Buzzz-
The runic chains wrapped around Naruto trembled slightly.
"Not good!" Shino Yamanaka's expression changed drastically. "He's breaking the seal!"
Tsunade and Jiraiya noticed it too. Both charged at Itachi at once. "Stop him!"
But it was already too late.
Inside Naruto, within the Nine-Tails' cage.
The enormous fox opened its scarlet eyes, sensing the seal loosen.
[Oh? That Uchiha brat is helping release my seal?]
The Nine-Tails bared its teeth in a savage grin.
It was no fool, of course. It knew Uchiha Itachi's aim, but wasn't this also an opportunity for it?
Staying in Konoha would only mean being sealed again, or perhaps even extracted.
Going with Uchiha Itachi would at least offer a chance at freedom.
[Hmph, crafty humans... but this time, I'll play along.]
The Nine-Tails threw back its head and roared, its terrifying chakra battering the seal wildly.
Outside.
The runic chains on Naruto began to shatter!
"ROOOAR!!!"
Scarlet chakra surged into the sky, and the Nine-Tails' form materialized once more.
But this time, it did not attack Uchiha Itachi.
The Nine-Tails lowered its head, its scarlet eyes turning toward Itachi inside Susanoo. Its voice rumbled. "Uchiha brat, you want my help?"
Itachi looked up to meet its gaze, the Mangekyō patterns in his eyes slowly rotating.
"Work together. Leave this place."
"And then?" the Nine-Tails sneered. "You'll let me go?"
"Naruto is my younger brother," Itachi said calmly. "I won't hurt him, but if you're willing, I can give you a certain degree of freedom."
The Nine-Tails watched the Mangekyō patterns in Itachi's eyes and fell silent for a moment.
It knew it had no choice.
"Fine." The Nine-Tails grinned. "Then... let's join forces."
As its words fell, it roared at the sky, its nine tails lashing wildly as countless Tailed Beast Bombs formed