The Nine-Tails Fox Demon

"The environment here is so terrible?" Naruto frowned at the puddles on the ground.

The current Sealing Space reminded him of the first time he met Mr. Aizen.

That first encounter had been in this same cold, damp space.

But as communication between Naruto and Aizen deepened and their relationship grew closer, the Sealing Space inside Naruto had gradually changed its atmosphere.

It could transform into a fresh, grassy plain or a magnificent palace.

What Naruto never expected was that a refined, gentle Bleach like Aizen would actually prefer Naruto to reshape the Sealing Space into a windswept, chilling cliff.

Standing at the cliff's edge, the entire area seemed on the verge of collapse, fierce winds howling past his ears, and looking down revealed a dark abyss that awakened deep-seated fear within.

Naruto had once asked Aizen about it.

Aizen's answer was quite unexpected: "That is the place closest to heaven."

But now, the Sealing Space had returned to its original state.

Did this mean something?

Naruto immediately dashed at top speed toward the familiar sealed gate.

The sealed gate showed no change, but instead of Aizen's gentle smile and magnetic voice, there was only a dark red shadow, massive as a mountain.

"Brat, you're here." A low, hoarse voice sounded from behind the gate, then the figure shifted, and the entire Sealing Space seemed to tremble slightly.

Following the dim light, Naruto made out the creature behind the gate.

A giant fox, fiery red, with nine tails.

A wild beast?

And Mr. Aizen?

Naruto's eyes sharpened, filled with danger.

Mr. Aizen was gone?

"A fine look in your eyes, but that look shouldn't be aimed at me—it should be aimed at them." The giant beast suddenly radiated a dense aura of cold hatred and malice, seeping through the iron gate and enveloping Naruto, making him shiver uncontrollably, while a surge of indescribable rage and bloodlust welled up from deep within his heart.

He wanted to destroy something in that instant.

Naruto's mind flashed with the ugly faces of the Konoha Villagers.

Because of them, he had once sunk into suffering, yearning every day for recognition.

He wanted to kill them.

Make them feel the pain he had endured.

"Brat, I understand how you feel. You did nothing wrong, yet they treated you like an animal. You're not at fault—they are, this Konoha is. Your gentleness and refinement are just a protective color. I can see your heart. You and I are the same—both hate Konoha!"

The red giant beast arched its body, its nine fiery tails whipping through the air, its voice echoing through the space, dripping with temptation.

"Come, I can give you the power to overthrow Konoha. Accept it, accept your true self, destroy Konoha, kill them all, make them regret everything they did to you." With words steeped in hatred, the beast stepped forward, fully exposing its massive form to the light.

Seeing this Nine-Tails Fox Demon, overflowing with negative emotions, Naruto suddenly understood.

No wonder the villagers saw him as the Nine-Tails Fox Demon.

No wonder the Third had tried so hard to control him.

Because there really was a Nine-Tails Fox Demon inside his body.

Though he didn't know the exact relationship between himself and the Nine-Tails Fox Demon, he was certain the villagers didn't know the truth of that connection.

And the truth was likely in the hands of Konoha's higher-ups.

The villagers were just pawns, meant to drive him into darkness so the Third could then save him.

"How foolish." A mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

With that realization, the boiling bloodlust in his mind receded like a tide, and the next moment, Naruto's gentle, refined smile returned.

"Hm?" The Nine-Tails lowered its head, looking at the calm Naruto, a flicker of surprise passing through its eyes.

It hadn't expected Naruto to shake off the bloodlust so quickly and show it such a gentle, infuriating smile.

That smile reminded it of the Fourth.

The man who had sealed it.

"Brat, wipe off that hypocritical smile." Rage churning inside, the Nine-Tails grabbed the iron gate and roared at Naruto with earth-shaking fury.

The breath from its mouth even ruffled Naruto's blond hair.

Naruto still smiled, elegantly smoothing his hair.

"Are you the Nine-Tails Fox Demon?"

"Hmph, that's right. I am the Nine-Tails Fox Demon. Those people sealed me inside your body, hoping to control my power. To them, you're just a weapon—no, you're just a replaceable container." The Nine-Tails dropped its angry expression and answered without hesitation, though its words were half-truth, half-lie.

"Brat, I know you hate Konoha. Hate them for sealing me inside you. Hate them for not telling the villagers the truth, leaving you to live in abuse year after year."

"All of this can change. Just accept my power, kill them all, and the resentment in your heart will be washed away. You'll be reborn."

The Nine-Tails spoke the lines it had rehearsed countless times in the Sealing Space.

He hoped this would drag Naruto into the abyss.

He was very much looking forward to the moment the Fourth saw his own son destroy Konoha.

That would surely be the most brilliant and spectacular scene in the ninja world.

As he spoke, the crimson chakra within the Nine-Tails surged out, seeping into Naruto's body. Once again, a boiling murderous intent, even more terrifying than before, surfaced in Naruto's mind.

Third Hokage, you tried to brainwash Naruto, to make him Konoha's lapdog, but you missed the most crucial step. I, Kurama, have been stockpiling power. I will use the darkness you've stirred up to make Naruto fall completely, turning him into my, Kurama's, instrument of revenge.

The Nine-Tails laughed wildly in his heart, already impatient to see Naruto consumed by murderous intent.

But the next moment, his expression froze.

In his sight, Naruto wore a playful smile on his lips, his eyes mocking as he looked at him.

The murderous intent on him was gone, and even the blood-red chakra had faded, replaced by a faint blue light surrounding him and a long blade that had appeared in his hand.

From that blade, the Nine-Tails felt a tremendous sense of crisis. He arched his back, his fur bristling suddenly, his eyes filled with shock and deep wariness.

"Impossible. How could you break free from my murderous intent?"

"What is that sword? What kind of Kekkei Genkai is this?" He instinctively took a step back, baring his fangs as he demanded.

When he looked again at Naruto's small body, the Nine-Tails' eyes were full of gravity.

He understood. He had underestimated Naruto.

Naruto seemed to have awakened a terrifying Kekkei Genkai.

His own chakra had an extremely strong corrosive power, something ordinary Kekkei Genkai couldn't withstand. This meant Naruto's Kekkei Genkai had awakened some time ago, and he had already mastered it.

Had Konoha not noticed anything during this time?

The Nine-Tails felt a chill run down his spine.

A child around five years old, under the surveillance of ninjas, had mastered an unknown Kekkei Genkai.

It was simply bone-chilling.

"Thank you for telling me part of the truth. It's cleared up some confusion for me." Naruto gently stroked Kyōka Suigetsu, a faint smile curving at the corner of his mouth.

This also explained the Third's and the villagers' attitudes toward him all along.

It meant.

He actually possessed Reiatsu, Chakra, and the power of the Nine-Tails Fox Demon within him.

This would be the boost to take him to greater heights!

But.

The Nine-Tails Fox Demon was not his own power!

"Those who indulge in power borrowed from others are weak."