"Who is it?!"
Kurama instantly retracted his fist, slammed a claw against the iron gate, and roared toward Minato outside. His crimson pupils swept the surroundings warily, searching for the source of the strange voice he had just heard.
He had just formed a mental connection with Naruto—and yet a foreign voice had echoed as if from deep within his own consciousness.
That meant only one thing.
There might be another presence hidden inside the seal.
After all, Minato himself was proof such a thing was possible.
Kurama had been sealed inside Naruto for four years, yet had only just discovered that Namikaze Minato had been here the entire time.
That realization alone was humiliating enough.
If there were yet another entity lurking here—one he hadn't detected at all—that would be completely unacceptable.
Minato, meanwhile, was still reeling from Naruto's earlier words—so calmly dismissing Konoha's fate. Seeing Kurama suddenly turn aggressive again, he shot Naruto a sharp look, silently urging him to step back.
Naruto merely shook his head faintly.
There was even a hint of amusement in his eyes as he looked at Kurama's suspicious expression.
Quickly skimming through the Mirror World's functions in his mind, Naruto made a decision and shouted:
"Kurama! Relax—it's not a person!"
Kurama lowered his massive head slightly, eyes narrowing.
"Not a person?"
Naruto's blue eyes glinted.
"Fist bump again."
Kurama's ear twitched—but he still clenched his paw into a fist and tapped it against Naruto's.
Their minds connected once more.
[WARNING: Mental World Under Invasion.Under current defense settings, you may choose:Forcible Ejection / Forcible Capture.]
Kurama's ears shot up.
"Wait… Naruto. That voice—it's coming from you!"
"That's right," Naruto replied calmly. "It's one of my secrets. Let me show you."
Naruto transmitted basic information about the Mirror World to Kurama, then used his authority privileges to grant Kurama limited access.
One by one, cold mechanical notifications echoed inside Kurama's mind—identical to the voice he had heard earlier.
[Authorization sequence initiated.][Confirmed role: Spectator Guest.][Guest binding initiated…][Binding successful. Guest ID: Kurama.][Welcome to the Mirror World.]
In the next instant, Kurama found himself standing in a lush forest. Verdant greenery stretched endlessly beneath a vast, cloudless sky.
Naruto stood directly in front of him.
Outside the seal, Minato stared in shock.
Both Naruto and the Nine-Tails had frozen completely—motionless, like statues. Their bodies remained, but their souls were clearly elsewhere.
The scene sent a chill through Minato's spine.
It reminded him of the Reaper Death Seal, when a soul was forcibly dragged from the body.
Kurama scanned the mountains and forests around him, his voice unusually subdued.
"Where… is this place?"
Naruto waved his hand.
A massive translucent interface unfolded in Kurama's vision, streams of data flowing across it with mechanical chimes.
Kurama squinted.
"I see. A simulated world—a virtual mental space."
"…But as you said, Naruto. It's powerful."
"Standing here reminds me of genjutsu."
His voice darkened.
"Bad memories."
Naruto nodded solemnly.
"Then let's return. If you want to come back later, just tell me."
"Wait."
Kurama suddenly stopped him.
He had already realized something important: Naruto could bring him here anytime—with just a thought.
"What is it?" Naruto asked.
"Aren't you going to tell your father about this place?"
Naruto shook his head.
"He's only residual chakra within the seal. He'll disappear soon. There's no point."
Kurama snorted.
"Heh. He's your father—and the Fourth Hokage."
"I know how strong he is. Even if this place helps you grow, with his guidance, you'd grow far faster."
Naruto frowned slightly.
"I know. But he won't be around long in his current state."
"I have a way!"
Kurama suddenly growled.
"I can extend the time he stays in the seal."
Naruto's eyes sharpened.
"Even without him, I can handle things myself. Time isn't—"
"No."
Kurama cut him off.
"You don't understand how tightly Konoha is watching you."
Naruto's expression turned cold.
"I know. Ever since I was little, someone's always been outside my door. Even when I go out, I'm followed."
Kurama grinned slyly.
"But did you know that today—from the moment you left your house—someone invisible followed you from just one meter away?"
"He only left when you escorted that little Byakugan girl home."
"And since the day you first stepped outside at age three, he's been watching you."
"Sometimes, when you're asleep, he even flips through your books."
Gekkō Hayate
The name surfaced in Naruto's mind, and his expression darkened instantly. A faint red glint flickered in his eyes.
Only one person in Konoha possessed that level of stealth.
After a long silence, Naruto asked quietly:
"Kurama… you're willing to help my father stay longer?"
"I thought you hated him."
Kurama turned his head away.
"Of course I hate that he sealed me."
"But if he helps you grow stronger, then I get closer to freedom."
"That's worth it."
"All right. Let's go back."
The moment Naruto spoke, their consciousness returned to the seal.
Their fists were still pressed together—as if not a second had passed.
Naruto nodded to Kurama, then turned toward the iron gate.
"Huh? Naruto, are you alright? What just happened?"
Minato looked utterly confused.
Naruto didn't answer directly.
"Father—how much longer can you stay?"
Minato's expression darkened.
"I was only a contingency. I'll probably fade by tomorrow."
"I understand."
Naruto's eyes hardened.
"Kurama—please."
Kurama glanced sideways at Minato.
"Come inside, Fourth Hokage. I'll help you stay longer."
"What…?"
Minato stared blankly.
Kurama clicked his tongue.
"Don't stand there confused. I said come in."
"Or is your courage less than your son's?"
Naruto sighed, stepped outside the gate—and then, to Minato's shock, grabbed him and pulled him inside beneath Kurama's paw.
Meanwhile — Hokage's Office
"Shikaku, you've seen the surveillance logs on Naruto," the Third Hokage said calmly."When Shikamaru approaches him, there will be no danger."
"It's all for the peace of Konoha."
Nara Shikaku, pineapple-shaped hair as ever, nodded reluctantly.
"Understood, Lord Hokage. But based on my analysis… Naruto won't let anyone get close easily."
He sighed inwardly.
All because he'd casually mentioned Shikamaru's intelligence, he was now tasked with ensuring his son befriended Naruto—and became close.
Hiruzen smiled and patted Shikaku's shoulder.
"I believe in you. And in Shikamaru."
"Now—let's review the details of the Cloud envoy arriving shortly."
Back in the Village
Unaware of these plans, Naruto once again used the Transformation Jutsu and headed out.
Kurama had just told him something unexpected:
"Today—for the first time—no one's watching you."
Naruto walked through a busy street before stopping in front of a large building.
"So this is the Ninja Academy?"
"Yes," Minato said fondly. "This is the back entrance. Your mother and I first met here. Back then, we were just—"
"FOURTH HOKAGE!"
Kurama's furious voice exploded in Naruto's mind.
"Did we give you too much chakra or something?! Can you STOP already?!"
"S-Sorry!" Minato said awkwardly.
Naruto was about to leave when shrill laughter echoed from behind the tall fence.
"Hahaha! He's bleeding and still punching the training post!"
"What an idiot!"
"Hot-blooded loser! Hahaha!"
Naruto walked over and peered through the fence.
A boy with braided hair leaned against a wooden post, blood trickling from his head. Several children surrounded him, occasionally hurling stones.
Each stone was followed by louder laughter.
Soon, the entire group was laughing.
Rock Lee.
Naruto's expression darkened.
"Father," he said quietly,"look how happy they are."
"Ah… Naruto, this is—"
Naruto's gaze grew distant.
"Laughter…"
"…really is the most contagious thing, isn't it?"
(End of Chapter)