Right now—
Kurama, the Nine-Tails, finally saw the truth hidden within Naruto.
He finally understood.
And he couldn't help but feel stunned by what he discovered in the depths of Naruto's heart.
Never before had he encountered a human like this.
And just as Kurama could peer into Naruto's soul… Naruto, too, could see into his.
But what shocked Kurama even more—was Naruto's lack of fear.
He wasn't fazed in the slightest by the centuries of hatred, resentment, and darkness festering within Kurama.
Instead, Naruto stood firm. His heart—unyielding, unwavering—shone brighter than any human the beast had ever known.
That was why…
Kurama made his decision then and there.
He would stand with Naruto.
He would join him.
"Just say it," Kurama growled, his tone calmer than ever before.
"What's the next step… Naruto?"
With that, the two departed from Naruto's inner world.
They returned to the familiar sealed space where Kurama's immense form loomed behind the bars of the ancient seal.
Naruto heard Kurama's words and knew—he had won him over.
Feigning mystery, he grinned and said:
"Hey, Nine-Tails…"
"Do you want to be free?"
Kurama's eyes widened at the question.
Free?
That word—so simple, yet so distant—struck something deep within him.
He had been imprisoned since the time of the First Hokage—sealed within Mito Uzumaki, the First Hokage's wife.
Then, again, within Kushina Uzumaki, wife of the Fourth Hokage.
Now… here he was again.
Bound.
Chained.
A beast of immense power reduced to a prisoner of flesh.
But for the first time…
Someone had asked him if he wanted to be free.
Until now, Kurama—the Nine-Tails—had been sealed inside the body of the brat called Naruto.
Freedom…
Sure, compared to a tailed beast's long lifespan, a few decades passed in the blink of an eye.
But still—Kurama didn't want to remain trapped inside a human forever.
And besides Naruto…
No one had ever asked him.
No one had ever wondered—
Did he want to be free?
Kurama narrowed his eyes, his massive form looming behind the bars of the seal.
"What are you planning, Naruto?"
This wasn't a topic for jokes.
And Naruto wasn't joking.
He answered, voice calm and certain:
"Kurama… I'll give you true freedom. But not yet."
Right now, they were still inside the Hidden Leaf Village. If the seal was broken here, there was a chance that the old man—Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage—might sense the disturbance. He could come to investigate the seal, and that would expose everything.
So for now… they couldn't afford to undo the seal.
Kurama's ears twitched slightly.
He had assumed Naruto meant to free him completely.
But that wasn't it.
So—what did he mean by freedom?
Then Naruto gave a sly smile and said:
"But I can let you walk freely outside."
"And all I need… is this."
As the words left his mouth—
Poof! Poof! Poof!
Explosions of smoke burst out in the sealed space, echoing through the air.
When the smoke cleared, hundreds—no, thousands—of identical Narutos appeared, each grinning at Kurama from outside the bars of the seal.
The sheer number made Kurama blink.
He couldn't even tell which one was the real Naruto.
Kurama's gaze narrowed. "What… is this?"
The real Naruto stepped forward and explained:
"These are my clones. With the chakra link between us, you can possess one of them. That way, your consciousness can leave this place—and feel the world again. The air, the wind, the moonlight… Everything."
Kurama paused.
And then—it clicked.
This idea… It was possible.
Freedom, even if temporary, stood right in front of him.
Kurama stared at Naruto, expression softening.
"…Naruto," he murmured.
His chest stirred with emotion he hadn't felt in centuries.
But Naruto just smiled, lifting a clone's right fist toward Kurama.
"This is just a temporary solution," he said. "But when the time is right…"
"I'll give you true freedom, Kurama."
"I'll bring back your Yin half and make you whole again. I promise."
Kurama gazed at Naruto's smile.
And for once…
He smiled too.
"Yeah…"
"Naruto…"
"I believe in you."
Kurama's massive paw slowly reached out through the bars, tapping fists with Naruto's clone.
In the next instant, a torrent of blazing chakra surged from Kurama and flowed into the clone.
At the same time, Kurama's consciousness flooded into the body.
The clone's bright blue eyes sharpened—shifting into vertical fox-like pupils.
"Nine-Tails," Naruto said with a grin.
And just like that, Kurama began adjusting to the human form.
Relying on Naruto's memories, he wove a transformation jutsu.
In a puff of smoke, his appearance changed—now a tall, handsome man with burning red hair, sharp fox-like features, and flowing robes.
Kurama glanced down at himself—still in awe.
Then looked up at Naruto, eyes filled with something more than excitement.
It was awe. It was hope.
Moments later, Naruto repeated the same process in reality.
And finally, after nearly a century of imprisonment…
The Nine-Tails walked freely once more.
Late at night.
Naruto and Kurama stood side by side on the rooftop of Naruto's apartment.
Above them, the full moon cast silver light over the village.
The wind rustled gently around them.
Kurama inhaled deeply.
