Kurama nodded slowly.
"That's right. It really was that strong."
"The kind of power that can destroy the world."
Yoruha stayed quiet for a long moment before finally agreeing.
"If it's real, then it makes sense the Ten-Tails would have world-ending power. I just… don't know if I can believe it."
"One Tailed Beast Bomb wiping out thousands of kilometers? That sounds way too exaggerated."
Kurama sighed.
"It's real."
"If the Ten-Tails was that powerful, then how did the Sage of Six Paths seal it inside himself in the first place?" Yoruha asked.
Kurama thought for a bit, then replied slowly.
"Originally, the Ten-Tails was sealed inside the Sage's mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki."
"Kaguya Ōtsutsuki?"
Kurama's expression grew grave as it nodded.
"Yes. Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. She was like a goddess… and she possessed enough power to suppress the Ten-Tails."
"Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was the Ten-Tails' first jinchūriki. According to legend, she stole and ate a fruit from the God Tree, and that gave her the ability to control the Ten-Tails."
"She was the true progenitor of chakra. She's the one who spread chakra across the entire shinobi world."
Yoruha already knew pieces of this—but hearing it directly from Kurama was still shocking.
What surprised him even more was that Kurama actually knew all this… and was willing to tell him.
"The originator of chakra, huh… that really does sound like a myth."
Kurama thought he didn't believe and continued speaking.
"Legend says Kaguya came from beyond this world—sent down from the heavens as some 'divine emissary.'"
Inwardly, Yoruha muttered, "What divine emissary? Just an Ōtsutsuki."
People always wrapped what they didn't understand in mysticism.
Kurama continued:
"But later, Kaguya was consumed by her own power. She decided to reclaim all the chakra in the world for herself. Countless people died. To stop her, the Sage of Six Paths and his younger brother joined forces and sealed their own mother away on the moon."
Yoruha's eyes widened.
"The Sage of Six Paths was that strong?"
"The Sage and his brother inherited their mother's power. They used that strength to seal Kaguya," Kurama said.
"After sealing her, the Sage extracted the Ten-Tails from her body and sealed it into himself. That made him the Ten-Tails' second jinchūriki."
Yoruha frowned slightly.
Kurama watched him.
"Well? Now do you have some concept of just how strong the Sage of Six Paths was?"
Yoruha nodded.
"If what you're saying is true, then the Sage really did have the same world-destroying power the legends talk about."
"I just don't know if it's all real."
He looked at Kurama, unconvinced.
Kurama let out a breath that was half laughter, half anger.
"Do I have any reason to lie to you?"
Yoruha thought for a moment, then admitted,
"Not really. It's just… all of this is so far beyond what I imagined that it's hard to process."
Kurama lay down again, resting its head on its paws.
"That's why I only recognize strong ones on his level. I'll never acknowledge that brat Naruto. He's not worthy of making me submit."
Yoruha had no intention of leaving yet.
He sat down cross-legged across from the fox, studying it.
"You seem to know a lot about the past. Aside from the Sage of Six Paths, you must know quite a few other powerful people, right?"
Kurama gave him a sideways glance.
It knew exactly what Yoruha was fishing for.
Then it huffed and shut its eyes with tsundere determination.
"I've already told you plenty. How much more do you want?"
"Anyway, let me give you some advice. The people in Konoha aren't easy to deal with. You don't have the strength to protect yourself yet. You'd better keep a low profile. Hiding your power won't hurt you."
Yoruha smiled.
"I don't need you to remind me of that. I know how to act."
"And I'll give you some advice too: you'd better start helping Naruto properly. That'll be good for you as well."
"Hmph. Keep dreaming."
Kurama glared at him coldly.
Yoruha shrugged.
"You really are stubborn. No wonder your life's been so miserable all these years."
"Fine, I'll back off a step. At least stop causing him trouble, okay?"
"Just stay inside him and watch him grow. I believe one day you'll acknowledge him."
