"I am Naruto Uzumaki. Just not the one you're familiar with." Naruto's voice was calm and measured.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means I know everything about the shinobi world. Everything. The old Naruto didn't have a clue about any of it."
"I know your name is Kurama."
"You and the other eight Tailed Beasts were all split from the Ten-Tails. The Ten-Tails' first jinchūriki was the Sage of Six Paths—an old geezer named Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki."
"Oh, and I also know that before the Sage died, he told you that one day you'd meet someone who'd change the shinobi world. Right?"
Each word hit like a thunderclap, striking deep into the Nine-Tails' heart.
"Brat, who told you all this?"
"What else do you know?"
Kurama's gaze had completely changed. It no longer dared underestimate this seemingly thirteen-year-old kid.
"Who told me doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm the one the Sage was talking about—the one who'll bring real change to the shinobi world."
"In other words, I'm the person the Sage wanted you to follow."
"How am I supposed to believe you?" the Nine-Tails asked uncertainly.
"Because you don't have a choice." Naruto smiled faintly.
"As long as I have these eyes, you can't escape my control. What Madara Uchiha did, I can do just as easily. I'm sure you remember that all too well."
Those words ripped open an old wound.
Once upon a time, as the world's strongest Tailed Beast, Kurama had been unstoppable—until it met that man. Madara Uchiha!
The man who'd controlled it with just the Mangekyō Sharingan and forced it into a summoning contract was a permanent scar on its psyche.
Even now, the mere mention of Madara Uchiha made the Nine-Tails' blood run cold.
Seeing that same terrifying power in this kid's eyes, Kurama didn't doubt Naruto's words for a second.
If it dared resist, this kid would make it wish it were dead.
Kurama wasn't afraid of death—it was a Tailed Beast. Even if its jinchūriki died, it'd just resurrect in ten or twenty years.
What truly terrified it was being manipulated, losing control of its own life and freedom.
That was why it had always hated Naruto.
But now, faced with reality, it backed down.
"What do you want from me?"
The proud Nine-Tails finally lowered its head.
Seeing it finally relent, Naruto smiled. "Don't worry. I'm not going to make unreasonable demands."
"I just want us to be friends. Partners who can rely on each other."
"Friends?" The Nine-Tails clearly hadn't expected those words from the same kid who'd been so commanding moments ago.
Naruto continued. "You've been inside me all these years. You know what kind of life I've had."
"Mocked every day. Insulted constantly."
"Watched everywhere I go. Zero freedom."
"You're trapped in this cage inside my body, but I'm trapped in the cage called the Hidden Leaf Village."
"So I'm hoping we can be real friends. After all, we understand each other better than anyone else, don't we?"
Naruto's words struck a chord deep within the Nine-Tails.
Kurama had been with Naruto longer than anyone—from birth to age thirteen. For thirteen years, it had witnessed every moment of his growth.
From hero's son to village pariah. From acting out just to get attention—Naruto had always been desperate for someone to acknowledge him.
This kid it had watched grow up.
The cage it had always despised was now telling it they understood each other better than anyone.
It didn't want to admit it, but that was the truth.
'Alright. I recognize you, Naruto.'
'Let me see if you really have what it takes to change this world.'
Kurama thought to itself.
But before committing, it needed one more confirmation.
"Have you made up your mind, Kurama?"
"If you need more time to think it over, that's fine. I can wait." Naruto's voice echoed again.
"Naruto, when you said you wanted to be friends—to be partners—did you mean it?"
This time, Kurama didn't call him "brat." It genuinely wanted Naruto to tell it everything.
"I meant it."
"Then let me ask you—why do you have the Mangekyō Sharingan? How do you know about the Sage of Six Paths?"
"Can you tell me?"
"You want to know? Then I'll tell you."
Naruto proceeded to reveal his identity as a transmigrator and his knowledge of the plot to Kurama, holding nothing back.
"I'm actually from a planet called Earth. In that world, the shinobi world only exists as a manga."
"Naruto is the protagonist of that manga. Everything I know comes from the experiences Naruto and you went through together."
"In that story, Naruto becomes the Child of Prophecy and leads the shinobi world toward change. Unfortunately, he fails."
"The alliance of the Five Great Nations doesn't last long. After Naruto and Sasuke die, new wars break out. The fighting never ends—until finally, the shinobi world is completely destroyed by the invading Ōtsutsuki Clan."
"That's where the shinobi world's history ends. As for you, your final fate is dying to protect Naruto."
To prove he wasn't lying, Naruto ran through the entire history—from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's descent to the Ōtsutsuki invasion, the Nine-Tails' death, and the shinobi world's annihilation.
After hearing everything, Kurama was finally convinced.
"I see. So that's how you know all this."
"To think our entire shinobi world is nothing more than a story in your world."
"Here I thought I was invincible. Turns out even I can't stand against those terrifying Ōtsutsuki bastards."
Hearing the dejection in its voice, Naruto offered reassurance. "But you don't need to worry, Kurama. I'm here now, aren't I?"
"If we work together early on, we can unify the entire shinobi world before the Ōtsutsuki Clan arrives."
"We can change the fate of the shinobi world being destroyed."
Hearing Naruto's words, the Nine-Tails immediately regained its fighting spirit.
That's right! It wasn't dead yet, and this Naruto was different from the original.
What the hell was the Ōtsutsuki Clan anyway? No way was it going down without a fight!
With renewed energy, Kurama declared, "Naruto, you're right! If we work together, we can change the ending and rewrite the shinobi world's fate!"
'Besides, I'm the strongest Tailed Beast. I'm not going down that easily!' Kurama thought proudly.
Seeing Kurama finally on his side, Naruto broke into a genuine smile for the first time in a while. "Kurama, you're actually pretty cute when you're like this! Haha!"
...
Drop some powerstones~