Seeing Shukaku's face turn green, Kurama nodded with absolute certainty.
"I don't know about anything else, but with Naruto's current chakra reserves, he could easily summon a few Wood Dragons to thrash you. After all, that kid not only acquired the Wood Release bloodline limit, he also inherited the Uzumaki Clan's constitution."
"What?!" Hearing that Naruto was a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, Shukaku instinctively swallowed. That clan was famous not only for its Sealing Jutsu, but also for its enormous chakra reserves.
"Then why? Why did he summon that stinking toad to fight me? If he's that strong, why didn't he just crush me?"
Having lived for over a thousand years, Shukaku was clearly no fool. There were holes in Kurama's story.
"Hmph. That's exactly why I trust him so much."
Kurama looked at Shukaku with a smile. "Would you believe me if I told you everything that kid did was for the girl standing beside Naruto outside right now?"
Shukaku immediately closed his eyes to sense the outside world. He soon saw Sasuke checking Naruto's wounds, his face full of worry.
"You mean him?"
Kurama nodded. "Everything he's doing now is meant to let Sasuke leave the village naturally. Do you know why, Shukaku?"
"How would I know if you don't tell me?" Shukaku glared at Kurama.
"Hmph. Because Sasuke told Naruto he wanted to kill Uchiha Itachi, the man who slaughtered his clan, through his own efforts."
Kurama sounded a little disdainful as he said it, but there was nothing he could do. His Jinchūriki just happened to care that much about his partner.
"He clearly has the terrifying strength to crush you, yet he kept holding himself back and struggling through a drawn-out fight with you. All of it was just to respect his lover's choice