"You see, although it looks fierce, it actually can't do anything to us. It's no different from those 'Tailed Beasts' in a zoo or circus. I won't say it's all show and no go, but right now, it's just flailing around like it's stuck."
As he explained, Haseo lifted his leg, pretending to stomp onto Kurama's paw.
The massive claw "slipped" away instantly, causing Haseo's foot to land on nothing but water.
But it was just a harmless splash—barely a sound. Clearly, he held back, not even a little rough. Obviously, Haseo was just playing with the Nine-Tails.
He shrugged with one shoulder, then shot Kushina a playful wink over his other.
Kushina couldn't help herself and burst into laughter.
Because the scene really was amusing—the contrast was too extreme. The Nine-Tails was huge, ferocious, and imposing, yet it seemed somewhat afraid of Haseo's little stomp.
"Haseo, you dare show your face before me again!"
Behind the iron bars created by the seal, shadows flickered until the Nine-Tails' figure finally emerged. With glaring eyes full of rage fixed upon Haseo... No, perhaps it was more like humiliation turning into anger?
"Don't talk like that, Kurama. I came here to befriend you... Hmm, looks like your leg injury has already healed. That makes me feel a bit less guilty. No wonder—you're a chakra creature; your self-healing ability is truly impressive." Haseo said casually, as if they were old friends.
Earlier, the Nine-Tails had suffered a twisted front leg after being kicked by Haseo. Now, that same leg—which the Nine-Tails had used to strike Haseo moments ago—had completely recovered. This regeneration ability indeed deserved praise.
So, whether Haseo had broken the Nine-Tails' front legs, its hind legs, or even some random middle toe—none of that mattered now.
"Where exactly did you learn my name from?"
Having Haseo call him by his real name felt to Kurama like some poor angel getting grabbed and smooched by the ugliest demon in hell—completely gross. But Kurama forced itself to suppress its rage, because Kurama wanted to understand how Haseo knew its name in the first place.
"Kurama?" Kushina softly echoed the name.
"Yes," Haseo explained to Kushina, "that was the name given to this fox when it was born by its original master." Then, he answered Kurama's question, "It was told to me by Eight-Tails—we're practically brothers."
"Eh..." Even Kurama hesitated for a moment over whether to believe Haseo's words.
Theory says Tailed Beasts keep their real names secret from everyone but each other. Indeed, it made sense that Haseo might have learned Kurama's name from another Tailed Beast—it was the most reasonable explanation. Yet, could other tailed beasts really be that close with humans?
Unlikely, but still possible.
"You see? He fell for it so easily."
While Kurama was deep in thought, Haseo whispered once again to Kushina.
At that very moment, Kurama looked oddly soft, almost… adorable.
But Haseo's words only made it rage even more violently.
"I can even use its power right in front of it. If necessary, I could even use the Nine-Tails' chakra to fight against the Nine-Tails itself, and there's absolutely nothing it can do to stop me." Saying this, Haseo raised one hand, and then chakra from other Nine-Tails individuals in the Shikkotsu Forest simply overflowed outward.
"You're just a shameless thief."
"A thief? At least I should be considered a robber, right?"
Haseo corrected it. Obviously, his version was more accurate.
"Kushina, you'll also be able to control such power in the future, just like… Lady Mito." Haseo continued taking every opportunity to educate Kushina.
At this moment, the Nine-Tails, which had been furious at Haseo, finally noticed there was another person standing beside him.
"Kid, remove the seal on this door. In the future, I can lend my power to you…"
The Nine-Tails was truly trying to deceive a child now, although its technique was honestly not very good.
After all, Kushina had been "disciplined" by Haseo. She would never be so naively deceived anymore… Once she released the Nine-Tails, would there even be a "future" for her?
Therefore, she firmly shook her head.
"You see? It's powerless. Earlier, it was actually begging you—it just has no manners at all."
Haseo… honestly had nothing more to say.
Standing behind him, Kushina peeked out and looked straight into the Nine-Tails' eyes.
Though still somewhat frightened, she didn't back down. Finally, she gave herself some courage and imitated Haseo's tone to speak: "Please learn some politeness first next time, Kurama-senpai…"
Haseo hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly laughed aloud.
Now the Nine-Tails finally became completely furious. It had actually been disrespected by just a little jinchūriki! This weak little jinchūriki, who couldn't compare to Mito Uzumaki in the slightest, dared…
And Haseo's mocking laughter too!
In short, it pounded the walls furiously.
What meaning did that have other than making a lot of noise?
The Eight Trigrams Sealing Style didn't waver in the slightest despite the Nine-Tails' intense resistance. Kushina's chakra was absolutely not as powerless as the Nine-Tails imagined.
"Let's go. It seems we won't be making friends this time. Kurama is too excited."
Under normal circumstances, only when forming a so-called "bond" with a tailed beast could one freely use its name. Therefore, even if Haseo's tone was proper while calling the Nine-Tails' name, it always seemed to carry some mockery.
As for Kushina… Well, she was learning from Haseo—otherwise known as picking up the worst habits. Falling into these two people's hands, the Nine-Tails must have really hit rock bottom.
They stepped back and turned their backs on the Nine-Tails, leaving the sealed space behind.
Before leaving, the Nine-Tails suddenly regained its calm.
From the darkness, its voice echoed out like it came from endless chaos:
"Haseo, I won't forget what you've done to me. One day, you will pay the price."
Haseo's footsteps paused slightly before he replied, "I understand. I'll wait for you."
He truly didn't care about the Nine-Tails' threat at all.
Their consciousnesses then exited the sealed space.
"Kushina, how do you feel?"
Haseo asked Kushina about her first impression of the Nine-Tails.
"...It was pretty interesting, Lord Haseo." Kushina tilted her head thoughtfully before replying.
She was feeling way better now than just a few minutes ago. All thanks to the Nine-Tails getting played around with... After all that commotion, she no longer feared the Nine-Tails.
Didn't she just see Lord Haseo messing with that dumbass fox?
Kushina knew Haseo was way stronger than the Nine-Tails—and that power would always have her back.
"Right? I think it was quite interesting too." Haseo smiled as he said.
Obviously, his "me-first, beat-up-the-beast kind of therapy" had actually done wonders. After this experience, Kushina would probably have established a psychological superiority over the Nine-Tails, so there was no need to worry too much about its mental influence anymore.
After exiting the triple-layered space, both of them let out a long breath.
With this jinchuriki transition settled, Haseo, who had been staying in Konoha for a long time, had finally completed this task.
This period seemed to have brought the distant war suddenly close again. Thinking back... Haseo even felt a little excited.
Maybe it was time to stretch his fighting muscles.
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