"Perverted Sage, Souma-senpai—what are we even doing? Why aren't we there yet?"
"We're heading somewhere remote. Some things aren't suitable to do where there are too many people."
"Oh."
Naruto followed obediently.
Yagyū Souma and Jiraiya walked in front.
They had already gone over the process multiple times the night before, confirming every step to ensure nothing could go wrong. What remained now was only the execution.
They soon reached the outskirts.
Souma looked at Jiraiya. The two exchanged a glance and nodded lightly.
Souma formed seals.
One after another, intricate formulas spread outward, embedding themselves into the surroundings and forming layers of seals and barriers.
Each technique served a different purpose.
But the ultimate goal was the same—
To keep the Nine-Tails stable and prevent unnecessary trouble.
"Naruto, stand in the center."
"Okay."
Naruto stepped forward.
The instant he did, a strange comfort spread through his body.
It was as if—
Kurama had suddenly quieted down.
Naruto even felt like he could use elemental ninjutsu now—
Though in reality, he hadn't even mastered Wind Release yet. It was likely just an illusion.
"T-This… what are we doing exactly?"
"Talking to the Nine-Tails. Don't rush—leave it to me."
Souma extended his hand.
His consciousness slipped into Naruto's body.
The next instant—
A dim, flooded prison appeared before him.
Inside, an enormous beast lay crouched on the ground, its body bound by heavy sealing restraints.
The Nine-Tails looked far from comfortable.
When it noticed Souma, it bared its fangs.
"So it's you, brat. You're the one using seals outside?"
"I am Yagyū Souma."
Souma inclined his head calmly, formally introducing himself.
Kurama narrowed its eyes.
Though sealed within Naruto, it wasn't ignorant of the outside world. Souma's reputation—and his feats—had not gone unnoticed.
Especially the sealing techniques just now.
This human was dangerous.
"What do you want?"
"To propose a deal. A small experiment."
Kurama sneered.
"I have nothing to discuss with humans. From ancient times until now, the people of Konoha have never wanted to talk."
"That's true."
Souma nodded without denial.
From Uchiha Madara onward—
No one had ever truly asked Kurama whether it wanted to be sealed or used.
Naruto was the only exception.
Despite suffering discrimination and hardship, he remained kind.
That persistence would one day move Kurama.
But that was Naruto's future.
Right now, Kurama and Naruto shared no bond at all.
From Kurama's perspective, killing Naruto to escape would be ideal.
"I can't truly empathize with you," Souma said softly. "But Naruto can."
"Oh?"
Kurama scoffed.
"You think that brat can understand me? Don't make me laugh."
"If you think you can convince me with words, you're underestimating me."
"Of course not."
Souma smiled faintly.
Then—
In the real world, he took out a special ninja tool.
Kurama's pupils shrank.
That eye—
"You—!"
Rage erupted.
"Damn you, brat!"
Kurama roared, smashing its claws against the bars.
Sharingan.
That cursed power again!
The visual power pierced through Naruto's body into the spiritual realm, manifesting as a glowing tomoe suspended in midair.
Kurama thrashed violently, but the Eight Trigrams Seal restrained it completely.
Souma spoke calmly.
"I know you won't agree willingly. Otherwise, you wouldn't be the Nine-Tails."
"But I'm offering you another choice."
"You can separate a portion of yourself."
"That part won't be sealed inside a human. You'll gain freedom."
The tomoe above Souma's head began spinning rapidly.
He didn't use Kotoamatsukami.
With his Mangekyō Sharingan and overwhelming mental strength, he generated enough ocular power on his own.
Kurama's eyes slowly transformed—
Into the pattern of the Sharingan.
Then—
A violent scream echoed.
Naruto's body erupted with tailed-beast chakra.
Jiraiya's expression turned grim.
He knew the internal battle had reached its peak—
Yet he couldn't intervene.
"Naruto! Don't let the chakra control you! Fight it—hold on!"
"I-It hurts… Perverted Sage…!"
Naruto clutched his head in agony.
Unlike later versions of himself, he had only experienced partial transformation once—
During the battle with Orochimaru.
Now he finally understood.
This chakra was pure hatred.
Even he felt the urge to destroy everything.
Then—
Souma opened his eyes.
He formed seals rapidly.
A mass of chakra burst free from Naruto and condensed in his palm.
"Jiraiya-sama!"
"I know."
Jiraiya released the chakra sealed in Souma's scroll.
A massive surge of Nine-Tails chakra erupted.
Without the barrier, everything nearby would've been annihilated.
"Gather!"
Souma shouted.
The scattered chakra converged instantly.
A small fox took shape in his palm.
Tiny—but violent.
It lunged at Souma, rapidly growing.
Golden chains erupted from Souma's hand, binding it tightly.
Jiraiya was stunned.
A new form of senjutsu?!
Even mastering Sage Chakra didn't make creating such techniques easy—
Yet Souma wielded them effortlessly.
"You don't have the strength yet."
Souma smiled.
"Let's talk."
"I have nothing to discuss with humans," the fox snarled. "If you think part of me will submit—kill me now."
Jiraiya felt uneasy.
This was expected.
Even a fragment of the Nine-Tails was arrogant beyond measure.
"In my presence, you won't get the chance."
Souma smiled.
"And I noticed something interesting."
"What?"
"The Eight Trigrams Seal has a gap—allowing your chakra to leak back to Naruto."
"You've been trying to exploit that, haven't you?"
Kurama sneered.
"And? You humans still rely on my power."
"That gap stays," Souma said calmly.
"If we seal it completely, Naruto loses any chance to communicate with you."
"That's right!" Naruto shouted. "I want to talk to you!"
Kurama ignored him.
Naruto clenched his fists.
Souma smiled.
"Naruto, I'm taking this part with me. You still have eighty percent—more than enough."
Jiraiya hesitated.
"And the seal?"
"You brought him out for this reason, didn't you?"
Souma shook his head.
Jiraiya sighed, then nodded.
"Be careful."
"I will."
Souma left with the sealed Nine-Tails fragment.
Kurama glanced back at Naruto and sneered.
"You think that brat can change me? He'll die."
"I believe in him," Souma replied calmly.
Kurama snorted.
Compared to Souma, Naruto seemed naïve.
But Souma—
Souma was terrifying.
"I removed some hostility," Souma added casually. "Nothing more."
And just a little subconscious guidance.
Tiny changes, unnoticed—
But over time?
They become fate.
Souma walked onward, fox at his side, dressed like a wandering swordsman.
As he moved through the ninja world—
His thoughts turned to the next step.
Curse marks.
Sage chakra.
Yin Seal.
Orochimaru's methods weren't useless—
They just needed refinement.
After all—
What Souma wanted…
It was senjutsu, not monsters.
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