"…So this is what it feels like—for humans to breathe the open air."
His voice held a strange sense of wonder.
Naruto smiled, his voice full of warmth.
"You'll experience a lot more from now on, Kurama."
Kurama looked forward.
But he didn't forget.
They had a plan.
"So… what's next, Naruto?" he asked, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Naruto grinned, the corner of his mouth quirking upward.
"The next step… will depend entirely on you, Master Kurama."
Kurama froze for a second.
Master Kurama?
The brat was suddenly using honorifics?
A strange wave of satisfaction washed over him—until it didn't.
Wait a minute!
When has this kid ever called me that?!
Kurama instantly sensed the underlying mischief in Naruto's tone.
Sure enough, Naruto continued confidently, his eyes gleaming with resolve.
"To train true ninjas… we have to start by reaching out to those who are utterly loyal to Konoha."
He paused.
"But our target is already obvious."
"There are those unlucky souls—always down on their luck, buried so deep in the system no one ever notices them."
"In times like these…"
Naruto's voice softened, turning serious.
"All it takes is one hand reaching out in the dark."
"Earn their trust, give them hope… and they'll follow."
It was a simple truth—but one Naruto understood deeply.
Kurama listened in silence, ears perked as he absorbed Naruto's plan.
He understood it.
He really did.
But still—
What is going on in that strange little brain of his?!
Sure enough, this kid was more unpredictable than any monster Kurama had ever known.
And yet…
Kurama couldn't help but let out a low chuckle.
He liked this version of Naruto.
Naruto continued.
"In the decades since Konoha was founded, there have been at least five hundred—maybe thousands—of such ninjas."
"Some were suppressed by powerful factions and left to rot at the bottom."
"Others… just lacked the talent, and wasted away in frustration."
"But we—" he said, with quiet intensity, "—we can give them another chance. A real chance."
"A chance to change their lives."
Naruto turned to Kurama, expression calm but firm.
"If it were you…"
"Wouldn't you seize that opportunity, Kurama?"
Kurama fell silent.
But inside, he already knew his answer.
His mind flashed back to the era of the First Hokage… and Madara Uchiha.
To the centuries of hatred and fear.
If someone back then had offered him the power to fight back…
He would have taken it.
Without hesitation.
But the moment that thought crossed his mind, Kurama found himself more shocked than ever by Naruto's scheming.
"Of course," Naruto continued, "if this second chance comes too easily… people won't value it."
"They need to pay something in return."
"Whether it's money, effort, or something else—they must earn it."
"We can't just hand it over."
He smiled and added with a casual shrug, "But I'll leave the details up to you."
"Kurama…"
"I'm counting on you."
Naruto's gaze was calm and full of trust as he looked at the Nine-Tails.
Kurama stared back.
For a moment, he was stunned.
Then it hit him—
So that's why this brat agreed to free him and give him back some autonomy!
It wasn't generosity.
It was delegation.
He wanted him to work!
Tch! Damn kid…
Your heart is even darker than mine! And I'm the Nine-Tailed Fox!
Kurama didn't even have the strength to complain anymore.
And then he heard Naruto go on:
"We start with civilian-born ninja—those with no talent, no connections, no dreams."
"Let them slowly drift into our fold, one step at a time."
"But we don't stop there."
"We also need to look at the clan-born ninja… the ones who are nobodies within their own families."
"With our support, we can help them rise through the ranks and gain status."
"Then there are the merchants—those who control the flow of supplies into Konoha…"
"…And the landlords—those who own land and influence."
Naruto's voice turned cold.
"They're fat and greedy. You just know they'd jump at the chance to extend their lives with chakra."
"Give them a taste, and little by little, we'll infiltrate every layer of Konoha's structure."
"And once the timing's right…"
A sharp glint appeared in Naruto's eye.
"…When Sarutobi Hiruzen thinks he still holds all the cards and believes the village supports him…"
"…That's when we drag those rotten old fossils straight into the dustbin of history."
Kurama could feel it now—Naruto's ambition. His grand vision laid bare.
And it was…
enormous.
At that moment, Naruto rose to his feet.
He spread his arms wide like he was about to embrace the entire world.
"When Konoha is in our hands," he said boldly, "we'll push deeper."
"To the Four Great Shinobi Villages—Suna, Kiri, Iwa, and Kumo."
"To the smaller hidden villages scraping by in the shadows."
"Our influence will reach across the entire shinobi world."
"We'll keep moving forward—steadily, quietly—until we unify the Ninja Continent."
Naruto's voice was filled with unwavering resolve.
Kurama stared at him.
For a moment, he completely forgot how this whole thing started.
He was caught in the tide of Naruto's ambition.
His body shivered—not with fear, but with excitement.
"Naruto!"
"When do we start?!"
Kurama's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Naruto turned to him, serious as ever.
"Right now, Kurama."
After all, he couldn't collect intelligence all across the village every day.
Not while keeping up appearances…
Not while pretending to be just another genin…
And luring people with chakra?
