Naruto Contacts the Nine-Tails, Shisui's Death

"How about it, Naruto, are you ready?"

"I'm ready, believe it!"

"Good. Don't be afraid when you see that thing; I'm here with you."

"Yeah!"

After saying this, Fei Shi used a genjutsu to enter the seal space, intending to have the Nine-Tails pull Naruto's consciousness inside.

As soon as Fei Shi entered the seal space, his face twitched.

He saw an orange fox with nine tails lounging on a sofa, two paws playing a video game, two paws clutching a bottle of soda and a bag of chips, and its hind legs crossed.

Six paws?

"This... this... what is going on with you?"

"Hmph, I studied the ninjutsu you gave me and grew two extra paws."

Fei Shi: "..."

Impressive!

"Kurama, pull Naruto's consciousness into the seal space. You two can chat, or play games together. Build some rapport, and while you're at it, tell him about the origin of the Tailed Beasts and the history of the Ninja World."

Kurama looked reluctant; there were so many good things here he wouldn't be able to play with. Sigh.

"That's enough. You're the strongest Tailed Beast—have some shame! Don't think I won't go to Sunagakure tomorrow to find Shukaku and tell him about your current degenerate state."

Kurama: "..."

He didn't fear other threats, but he was terrified of having his things taken away or this being exposed.

One consequence meant being bored to death after death—it's easy to go from simple to complex, but hard to go from complex to simple.

The other meant losing face, especially in front of his rival, Shukaku. Did the strongest Tailed Beast not have any dignity?

"Fine."

A moment later, Naruto's figure appeared in the seal space. He looked around, first glancing outside the cage; the dim, damp atmosphere made him uncomfortable.

Inside the cage, the surroundings were bright, with water, grass, trees, and a house. A large orange fox was lying there sleeping, while a small orange fox looked at him with impatience.

"Big Brother Fei Shi, is this little fox the monster you were talking about? Hehehe, he doesn't look like one at all!"

"Hehehehe, is that so?"

A low, deep laugh echoed. Naruto turned his head to look at the large fox. Kurama stretched his main body, and a wave of malevolent chakra erupted from him. The heavy pressure bore down on Naruto, making it difficult for him to breathe.

"How about it, brat? Are you satisfied with me being a monster now? Hehehehe."

"I-I-I-I-I, h-h-h-h-hey there, big brother, i-i-is this, r-r-really, a m-m-monster? It's s-s-so huge. It w-w-won't come out, will it?"

Fei Shi was speechless.

Where did that courage from a moment ago go?

"Have some backbone, I'm here. Besides, it can't get out..."

"Oh~ come at me then!"

Fei Shi: "..."

Kurama: "..."

"Hehehehe, I wonder if Minato Namikaze would beat you to death if he knew you were leading his child astray."

Fei Shi replied without a blush or a racing heart: "He can't beat me."

Kurama: "..."

Fei Shi also put away his smile and instructed Naruto seriously:

"Naruto, it's up to you now. It has a name. You must earn it from him yourself; that will mean you've gained his recognition. From then on, he won't harm you and will become your partner. Do you understand? You must get along well with him."

Naruto looked at Kurama. Kurama flashed a grin, showing his white teeth, which scared Naruto into hiding behind Fei Shi.

It was too chilling.

Fei Shi: "I'm leaving. It's up to you."

Naruto: "No!"

Watching Fei Shi's figure vanish, Naruto felt a wave of despair.

He then turned around to face the massive Kurama, struggling to squeeze out a smile that looked worse than crying:

"Hi!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

"Faster!"

"Lord Danzo has given the order—don't let him escape!"

"Catch him!"

Ahead, a youth fled for his life, leaping from one tree to the next.

One of his eyes bled incessantly, and from time to time, he struck back at the ninjas pursuing him.

As expected, I still haven't mastered what Brother Fei Shi taught me. What should I do? If this incident is exposed, Konoha might descend into civil war! Brother Fei Shi... he wouldn't stand with the Uchiha; at most, he would remain neutral. Even so, the Uchiha cannot withstand the combined assault of the other Konoha ninjas. Sigh.

What on earth should I do? Why did I trust those elders so much? Just because they were the upper echelons? Because they led the people of Konoha toward peace?

Heh, hehe!

Except for Hiruzen Sarutobi, that's impossible for the others!

He had realized this the moment Danzo Shimura ambushed him and stole one of his eyes.

After learning about the red ideology, Hiruzen Sarutobi had made some changes, and the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village had improved somewhat.

But it was only somewhat; a complete resolution would still take time.

The Nine-Tails Incident had taught them that the Uchiha were a threat that had to be guarded against.

Even after it was clarified that the Nine-Tails was not controlled by the Uchiha clan, but by a mysterious person with a Sharingan, the fact remained.

If someone else could do it, it meant the Uchiha could too.

After all, the discord between them and the village had not been built in a day.

Shisui Uchiha was unwilling to accept this!

He had thought he possessed the ability to completely resolve the conflict between the village and his clan, but he never expected that Lord Danzo, whom he trusted, would show him his true colors.

He dared not imagine the severity of the consequences if his encounter were exposed.

The Uchiha now seemed like a camel burdened with heavy loads; although the Third Hokage had helped them lighten the burden, this incident would surely crush the camel.

The best solution... was to die, to ensure the Uchiha would never learn of his fate.

However... these lackeys still had to be killed.

A cold glint flashed through Shisui Uchiha's remaining eye, and wielding his short blade in tandem with his Sharingan, he slaughtered them.

Then, he sent a message to his confidant, Itachi Uchiha.

As for Fei Shi, who had mentored him for a time, he felt he had no face to see him.

Although he hadn't taught him ninjutsu, the lessons on how to conduct himself, how to interact with others, and the concepts of peace had been invaluable.

Yet, he had still fallen into someone else's trap in the very area of interpersonal relations he had studied the most.

After a while, footsteps sounded from behind.

"You've come, Itachi."

"Shisui, you! How could this be! Who did this!"

Shisui spoke slowly, recounting his encounter and the current state of the clan and the village.

"If this matter is exposed, the village will fall into peril. It's such a pity; I wanted to hear more of Brother Fei Shi's philosophies on peace. He spent most of his time teaching me social skills, and I thought I had mastered them. I didn't expect... Itachi, only if I die will everything subside. I entrust this eye of mine and the future of the Uchiha to you."

"Shisui!"

Itachi tried to grab Shisui, but he was too late.

The Three-Tomoe in his eyes spun rapidly, finally connecting together to slowly form a new shape.

Mangekyo Sharingan, awaken!