"Kurama..."
Naruto's voice trembled.
He wanted to say something, but it felt like his throat was blocked.
"Don't look so miserable," Nine-Tails said. "I've lived for over a thousand years. I've had more than enough."
"I'm satisfied that I can do something meaningful at the end."
"But..."
"No buts," Nine-Tails cut him off. "Do you remember when we first met?"
Naruto froze for a moment.
He remembered.
It was when he was still a child.
Inside the sealing space, Nine-Tails had been bound by chains, roaring at him.
"Back then, I hated humans," Nine-Tails said. "I hated Minato, the Leaf, and this whole world."
"All I wanted was to destroy everything."
"But you changed me."
"You fool. With your stupid persistence, you helped me understand something."
"What?" Naruto asked.
"The meaning of life," Nine-Tails said. "It's not about hating. It's about protecting."
"So let me protect you one last time."
Naruto clenched his teeth.
His fists tightened until his knuckles turned white.
"I don't want you to die."
"I know," Nine-Tails said. "But some things aren't up to you."
"Now, let me take over your body."
Naruto closed his eyes.
A few seconds later, he opened them again.
His gaze had changed.
They were no longer Naruto's blue eyes, but Nine-Tails' golden ones.
"It's been a long time since I completely controlled this body." Nine-Tails flexed its fingers. "Feels pretty good."
It looked toward the God Tree.
"Come on. One last time."
The God Tree's branches shot out again, wrapping around Nine-Tails.
Nine-Tails didn't dodge.
It spread its arms and let the branches coil around it.
"Are you insane?" Isshiki's voice came from within the God Tree. "You want to be drained dry?"
"No." Nine-Tails smiled. "I want you to absorb me."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll find out soon