Chapter 22: You Can't Even Turn Into a Cute Nine-Tailed Girl—You're Too Useless
Nighttime…
"The old man really came through. Said he'd get me a better place, and he actually did it—no delays this time."
Moving into his new home,
Naruto sighed with some emotion.
The room was four times the size of his old rundown shack.
The decor and furniture were leagues better too.
Konoha had enjoyed a period of peace after the war.
Ordinary people's lives weren't exactly great,
but what did that have to do with him, Naruto?
Mainly because these people loved courting death.
Everyone wanted to stand out, everyone wanted to be Hokage.
If you don't have the strength or the iron will to handle things,
then don't bother competing.
Wouldn't the world be peaceful then?
"Kurama."
Naruto entered the sealed inner prison world where the Nine-Tails was kept.
The seal paper had long been torn off by him.
The Nine-Tails lay obediently inside the cage like a good little pet.
Even though the gate stood wide open,
it didn't dare step a single paw outside.
Touching? It didn't dare move.
Kurama had revealed its true name to Naruto yesterday.
"Is there something you need, Master?"
The Nine-Tails spoke with utmost respect, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
After last night's events,
it had realized one thing:
hugging Naruto's thigh tightly
was absolutely the right move.
"How's your recovery?" Naruto asked.
Forcing the two halves of Nine-Tails chakra into perfect fusion
had left Naruto completely unaffected.
But for the Nine-Tails—the main body—
the aftermath left it extremely weakened.
It needed time to rest and recuperate.
"Reporting to Master: after a full day of rest, I'm completely recovered."
The Nine-Tails answered truthfully.
Having the other half of itself—the other half of its power—return to its body
felt indescribably refreshing.
But even so,
not a single thought of escape crossed its mind.
Just as it had thought last night:
Naruto might be young,
but his strength was already this terrifying.
Give him a little more time to grow, and wouldn't he soar into the heavens?
Even if it somehow escaped from Naruto,
causing a commotion in Konoha would be unavoidable.
The other ninja villages would get wind of it sooner or later.
They'd come to recapture it.
Seal it into another jinchūriki.
Who it would end up sealed inside next—
who knew.
The Nine-Tails didn't want to keep living that kind of wandering, hunted life.
Staying by Naruto's side,
it felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity and closeness.
Just like the days it once spent with the Sage of Six Paths.
Well, duh.
It still didn't know Naruto was the reincarnation of Asura.
Naruto rubbed his chin.
"Can you shrink your body? Like turn into something the size of a doll?"
The Nine-Tails' fox face was filled with pure confusion.
Make a gigantic monster like it turn into a plush doll?
Thinking of little kids hugging those toys to play,
or needing to cuddle them at night to fall asleep,
the Nine-Tails felt a chill run down its spine.
Was Naruto actually thinking that?
It immediately lied without hesitation:
"Reporting to Master—I cannot!"
Naruto spread his hands.
"What use are you if you're this useless?"
The Nine-Tails lowered its head even further.
Boss, whatever you say is right.
Curse me all you want… go ahead…
If I, Kurama, so much as frown,
then from this day forward I'll drop the name Kurama
and take yours—call me Uzumaki from now on!
Uzumaki Kurama—nice name!
Naruto grinned.
"I heard your old pal Shukaku can freely change size—big or small."
"It said you could do it too. Are you telling me you were lying?"
Old pal?
Shukaku?
Holy crap!!! What kind of "old pal" is that?!
That dumbass actually sold me out!
Wait… how does Naruto even know Shukaku's name is Shukaku?
And know about our relationship?
We're not pals.
We're arch-enemies.
How the hell do I explain this now?
Seeing Naruto's half-smiling, half-threatening stare,
the Nine-Tails instantly surrendered.
"Master, I was wrong! I suddenly remember—I actually can do the size-changing skill."
When it opened its eyes again,
Naruto's blue pupils had turned golden,
rippling with concentric wave-like patterns.
Rinnegan.
"I don't even know when these weird ninjutsu just pop into my hands."
Threat.
A naked, blatant threat!
And the Nine-Tails had zero temper left to resist.
You're the boss—you're right about everything.
"Master, I was wrong—I'll change right now!"
"Oh? Can you turn into a cute human girl form?"
"I… I'm a beast species…"
"What use are you if you're this useless? Can't even turn into a cute nine-tailed girl—you're too damn worthless."
"…"
I'm literally not human!!!
Even if I shrink, I can't take on a human appearance!
What sins did I commit in my past life?!!!
Getting caught by that damn masked bastard and dragged to Konoha for destruction.
Masked guy runs away.
I get captured.
And now I'm stuck with this jinchūriki.
I must've committed sins for eight lifetimes.
I had no choice back then.
From now on, I just want to be a quiet, obedient little fox.
God, give me a break.
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