Are You Ready to Die?

"Are you really not going to say anything? Fine, I'll figure it out myself."

The next morning, Naruto Uzumaki got up and washed up listlessly.

He'd spent half the night at it before finally figuring out how to leave the Sealing Space: concentrate, firmly intend to leave, and he could go.

Entering worked in much the same way as leaving.

He had to focus on the seal in his lower abdomen and firmly intend to enter. Once he wanted to go in, he could.

Yawning as he finished breakfast, Naruto left home and headed to the forest to train.

He cooked lunch outdoors, then spent the afternoon keeping watch outside the village's milk tea shop. For dinner, he had Ichiraku Ramen...

The day passed quickly. Night fell, and the full moon rose, like a bright lamp hanging high above Konoha.

In his bedroom, Naruto lay on his bed and fell asleep. His consciousness entered the Sealing Space.

Naruto waved and greeted him politely. "Evening, Fox. Nice to see you again."

The Nine-Tails didn't open his eyes or lift his tails, as though he were asleep.

"Something occurred to me during the day. The people in the village call me the Demon Fox because of you, right?"

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

Humans were all the same, blaming others for their own mistakes. The Nine-Tails was used to it by now.

Naruto asked in surprise, "Why would I hate you? Every debt has its debtor. If I'm going to hate anyone, it should be the people who insulted me."

"...An interesting brat."

The Nine-Tails had taken a slight interest in Naruto. This Jinchuriki seemed different from the others.

The Nine-Tails rolled his eyes and coaxed him, "So, do you want revenge? I can give you power, so you can get back at the people who insulted you."

"Thanks, but I don't need your help. I have my own plans."

Far from being disappointed, the Nine-Tails seemed even more interested. "And what do you plan to do? I suggest killing every last one of them. Anything less won't be satisfying."

The Fourth Hokage's son murders villagers and becomes a rogue ninja... Just imagining it made the Nine-Tails thrilled beyond measure.

Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, after what you did to me, I'm not only going to get even. I'm going to corrupt your child, too.

Heh heh heh...

Naruto didn't take the bait. He sighed. "Listen, Fox, I'm not stupid, so could you stop giving me terrible advice?"

Hearing that, the Nine-Tails stared down at Naruto for a while.

His young face was full of composure, nothing like an ordinary five-year-old's. He clearly wasn't easy to fool.

How boring. The brat was just precocious. The Nine-Tails lost interest and closed his eyes to sleep.

Naruto didn't disturb him either. He said, "Good night," then left the Sealing Space.

Winning over the Fox was a long-term project. Naruto wasn't in a rush; good things came to those who waited.

Every night before falling asleep, he entered the Sealing Space and chatted with the Nine-Tails for a few minutes.

Most of the time, though, Naruto just talked to himself—about what made him happy, what made him sad, what he liked, what he hated...

Whatever came to mind, he said it, treating the Nine-Tails like a hole in a tree where he could pour out his feelings and ease his stress.

The Nine-Tails usually kept his eyes closed and slept. Whether he was actually asleep was anyone's guess, but he didn't pay Naruto much mind.

But no worries!

Even without saying a word, the Nine-Tails made a perfectly good sounding board.

Naruto spent his days alone, with no friends, surrounded by malice. On the surface, he stood tall and acted as if he didn't care about anything, devoting himself to making money, training, and growing stronger.

But—

People were social creatures, after all. Deep down, Naruto couldn't help feeling a little lonely.

But now he had the Nine-Tails...

Great.

As time went on, the Nine-Tails began to get used to Naruto's visits. His attitude still wasn't particularly pleasant, but every now and then, when he felt like it, he would reply.

Just like now, when Naruto complained, "Little Nine, I've always thought I should have a pair of awesome ringed eyes, but for some reason, I still don't..."

The Nine-Tails opened his blood-red eyes and bared his teeth. "That sounds awful, brat. Don't call me Little Nine."

Ah, he'd finally spoken.

Naruto froze, then immediately asked, "If I shouldn't call you Little Nine, what should I call you? You won't tell me your name."

Naruto had known the Nine-Tails' name, Kurama, for a long time.

But he couldn't say it. He wouldn't be able to explain how he knew, and that would only cause trouble.

It would be best if the Nine-Tails told him himself, because that would mean the Nine-Tails accepted him.

But earning the Nine-Tails' acceptance wasn't easy at this stage. At least... it was unlikely for now.

The Nine-Tails snorted. "You're still a long way from learning my name, brat."

Naruto teased, "You make it sound like you're some ancient noblewoman, afraid someone will learn your maiden name."

Maiden name?!

The Nine-Tails was furious. He felt that his dignity as a Tailed Beast had been gravely insulted.

"Roar! Are you looking to die?"

He rose to his feet, a terrifying aura radiating from his body.

Naruto stiffened. After a moment, he managed to withstand the pressure and said, "I was just joking around with a friend. Don't take it seriously."

The Nine-Tails stared at him silently, his gaze hollow.

Naruto felt a little unnerved and cautiously asked, "Uh... aren't we friends?"

"Friends?" the Nine-Tails sneered. "You mean friends locked in a cage?"

Friends treated each other as equals. Someone locked in a cage was, at most, a pet.

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

It wasn't that he didn't want to. He simply couldn't.

He hadn't made the seal, and he didn't have the ability to undo it.

"What was I even hoping for...?"

Watching Naruto leave in silence, the Nine-Tails couldn't help mocking himself. He'd hoped for something from a human... He really was still too naive.

He'd made up his mind. From now on, no matter what Naruto said, he wouldn't reply.

The next day.

Night.

The Nine-Tails woke from a daze. The entrance stood empty. The kid who usually talked to himself there at this time hadn't shown up yet.

"Looks like that brat has some self-awareness after all..."

The Nine-Tails felt all the more disappointed. He closed his eyes, ready to go back to sleep.

Suddenly, he sensed something strange behind him.

He turned to look and saw someone lying fast asleep on one of his tails.

"Brat! How did you get in here?! How dare you come in here?!"

The Nine-Tails bristled and whipped his tail.

The air howled. Naruto went flying through the air and slammed into the gate with a crash.

"Come on, Little Nine. That was really uncalled for..."

Naruto staggered to his feet, rubbing the red mark on his face as he complained.

The Nine-Tails didn't bother arguing about what Naruto called him. He held a huge, sharp claw in front of Naruto and glowered menacingly. "Brat, since you came in here, I take it you're ready to die?"