"That's impossible!"
"...Is it really impossible? It would benefit both of us! You stupid fox, can't you help me while helping yourself?"
"If such a method truly existed, I would have told you already!"
Kurama was furious.
It wasn't just because he remained trapped inside Naruto. Hidden beneath his anger was something far deeper—a feeling he had buried for years.
"You wretched brat!" he roared. "Am I nothing more than a burden to you?"
"Am I completely useless?"
Even Kurama himself was surprised by the words that escaped his mouth.
Naruto froze in disbelief.
"What... what are you talking about?"
"You're angry because I don't want to borrow your power?"
"You were the one who always said you hated humans!"
Kurama fell silent for a moment before becoming even angrier after realizing he had accidentally exposed his true feelings.
"You brat!"
"I can choose not to lend you my power, but you should at least desire it!"
Naruto shrugged.
"Not really."
"I'm already strong enough on my own."
Those casual words nearly drove Kurama insane.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about!" he shouted. "You worthless brat! You completely underestimate me!"
Just then...
A third voice suddenly echoed throughout the sealed mental world.
"Kurama... you're still as stubborn as ever."
"What you really meant was that you wanted Naruto to acknowledge you, wasn't it?"
Naruto's eyes widened in shock.
Kurama's expression changed instantly.
"Who's there?"
---
At the same moment, in the real world, Naruto noticed someone approaching.
It was Fū, the Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails.
After the recent incident involving Akatsuki, Takigakure had temporarily entrusted Fū's safety to Konoha. Since Naruto had rescued her, she admired him greatly and quickly became friends with him after arriving in the village.
Although she wasn't a Konoha ninja and therefore didn't participate in Team Naruto's brutal training, she often visited him.
However...
The mysterious voice wasn't Fū's.
Naruto hesitated.
"Could it be..."
Kurama immediately recognized it and snorted.
"Chōmei?"
A cheerful voice answered.
"I'm surprised you still remember me, Kurama."
Naruto looked confused.
"Chōmei?"
The voice continued.
"That's right, Naruto. I am Chōmei, the Seven-Tails sealed within Fū."
"And Kurama is the true name of the Nine-Tails sealed inside you."
Naruto blinked in surprise before turning toward the giant fox.
"So... the Nine-Tailed Fox actually has a name?"
"I always thought everyone simply called you the Nine-Tails."
Kurama looked deeply offended.
"I am a creation of the Sage of Six Paths!"
"My origins are far nobler than those insignificant humans!"
Naruto scratched his head.
"The Sage of Six Paths?"
"I heard the Pervy Sage say he was the founder of the entire shinobi world."
"So your history is actually that incredible?"
Chōmei sighed.
"That's correct. Every Tailed Beast was created by the Sage of Six Paths."
"After thousands of years and countless hardships..."
Before Chōmei could continue, Naruto interrupted.
"Wait!"
"How can I hear you?"
Chōmei patiently explained.
"All Tailed Beasts can communicate with one another through their minds."
"You aren't a perfect Jinchūriki, so you normally can't enter the deeper spiritual network shared between Tailed Beasts and their hosts."
"But since Fū is standing so close to you, even while we're sealed, Kurama and I can communicate."
Realization flashed across Naruto's face.
"So that's how it works."
He immediately glared at Kurama.
"Why didn't you ever tell me?"
Kurama snorted.
"Don't call me by my name."
Naruto frowned.
"Why not? Isn't your name Kurama?"
"The Sage of Six Paths gave me that name."
"It isn't a name for ordinary humans to use."
Naruto rolled his eyes.
"What nonsense."
"Wasn't the Sage of Six Paths a human too?"
Kurama suddenly fell silent.
"...He was different."
"Different how?"
For once, Kurama had no answer.
The Sage truly wasn't an ordinary human, but there were things he couldn't reveal to Naruto.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Chōmei burst into laughter.
"Kurama... I never thought I'd see the day someone left you speechless."
"Shut up, Chōmei!"
"Do you want to fight?"
Chōmei sighed helplessly.
"You're still exactly the same."
"Always talking about fighting."
"Look at our current situation."
"What right do we have to act so arrogantly?"
Kurama merely snorted in response.
Naruto scratched his head again.
"So... why did you suddenly decide to speak?"
Chōmei smiled gently.
"Because I heard what Kurama couldn't bring himself to say."
"Naruto..."
"I think Kurama wants your acknowledgment."
"Nonsense!" Kurama barked immediately.
Chōmei ignored him.
"Whether they're humans or Tailed Beasts, living beings all possess emotions."
"You don't want to rely on outside power."
"That's admirable."
"But Kurama has never experienced someone treating him the way you do."
"Most humans either worship him..."
"Fear him..."
"Hate him..."
"Or despise him..."
"But no one has ever treated him like you have."
Naruto looked genuinely confused.
"How do I treat him?"
"You treat him with complete indifference."
Kurama crossed his arms proudly.
"Because this brat has no idea how powerful I truly am!"
"Even the so-called God of Shinobi..."
"Neither Senju Hashirama nor Uchiha Madara ever dared underestimate my strength!"
Chōmei nodded.
"That's true."
Naruto finally understood.
"So..."
"Those legendary figures respected your power."
"But I kept saying I didn't need your strength and even wanted to set you free."
"So you felt ignored... like you weren't important anymore."
Naturally, Kurama refused to admit it.
He simply flicked his ears, closed his eyes, and let out a cold snort.
Naruto's expression became strangely complicated.
"This is... unexpectedly troublesome."
"The legendary Nine-Tailed Fox, feared as a natural disaster..."
"...is acting like a child who just wants someone to recognize him."
Chōmei smiled softly.
"Kurama..."
"You know Naruto is different from everyone else."
"Even though he's your Jinchūriki, he has never tried to force you into obedience."
"He doesn't want to exploit your power."
"If anything..."
"He wants to give you your freedom."
Chōmei's voice gradually became heavier.
"And don't forget..."
"He rescued me from Akatsuki."
"He even freed Isobu, the Three-Tails."
"What about the others?"
"Two-Tails Matatabi..."
"Four-Tails Son Gokū..."
"Five-Tails Kokuō..."
"Six-Tails Saiken..."
"Their consciousness has already disappeared."
"They've become nothing more than empty shells."
His tone grew sorrowful.
"Kurama..."
"You can feel that too, can't you?"
"Do you truly want to end up like them?"
Kurama gave a mocking laugh.
"So you've started trusting humans now, Chōmei?"
Chōmei calmly shook his head.
"No."
"I don't trust humans."
"I trust one person."
"Naruto saved me from those humans."
"He protected me from the fate of complete annihilation."
"Yes, he's human."
"And because of that, I'm grateful to him."
"Not every human is the same."
"You know that better than anyone."
Kurama remained silent for a long moment before muttering quietly,
"...I just haven't met another human like him."
Hearing that, Chōmei could only let out a helpless, bittersweet laugh.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)