Naruto and Kotoamatsukami

"No... Kotoamatsukami?"

Nine-Tails was pinned to the ground by four giant hands, looking like a husky that had overexerted itself and was being punished by its owner. It rolled its yellow and white eyes and tried to look at Sakura Haruno.

Although it didn't know what "Kotoamatsukami" was, Nine-Tails instinctively sensed something was wrong.

"What kind of technique is that...? What do you intend to do to me?!"

It rolled over with all its might, squeezing a gap between its mouth and the floor, and mumbled indistinctly.

"Kotoamatsukami?"

Sakura Haruno chuckled softly and glanced at Nine-Tails.

With a flicker of her eye, she suddenly had another idea.

"Fine, I'll learn this technique from you then." The girl changed her approach and began to explain her Ninjutsu to Nine-Tails.

"The Kotoamatsukami... is the most powerful Genjutsu in the world."

"This Genjutsu can permanently change a person's mind, no matter how huge or absurd the change may be. For example..."

She paused, a cryptic smile playing on her lips, and continued, "For example, it can make you submit to the humans you hate most."

Sakura Haruno stopped there leisurely.

She gave Sasuke a wink, and the two of them simultaneously released the Susanoo that was restraining Nine-Tails, allowing it to get up. They then glanced at Nine-Tails with a cold eye, enjoying the expression on its face.

"What?"

Nine-Tails shook its fur, its face so gloomy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

It suppressed its rage, a murderous aura flickering in its gloomy, vertical eyes, its voice as cold as an ice cave. "You... this Genjutsu can permanently control me?"

"Fine, don't believe me then." Sakura Haruno shrugged.

Anyway, you'll experience it for yourself soon.

Sakura Haruno herself didn't believe that the power of the Kotoamatsukami could truly be that strong. Of course, Sakura had experienced this technique on herself, and even with her resistance to Genjutsu, she still fell for it; what chance would others have?

But can Kotoamatsukami truly have a permanent effect on a being of the Nine-Tails' caliber, causing it to completely change its attitude towards the most important matters?

Sakura Haruno didn't think it was that simple.

If this technique is truly so unsolvable, why was Shisui forced to his death, and why didn't Danzo use it during the many years he possessed it?

Sakura Haruno, who has actually used and experienced this technique, understands it best; the Kotoamatsukami are far from achieving the so-called "thought imprint" effect.

Its terrifying aspect lies in its ability to plant a thought in the mind of an enemy.

The power of the spell tells the person under its Kotoamatsukami that the thought belongs to them, making them subconsciously believe it, until the thought slowly grows stronger, like Harusame nourishing all things, subtly changing the mind and thoughts of the person under the spell.

In the end, the patient genuinely believes that the idea came to him of his own volition.

For example, if Danzo wanted to become the Fifth Hokage, he could have used Kotoamatsukami on the Lord Third, making the Third gradually develop a liking for him and slowly change his mind, thinking that Danzo's ideas and style of doing things were very suitable for becoming Hokage, and thus passing the position to him; or he could have been more straightforward and forcefully changed Sasuke Sarutobi's mind, making him suddenly have the strong idea of "appointing Danzo as Hokage".

--If Danzo thought the Third Hokage was a fool.

The Third wasn't stupid. Thoughts may change, but the way of thinking won't. Even if he suddenly felt that Danzo was handsome and docile, he would at most develop a liking for Danzo, but wouldn't conclude from this that Danzo was suitable to be the next Hokage.

As for forcing it... the Third wasn't some impulsive fool who would act on a whim. He had countless thoughts and considered everything thoroughly when making a decision, and the idea of "making Danzo the next Hokage" was just one of them. No matter how strong it was, Sasuke Sarutobi, with enough willpower to weigh the pros and cons, wouldn't let it come to pass.

This feeling is like when your most desired but unaffordable item suddenly goes on sale for 90% off. You desperately want to buy it, but the thought of saving money for a car and paying off a mortgage forces you to resist the urge to buy it with immense self-control.

The human heart is the most complex thing in the world.

But Kotoamatsukami are the art of manipulating people's hearts.

If used properly, it can twist the kindest person into the most evil person, and it can also turn what a person hates most into what they love most.

