Inside Orochimaru.
Within a mysterious mental space.
Yang-Style Nine-Tails Kurama, Seven-Tails Chomei, Six-Tails Saiken, Five-Tails Kokuō, Four-Tails Son Goku, Yin-Style Three-Tails Isobu, Two-Tails Matatabi, One-Tail Shukaku, and one enormous tail of the Eight-Tails sat closely together in a circle.
"There's no mistake—that really was Six Paths Sage Art!" Kurama excitedly swished the nine tails behind him, looking immensely pleased with himself. "I never expected that brat Naruto would receive the old man's recognition!"
Yin-Style Three-Tails Isobu said, "Naruto seems to have already gained the recognition of my other half. I can sense the Chakra aura of my other half!"
The Eight-Tails'... severed tail bounced twice in place, seemingly trying to remind the other eight beasts of something.
Unfortunately, none of the other eight tailed beasts paid the tail any attention.
"So, as long as we acknowledge Naruto, he can use the power of all us tailed beasts?"
One-Tail Shukaku placed both paws on his sleek, round belly, a crafty gleam flashing in his tanuki-like eyes. "Could he be the Child of Prophecy the old man talked about?"
When the Sage of Six Paths had parted ways with the nine tailed beasts, he had once said that someone in the Ninja World would one day accept them, acknowledge them, and use their power to change the world.
"I think Roshi was pretty good too." Four-Tails Son Goku sighed. "Too bad he's already dead."
"Now isn't the time for reminiscing, everyone." Yang-Style Kurama wiped the smugness from his face and spoke gravely. "Six Paths Sage Art was created by the old man to restrain the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki. But Naruto's Six Paths Sage Art is incomplete. He needs your power!"
One-Tail Shukaku snorted. "Why do I feel like Naruto's already about to defeat Orochimaru?"
"I also feel that Orochimaru can no longer suppress