Mai's Truth

Space reverted piece by piece. The gray earth became the scorched ruins of Konoha once more, while the enormous white moon in the sky slowly faded, revealing the black night behind it, stained orange-red by the flames of war.

The air had wind again, carrying the charred smell of burning and the fresh scent of grass and trees lingering from the distant forest Hashirama's Wood Release had brought forth. The world returned to its familiar shape.

Uzumaki Mai had already released her Ten-Tails Jinchuriki form. Her long white hair began reverting to its original gold from the roots.

She had returned to being the ordinary Uzumaki Mai. She lay helplessly on the ground, her chest rising and falling faintly, her golden twin tails scattered among the rubble.

Uzumaki Naruto stepped forward.

"Get away from her! Don't touch her!!"

A violent burst of crimson Chakra suddenly erupted from Mai's body. It carried hatred and malice so intense they had become almost tangible, condensing into a ferocious fox's head above her.

Yin Kurama's Chakra phantom opened its bloodthirsty jaws, and waves of crimson Chakra surged toward Naruto, trying to use its last strength to drive away the human approaching its host.

"...Don't waste your effort, Kurama."

Mai's voice suddenly rang out, so calm that she seemed like a completely different person from the one who had roared Impossible in that other space.

"This time, I've completely lost."

"...Do it."

Mai remained on the ground. She did not get up, did not defend herself, and did not gather even a trace more Chakra.

"End all of this. By the rules of this world, losers should face a loser's fate."

Naruto fell silent for a moment, then crouched beside her. He looked down at this person who shared his face yet had walked a