The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki Died of Rabies?
Naruto was almost eight years old now, and his height had reached somewhere between 120 and 125 centimeters—measured, of course, by absolute hatred values.
He had a bad feeling. The Uchiha clan… it felt like they were on the verge of collapse.
But that had nothing to do with him. He couldn't interfere, and even if he tried, it'd be suicide. A Nine-Tails Jinchūriki poking around the Uchiha's business? That was just asking to die faster.
That day, Naruto went to kick trees after school as usual when he saw something unexpected: a small, wounded dog rummaging through the leftovers of his previous barbecue meal.
The dog wasn't big—about twice the size of Akamaru, his classmate's dog. It was probably a small adult mutt, covered in gashes and limping slightly.
Naruto felt a pang of sympathy. He took out a piece of leftover barbecue from his inventory and tossed it to the dog.
The dog rushed forward, gobbling it down in seconds.
Naruto offered another piece. The dog wolfed it down again. After eating, it sat and began licking its own wounds.
Feeling reassured, Naruto approached slowly and patted the dog's head.
He had raised animals before and knew you never touched a dog while it was eating unless you wanted to lose your hand. But this one didn't resist. It even seemed to enjoy the attention.
Then, without warning, it bit him.
Naruto stared blankly.
A second later, he noticed something strange. The dog's wounds began healing at a visible rate—and so did his own.
Still petting the dog, Naruto imagined himself raising it, traveling to the Land of Fire's capital to buy ginger fish cakes, and living a carefree life with cats, dogs, and a tsundere fox spirit.
But before he could continue dreaming, the dog bolted. The wound on its body had closed completely.
Naruto frowned. That... seemed familiar.
"Wait a second," he muttered, recalling something. "That looked like Karin's ability. Or her mother's. Some kind of Uzumaki trait?"
He rubbed his chin. "Uzumaki Mito and Kushina didn't have it though… but maybe they never had a reason to use it. Who would dare bite a Nine-Tails Jinchūriki just to test a theory?"
Besides, if someone did try, they'd probably be blasted into pieces. It wasn't exactly a repeatable test.
"Maybe I've over-nourished myself."
Naruto did know a bit about his own body. He had been drinking Dragon Egg Soup to replenish his vitality and eating Dragon Meat to strengthen his body and spirit daily. With all that, he was practically overflowing with life energy.
Everyone knew: if a tailed beast was extracted, the host would die. That was the rule. Even Kushina, a pure-blooded Uzumaki with ridiculous life force, had only lasted a short while after the Nine-Tails was pulled out. And she still had enough strength to chain Kurama like a puppy.
But Naruto figured his vitality was now stronger than Kushina's had ever been. With how much he had been replenishing himself, he figured he could survive at least two days after Kurama's extraction. Maybe longer if he soaked in his wine pool and downed a few drinks.
He brushed off the bite. Not like someone could seriously injure him.
Still, as he walked home, he began to feel uneasy.
"...Why did the dog bite me all of a sudden?"
The more he thought about it, the more disturbed he became.
"Big fox," Naruto called out in the seal space, "I got bitten by a dog yesterday."
"Get. Out." Kurama roared.
The Nine-Tails' killing intent flared up like a volcanic eruption.
"You're my Jinchūriki and you got bitten by a dog?! Even if you're not ashamed, I am!"
Naruto backed off, worried.
Apparently Kurama didn't know anything about rabies either.
That night, Naruto barely slept. For the first time in a long while, he went to class early and didn't even kick the tree on the way.
As class started, Naruto leaned toward his desk partner and whispered, "Hinata, do you think you'd die if a dog bit you?"
Hinata's face turned red at how close he was, but managed to whisper back, "No, Naruto-kun."
She had gotten used to his teasing over the past two years, but her ears still turned pink.
Naruto exhaled in relief. Kurama didn't know anything. And now Hinata said no. It must be fine.
Then she added softly, "But... it can be cured."
Naruto's scalp tingled instantly.
Wait. It can be cured? Not doesn't exist?
That meant it existed?!
"Hinata, how do you know that?" he asked, voice slightly trembling.
Hinata hesitated, then opened her book and flipped to a page. Naruto leaned in and saw her notes written in delicate handwriting.
> Rabies virus: Extracted from the saliva of mad dogs or cats. Can be treated before the outbreak or within one day of symptom onset. Cannot be treated on the second day. Patient dies within 3–6 days after symptoms begin. Incubation period varies. Treatment requires a medical-nin of mid-level or higher.
> Also usable to increase pressure on enemy medical teams.
Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief.
Poisoning? At this age?!
Ninja academy was already teaching kids how to weaponize rabies?
And the treatment window was only one day?
He remembered the dog—injured, frothing, licking its wounds before biting him.
His face turned pale.
No time to waste.
He raised his hand and created a portal right inside the classroom.
A glowing purple door appeared and vanished in a flash. Everyone froze in shock.
"Na-Naruto-kun...?" Hinata whispered. Her book was gone with him. What was she supposed to use for the next class?
---
Naruto reappeared in front of the Hokage Tower, bolted inside, and sprinted up the stairs. He didn't greet anyone. Didn't stop.
He reached the Hokage's office and immediately kicked the door open with a perfectly-executed Tree Climbing Technique-enhanced jump.
The room was filled with shinobi—including Jiraiya and some Anbu—but Naruto didn't even register them.
"I NEED TO BE HOSPITALIZED!" he shouted.
Everyone turned to look at the boy standing there, flushed with urgency.
"You don't look sick," someone muttered.
"Naruto…" Hiruzen began, massaging his temple. "What now?"
Naruto slapped the book on the desk, pointing to the page Hinata showed him. "I got bitten by a dog. It went crazy. I think I have rabies!"
Everyone in the room paused.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was bitten by a dog.
Jiraiya quietly stepped outside to laugh.
The Third Hokage, trying to hold back a headache, asked, "Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure."
Hiruzen sighed. If it was even remotely true, it couldn't be delayed.
"Let's go."
Before the Hokage could move, Naruto opened a portal again and dragged the old man through it. They landed directly in front of Konoha Hospital.
"I can't wait! Move faster, old man!"
Inside, villagers whispered and stared. Some recognized Naruto. Some didn't.
Naruto didn't care. His mind was occupied with death countdowns and saliva-based infections.
Finally, they found a medical-nin. Naruto lay down without protest and let them examine him.
"…It is infected," the medic confirmed.
Naruto felt his heart stop.
A second later, he exhaled in relief.
If he hadn't come... the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki really might've died of rabies.