A Failed Talk-No-Jutsu

Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts.

In her past life, when she was young, Sakura Haruno was an idealist who believed that if humanity could eliminate differences in skin color, ethnicity, country, and culture, reduce internal friction, and establish a utopian society where everyone was equal, that would undoubtedly be humanity's ultimate ideal.

Therefore, she felt that such words, which deliberately created gaps between people, were malicious and despicable.

After being repeatedly slapped in the face by reality, and transforming from an idealist into a pragmatist, she gradually realized... that this statement really makes sense; reality is both real and cruel.

You treat others like family and with kindness, but they look down on you and might even wish you dead.

Including certain ethnic groups that pride themselves on being highly civilized... Heh heh.

Therefore, even after entering the world of Hokage, her views did not change much.

--Of course, considering the average moral standards of ninjas, Sakura Haruno is already considered very gentle and kind.

Discrimination is a form of soft violence. It was not common among ninjas and ninja villages that fought three Shinobi World Wars in sixty years. They were more hostile towards ninjas from other villages, and even resorted to naked violence and killing.

Discrimination occurs more frequently among Jinchūriki: due to ignorance or fear, Jinchūriki are often subjected to strange looks or even Byakugan in the village.

Sakura Haruno wasn't discriminating against Naruto.

However, she harbored deep prejudice against the Nine-Tails.

In Konoha's history, nothing related to the Nine-Tails has been good; the Nine-Tails has brought only disaster and slaughter.

Sakura Haruno has now personally encountered Nine-Tails. From the texture of its Chakra and its words, Sakura could not detect the slightest bit of goodwill from Nine-Tails.

However, when Naruto proposed the method of befriending Nine-Tails, Sakura Haruno did not stop him.

At her age, she was also a typical immature teenager with a head full of genuine thoughts, always thinking things through in an overly idealistic and simplistic way.

The girl was fine; she waited to see how the unruly Nine-Tails would respond.

--The Nine-Tails's vicious words were exactly what she expected.

"Give up, Naruto!" Sakura Haruno sighed. "This is a beast with intelligence, but only hatred for humans!"

Naruto shook his head.

To Sakura Haruno's great surprise, Naruto remained calm and resolute despite the Nine-Tails) so thoroughly trampling on his goodwill.

Naruto's ability to calmly accept setbacks truly surprised her.

"Because I was Jinchūriki, I was once an 'outcast' in the village." Naruto spread his hands and said slowly, "In fact, in many people's eyes, I was the Nine-Tails. I grew up in an environment where I was looked Byakugan and even ostracized."

"So I can really understand how you feel, Nine-Tails."

The orange-haired boy pursed his lips and gave another bitter laugh.

Sakura Haruno frowned slightly, reached out and patted Naruto's shoulder, but remained silent.

She knew that Naruto didn't need sympathy or pity; what he needed was recognition.

"To be honest... I also had thoughts of revenge against the village back then, and I thought about killing everyone and wiping out the entire village." Naruto's face was solemn as he spoke in a deep voice, revealing the secret in his heart.

It goes without saying that even Naruto, who always seems to have a sunny disposition, has had many dark thoughts in his heart.

After all... he grew up in that kind of environment.

"Your thoughts are similar to Nine-Tails, right?" He chuckled self-deprecatingly.

The fox demon stared at Naruto with its murky yellow beast eyes.

"Hmph." It merely snorted coldly at Naruto's question, offering no response.

"I learned about your history with Nine-Tails from Jiraiya and Sakura... You attacked Konoha twice, causing many deaths. But that wasn't your intention; you were manipulated." Naruto continued calmly, unperturbed.

"So Nine-Tails is actually a victim too, being treated as a victim of the perpetrator without any explanation." Naruto said this to Sakura Haruno.

He sensed Sakura's subconscious hostility towards Nine-Tails.

The girl pursed her lips, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Naruto's conclusion.

At first glance, it seems that the infamous Nine-Tails has been exonerated, but upon closer examination, Naruto's method is not without merit.

In the two incidents where the Nine-Tails attacked the village, the real culprits were Madara Uchiha and another mysterious person who secretly manipulated the Nine-Tails. The Nine-Tails was merely an accomplice, or more accurately, a tool without self-awareness.

However, Sakura Haruno couldn't accept the idea that this would completely clean up the Nine-Tails.

She resisted the urge to interrupt Naruto and argue with him, and quietly continued to listen to him.

"I've been misunderstood too." Naruto turned to Nine-Tails and said, "You could see it even when you were inside me... We both understand how painful it is to feel abandoned by the world."

Naruto is more pitiful than Nine-Tails).

The Nine-Tails did indeed cause real damage to Konoha. Naruto, as a hero who sealed the Nine-Tails with his own body, is at least the son of a hero, yet he was treated this way.

Nine-Tails remained silent, its sinister gaze unchanged.

I'm luckier than Nine-Tails).

"Because I met people who understand and accept me." Naruto smiled faintly as he said this, glancing at Sakura Haruno and Sasuke standing not far away.

The latter responded with a simple smile.

Naruto continued reminiscing, mentioning Iruka, Kakashi, Shikamaru, Choji, the Third Hokage... and many, many others.

