Inside the Sealing Space
After Naruto and the others disappeared, the Nine-Tails was left fuming with nowhere to vent his anger.
Ever since Minato Namikaze had sealed him, the fox hadn't felt this furious in years. That damned Fourth Hokage had not only taken half his chakra back then but also sealed him into a kid. And to make matters worse, he left behind a piece of his own chakra—like a watchdog—constantly keeping tabs on him.
It was infuriating. He'd been made a joke in front of everyone.
And that human from earlier? He had the nerve to ignore the Nine-Tails entirely. Treated him like he didn't even matter.
Unforgivable.
ROAR!!!
The fox's furious roar echoed through the entire space. His massive claws slammed against the cage's bars, metal clanging over and over as he tried to release the rage boiling inside him.
After a moment, though, the Nine-Tails paused. His eyes narrowed when he saw Naruto—or who he thought was Naruto—standing calmly in front of the cage.
"Brat! Where did you go just now?" the fox demanded.
But it wasn't Naruto.
It was Toji, still in control of Naruto's body. After Minato and Kushina disappeared, Toji hadn't handed control back. Naruto had no idea what had just gone down. For now, Toji had something else to handle—something that required a bit of negotiation with the beast behind bars.
Toji didn't answer right away. He simply smiled, studying the massive fox on the other side of the cage.
The Nine-Tails could sense something was off but didn't dwell on it. His focus was getting free—and he needed this kid's help to do it.
"Brat! Hurry up and tear off that seal!"
No fear. No hesitation.
Naruto—or rather Toji—just kept that same calm expression.
The fox was taken aback for a moment, then flew into another rage.
"Did you hear me?! Tear off that talisman or I'll kill you!"
"Oh yeah?" Toji replied casually. "Then come out and try."
He even tilted his head, stretching his neck like a challenge. "Go ahead. I'll stand right here. Bite me."
That smug, taunting grin made the Nine-Tails want to rip him apart. But then something clicked.
No… this wasn't Naruto.
He knew that brat too well. This wasn't how he acted.
"You're not him… Who are you?!"
Toji didn't flinch. He watched the fox with amusement, completely unfazed by the towering beast.
"Who I am isn't important," he said. "But here's something more interesting—how does a thousand-year-old fox like you manage to get worse with age?"
"Kur. a. ma."
Toji said the name slowly and with emphasis, all traces of humor gone from his face.
And that name—Kurama—hit like a thunderbolt.
The fox froze.
He hadn't heard anyone call him that in centuries. It was the name given to him by the Sage of Six Paths himself. Besides the Tailed Beasts and the Sage, no one was supposed to know it.
So how…?
"What's wrong?" Toji asked. "Shocked?"
"You really thought no one remembered who you are? Where you came from?"
The fox bristled. His muscles tensed. He stood at full height, claws ready, eyes narrowed.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"I already told you," Toji said, voice calm but sharp. "That's not what matters."
"What matters is this: The Sage of Six Paths wanted you beasts to live in peace with humans. That was his final wish. And yet here you are—slaughtering, raging, acting like the humans did you wrong first."
"They did seal us first!" the fox shouted, though even he sounded less sure now.
Toji didn't hesitate. "Then answer me this: If people stopped treating you like weapons—if they gave you your freedom—would you live peacefully like the Sage wanted?"
"Of course!" the Nine-Tails snapped, a little too quickly.
That was exactly the answer Toji had been waiting for.
"Good," he said. "Because that day is coming. But until then, sit tight. Don't cause trouble. And especially don't mess with Naruto. Keep your chakra in check. Let him grow."
Toji's voice was firm, commanding—even the Nine-Tails could feel it.
But of course, the fox wasn't about to roll over so easily.
"Hmph. And why should I believe you?"
Toji didn't miss a beat. He pulled out a scroll—the one Minato had handed him earlier—and held it up for the beast to see.
"I almost forgot to mention," he said, shaking the scroll slightly. "This contains the complete sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan."
The Nine-Tails' eyes followed the scroll, flicking with unease.
"If you cooperate," Toji continued, "we'll be fine. But if you try anything…"
He didn't need to finish the sentence. The implication was clear.
The fox scowled but didn't argue. He knew when he was backed into a corner. He hated it—but he understood it.
Toji saw that resentment in his eyes but didn't care. He wasn't here to stroke the ego of a giant fox. If the Nine-Tails cooperated, good. If not… well, Toji still had more than enough "dark points" to buy a one-time-use Adamantine Chain technique from the shop and lock this thing down permanently like how Mito did to this thing.
No need to play nice.
He shot the fox one last look of disinterest, then turned and walked out of the Sealing Space.