Kurama

After returning from the Third Hokage's office, Naruto sat on his bed, staring blankly at the scroll in his hands. He had not expected the Third to give him the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques, and the scene of the Third handing him the scroll replayed in his mind.

The Third had taken a box from a cabinet and said to Naruto, "Inside are scrolls for practicing the Uzumaki Clan's sealing arts, along with some of the Fourth's own insights and improvements on them. I leave these to you." With that, he handed the box to Naruto and sent him on his way.

Naruto looked at the scroll and muttered, "I didn't expect the old man to be so accommodating, but he's doing this for the sake of the village. Whatever, this is my home anyway, and since these sealing arts belong to the Uzumaki Clan, it's only right that I learn them."

In truth, Naruto knew perfectly well that the Third had given him these techniques in the hope that he would learn to protect the village. Since Naruto also considered Konoha his home, he felt no psychological burden in learning them.

Naruto opened the scroll and began to read. It was the "Seal Fire Method," a B-rank sealing technique used to seal Fire Release. Naruto remembered Jiraiya using this technique to seal Amaterasu, and he began to practice it earnestly.

He discovered that these so-called sealing arts were very similar to the magic circles and formations described in the novels and television shows of his past life. These techniques also relied on hand seals to guide chakra along the patterns recorded in the scrolls, thereby achieving the goal of sealing the target.

With this realization, Naruto went to the kitchen, turned on the gas stove, and watched the flames. He released several "Adamantine Sealing Chains" from his body, arranging them according to the patterns in the scroll, and then used the method described to draw the flames from the stove onto the formation. He watched as the fire was completely absorbed by the chains.

Seeing this result, a smug smile appeared on Naruto's face. As I thought, he mused, "Adamantine Sealing Chains" may be materialized chakra chains, but at the end of the day, they are formed from my own chakra.

Therefore, I can use sealing techniques without needing hand seals. Furthermore, the chains themselves possess sealing properties, which makes the strength of the seal even greater.

Naruto had the chains arrange themselves into the pattern for breaking a seal. Instantly, the previously sealed flames burst out, nearly setting his house on fire. Fortunately, Naruto managed to reseal the fire just in time.

Looking at the chaotic kitchen, Naruto laughed heartily. After cleaning up, he couldn't wait to return to his room to continue studying the patterns on the scrolls.

As Naruto picked up the second scroll to continue, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. When he shook his head to clear his mind, he was surprised to find himself in a sewer.

Naruto looked at his dim surroundings and immediately calmed down. Seeing only one path ahead, he walked forward slowly, muttering to himself, "How did I end up here? Don't tell me that tsundere Kurama pulled me in here on his own."

Naruto soon reached the end of the path and looked at the massive iron cage before him. A voice drifted from within: "Come closer, come closer."

Naruto walked to the front of the cage with a smile. Suddenly, a claw reached out from the bars, trying to grab him, but it was blocked by the cage.

A roar of fury erupted from within, and Naruto finally saw the full appearance of the legendary Nine-Tails.

Naruto smiled and said, "Is all this anger necessary? Can't we just have a proper chat?"

The Nine-Tails looked at the calm Naruto and said, "It seems you aren't surprised at all. Then again, you've known of my existence, so why would you be? Tell me, brat, what's the deal with your White Eye? Don't try to lie to me; I've watched you grow up, and I know every secret you possess."

Naruto laughed. "Haha, I thought you'd ask about the Sharingan first. I didn't expect you to ask about the White Eye. It seems you know the secret of the White Eye as well."

The Nine-Tails said disdainfully, "The secret of the White Eye? There is nothing about the White Eye I don't know. But what interests me is that you are the child of Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze. Neither of them had the White Eye, yet you were born with it. Unlike your Sharingan, which was opened by transplanting the bloodline of the Uchiha Clan, your White Eye is natural, which makes me even more curious."

Naruto said, slightly stunned, "I didn't expect you to be interested in my White Eye for that reason. You're quite curious, aren't you? You should have been a scientist; it's a waste of your curiosity to be a Tailed Beast. You know, all knowledge begins with curiosity."

Seeing that Naruto was dodging the question, the Nine-Tails roared in anger, "Enough with the nonsense! Are you going to tell me or not? If not, get out!" Naruto scratched his head and said, "I didn't say I wouldn't tell you, why the rush? With that explosive temper of yours, is that any way to ask for information?"

Naruto wanted to continue, but seeing the Nine-Tails' temper flaring again, he quickly added, "Fine, fine, fine! I'll tell you, alright?"

Naruto paused and asked, "Nine-Tails, do you know the Sage of Six Paths? Oh, wait, that's the wrong question. You are the child of the Sage; it was the Sage who created you all. But do you know the Sage's background? Do you know about the Sage's mother and his brother?"

"What are you trying to say? I truly don't know those things, but I know that you do. However, I am more curious about where your White Eye came from."

