Talking to the Nine-Tails

That evening.

At Shinku Yuhi's house.

"Sorry to intrude, Shinku!"

"No need to be so formal, Minato. Make yourself at home."

Seated at the head of the table, Shinku Yuhi welcomed Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki into his home.

Of course, they weren't there because Kushina had invited herself. Shinku's wife had invited them personally.

Minato Namikaze had yet to win great renown for Konoha.

But he was Jiraiya's student and a pillar of the Hokage's faction. He was bound to become an important figure in Konoha someday.

The leading candidate for Fourth Hokage was currently Hiruzen Sarutobi's student, the Cold Lord Orochimaru.

And Minato Namikaze had close ties to Orochimaru. Besides, Minato was the most outstanding genius of his generation.

Building a good relationship with someone like him was essential.

Kazan hadn't thought that far ahead—or rather, he wouldn't have cared even if he had.

He was still staring at Kushina's stomach.

"Hey, brat, do you know how rude that is?" Kushina shot him an annoyed glare.

She had no good way to deal with Kazan.

If she hit him, the impact jarred her own hand. He was as hard as iron.

If she argued with him, the nasty brat always attacked her age. He could be downright vicious.

"When you talk to someone, you should look them in the eye."

Kazan didn't look away. His gaze remained fixed on Kushina's stomach.

"Right, Nine-Tails?"

Hmph!

Inside the seal, the Nine-Tails lay on all fours.

He had no idea how that brat could hear his words—or perhaps sense his emotions.

There was something uncanny about him.

"Don't be so stubborn. Don't you want freedom? You could do what that cat in Kumogakure did."

Don't compare me to the Two-Tails. I will never submit to humans.

"How is that submitting? You'd be doing it for freedom!"

"Don't you want to try some delicious food? Oh, right. I know Tailed Beasts are made of Chakra, but if you ate human food, would you poop?"

You damned brat! Stop bothering me. I would never eat human food.

The Nine-Tails flew into a rage, pounding the sealed gate until it boomed.

What kind of questions was this damned Konoha brat asking?

Did Tailed Beasts poop?

You're human. Do you?

"You really do have a bad temper. Just like those Uchiha—always acting too proud to admit what you want."

Do not lump me in with the Uchiha!

The Nine-Tails had meant to ignore Kazan, but at the mention of the Uchiha, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

Kushina wanted Kazan to stop. The seal inside her was rumbling, and she could feel the Nine-Tails bristling.

Just wait, brat. When I get out, you'll be the first person I kill!

The Uchiha name was forbidden ground for the Nine-Tails.

It all stemmed from Madara Uchiha's final battle with Hashirama Senju. Madara had enslaved him with overwhelming Dōjutsu Power and forced the Nine-Tails into a Summoning Contract.

It was a wound the Nine-Tails would carry for life.

"Not every Uchiha is the same."

Kazan left the implication hanging. With others present, he didn't mention Madara Uchiha by name.

Humans aren't all the same, either. Even from inside this cage, I can sense the sickening malice between you.

Betrayal, greed, jealousy, suspicion...

Day after day, the Nine-Tails sensed more of those dark emotions than he could count.

Peace on the surface, turmoil underneath.

Hmph. Why am I telling a brat like you all this? Stop bothering me!

"I know all about what you're saying. I'm a Taijutsu Ninja, Nine-Tails."

Kazan looked away and ended the conversation. He could tell the Nine-Tails didn't want to talk anymore.

Given his temperament, it was remarkable that he had spoken with Kazan for so long.

The Nine-Tails said nothing more. He closed his eyes and rested in the cold Sealing Chamber.

Maybe there really are exceptions like you. But you're only one grain of sand in a desert.

The Nine-Tails didn't trust humans. He had spoken to Kazan for so long only because he sensed none of that malice in him.

He had heard the stories about Kazan: his parents had died in battle, he had little talent for Ninjutsu, and he had trained his fists since childhood, hoping to reach the heights through Taijutsu.

Someone like that was different from the others.

"Are you done? What did the Nine-Tails say to you?"

Kushina was curious.

Ever since the Nine-Tails had been sealed inside her, she had hardly spoken to him.

Her grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, had never told her to befriend the Nine-Tails.

As a child, Kushina had only heard words of comfort from Mito Uzumaki: "Even as Jinchūriki, we can still find happiness."

To both of them, the Nine-Tails was a burden and a responsibility.

Kushina Uzumaki saw herself as a vessel that protected Konoha.

"You and I are both unlucky. You can hold back the world, and I can hold back you."

That had been her first conversation with the Nine-Tails. They had been at odds from the start.

Mito Uzumaki had been even more direct. She had told the Nine-Tails, "Whenever you use your power, you invite hatred. Stay quietly inside me."

So.

Kazan's willingness to speak to the Nine-Tails of his own accord made him an utter oddity.

"He said you aren't cute at all. You lose your temper and whip your hair around at the slightest thing. You cook every day even though you can't cook, and whoever marries you must have offended the Sage of Six Paths in a past life."

"What?!!!"

Kushina shot to her feet and slammed both hands onto the table with a bang.

"Did the Nine-Tails really say that?"

I never said that!

The Nine-Tails wasn't afraid of Kushina Uzumaki, but damn it, he wouldn't take the blame for something he hadn't said!

He was about to erupt when he saw Kushina Uzumaki's consciousness enter the Sealing Chamber. She looked just as furious as he felt.

She trembled with anger, her red hair whipping around. "Nine-Tails!"

"Human, what are you doing here?!"

The Nine-Tails looked at Kushina with contempt. He guessed she had come to question him, but he had no intention of explaining himself now.

"Did you really say those things?"

"What if I did? Whoever marries you must have offended the Sage of Six Paths in a past life. Just look at your hair—it's a worse omen than my Chakra!"

How dare he!

"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

Furious, Kushina sent golden chains shooting from her body, binding the Nine-Tails tight.

"Kushina! I swear I'll kill you!"

The Nine-Tails' eyes burned with hatred.

A moment later, Kushina's consciousness returned to reality. She dusted off her hands, looking satisfied.

"You two have an interesting way of talking."

"What's interesting about it? Don't think I didn't notice you were lying. The Nine-Tails would never say something like that. He isn't that petty."

"I see. You know him pretty well, then."

"Uh..."