With a sharp flip, Naruto jolted back to life, eyes shining with tears as he looked at Ino.
Ino saikō! She's the best!
"Are you okay?" Ino asked, genuine worry written all over her face.
"I'm fine." Naruto smiled and waved her concern away as if nothing had happened.
"Let's go get some dango. My treat," Ino said with a sigh, pressing a hand to her forehead.
And so, the two of them walked into the dango shop together.
Sweet red bean dumplings were a favorite among girls, so the shop was lively and full. When Naruto entered—bright green jumpsuit and all—heads immediately turned his way. Luckily, after a brief moment of staring, everyone lost interest and went back to their food.
"Naruto, do you know what Sasuke's been up to lately?" Ino asked casually as she bit into her dango.
"No idea. Probably special training with Kakashi-sensei," Naruto replied.
"Oh."
They chatted idly, the small talk flowing without much meaning. When night finally fell, they went their separate ways.
Since Naruto's apartment wasn't far from the Yamanaka flower shop, they naturally walked part of the way together.
The streets of Konoha glowed under the warm lantern light, peaceful and serene.
Now that Naruto had obtained the Flying Thunder God Technique, it was an undeniable power boost for him.
From the perspective of the upcoming Chūnin Exams, his biggest concern might be fighting Shino Aburame and his parasitic insects. He didn't know whether Moonlight Gekkō would still die at the hands of Baki, or if the battle order might change.
Whatever happens, he'd have to see it through.
What he did know for sure was that Orochimaru would attack Konoha during the exams—launching the Konoha Crush. The Third Hokage would die. Gekkō would die. The village streets would burn.
A cool night breeze blew. Ino chattered intermittently about random things.
Naruto occasionally responded, lost in thought.
"You don't have to be so tense," Ino said, her ponytail swaying behind her as they walked. "You were first in the graduation exam. As long as you don't face that genius from the Hyūga clan, you should be fine."
"Y'know, Ino... you're actually really kind," Naruto said suddenly.
"Huh? What makes you say that?"
"You're always thinking about others." Naruto scratched his head and smiled sincerely. "I always thought you were just loud and carefree. Didn't expect you to be so understanding."
"What do you mean, didn't expect?" Ino pouted, a bit offended. "We're all comrades from the same village. Helping each other is only natural!"
"Yeah, you're right," Naruto said with a small laugh, dropping the topic.
At the next street corner, they waved goodbye.
When Naruto finally got home, he flopped down on the sofa.
The dimly lit room was quiet. The ANBU's surveillance posts had been withdrawn—at least for now, he was free.
It felt like having his shackles unlocked, finally let out to breathe.
Unlike other villages that constantly tried to draw out their Jinchūriki's potential, Konoha seemed intent on limiting his.
Naruto guessed it was because the village currently lacked anyone strong enough to suppress the Nine-Tails. If he ever lost control, the damage would be catastrophic.
So instead of using the Nine-Tails' power, they chose to keep it locked away.
That Root ninja who'd been devoured by the fox left no useful information behind, and Naruto couldn't track the matter any further. But he was fairly certain it was Danzō's doing—with possible approval from the higher-ups.
He closed his eyes.
Drip... drip...
When he opened them again, the elegant living room was gone—replaced by a dark, damp sewer.
In the darkness, two massive, lantern-like eyes snapped open.
Inside the narrow cage loomed a colossal beast—the Nine-Tails. Its overwhelming presence sent ripples through the ankle-deep water.
Then came a roar—so deafening it made the entire seal space quake.
"Long time no see, Kurama."
Naruto stood atop the water, ripples spreading outward from his feet. A dim amber light radiated around him, illuminating the shadows just enough to see.
"Human…"
Kurama's voice rumbled with hate. His loathing hadn't faded over the years—it had only grown stronger. But this time, the beast didn't thrash against the bars or cause chaos. It had learned restraint.
"You hate me, don't you?" Naruto asked, looking up.
"So what if I do?" Kurama sneered, showing rows of gleaming fangs.
"I get it," Naruto said calmly. "You hate me because I've stolen your freedom."
"Isn't that obvious? I've been trapped in this lightless cage for over a decade! How could I not hate it?"
"I didn't choose to be a Jinchūriki either," Naruto replied quietly. "Who'd want to be a prison cell? But no one ever asked what I wanted."
"That's your human problem!" Kurama snapped, clearly done arguing. To him, the real victim was himself. Whatever selfish reasons humans had didn't matter.
Naruto fell silent for a long moment, then spoke again.
"Right now, I'd die without you. But you could live just fine without me. That's not fair."
"Fair?" Kurama gave a low, cruel laugh. "Who cares about fair, human? You die, I go free. If you're tired of living, just say the word—I'd be happy to help."
"You don't have to worry," Naruto said, meeting his gaze with burning determination. "I'll find a way to survive—no matter what it takes. Even if I have to use forbidden jutsu, Kurama…"
He raised his head, voice low and solemn—almost like a vow.
"I'll imprison you. Strengthen the seal. Torture you. Forever."
"Believe me—I can do it. I already control the Four Symbols Seal."
The way he said it made Kurama's fur bristle. Every word from Naruto's mouth made the giant fox's blood run cold—dragging it back to the suffocating nightmares of its past hosts.
If this kid really didn't die someday…
"Are you insane?!" Kurama roared, glaring at him.
Naruto only grinned—bright and sunny, as if he hadn't just said something terrifying.
"If I'm unhappy, I'll just make everyone else cry instead!"
"That's my ninja way!"
Kurama was utterly disgusted.
What kind of deranged human is this?!
He'd lived for a thousand years, but this was the first time he'd ever met such a twisted Jinchūriki. Where did this kid even learn the Four Symbols Seal?!
Things were getting dangerous for him.
"What do you want, exactly?" Kurama finally asked, sounding weary. "Doing this doesn't benefit you either, does it?"
Naruto nodded slowly, then looked up at the towering beast.
"Kurama…" he said softly, but firmly.
"I want freedom."