Konoha, year 32.
Deep inside the Senju compound, Mito and Kushina Uzumaki are preparing for a ritual.
The ritual to create a new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
The Nine Tails, a being most believed to have been created from hatred, has chakra so immense and corrosive that careful preparations are required when changing hosts.
A strong body full of vitality to hold its immense power, a strong will to resist the pain, a calm environment to ensure zero distractions, and most importantly, the Eight Trigrams Seal.
Specially designed to contain the Nine Tails and slowly incorporate its chakra into its new host, this seal is Konoha's best hope for a perfect Jinchuriki.
"Young Kushina, I believe the preparations are over. Come, lie down and prepare yourself. The transfer will be arduous." Mito said with a kind smile.
Although she can't say she's ready to die without any regrets, at least she can be with Hashirama in the Pure Land.
"Ok, Grandma Mito." Said Kushina. She had a nervous smile and was slightly pale. Although she's naturally strong-willed, anyone would feel daunted in this situation, much less a six-year-old.
'It's just a stupid fox, just a big orange stupid fox…'
She tried to calm herself down as she moved toward the prepared bed, but she couldn't quite calm her nerves.
Once Mito lied down, the process officially started. Red Chakra, imbued with intense malice, began floating towards Kushina, absorbed by a whirlpool seal on her stomach.
"Mhhh!" she cried out. The malicious chakra caused immense pain throughout her body. But this was only the beginning. The transfer will last at least a few hours.
Mito, though also experiencing immense pain, was a little suspicious. 'The fox is oddly docile. I haven't seen it so quiet in many years, and this is when it should be the most combative.'
The Nine Tails she knew was prideful, aggressive, and hated shinobi. There was no way it would miss such an opportunity to cause trouble. Alas, she can only wait and see what it's plotting.
She turned to Kushina, smiled slightly, and spoke with a strained voice, "Hold on, Kushina, don't let the pain overwhelm you."
As the ritual continued, she only grew more tense waiting for the fox to make its move.
——
Though she would find herself pleasantly surprised. A few hours later, the transfer was complete. Aside from the pain, it was fairly easy. Though a little confused, she didn't have much time left and pushed the matter aside.
Kushina had passed out from the pain. There's only so much a six-year-old can take.
Finally, the people waiting outside made their way in. There was a woman with blonde hair tied in a ponytail, a young boy, and an older man wearing the Hokage robes. Tsunade and Nawaki, grandchildren of Mito, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Grandma Mito!"
Tsunade and Nawaki both rushed toward Mito with tears in their eyes, while Hiruzen maintained a respectable distance, though he was also a little emotional.
She had only a few minutes left alive. Usually, a Jinchuriki would die immediately after transfer, but Mito, being an Uzumaki, possessed incredible vitality even in her old age.
"Little Tsuna, little Nawaki, watch out for each other. You're all that's left of the Senju; you carry the legacy of Hashirama. Both he and I will always love you." Mito said while comforting them both. Her voice was strained, and it was obvious her life force was rapidly fading.
Tsunade and Nawaki were both inconsolable. They had lost their parents and their grandfather, and now they were losing their grandmother too. Out of their entire family, only they remain.
"Why… why do you have to leave us too…" Tsunade choked out through sobs.
"I'll always watch over you from the Pure Land, Little Tsuna. You're never alone." Mito, nearing the end of her life, turned to the Third Hokage.
"And you, Hiruzen. My brother-in-law entrusted the village, Hashirama's dream, to you. Look after it well. And take care of Kushina. The life of a Jinchuriki is never easy."
Mito Uzumaki might not have had an official position in the village, but as the first Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails and the wife of the First Hokage, she was highly respected. Naturally, he agreed.
"Of course, Lady Mito. I will always do what's best for her and the village."
It was then that Mito closed her eyes, never to open them again. Only the sobs of her two grandchildren and Hiruzen's silent melancholy remained.
Meanwhile, as this group was saying their last goodbyes, Kushina was at the start of a new relationship.
——
Inside a dark dungeon lies a ginormous nine-tailed fox. With orange and black fur and dark red eyes glinting with barely concealed malevolence. This was the conceptualization of the seal space. A space he was very familiar with. A space he hated with every cell in his body.
In this space, he was waiting for his new host to make an appearance. In fact, he had been waiting for some time, since that night half a month ago. When a soul, foreign to this world, attempted to snatch his body. Naturally, that weak human stood no chance against destruction incarnate, Kurama, he thought.
However, some pesky remnants of that human soul, named Steven Wilkes, lingered. Memories of an anime named Naruto, with events eerily similar to those of Kurama's own world, were prominent.
He had spent many nights pondering over the truth of his reality after that discovery, but he ultimately decided it wasn't worth thinking about. After all, what use is there in pondering something you'll never receive an answer for? It's better to forget about it and live as though everything's genuine.
The important question is what he should do with this newfound information about the future. His ultimate goal had been to live freely, without a seal binding him or humans bothering him. Maybe once upon a time, he had believed in peace, but he had long since discarded the naive idea of mutual understanding. Humans are naturally evil; always coveting his power, trying to use him or seal him away in some dark hole. It was clear to him now that he and humanity could never coexist. One can only dominate the other.
However, if the knowledge in that human's memories is true, then freedom is the least of his concerns right now. With the prospect of the Ten-Tails' resurrection, he must ensure his survival first. And, as much as he hates to admit it, even if he escaped Konoha, that bastard Madara Uchiha could easily control him.
That's where Kushina comes in. If he trains and grooms her into a perfect servant, together they can stand a chance against Madara. More than he would on his own, as a tailed beast. After all, there are some things only a human can do.
Speaking of-
"So you're my new host, little one." Kurama's voice rumbled. It was all-consuming and tinged with malice.
Kushina was pale-faced and shaking like a leaf. Even if he had tried to tone down his overwhelmingly malevolent chakra, it was still too much for a 6-year-old to handle. The fact that she was standing at all is admirable.
"Y-yes. I'm your new Jinchuriki, y-you big fox!" She tried to sound brave, but it wasn't too convincing. 'Cute,' he thought.
"Is that so? Such a small little girl, holding me? Ridiculous. I let you contain me; I sense great potential in you, little girl."
Kushina's eyes opened wide, like saucers, and she said, "R-really?! But Grandma Mito said you're a dispic- uh, dispicable fox!"
A snort escaped from Kurama, and he said, "Mito, that old hag. We never saw eye to eye. She was always a hypocrite."
Seeing Kurama's inaction, Kushina regained a little of her courage and infamous temper. "H-hey! Don't talk about Grandma Mito like that, dattebane!"
Kurama narrowed his eyes and lowered his snout right in front of her. 'H-he's gonna eat me!' Then… he licked her. His tongue was so massive that it covered her entire body, and she fell on her butt.
While she was dazed on the ground, Kurama let out a low chuckle. "Your courage is admirable, little one, but you're not ready to talk to me like that. Come back when you're strong enough, or… if you beg enough, I might consider helping you." The last part looked as though it pained him to say, but Kushina was still too dazed to pay close attention.
Then he pushed her out of the seal space, and she passed out, still fatigued from earlier.
'Yes, little one. Come back when you've seen the true face of the Hidden Leaf Village.'
After all, the best manipulations combine both love and hatred. Once the village pushes her down, he'll be there to help her back up. Then, she'll lean on only him.