The Nine-Tails had calmed down and answered Naruto's question with surprising patience. Naruto smiled. "You've finally calmed down. Don't worry, I will tell you everything you want to know, and there are some things I hope you can help me with. By the way, Nine-Tails, what is your name? We've been talking for so long, and I still don't know it."

"My name? Humans care about the names of Tailed Beasts? Shouldn't humans be concerned with how to utilize and obtain the power of the Tailed Beasts? Since when do humans care about our names? Don't joke with me." The more the Nine-Tails spoke, the angrier he became, eventually shouting the words.

Naruto looked at the Nine-Tails and said, "I don't know why you are so angry; perhaps you have been deceived by humans too many times. But you cannot judge everyone by the actions of a few. Humans are complex; there are good ones and bad ones. Not everyone is a saint, but not everyone is a villain either."

"At the very least, I can guarantee that I harbor no malice toward you. I simply want to be your friend."

"I also hope to erase the hatred in your heart, because I know that hatred does not bring happiness. One cannot live in this world just for the sake of hatred, can they?"

"You say you want to erase my hatred? Who do you think you are, and what right do you have to say such things?" the Nine-Tails said, still very angry.

Naruto smiled and replied, "Because we are friends. And don't you think that a Tailed Beast and their Jinchuriki are born to be the best of friends?"

"Look, the lives of the Jinchuriki and the Tailed Beasts are bound together. Since our lives are linked, what is there that cannot be resolved?"

"So, when I say I hope to resolve your hatred, I'm not just saying it. Besides, if I want your help, I want it to be because you are willing to give it. I won't force you. I just hope we can help each other like friends."

"You say you want to be friends with me? Hahaha! A human and a Tailed Beast becoming friends? Hahaha!" The Nine-Tails squinted his eyes and laughed, as if he had heard the funniest thing in the world.

The Nine-Tails laughed for a while, but when he heard no rebuttal from Naruto, he looked at him in confusion. He saw Naruto looking at him with a serious expression, and in Naruto's eyes, he saw a firmness that told him Naruto wasn't joking—he was sincere.

Seeing Naruto's gaze reminded the Nine-Tails of a distant memory—the words the Sage of Six Paths spoke on his deathbed.

"You will encounter much pain and suffering in the future, but one day, you will meet a friend who can truly treat you with sincerity. Someone who can guide you, someone you can trust, rely on, and understand each other with." Those were the words the Sage of Six Paths said to all the Tailed Beasts before he passed.

After recalling the Sage's words and looking at Naruto before him, the Nine-Tails wondered, Could this brat be the person the old man spoke of?

The Nine-Tails looked at Naruto and said seriously, "Since you say we are friends, then remove this seal before us first."

Naruto replied, "That is, of course, no problem. Even if you didn't ask, I would have removed it. But before I do, you must promise me that you won't get angry when I open the seal. You must stay calm, okay?"

The Nine-Tails wondered, "Why would I be angry about the seal being removed? I'd be happy, so why would I be angry?" "That's good then," Naruto said, letting out a sigh of relief. The Nine-Tails was puzzled but didn't dwell on it.

Seeing Naruto walk toward the gate without hesitation, the Nine-Tails couldn't help but probe once more: "Aren't you afraid that I'll take over your body once I'm out?"

Naruto asked in confusion, "Why would you take over my body after coming out? If there's something you want to do, tell me, and wouldn't it be better if we did it together? With my help, wouldn't you be able to accomplish what you want faster? Besides, if you need control of the body, just tell me; don't just take it."

Upon hearing Naruto's words, the Nine-Tails knew that Naruto truly considered him a friend, but since he had already asked, he couldn't take it back. He could only ignore Naruto and pretend to be silent. Seeing the Nine-Tails go quiet again, Naruto muttered softly, "Pretending to be deep when you can't answer... what a strange person, such a prickly personality."

At this, the Nine-Tails lost his composure, stood up, and roared, "Aren't you going to remove the seal? Hurry up, what are you dawdling for?"

Seeing the Nine-Tails get angry, Naruto quickly ran to the sealing gate, whispering as he ran, "Getting angry out of embarrassment—this tsundere personality isn't good either. Same bad habit as Sasuke." The Nine-Tails really wanted to blast Naruto away with a Tailed Beast Bomb, thinking to himself, Brats these days really aren't cute at all.

Naruto arrived at the gate, and the Nine-Tails used his chakra to lift Naruto to the sealing tag. At this moment, Naruto asked with a smile, "By the way, Nine-Tails, what is your name? Tell me."

The Nine-Tails turned his head away in a huff, but a moment later, Naruto heard the words "Kurama." Naruto happily said to the Nine-Tails, "From now on, you are no longer the feared Nine-Tailed Fox, but the partner of Naruto Uzumaki of Konoha."

After Naruto finished speaking, he smiled at the Nine-Tails, and the Nine-Tails—no, Kurama—smiled back at him. Kurama felt very happy, yet deeply moved. He had finally waited for the person the old man spoke of, but he had waited for so long, so very long.