The garment was seamless, without the slightest hint of awkwardness; its cleanliness was chilling.

If used improperly, it will be like Mifune in the original story, where everyone can immediately see that Danzo with it.

Since it's art, it's naturally difficult for a rough guy like Danzo to Danzo.

Similarly, Sakura Haruno is also very self-aware:

Without a doubt, she is a tough woman.

In other words, she couldn't learn the delicate mind of Shisui; the exquisite and powerful Kotoamatsukami was nothing more than a hammer in her hands.

She didn't know how to subtly implant ideas and change the Nine-Tails; she only knew how to forcefully twist the fox demon's mind.

Sakura Haruno will only forcefully implant the idea of "submitting to Naruto" into Nine-Tails's heart.

This approach may not be effective permanently, but if it can last for a few years or a decade, that will be enough.

Alright, enough chit-chat.

Sakura Haruno's lips curled into a wicked smile, "Let's begin."

As she spoke, the girl focused her Chakra in her eyes, and the four-cornered windmills within them began to slowly rotate.

Just as Sakura's Mangekyō Genjutsu was about to be unleashed, Nine-Tails was tense and ready for battle.

"Etc!"

A voice suddenly broke the heavy atmosphere.

"Sakura, wait a minute, don't do that!"

Sakura Haruno was slightly taken aback, then turned her head to see that the person speaking was Naruto, who had just regained consciousness.

The girl frowned slightly, but still managed to stop the restless Kotoamatsukami in her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Sakura..." The boy, with his arm around Sasuke's shoulder, slowly walked over and shook his head, saying, "Please don't use the 'Kotoamatsukami Technique' on the Nine-Tails."

Sakura Haruno frowned even more, puzzled, "But it just bewitched you, lured you into Nine-Tails Mode, and almost killed you!"

"You don't actually want to be friends with it, do you...? It hates you!"

She stared intently into Naruto's eyes and warned him in a deep voice.

The Nine-Tails hates Naruto —or all the previous Jinchūriki— to the core, because the Jinchūriki are the cage that imprisons and enslaves it!

"I know."

Naruto Earth Flow over, his steps unsteady, but his expression was extremely determined.

"But I really want to be friends with Nine-Tails."

Only in this way can he become Perfect Jinchuriki like Killer B Bee.

Naruto walked up to Sakura Haruno, looked at her earnestly, and said slowly.

Sakura Haruno frowned even more deeply; she could tell that what Naruto had just said wasn't just empty boasting.

The young man before me had made up his mind.

Should he be genuine, or simply brave?

However, this choice... is definitely Naruto's style.

The young girl parted her lips slightly, seemingly lost in thought, but for a moment she was speechless.

Instead, the Nine-Tails Fox grinned maliciously. "Oh ho ho ho ho ho!"

The fox demon suddenly extended its sharp claws, the tips protruding from the gaps in the bars, nearly piercing Naruto. It then roared, "Come here, you brat! Let me tear you to pieces! Let me shred you into a million pieces!"

"Let me kill you first... hehehe... then we'll be friends..."

It responded to Naruto's kindness in this way.

The Nine-Tails fox grinned, revealing sharp teeth, its words brimming with a deep, almost tangible malice.

Sakura Haruno's expression turned serious, and she exchanged a glance with Naruto.

He sighed.

Naruto's choices may be foolish, inefficient, or even impossible to succeed at, but what Sakura Haruno admires most is Naruto's stubbornness.

Due to a kind of fastidiousness, Sakura doesn't like using the Kotoamatsukami technique on others, so she's happy that Naruto is willing to use a clumsy method to deal with Nine-Tails.

But... given Nine-Tails's attitude, does Naruto really have a chance to connect with it on a deeper level?

"The Nine-Tails is impossible to communicate with!" she said, her brow furrowed. "Even so, are you still going to stick to your choice?"

"It hates us, it hates humans!" Sakura Haruno added, reminding us.

She held a rather negative view of this alien life form that hated humans.

[Please subscribe! I'm giving up on writing in the "dark room" (a period of time where I'm not actively writing). Writing in the dark room completely disrupts my concentration; I can't even write a single chapter in ten hours. Starting tomorrow, I'll resume writing in the dark room and update once or twice a week.]