Naruto casually sat down outside the cage and looked at the big fox across from him.
The majestic Nine-Tails, after being teased a few times, had turned away in a sulk—somehow not quite matching the fearsome image Naruto had in mind.
Still, the joy it brought balanced out the energy around them. The negative emotions stirred up earlier by the Nine-Tails' chakra had also stabilized quite a bit.
After all, humans are social creatures. Loneliness is often harder to bear than malice from others.
Staring at the Nine-Tails' beautiful tails, Naruto mulled over how to exit the sealed space while sifting through his memories about the Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tails wasn't just any Tailed Beast—it was the one with the most chakra, the strongest among the nine. It could naturally sense malice and had a perception ability quite similar to Naruto's affinity system.
Even in the wild, the Nine-Tails' power was near Kage-level. It was also a top-tier support; once it achieved synchronization with its jinchūriki, it could unlock the Nine-Tails Mode, giving the host strength surpassing even the Five Kage.
By the time of Boruto, the Nine-Tails could even sacrifice itself to grant its jinchūriki power rivaling that of the Ōtsutsuki.
In truth, without the Nine-Tails as a cheat code, original Naruto might've only reached the Fourth Hokage's level at best, but never his peak.
And if he wanted to live freely in the shinobi world in the future, he'd definitely need the Nine-Tails' help.
As he thought this, Naruto suddenly felt a strong pull and instinctively furrowed his brow. His consciousness was forced out of the sealed space—it turned out that entering the seal consumed mental energy, and he couldn't stay for long.
Sensing Naruto's departure, the Nine-Tails turned back to look at the spot where he had vanished, deep in thought.
This jinchūriki was still just a brat, but unlike Mito or Kushina, Naruto was different. Though he harbored a lot of malice, very little of it was directed at the Nine-Tails itself.
And yet, the Nine-Tails hadn't told him the truth about that night. It was, without a doubt, the cause of his suffering so far.
So, was this kid naturally kind toward tailed beasts, or was the malice from the outside world simply worse than its own?
With a light snort, the Nine-Tails lay down again and closed its eyes to rest. After being imprisoned for decades, it now looked forward to seeing what changes this boy might bring. Maybe Naruto would become... interesting.
---
Outside, in the real world...
As his consciousness returned, Naruto stretched and started tidying up his room.
Thinking back to his first encounter with the Nine-Tails, a faint smile appeared on his face. Now that they could communicate, he finally had a way to pass the time.
Over the next month, aside from eating, sleeping, and basic needs, Naruto spent most of his energy entering the seal to chat with the Nine-Tails.
At first, the Nine-Tails remained cold and silent. But eventually, it began to show signs of impatience. Glaring at the tiny brat in front of it—smaller than one of its claws—it finally snapped, "You annoying brat, don't you have anything better to do? Why do you keep coming here every day?"
Naruto shrugged casually. "Isn't it a prison guard's job to watch the inmate? I have to keep an eye on you, make sure you don't escape."
The Nine-Tails sharpened its claws. "Didn't you say before we were landlord and tenant?"
"That was my old perspective," Naruto replied. "But then I realized you can't pay rent. So I figured we should go back to the warden-and-prisoner relationship. Besides, I don't have much else to do anyway."
Realizing he might've said too much, Naruto quickly covered his mouth.
The Nine-Tails narrowed its eyes. "So... it's been a whole month and you haven't stepped outside? Those ninja have locked you up, haven't they? This is the fate of being my jinchūriki."
Naruto folded his arms and replied, "My confinement is only temporary. But who knows when you'll be free from my body? Compared to you, I'm still a lot more free. At least I have books the old man gave me."
"Oh really?"
The Nine-Tails sounded skeptical, giving him a look full of hidden meaning.
Naruto was just about to retort when a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He quickly got up from the couch.
When he opened the door, it was the familiar Third Hokage. This time, the old man wasn't wearing his Hokage robes but rather casual clothes, making him look more approachable.
With a kind smile, Hiruzen asked, "Naruto, how have you been lately?"
"Grandpa Third," Naruto replied cheerfully, "I don't have to worry about food or clothing anymore, and no one calls me a monster when I go out. I even have books to learn about the world. Life's been great."
"If possible, I'd like to keep living like this forever."
From a child's perspective, Naruto's answer was flawless. But it wasn't what the Third Hokage wanted to hear. A jinchūriki needed to grow through experience—not stay cooped up at home forever.
The village would one day need Naruto as a powerful asset.
After a brief silence, Hiruzen said, "Naruto, I know home life is comfortable, but you should still see the world outside. You should go out more often."
"I'm not afraid of being called a monster, but I don't want to cause you trouble, Grandpa Third. It's better if I just stay in."
Naruto put on a "let it rot" kind of attitude.
The Third frowned. "I've already issued orders in the village that no one is allowed to spread rumors about you being the Nine-Tails. You won't be treated like a monster."
Naruto replied indifferently, "Alright, I'll listen to you, Grandpa Third. But if they curse me to my face again, I won't just let it go."
On the surface, Hiruzen was pleased. But deep down, he was worried. After giving Naruto his living expenses for the month, he quietly left.
As soon as the Third left, Naruto put the money into his pocket. Then the Nine-Tails' voice rang out:
"Brat, you always call him 'old man' when he's not around. But the moment you see him, it's all 'Grandpa, Grandpa.' So sweet!"
As it spoke, the Nine-Tails mimicked Naruto's tone, calling itself "Grandpa" instead of the Third.
Naruto's face darkened at the mockery. "When you live under someone's roof, you bow your head. If you'd learned that back then, maybe you wouldn't have ended up sealed inside me—rent-free."
The Nine-Tails immediately went silent, curling up in the corner of its cage, sulking.
Because of the seal, it couldn't physically discipline Naruto. Its negative emotions had no effect on him, and in verbal arguments, it was constantly being outplayed.
Every time, Naruto managed to strike a nerve. The Nine-Tails could only stew in impotent rage.
Seeing the fox sulking again, Naruto laughed with satisfaction.
And in that moment, he began to feel a glimmer of
hope for the future.
(End of Chapter)
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