"He's got the blood of the Uzumaki clan, and he's the Fourth Hokage's son. I think very highly of him."
"I believe he'll surpass both his parents someday—maybe even Hashirama Senju."
He hadn't even finished when Kurama burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Brat, are you dreaming out loud?"
"If he can reach his mother's level someday, that'd already be impressive. As for the Fourth—on what basis?"
"That kid doesn't have the talent that man had."
"And surpass that bastard Hashirama? Even more ridiculous."
"Do you have any idea how strong Hashirama really was?"
"I don't like that fool, but I admit it—he's the strongest shinobi of the last few centuries. 'God of Shinobi' isn't an exaggeration at all."
"If you told me you could surpass him in the future, I'd believe it. In fact, I think it's very likely."
"But Naruto? Forget it. Don't make me laugh."
Yoruha murmured under his breath,
"That's just because you don't understand his potential."
He thought of future Naruto—
Six Paths mode, godlike chakra, sealing Kaguya…
Kurama severely underestimated him.
Yoruha looked back at the fox.
"Either way, I still hope you'll stop causing him problems. Even if you don't acknowledge him, at least don't let him go berserk."
Kurama replied flatly:
"That's not something I can control. That kid is my jinchūriki. He has the ability to draw out a portion of my chakra. If his emotions spin out of control, the chances of him rampaging are very high."
Yoruha knew that already.
Under the Eight Trigrams Seal, Kurama could only prevent pouring most of its chakra into Naruto.
But if Naruto lost control, the seal would forcibly yank out a portion of Kurama's chakra—and even a sliver was enough to push Naruto past the point of conscious restraint.
"Then don't casually lend him large amounts of chakra. Going berserk too often will shorten his lifespan."
"So let's make a deal. You stop causing trouble for him, and once I learn some better sealing techniques, I'll give you a nicer place to stay. How about that?"
Kurama stared at him, speechless.
Aside from the Sage of Six Paths, only Yoruha would dare talk to it like this.
Was this really something you could just… negotiate?
Still… it wasn't entirely against the idea.
"I'll… consider it," Kurama answered haughtily.
Yoruha waved his hand dismissively.
"What's there to consider? It's not like you actually have a choice."
Kurama's eye twitched.
In its heart, it thought, "I really want to claw this brat to death."
Out loud, it just snorted.
"Then why even say anything to me? Just decide on your own."
The proud hmph at the end made its tsundere irritation obvious.
Yoruha could tell the fox was holding a grudge, so he sweetened the deal.
"If you can properly assist Naruto until he grows up, then when I have the power… maybe I'll let you out."
Kurama frowned.
"And why should I believe you?"
"Because I believe in my own strength," Yoruha replied calmly.
"By the time Naruto has grown, even if he hasn't reached the level I mentioned, I'm confident I'll be strong enough to pull you out of him."
Kurama stared at Yoruha for a long time.
"…Who would believe you… tch."
It wasn't that it doubted Yoruha's future strength.
It simply didn't believe he would sacrifice Naruto's life.
Yoruha knew exactly what the fox was thinking.
"There are plenty of jutsu in this world," he said quietly.
"You should know that even if a tailed beast is extracted, there are techniques that can bring people back. You're from the Sage's era—you must know that much."
Kurama thought for a bit.
"And what makes you think you'll ever obtain that kind of power?"
Of course Kurama knew resurrection techniques existed.
But could Yoruha really reach that level?
It doubted it.
Still, the fact that Kurama even asked meant it was already wavering.
It recognized Yoruha—
and had expectations for him.
After all this back-and-forth, Kurama even caught itself thinking:
If only I'd been sealed inside this brat instead from the start…
If Yoruha knew, he'd probably be furious.
It wasn't that he couldn't accept the life of a jinchūriki.
He just hated the idea of another living being coiled up inside his body, peeking at his every thought.
Just imagining it was annoying enough.
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