The air inside Naruto's subconscious was still and thick with unease. The vast chamber that housed Kurama's cage was usually quiet, save for the occasional growl or the dull ripple of water beneath the fox's claws. Today, however, a very different presence occupied the space outside the iron bars.
Sayuri stood before Kurama's sealed prison, arms crossed, eyes glowing with a faint, dangerous shimmer. The Nine-Tails, a beast of legendary power, lay unnaturally still behind the bars, his massive ears pinned slightly backward, his tails motionless.
Sayori's voice was calm, but Kurama knew better than to mistake it for kindness.
"You've been mooching off my son for long enough," she said simply. "It's time you started paying rent by letting him use your chakra my son will improve immensely in his training from it."
Kurama narrowed his massive eyes, letting out a slow, low rumble. "And if I refuse?"
Sayori lifted a single finger. The temperature in the mindscape seemed to drop.
"Then I revise your seals," she said.
Kurama's fur bristled.
"You wouldn't," he growled.
Her gaze didn't waver. "Try me."
Kurama grimaced, baring his teeth, but the overwhelming pressure in the air—the same invisible force he had felt since the first moment he laid eyes on her—settled heavily over him like a storm. The fox, a creature that had once ravaged entire villages, was afraid.
A tense silence stretched between them before Kurama clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Fine. I'll contribute," he grumbled. "But don't think for a second that I'm doing this because I want to."
Sayori smiled, satisfied. "Oh, I never thought that for a second."
And with that, she vanished, leaving behind only the faintest echo of her presence.
Kurama let out a deep sigh and muttered under his breath.
"That woman is worse than the Sage of Six Paths…"
Naruto was thrilled.
Kurama had—finally—finally agreed to let him use his chakra.
What did that mean? It meant he had a cool new power-up. It meant he could train harder, last longer, and—best of all—it meant he and Kurama were now officially best friends.
Which is why he was currently sprinting through Konoha's streets, screaming his revelation at the top of his lungs.
"ME AND THE NINE-TAILS ARE BEST FRIENDS NOW!"
People froze in horror.
A woman carrying groceries dropped her basket. A man who had been mid-drink spit out his tea. A group of shinobi on patrol immediately unsheathed their weapons.
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen nearly choked on his pipe.
"WHAT DID HE JUST SAY?!"
Naruto, completely oblivious, continued sprinting and yelling.
"He even told me his name!"
The panic doubled.
Jiraiya—who had been chasing after him for the last ten minutes—finally tackled Naruto into the dirt.
"Kid, shut up!"
Naruto squirmed under him. "Why?! I thought you'd be happy for me!"
Jiraiya dragged a hand down his face. "You don't just run around screaming that you're best friends with the Nine-Tails, you moron! You're gonna give people a heart attack!"
Naruto pouted. "But it's true!"
Jiraiya sighed, getting off him and rubbing his temples. "Kid, you talk like an idiot, so people assume you're just being an idiot."
Naruto gasped. "That's so rude!"
"It's also accurate."
Naruto crossed his arms, sulking. "Tch. Whatever. You just don't get it. Kurama and I are tight now."
From inside his subconscious, Kurama sighed heavily.
"I should have let you hit the ground."
Jiraiya, after ensuring Naruto wouldn't start another mass panic, dragged him back to the training field.
"Alright, since you've got direct access to the furball's chakra now," Jiraiya said, stretching, "we're shifting focus to physical training."
Naruto tilted his head. "Physical?"
Jiraiya nodded. "Uzumakis have insane stamina, right? Now, add the Nine-Tails' chakra into that mix. You could increase your speed, your endurance, your strength—"
Naruto's eyes widened. "Oh! So I'd be, like, unstoppable?"
Jiraiya smirked. "If you train right, yeah."
Naruto grinned. "I can do that!"
Two hours later, Naruto was lying flat on the ground, wheezing.
Jiraiya, standing over him, shook his head. "You really are an endurance learner."
Naruto, drenched in sweat, gasped. "H—how does running up a cliff build chakra control?!"
Jiraiya crouched down. "Because the more strain your body goes through while channeling the Nine-Tails' chakra, the more natural it becomes. You want to keep up with people like Sasuke, right? Well, he doesn't have a giant chakra battery helping him recover."
Naruto gritted his teeth. "I—I can keep going."
Jiraiya grinned. "Good answer."
Three days later, Naruto was still pushing himself.
He had started out barely able to run up the cliffside with Kurama's chakra.
Now? He was doing it with weights strapped to his arms and legs.
Jiraiya, watching from below, nodded approvingly.
"He's catching on faster than I thought…"
He smirked. "Even if he's still an idiot."
From inside Naruto's subconscious, Kurama sighed. "At least he's a durable idiot."
On the fifth day of his new training, Naruto stood at the edge of the cliff, his hands balled into fists. His body felt different. His breathing was deeper, stronger.
He focused.
Kurama's chakra flared up around him.
Then, he bolted forward.
Jiraiya watched as Naruto ran up the sheer rock face, faster than before, pushing off with explosive energy.
When Naruto landed at the top, he turned, grinning widely.
"Did you see that?! I felt so much stronger!"
Jiraiya chuckled. "Not bad, kid. Not bad."
Naruto jumped down, shaking out his arms. "Man, at this rate, I'll be invincible!"
Jiraiya smirked. "Don't get cocky."
Naruto ignored him.
Inside his subconscious, Kurama watched him, eyes narrowed slightly.
He really is improving.
Then Kurama sighed.
Damn woman. She was right.
Back at Sayori's estate, Naruto loudly bragged to her about his training.
Sayori nodded, pleased. "That's good, Naruto. Keep building your stamina and strength."
Jiraiya, watching from the side, muttered under his breath.
"I don't know what you did to that fox, but I never want to be on the receiving end of it."
Sayori simply smiled. "Oh, Jiraiya. You always say the most amusing things."
Jiraiya sighed.
She didn't even deny it.
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