"!!!"
The Nine Tails jolted awake, its fox eyes still filled with lingering terror.
What it had experienced before losing consciousness had been utterly horrifying. During the attack, it had endured excruciating pain, as if every part of its flesh had been burned and torn apart.
Even after losing consciousness, the intense pain had continued to torment it, making it feel like a flickering candle in the wind.
In fact, if it could have simply died, the Nine Tails wouldn't have minded—after all, a Tailed Beast could resurrect even after death.
But that half-dead, still-suffering state, pain that persisted even in unconsciousness, was truly unbearable. It was like being trapped in a nightmare with no sense of time.
Only a Tailed Beast understood another Tailed Beast best, and the one who understood its condition most was none other than another version of itself.
Tamamo-mae's punishment was clearly targeted. That previous attack had been power-adjusted on purpose, intended to make it suffer.
After all, Tamamo-mae knew its former disposition very well—without feeling real pain, it would never be willing to talk properly.
Judging by the result, the plan worked perfectly. The Nine Tails now looked visibly shaken, unable to recover, with its violent and bloodthirsty aura mostly gone, replaced by dread and fear.
When it finally regained its senses, it noticed its vision had changed. Everything around it seemed larger.
Especially when it saw Naruto Uzumaki nearby, curiously watching it with a concerned expression, the feeling became stronger.
"Why did this brat get so big? No, wait! It's not him who got bigger—I got smaller!"
Suddenly aware, the Nine Tails realized its situation. Its golden fur puffed up as it leapt in place and retreated rapidly, putting distance between itself and Naruto. Naruto looked on in amazement.
"Amazing! So foxes can move like that too?"
Hearing that, the Nine Tails's facial muscles twitched. It wanted to yell at Naruto, but its attention was soon drawn elsewhere—more precisely, to the surroundings.
Everything in its view had grown in size. Behind Naruto sat that annoying clone girl, the detestable unknown Uchiha, and the terrifying Tamamo-mae, all seated at a table, staring at it with great interest.
At once, the Nine Tails bristled. Its earlier guess was confirmed. It hadn't been the world that grew—it was it that had shrunk.
Looking down at its body, it saw that its form had clearly diminished. Its once-long limbs were now short and pudgy, and its torso had a plump look to it.
As for its nine tails, they had shrunk and thickened along with the rest of it.
Unable to understand the transformation, the Nine Tails shouted in panic and rage, "What have you done to me?!"
But even as it yelled, it froze. Its voice had changed—gone was the aged, deep tone, replaced with something youthful, like a prepubescent boy.
In fact, it sounded so androgynous that, over a computer mic, it could easily be mistaken for a cute girl.
"What's going on? Even my voice…? Damn it, what did you do to me?!"
Its confused outburst was met with silent amusement. Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Kei looked on with expressions of passive enjoyment, while Naruto Uzumaki's expression turned even more complicated.
The usual caution, hostility, and fear he had toward the Nine Tails were all gone. What remained was something subtle and indecisive, as if he was sorting through unfamiliar emotions.
Even the king of Talk-no-Jutsu was struggling, which showed just how dramatic the Nine Tails's transformation was.
Not only had Uchiha Kei shrunk its size, he had also regressed its age—to the small, juvenile Nine Tails form seen in the original story, but even smaller.
Now the Nine Tails looked like a baby tiger. Even when it tried to snarl, it only came off as adorably fierce, completely devoid of menace. Its killing intent had been replaced with cuteness.
Seeing this, Tamamo-mae smiled and commented, "Now you look much more pleasing to the eye. At least to me, you're far cuter like this than you were before."
The Nine Tails's eyes widened. "C-Cute?! You—you dare call me cute?!"
Its entire body trembled in fury. It felt it had been subjected to a humiliation so profound that no amount of blood could wash it away.
Unfortunately, no matter how angry it got, the Nine Tails now had no intimidation factor. In fact, its tantrum only made it look even cuter.
Tamamo-mae approached with a soft smile. "I thought seeing you like this would upset me, reminding me of bad memories. But it seems I was wrong. You're absolutely adorable, my counterpart from another world."
As she approached, the Nine Tails trembled. Clearly recalling the pain from earlier, it fell into a panic, shouting with faux bravado, "Wh-What do you want?! D-Don't come any closer! If you do, I-I won't be polite, you traitor!"
Tamamo-mae's smile deepened. The way it tried to act tough while trembling only added to its cuteness. It was impossible not to want to bully it.
So she continued to tease, "Oh? You won't be polite? I'd love to see how you plan to do that."
"Y-You…! W-Wait, what are you doing?! Let go of me! Damn it, let go! Don't touch me! Don't touch me\~\~\~!"
The cries turned into a miserable scream, like it was being utterly violated.
Because Tamamo-mae had picked it up and was now cuddling it in her arms, stroking its fox head.
Treating it like a pet, she gently caressed it, evoking terrible memories of being captured and used as a summoning beast by Madara Uchiha.
For the proud Nine Tails, this was the ultimate humiliation.
Unfortunately, it couldn't explode into power like a certain magnetic berserker, so it could only suffer in disgrace. Even suicide was impossible in this form. All it could do was silently endure the endless shame, tears welling in its fox eyes.
To everyone else, it looked like the beautiful Tamamo-mae was affectionately cuddling an adorable fox.
A tragedy for the Nine Tails, but a delight for Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Kei.
As for Naruto Uzumaki, while stunned by how easily the Nine Tails was subdued, he also felt a bit envious—he wanted to be held like that by Tamamo-mae too.
Seeing this, Uchiha Kei asked curiously, "Does it feel good to touch?"
Tamamo-mae nodded without hesitation. "Excellent—top tier. Want to try?"
She even held the Nine Tails out toward him.
Uchiha Kei didn't hesitate, reaching out his wicked hand.
The Nine Tails bristled. It could accept being cuddled by itself, but now even a mere human wanted to touch it? Unforgivable!
But before it could resist, Tamamo-mae calmly sealed its mouth and bound it with golden chakra. It could only let out weak, whimpering sounds that made it sound like it was trying to be cute.
And so, Uchiha Kei got to touch it. The feel was superb—its chakra-enhanced fur was soft, dust-free, and silky to the touch.
Tamamo-mae smiled. "So? Feels great, right?"
Uchiha Kei nodded and gave a thumbs-up. "Absolutely amazing."
Then he turned to the now-curious Minato and Naruto. "You two should try it too! You won't regret it!"
Minato hesitated slightly but agreed. Naruto, not wanting to be left out, also reached out.
And so, the poor Nine Tails was surrounded and petted by multiple people.
Eventually, completely defeated and powerless to resist Tamamo-mae, the Nine Tails collapsed in her arms, lifeless and resigned.
Once everyone had had their fill, a satisfied Tamamo-mae smiled and nodded at Uchiha Kei, signaling they could proceed.
Uchiha Kei gave the Nine Tails's belly one last rub, then reluctantly withdrew his hand. "Nine Tails, you probably already know why we brought you here. So, let's have a proper talk. Once we're done, try to get along with Naruto. Stop trying to control him."
At those words, the lifeless Nine Tails's eyes suddenly burned with rage. The grudge from the intense petting session was now focused entirely on Uchiha Kei.
It was one step away from shouting the classic line: "Tailed Beasts will never be slaves!"
Or perhaps, "Even if I die here, even if I'm tortured to death, I will never submit! You want me to get along with Naruto? Never!"
Either way, its attitude was clear: total refusal.
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