The seven-day vacation Hiruzen Sarutobi had given Genma passed quickly, and Genma prepared to leave for the Land of River.
On the seventh day, the day Senju Genma set out for the battlefield, the two little tyrants, Kushina and Konan, finally stopped being mad at him.
Having earned their forgiveness, Senju Genma immediately perked up.
Just as Senju Genma was in high spirits, Kushina tugged at his sleeve.
"Big Brother Genma."
"What is it?"
"Kurama wants to talk to you."
"This tsundere fox finally couldn't hold back?" Senju Genma seemed to have expected it.
He had thought that calling Kurama by its name would make it seek him out to talk, but he hadn't expected the big fox to hold out for a whole six months.
If he weren't about to head to the battlefield, who knew how much longer the big fox could have kept it up!
"Tsundere?" Uzumaki Kushina tilted her head, puzzled.
Senju Genma smiled. "That's right. The big fox is just tsundere. It's not actually a bad fox."
Other people might not know, but Senju Genma did.
The Nine Tailed Beasts created by the Sage of Six Paths weren't bad by nature. Not only had they been cute when they were born, they had even called the Sage of Six Paths "Old Man."
But after the Sage of Six Paths died, people had treated them like monsters throughout their long lives as beasts, so they had come to hate humans.
At Genma's words, Kushina furrowed her brow, and a flash of crimson chakra flickered around her.
"Big Brother Genma, Kurama seems angry!" Kushina said, patting her belly.
"Is that Kurama?" Mikoto and Konan could clearly sense Kurama's chakra.
Even the chakra leaking out was enough to make them feel immense pressure.
"That's right!" Senju Genma nodded.
Feeling the strength of the Tailed Beast Chakra, Mikoto couldn't help asking, "I heard the Third Raikage had a fighting strength on par with Eight-Tails. I wonder if that's true."
"It is," Senju Genma replied. "They say the Third Raikage fought Eight-Tails one-on-one and came away without a scratch."
"But Eight-Tails is nothing compared to Kurama. Even if Kurama had to fight the other eight Tailed Beasts at once, I think it could still win."
Kurama naturally heard every word of their conversation.
It snorted, blowing air from its nostrils, while its nine enormous tails swayed behind it.
At least you've got some sense, kid. Not just that fool Gyuki—even if all eight of them ganged up on me, I wouldn't give them a second thought!
Kushina exclaimed excitedly, "Kurama is so amazing!"
Of course!
This great lord is amazing!
"Let's leave that for later. We're short on time, so let me in!"
"Big Brother Genma can come in whenever he wants!"
Senju Genma activated his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan and entered Kushina's mind.
Uzumaki Kushina had no guard up against him, so he easily reached the deepest part of her mind.
Before him stood an enormous red gate, with a giant red fox with nine tails behind it.
"Hey, Kurama. What did you want to talk to me about?" Senju Genma greeted Kurama cheerfully.
"So you do know my name. But those eyes of yours really do irritate me!"
As Kurama spoke, he scraped a claw against one of the pillars in front of him.
"How do you know my name?"
"You don't need to know that." Senju Genma's lips curled into a slight smile. "I have something to tell you. Do you want to hear it?"
"Hmph!" Kurama snorted loudly and turned his head away.
You're so disrespectful. I don't want to hear a thing!
Senju Genma paid no mind to Kurama's sulking and smiled. "In this age, someone has awakened the Rinnegan and summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. You know what that means, don't you?"
At his words, Kurama's ears twitched.
Of course he knew what it meant.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was the husk of the Ten-Tails, and the nine of them had split off from the Ten-Tails' chakra.
Someone was after their Tailed Beast bodies!
And this person had the Rinnegan. He might really be able to do it!
Only a few people knew about things like the Rinnegan and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Since Senju Genma knew about them, Kurama already believed half of what he said.
Most importantly, Kurama couldn't sense any malice from Senju Genma.
"Who is it?" Kurama asked, trying to sound calm, even though he was eager to know.
"That man's someone you know, too. Madara Uchiha!"
At the name Madara Uchiha, Kurama's face twisted into a snarl.
That man called Madara Uchiha had ruined the good life he'd once had!
"Why are you telling me this?" Kurama narrowed his eyes, puzzled.
"Let's make a deal!" Seeing Kurama take the bait, Senju Genma kept a straight face, though inside he was overjoyed.
Handled well, this was Super Kage Level fighting power!
A Perfect Jinchuriki with Kurama could even overpower Ōtsutsuki Isshiki in Baryon Mode.
"Madara Uchiha is my enemy, too. I can help you fight him. In exchange, you'll get along with Kushina and become her friend!"
"When this sealing ends, I'll set you free!"
"Friends? Why should I make that deal with you?" Kurama's voice grew quieter. "And do you even have a way to stop the man with the Rinnegan?"
I, I don't need friends!
But humans only lived for a few decades. He'd be free again in a few decades, so this deal did sound pretty good.
Senju Genma simply walked up to Kurama and smiled.
What mattered most when making a deal with Kurama?
Emotional connection?
No. Strength.
Even Naruto, a little angel, had only earned the right to speak with Kurama after going through countless hardships and proving his strength.
"Trust me, Kurama. No one in this world understands you better than I do, except the Sage of Six Paths. You won't regret becoming Kushina's friend."
"Besides, you've already seen my Wood Release. If there's anyone in this world who can stop Madara Uchiha, it's me!"
"Kurama, you don't want to become part of the Ten-Tails again, do you?"
To Kurama's astonishment, Senju Genma walked right up to him and began stroking his smooth fur.
But Kurama didn't care about that. He knew Senju Genma was right.
Forty years ago, he had fought alongside Madara Uchiha against the Wood Release ninja Senju Hashirama, and they had been soundly defeated.
If there was anyone in the world who could stop the man called Madara Uchiha, it was probably Senju Genma standing before him!
Kurama only squirmed a little before saying in a rumbling voice, "Fine, I accept the deal."
"But don't get any ideas. It's just a deal, not because I want a friend or anything!"
Senju Genma nodded. After Kurama's coy show of reluctance, he stroked the big fox for a little while longer, then turned to leave.
Only after Senju Genma had left Uzumaki Kushina's mindscape did Kurama breathe a sigh of relief.
Dealing with this guy, who was both powerful and difficult to handle, had left him at a loss.
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