Are you ready to die?

"Are you really not going to tell me? Fine, forget it, I'll find a way myself."

The next morning, Naruto Uzumaki woke up and washed up, feeling listless.

After tossing and turning for half the night, he had finally figured out how to leave the sealing space: concentrate his mind, hold a firm intention to leave, and he would be able to depart.

The method for entering was similar.

Focus his mind on the seal at his lower abdomen, hold a firm intention to enter, and he would be able to get in.

After yawning through breakfast, Naruto Uzumaki left home and headed to the forest for his training.

He had a picnic for lunch, sat guard at the entrance of the village milk tea shop in the afternoon, and ate Ichiraku Ramen for dinner...

The day passed quickly, and as night fell, the bright Moon gradually rose, hanging high above Konoha like a lantern.

In his bedroom, Naruto Uzumaki lay on his bed, his consciousness slipping into the sealing space.

Naruto Uzumaki waved his hand and greeted politely, "Fox, good evening. We meet again."

The Nine-Tails didn't open its eyes or lift its tails, as if it were fast asleep.

"I suddenly realized something during the day. The people in the village call me the Demon Fox because of you, right?"

The Nine-Tails slowly opened its beastly eyes, "That's right, it's because of me, brat. You can start hating me now."

Humans were all the same, always blaming others for their own faults; the Nine-Tails was already used to it.

Naruto Uzumaki asked in surprise, "Why would I hate you? Every debt has its debtor; if I were to hate anyone, it should be those people who curse at me."

"...Interesting brat."

The Nine-Tails grew slightly interested in Naruto Uzumaki; this generation's Jinchuriki seemed a bit different.

The Nine-Tails rolled its eyes and tempted him, "Then do you want revenge? I can grant you power so you can retaliate against those who curse you."

Naruto Uzumaki replied, "Thanks, but no need for help. I have my own plans."

Not only was the Nine-Tails not disappointed, but it became even more interested, saying, "Then what do you plan to do? My advice is to kill them all; otherwise, it won't be enough to vent your anger."

The son of the Fourth Hokage killing villagers and becoming a rogue ninja... just thinking about this scenario made the Nine-Tails incredibly excited.

Minato Namikaze, Kushina, you treated me like that back then; now, not only will I take my revenge, but I will also corrupt your child.

Heh heh heh...

Naruto Uzumaki didn't fall for it. He sighed, "Fox, I'm not an idiot, so stop trying to give me such terrible advice, okay?"

Hearing this, the Nine-Tails looked down and stared at Naruto Uzumaki for a while.

The young face was full of composure, not at all like an ordinary five-year-old child; it was clear he wasn't easy to fool.

How boring. So he was just a precocious brat. The Nine-Tails felt a sudden lack of interest, closed its eyelids, and went back to sleep.

Naruto Uzumaki didn't disturb it, said "good night," and left the sealing space.

Winning over the fox was a long-term mission, and Naruto Uzumaki wasn't in a hurry; haste makes waste.

Every night before falling asleep, he would enter the sealing space to chat with the Nine-Tails for a few minutes.

But most of the time, it was just Naruto Uzumaki talking to himself—about things that made him happy, sad, things he liked, or things he hated...

He said whatever came to mind, treating the Nine-Tails like a hollow tree trunk where he could pour out his heart and relieve his stress.

The Nine-Tails usually kept its eyes closed, sleeping—or perhaps not, it was hard to tell—but it rarely responded.

However, that was fine!

Even without speaking, the Nine-Tails was a very qualified listener.

Living alone, without friends, and surrounded by malice, Naruto Uzumaki appeared proud and indifferent on the surface, burying himself in making money and training to become stronger.

But—

Humans are social animals after all, and deep down, Naruto Uzumaki couldn't help but feel a bit lonely.

But now, with the Nine-Tails...

It was good.

As time went on, the Nine-Tails began to get used to Naruto Uzumaki's visits. Although its attitude wasn't particularly good, occasionally, when the mood struck, it would reply with a word or two.

Just like now, Naruto Uzumaki complained, "Little Nine, I've always felt I should have some powerful swirling eyes, but for some reason, I never have..."

The Nine-Tails opened its scarlet eyes and bared its teeth fiercely, "That sounds terrible, you stinking brat. Don't call me Little Nine."

Sigh, it finally spoke.

Naruto Uzumaki was stunned and immediately retorted, "If I don't call you Little Nine, what should I call you? You never say your name."

The Nine-Tails' name was Kurama; Naruto Uzumaki had known this for a long time.

But it wasn't convenient for him to say it. If he did, he couldn't explain how he knew, which would only lead to unnecessary trouble.

It would be best if the Nine-Tails told him its name itself, because that would signify that the Nine-Tails had accepted him.

However, gaining the Nine-Tails' approval at this stage wasn't simple; at the very least... it was unlikely for now.

Nine-Tails snorted coldly, "Brat, you're still a long way off from being worthy of knowing my name."

Naruto Uzumaki retorted, "You're acting like... some ancient noble lady, terrified that someone might find out your maiden name."

Maiden name?!

Nine-Tails was furious, feeling that his dignity as a Tailed Beast had been severely insulted.

"Roar! Are you looking to die?"

Standing up, a terrifying aura radiated from Nine-Tails' body.

Naruto Uzumaki's body stiffened, and after a moment of stunned silence, he withstood the pressure and said, "It was just a joke between friends, don't take it seriously."

Nine-Tails stared at him gloomily, saying nothing.

Naruto Uzumaki felt a bit creeped out and probed, "Uh, aren't we friends?"

Nine-Tails sneered, "Friends? Are you referring to a friend locked in a cage?"

Treating each other as equals is what makes friends, but someone locked in a cage... is at most a pet.

Naruto Uzumaki understood the logic, but he couldn't change anything.

It was truly a matter of inability, not unwillingness.

The seal wasn't placed by him, and he had no power to undo it.

"What exactly am I expecting..."

Seeing Naruto Uzumaki leave silently, Nine-Tails couldn't help but mock himself. The fact that he would hold expectations for a human... sure enough, he was still too naive.

He decided... from now on, no matter what Naruto Uzumaki said, he wouldn't utter a single word in response.

The next day.

Nighttime.

Nine-Tails awoke from a daze and saw the gate was empty; the guy who should have been there talking to himself at this hour hadn't appeared today.

"It seems that brat actually has some self-awareness..."

Nine-Tails felt increasingly disappointed, closing his eyelids to prepare for more sleep.

Suddenly, he felt something unusual behind him.

Turning his head to look, he saw a person lying on one of his tails, fast asleep.

"Bastard! How did you get in?! How dare you come in?!"

Nine-Tails bristled and flicked his tail.

The air whistled as Naruto Uzumaki was sent flying into the air, crashing into the gate with a loud clang.

"I'm telling you, Little Nine, you're really going too far..."

Naruto Uzumaki stood up groggily, rubbing the red mark on his face with a look of complaint.

Nine-Tails had no intention of dwelling on the nickname Naruto Uzumaki used for him; he held his massive, sharp claws in front of Naruto Uzumaki and said with a fierce aura, "Brat, since you've come in, I assume you're prepared to die?"