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Exhausted from the earlier confrontation, Yūgao retreated into the tent to rest. Meanwhile, Haruno Sakura, hearing the commotion outside, cautiously peeked out to assess the situation. Spotting Naruto, she hurried over, her voice laced with concern.
"Naruto! Are you okay? What just happened?" she asked, her mind still reeling from the chaos.
Naruto waved a hand dismissively. "Just some troublemakers. They're gone now—no need to worry."
Sakura simply nodded, her thoughts blank. She had never experienced real combat before, let alone witnessed it firsthand.
Before long, Hinata returned with Iruka and several other teachers in tow. After assessing the situation, Iruka made the call to end the survival drill early—given the unexpected danger, continuing was too risky. As the instructors fanned out to gather the students, Hinata's anxious gaze lingered on Naruto. Only after confirming he was unharmed did she finally exhale in relief.
One by one, the students regrouped at the assembly point.
Then, Kurama's voice echoed in Naruto's mind once more. "Naruto, this is an opportunity."
Curious, Naruto responded mentally, "What kind of opportunity?"
Kurama's tone was calculating. "With your current physique, even if we're separated, you won't die. But as a Jinchūriki, after an incident like this, Konoha's Anbu will keep a closer eye on you. We're near the village border find a secluded spot and let me out."
Naruto hesitated. "You really think I can survive that kind of injury?" He wasn't entirely convinced.
Kurama scoffed. "Are you doubting me? Hurry up, or you'll miss your chance."
There was an unspoken challenge in the fox's words, if Naruto refused now, Kurama would know his trust was hollow.
Naruto didn't deliberate long. "Fine. I'll trust you."
In truth, he wasn't blindly relying on Kurama. He knew the risks—surviving a tailed beast extraction wasn't guaranteed. But he was willing to gamble. If he was right, he'd earn Kurama's full allegiance. If he was wrong… well, he had a backup plan.
Hidden within his seal wasn't just the Fourth Hokage's chakra—but also Kushina's. If Kurama betrayed him, they could reseal the fox together.
Steeling himself, Naruto slipped away from the group, searching for a remote location.
Inside the sealed space, Kurama watched with a sly grin.
Once they were a short distance from Konoha, Naruto asked, "Kurama, is this far enough?"
"Perfect. Now, release the seal," Kurama urged, his voice tinged with excitement.
Naruto sat cross-legged, focusing his mind as he entered the sealed space. Moments later, he stood before the massive iron gate, Kurama's towering form looming behind it. The fox was practically trembling with anticipation.
Without hesitation, Naruto reached for the lock and removed the final layer of the seal.
Kurama's eyes widened slightly. 'This brat… really did it?'
But as the gate swung open, the fox made no move to escape. Instead, it remained still, its earlier excitement replaced by calm amusement.
Confused, Naruto frowned. "Hey! Why aren't you leaving? The seal's gone!"
Kurama let out a derisive chuckle. "Hah! Did you really believe that? At your current level, extraction would still kill you."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "I knew you were testing me."
Kurama's tail lashed out, snatching Naruto up in its grip. "You little brat! You dare mock me?" it growled.
Unfazed, Naruto met its gaze. "Not mocking. Just calling out a stubborn fox who's testing his friend."
Kurama faltered, then huffed, lowering Naruto back to the ground. "…I just wanted to see if you'd truly free me. Don't take it personally."
After a pause, the fox sighed. "I didn't expect any human let alone a Jinchūriki to trust a tailed beast so completely."
"Do you even understand what breaking that seal means?" Kurama pressed.
Naruto smirked inwardly. 'It means if you try to run, my mother and I will just seal you again.'
Out loud, he shrugged. "It means I'm risking my life. But we're friends, right? Like I said, that old man in my dream told me I'd be the tailed beasts ally, the one who saves the world."
Kurama studied him, a flicker of recognition in its eyes. "…You do remind me of him."
"Fine," Kurama grumbled. "Since you're so insistent, I won't disgrace the tailed beasts. I've been locked up for decades, a few more years won't matter. Once you're strong enough to survive extraction, I'll leave."
Naruto grinned. "Sure, whatever. But keeping you locked up like this feels kinda cruel."
Kurama's fur bristled. "Who are you calling 'locked up'?! And what's with that tone?!"
Naruto held up his hands. "Okay, okay, mighty Nine-Tails, my mistake..."
Before he could finish, Kurama stiffened, sensing a familiar presence.
A swirl of chakra materialized nearby, coalescing into a human figure, a woman with vibrant red hair and a gentle smile.
Uzumaki Kushina.
The moment her chakra appeared, Kurama's bravado vanished.
'Oh no.'
Had it actually tried to escape, Kushina would've restrained it, and Naruto would've resealed it without hesitation. The fox shuddered at the close call.
"Naruto?"
The soft voice made Naruto turn, feigning confusion. "Uh… who are you? Why are you inside me?"
Kurama snorted. "That's your mother, you ungrateful brat."
Kushina's gaze snapped to the unsealed Kurama, her expression alarmed. "little Nine?! Why aren't you sealed?!"
Kurama's eye twitched. "Don't Call me Little nine."
The nickname originally given by Uzumaki Mito had been adopted by Kushina. And now, if Naruto started using it too?
So much for its dignity as the strongest tailed beast.
Naruto burst out laughing. "Wait, your nickname is Little nine?! That's perfect I'm calling you that from now on!"
Kurama's silence was deafening.