"You insolent little human brat…"
Behind the massive iron gates of the seal, the colossal Nine-Tails loomed like a mountain.
Kurama looked down at Naruto with naked disdain.
"You're no different from the humans before you. You only want to exploit my power."
"Stop pretending. Admit it honestly, and I might grant you a portion of my chakra."
Naruto nodded calmly.
"I did want to use your power."
"But I've changed my mind."
"Because you're too weak, Kurama."
The sealed space trembled violently.
Crimson chakra bubbled up from the water beneath Naruto's feet.
A violent shockwave erupted outward, wind howling through the chamber.
"Too weak?" Kurama repeated slowly.
Then he burst into thunderous laughter.
His massive head lowered toward the bars, eyes blazing.
"Brat… do you understand what you're saying?"
"I am the strongest of the Tailed Beasts."
"Even Hashirama Senju acknowledged my power!"
System notification appeared in Naruto's mind.
[Option 1: Completely Enrage Kurama]
[Option 2: Gain Kurama's Recognition]
[Long-term rewards based on Kurama's approval.]
Naruto did not hesitate.
"Really? I don't believe it."
"You were captured by Hashirama's Wood Release."
"And later controlled by Uchiha Madara's Sharingan."
Kurama's pupils shrank.
His claws scraped against the gate, sparks flying.
Naruto continued calmly.
"Tailed Beasts and humans could have coexisted."
"But you were treated as a weapon. A disaster. A strategic tool."
"No one asked your opinion."
Kurama's chakra flared—yet Naruto sensed something else.
No killing intent directed at him.
Only anger. Pride. Pain.
"Your strength is immense," Naruto said evenly. "But not enough to dominate the shinobi world like Hashirama."
"Even if I released you now, could you escape?"
"The Third Hokage. Hundreds of ANBU. Elite jōnin."
"And the Uchiha."
At that name, Kurama fell silent.
"…You expect me to beg Konoha for mercy?" he growled.
Naruto leaned against the gate.
"Of course not."
"Look at us."
"You've been imprisoned for decades."
"I've been treated as a container since birth."
"Monitored. Feared. Isolated."
"To the villagers, I'm the Nine-Tails."
"To the higher-ups, I'm a weapon."
He looked up directly at Kurama.
"In some ways… we're the same."
Kurama froze.
The boy's emotions were sincere.
No deception.
He turned his head away.
"Don't think you can sway me with sweet words, brat."
Naruto stepped closer.
"When I master sealing techniques, I can gradually loosen the Eight Trigrams Seal."
"You could experience the outside world—through me."
"Until we're strong enough to stand on our own."
"Strong enough that the Five Great Nations hesitate before provoking us."
Naruto reached through the bars and placed his hand against Kurama's massive claw.
Warm.
Small.
Fearless.
Kurama narrowed his eyes.
His tails swayed slowly.
"…Since you insist so stubbornly."
"I will tolerate you—for now."
"But don't think I've forgiven you for questioning my strength."
"When I'm free, I'll settle this properly."
System prompt:
[Kurama Approval: 31%]
[Reward: Weapon Mastery (Beginner 1/10)]
[Weapon Mastery: Basic proficiency with all standard ninja tools. Learning efficiency increased.]
Naruto blinked.
Tsundere fox.
He grinned slightly.
"By the way, Kurama… are you male or female?"
Kurama froze.
The next second—
Chakra exploded violently.
Naruto withdrew instantly from the mindscape.
[Kurama Approval: 32%]
It went up?
Naruto chuckled.
Definitely a tsundere.
Academy Entrance Day
The Ninja Academy was lively and crowded.
Children and parents filled the grounds.
Sasuke arrived holding the hand of a beautiful woman with long, straight black hair tied elegantly to one side.
Uchiha Mikoto.
As they approached the classroom entrance, Sasuke quickly pulled his hand free.
Mikoto smiled gently.
"Sasuke, are you embarrassed to hold hands with your mother?"
"You used to cling to me all the time."
Sasuke's face turned red instantly.
"M-Mom! Don't say that!"
He hurried ahead.
Mikoto watched him fondly.
Near Classroom 1-A, Sasuke stopped, composed himself, slid his hands into his pockets, and walked inside calmly.
The moment he entered—
The classroom erupted.
Whispers.
Gasps.
Excited chatter.
Uchiha Sasuke had arrived.