stepped closer until I stood before his snout, his breath warm and heavy against me. "We don't need to be enemies, Kurama. You're not just a beast—I know what you are. You're the embodiment of chakra, of creation. The Sage made you to protect the balance."
He studied me silently for a while, and I could feel his immense chakra brushing against my own—testing, measuring.
Then he spoke quietly, almost gently.
"You remind me of the old man… and a little of Indra too. But there's something else in you. Something divine."
I tilted my head. "Divine?"
"That lightning in your blood," he said. "That's not just chakra. That's Zeus. You're the son of a god in this world, aren't you?"
I nodded slowly. "Yeah. Zeus—the King of Olympus."
Kurama's grin widened, sharp teeth gleaming. "Then this is going to be interesting. A child of the Sage's blood… and the Sky God's heir. The heavens themselves won't know what hit them."
I felt his chakra surge again, not with hostility, but with warmth—a deep, ancient resonance that flowed into me like fire and wind combined. The red and gold light of the mindscape expanded, merging with the faint glow of divine lightning.
"From this moment," Kurama said, "we're partners. Not master and weapon—equals. You've earned that much, little brother."
I smiled, bowing my head respectfully. "Glad to hear it, Kurama. Let's shake the heavens together."
The fox's massive eyes softened. "Heh. You sound just like the Sage."
As his laughter echoed through the mindscape, I felt the connection solidify—no walls, no cage, no chains. His chakra intertwined with mine, seamless and pure.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the cave. Lightning flickered across my skin as crimson chakra flared around me in a majestic, swirling aura.
Kurama's voice echoed faintly in my mind.
Let's show the gods what true power looks like.
I smirked. "You read my mind."
The cave shook as I rose to my feet, the ground humming with divine and demonic energy alike.
The son of Zeus had awakened—and the Nine-Tails walked beside him.