Cheating?
When did it happen? Kurama's eyes were full of confusion. It quickly retrieved the memories of being with Naruto, and really couldn't imagine where Naruto would deceive itself and for what purpose.
Although this kid sometimes deliberately makes witty remarks to tease it, or makes harmless jokes, it is definitely not deception.
And Naruto looked at Kurama's confused and serious thinking look, and continued to speak.
"That was a long time ago... it was our first official meeting..."
"Wait!" Kurama immediately understood what Naruto was referring to, and interrupted Naruto's words, "Are you talking about... the 'dream' about the old man and Asura?"
But then it frowned again, "But if what you mean by 'cheating' is that you have never had that dream at all... this doesn't make sense at all."
Kurama's logic is very clear, "You can't know out of thin air those things about the old man that I have never mentioned to anyone. After the old man died, he did not leave any clear records. If you know all this through other unknown methods, then wouldn't it be unnecessary for you to make up the 'dream' statement?"
The more it talked, the more it felt something was wrong, and even began to doubt, could it be that Naruto was lying now? In order to reduce his guilt, he deliberately made up an excuse that he had "cheated" me, so that he could feel better?
"... That's right," Naruto scratched his head and admitted quickly, "Those things about Sage of Six Paths... I did know it in other places and in other ways, not really through dreams."
However, Naruto's frankness interrupted its subsequent thoughts. Kurama asked a question that it was more concerned about at the moment, "... So, Naruto, among the 'things' you saw... does it require you and me to understand each other?"
"... Eh?" Naruto didn't expect Kurama to ask this question. He was stunned for a moment, and then answered honestly, "Is this... In the 'story' I saw, you and I did become friends and fought side by side."
Kurama Hearing this answer, the little energy he had just raised due to the topic of deception was instantly released, and his huge head drooped again.
So in the end...Naruto refers to 'lying', does it only mean that the channel for knowing those past events is not in 'dreams', but in 'other places'?
This is not of the same nature as when I tried to kill him... How can this be considered deception...
Naruto looked at Kurama who had made a huge mistake and couldn't even lift his head, and couldn't help but feel helpless.
Is the moral standard of this fox a little too high? He has lived for thousands of years, so why does he act like a child who is afraid of being scolded for doing something wrong...
However, since he had decided to confess everything at this time, Naruto decided to first create an atmosphere where Kurama could talk with peace of mind. He cleared his throat and spoke.
"Kurama... Let's make a hypothesis, okay?" He stared at the giant closed eyes, "If one day - just a hypothesis - if I don't know you, you don't know me. We are just strangers. Then, what would I think about a huge existence sealed in my body that could break the seal at any time and threaten my life?"
He led the words to another angle, and the content of this hypothesis was exactly what Kurama was least willing to face. What Naruto had to do next was to thoroughly analyze this possibility.
"That's right," Naruto gave the answer himself without waiting for Kurama's answer, "If we weren't friends, we would definitely have followed the same path as my mother - wary of each other, hating each other, and consuming each other in endless confrontations. Because at that time, we didn't understand each other at all."
"So, strictly speaking, it was not you who wanted to kill me at that time. It was not the Kurama I knew who wanted to kill me."
"But 'we' are all the injustice, imprisonment and hatred that humans have inflicted on you for a long time. With your claws, you just want to tear apart another human being who was involved. At that time, you were just a tool carrying too many negative emotions."
He looked at Kurama's ears that moved slightly, and continued to analyze in a rational way, with a bit of self-deprecation. "Not to mention, from a realistic point of view, if I was still your 'container' at that time, if I really died at that time, maybe... you are now free and carefree."
Kurama After hearing this, he finally couldn't help but raise a huge front paw, cover his face, and let out a suppressed, whimpering growl from his throat.
It is this point that the more Naruto behaves so reasonably and even tries to analyze it from its standpoint, this excessive kindness and understanding pricks its heart like a needle, making it even more ashamed.
"Originally, according to common sense, you have to be counted as an 'attempted murder' or something..." Naruto changed the topic and his tone became lighter, "But if you think about it carefully, how many times have you helped me over the years? And that night, you pulled me out of that crazy woman's Genjutsu and saved my life!"
Naruto made a "write it off" gesture, "After all, the old debts between us have been completely offset by each other, right?"
"And," Naruto's voice deepened again, "After I fully understood the entire truth of that night, I feel... you are still quite pitiful."
Kurama's paws covering his face loosened slightly, as if he wanted to listen.
"Everyone called that disaster 'Nine-Tails Rebellion' and blamed all the blame on your rampage." Naruto's tone was filled with injustice. "But the real culprit of all the tragedies that night was probably the masked attacker. It was he who forcibly pulled you out of your mother's body, and then used Sharingan to control you and distort your will..."
"Forced to hurt others, forced to do cruel acts that go against one's own will... That night, you and I, like my parents, were also victims of that conspiracy."
"Well... I know... stop talking..."
Kurama finally responded, but the voice was extremely subtle. After being understood in this way, it then forgiven it. It felt that if Naruto continued to speak, it would really lose control of its emotions, which would be too embarrassing for it.
But Naruto did not stop, and continued to wash away the frozen corners of Kurama's heart.
"We were all victims of that night. I lost my parents and my normal childhood. And you... you lost your freedom, and even more so your dignity as a powerful being, and were once again imprisoned in a new cage - my body."
He smiled slightly, and the smile was a little bitter, but also full of relief, "Think about it, we two victims are here now afraid of each other being disappointed with us... Think about it carefully, it's really stupid."
Finally, Naruto walked to the edge of the iron cage, gently placed his hand on the cold fence, and looked firmly at Kurama, who buried his head deeper.
"So, stop holding on to the shadow of the past, Kurama. The person who wanted to kill me that night was the 'past Kurama who was blinded by hatred and manipulation,' and it was the 'malice imposed on you by humans.'"
"And the person standing here talking to me now is willing to lend me his power and fight alongside me. He is my Uzumaki Naruto's most important partner - 'Kurama'!"
"How could I feel disappointed or resentful about the past of my most important partner? I can only feel extremely proud that we can reach this day together."