Naruto's face was a map of sudden, raw pain and deep confusion. He wasn't thinking about the bells anymore; he was staring into an abyss of philosophical horror. The idea that his dream—the village—was the architect of his nightmare was almost too much for a nine-year-old mind to process.
Agung watched him, his heart heavy. He knew the conversation couldn't go further down that path without causing irreversible damage right now. The boy had to return to his world to survive, and he needed strength, not despair.
Agung quietly stepped back into the kitchen, reaching for a couple of cardboard boxes. He filled them methodically: three large packets of Indomie Goreng (instant fried noodles, a staple comfort food), a handful of easy-to-eat Indonesian biscuits, and the remainder of the carton of orange juice. This was an extra gift, a necessary provision for a lonely child who was likely still being denied proper meals.
The Voice of the Nine-Tails
As Agung packed the provisions, a new, massive presence slammed into his mind. It wasn't the bored, detached whisper of the Djin; this was a thunderous, ancient snarl, hot and furious, a voice dripping with contempt and power.
"MORTAL. WHY DO YOU ASK THE BRAT THOSE QUESTIONS? WHO ARE YOU, AND WHAT KNOWLEDGE DO YOU POSSESS?!"
The voice was unmistakably Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, residing within Naruto's seal. The nullification field only affected external powers and learned abilities, not the sentient soul of a sealed entity.
Agung didn't flinch. He continued taping the box shut, the clatter of the packaging tape a sharp contrast to the beast's mental roar. He directed his answer inward, a quiet, controlled thought aimed directly at the massive entity, bypassing Naruto entirely.
"I am Agung Wibowo, a simple chef. And I asked him that because the boy deserves the truth, or at least, the framework to understand it when it inevitably shatters his reality."
"THE TRUTH? LIES ARE NECESSARY TO KEEP HIM SAFE FROM THE FOOLS WHO WOULD EXPLOIT MY POWER! HE IS THE HOST. HE IS THE JINCHŪRIKI. THAT IS HIS LOT."
Agung sealed the second box of provisions, a flicker of genuine anger passing over his face—not at Kurama, but at the hypocrisy of the hidden village system.
"Necessary for safety, or necessary for control?" Agung countered silently, his tone low and fierce. "You are wrong. That damned Third Hokage must suffer for his failure. He took everything from Naruto—the legacy of his father and mother, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. He stripped the son of a hero of his birthright, destroyed his heritage, and ensured his entire childhood became a source of hatred for the entire village."
Agung picked up the cartons of juice, stacking them neatly. "Yes, this isolation, this pain... it surely makes him stronger. It forges the will of fire through endless suffering. It ensures you, the beast, are always ready to be unleashed to protect the village that scorns him."
Agung stopped, looking through the kitchen doorway at the small, earnest boy sitting at the table, clutching the orange juice and the empty plate.
"But Naruto... he didn't just need strength, Kurama. He needed to be loved. The price of that strength was far too high."
Agung carried the box of instant food and the cartons of juice out and placed them gently on the table next to Naruto.
"These are for you, young man," Agung said, his voice soft again, the mental battle with Kurama completely hidden from the boy. "My restaurant is Halal, but these instant noodles are perfect for a ninja on the move. Don't go hungry again. And that orange juice will keep your energy up."
Naruto's eyes went wide. "Wha—? But I don't have money for this! I already gave you the stone!"
"This," Agung stated firmly, "is a gift. From one person who understands loneliness to another who is just starting to see the world's confusing, painful logic. Eat well, be safe, and remember the lesson of the team."
He put a comforting hand on Naruto's head, momentarily ruffling his spiky blonde hair.
"Now, go on. The portal is waiting."