It was the existence of these people that warmed Naruto's heart, preventing him from falling into the abyss of hatred and instead inspiring him to strive for everyone's approval and become Hokage.

Perhaps this is what it means to go from one extreme to another.

Naruto's gentle smile seemed to sting Nine-Tails, who growled impatiently, "What does that have to do with me!"

It glared fiercely at Naruto, its menacing vertical pupils looking extremely dangerous.

Naruto remained unmoved, simply looking back calmly.

"No one has ever been willing to understand Nine-Tails's thoughts..."

"I want to be the first to do that."

He said sincerely.

If those two Sharingan boys and girls beside him had said that, Nine-Tails would have absolutely scoffed.

People from the Uchiha Clan can't even trust punctuation marks.

However, perhaps people who are usually silly are more likely to appear sincere; at least Nine-Tails couldn't see any falsehood in Naruto.

--He truly believes that, and he intends to do it!

In the boy's deep blue eyes, Nine-Tails saw its own reflection.

No one—not even once—has ever been willing to understand Kurama's feelings and thoughts from Nine-Tails perspective.

Nine-Tails has always believed that even though it is imprisoned by humans as Jinchūriki and cannot gain freedom, it is still the proud and strongest Tailed Beast and does not need the understanding and recognition of others.

For a fleeting moment, Nine-Tails) did waver.

Its gaze softened at that moment.

Then the Nine-Tails' expression changed, and it became furious.

It was furious at its own weakness, furious that Naruto's words had actually touched its heart!

It roared and slammed its claws into the Sealing Jutsu spell, only to be torn apart and bleed profusely by the seal's automatic counterattack!

"You think you can fool me with a few nice words?!" Nine-Tails completely ignored the wound on her hand, casually swinging her arm as she shouted loudly.

No matter how eloquently you speak, all you want is my power!

It glared fiercely at Naruto and roared angrily.

The deep-seated hatred White Fang being imprisoned in Konoha for sixty years, twice controlled by the Sharingan, and turned into someone else's plaything—couldn't be erased by Naruto's few words.

Its anger and hatred cannot be so easily resolved.

Verbal sparring is not a magic bullet.

"Just you wait... Naruto," it grinned maliciously, its killing intent overflowing, "Sooner or later, I'll take advantage of your momentary lapse in attention and Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, devouring your body completely!"

Sakura Haruno frowned deeply upon hearing this.

The Nine-Tails, whom she had just brutally beaten, dared to threaten Naruto right in front of her.

"Have you forgotten the pain once the wound has healed, Nine-Tails?" She took two steps forward, her face cold, and said, "You're forcing me to use Kotoamatsukami— "

Naruto interrupted her halfway through her sentence.

"Never mind, Sakura," he waved his hand and said, "I'll handle the Nine-Tails' matter."

Using Kotoamatsukami to force the Nine-Tails Fox to submit is a simple and brutal method, like forcing a bull to drink water. It may produce obvious results quickly in the short term, but it will leave endless troubles in the future.

"At least let me give it some insurance!" Sakura Haruno frowned even more deeply and said in a deep voice, "I need to use my Kotoamatsukami to erase its murderous intent towards you."

This was her bottom line—at least she had to ensure Naruto's safety.

Naruto shook his head again.

"Friendship doesn't need Kotoamatsukami to maintain it," he explained simply.

"Nine-Tails doesn't consider you a friend!" The girl raised an eyebrow, feeling that Naruto's persistence was both infuriating and amusing.

"If you use your Kotoamatsukami on it, it will never acknowledge humanity again," Naruto said firmly. "Besides, the Nine-Tails won't easily enter its Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, kill me, and revive from me..."

"Because I have you two companions helping me!"

This is indeed an important reason: if all else fails, she can use Kotoamatsukami to turn the tide.

But...

Sakura Haruno bit her lip, as if wanting to say something more, when the ground suddenly shook.

Naruto's body is about to awaken.

Sakura Haruno knew it was time to leave.

The girl glanced at Naruto, then at the menacing Nine-Tails, but ultimately said nothing.

Just as Naruto said, this is a matter between him and Nine-Tails, and as an outsider, she shouldn't interfere.

Although in fact she had already become deeply involved.

After being thoroughly beaten up by Sakura Haruno, and learning that she possessed such Genjutsu Kotoamatsukami Kotodama, the fox would have to take Sakura Haruno's presence into account no matter what it wanted to do to Naruto.

It's time to leave.

Sakura Haruno finally turned her gaze to a hidden corner of the sealed space.

"If I remember correctly, there was a slight fluctuation of Chakra here just now... Someone left their Chakra here!"

But upon closer inspection, nothing seemed amiss.

Who is it?

The sealed space shook violently again.

After a while of shaking, the three of them were suddenly greeted by a bright light as they found themselves outside the sealed space within Naruto's body, appearing in the bright sunlight of the real world.

"We're back..."

"Let's take a break," Sakura Haruno suggested, looking at the two who were slightly out of breath and lacking enthusiasm. "After we've rested, we can practice our teamwork in a simulated battle..."

The training for Team 7 continued normally after that.

A few days later, Tsunade received an urgent letter from the Mist Ninja Village.