Only one person—well, one fox—was suited for that.
Kurama understood immediately.
And just like that, a metaphorical bucket of cold water hit him.
Reality check.
He was… still a worker.
Still had to go do his job.
Sigh.
So much for freedom.
Still, after reading manga and novels inside Naruto's mind for the past six years…
Kurama had long adapted to his brat's crazy ideas and internet slang.
He let out a breath and said, "Alright then. Let's get started."
The fire returned to his eyes.
"And don't forget—stay in disguise."
"Don't expose yourself."
Naruto offered two final reminders.
Kurama gave a sly, fanged grin.
"Relax, I've been causing trouble since before you were born."
"I've got this."
And with a whoosh—
Kurama vanished beneath the moonlight.
Naruto could still sense the faint traces of Kurama's chakra as it left him behind.
A subtle grin touched his lips.
He was looking forward to what came next.
Some time had passed since the night their plan began.
Kurama moved quietly through the village. With the help of Naruto's shadow clones—deployed like invisible scouts—he had already gathered a significant amount of intelligence.
Details on civilian-born ninja, clan heirs, merchants, landowners…
Every piece was falling into place.
And while Team 7 continued carrying out their usual D-rank missions, Kurama quietly took action.
That day…
On one of Konoha's public training grounds, a man in his late twenties—dressed in the standard flak jacket of a Chūnin—gritted his teeth as he practiced alone.
His name was Nakamoto Shinji, a regular shinobi of the village.
Taking advantage of a short break in his schedule, Shinji was doing what many average ninja did with their free time: training, hoping, grinding.
Shinji belonged to a Jōnin-led squad, meaning the team's captain was an elite shinobi—an expert in both Water and Earth Style jutsu.
As for Shinji and the rest?
Just standard-issue Chūnin. Replaceable. Overworked. Underpaid.
The only reason Shinji was even on a team like that was because he'd paid the price.
Not in money alone—but in favors, labor, and respect.
After all, why would a skilled Jōnin bring along an average Chūnin unless they were getting something in return?
That's just how things worked in the Hidden Leaf.
Ordinary shinobi like Shinji had no choice.
They had to latch onto stronger ninja—just to access higher-ranked missions and earn a decent cut of the bounty.
And even then?
Once the payout came in, a portion was always skimmed off by the senior ninja—an unspoken tax, a show of deference.
What was left barely covered essentials.
Replenishing ninja tools. Medical supplies. Family expenses.
Yes, being a shinobi was lucrative in theory.
But for the average Chūnin?
It was barely enough to keep afloat.
Still… Shinji understood. This was his choice.
He joined a Jōnin-led team because that was the only way to survive and maybe, just maybe, get ahead.
If he had teamed up with other Chūnin?
He'd have safer missions, sure.
But lower pay. Less prestige.
Fewer chances to rise.
So if Shinji wanted to change his fate, he knew what had to be done:
Become a Jōnin himself.
But that was easier said than done.
Jōnin weren't just skilled—they were Konoha's elite.
The top tier.
Not something a "mediocre" ninja could just walk into.
Shinji trained relentlessly all morning, pouring his chakra into drills, strikes, and elemental control.
But his progress was stagnant.
His chakra reserves were small—barely enough to fight, let alone train for long periods.
And once they ran dry…
"Damn it!!!"
With a snarl, Shinji slammed his fist into the dirt.
His face was twisted in frustration.
The sad truth was… he was average.
An ordinary ninja with limited talent, limited chakra, and limited time.
And now, he was starting to realize that hard work alone might not be enough.
His chakra reserves… were pitifully small.
A gifted ninja with abundant chakra could unleash dozens of jutsu without breaking a sweat.
But for someone like Shinji Nakamoto—an average Chūnin—every jutsu was a gamble.
He had to calculate carefully, deciding which technique to use based on how much chakra he had left.
And when it came to training?
The disparity was brutal.
While others could practice the same jutsu over and over, refining it with each attempt…
Shinji could barely cast it a few times before his chakra ran dry—long before he could begin to understand how to improve it.
The moment he exhausted his reserves, fatigue would slam into him like a collapsing building.
His body would feel heavy. Numb. Weak.
And to recover?
He'd need the rest of the day—sometimes longer—just to return to baseline.
At that point, training had to stop.
And in this world, where strength ruled and time was precious…
Falling behind once meant falling behind forever.
A single misstep, and the distance only widened.
Until, in the end…
He could only stand by helplessly, watching younger, more talented shinobi ascend to heights he could only dream of.
But just as despair was settling in—
Someone appeared behind him.
A shadow draped in a crimson, hooded robe, face completely obscured.
Shinji's senses sharpened immediately.
He hadn't heard a sound.
Hadn't felt a presence.
The chakra… was unfamiliar.
The figure spoke—voice calm, deep, and oddly soothing.
"Ninja… do you want a chance to change your life?"
Shinji flinched and spun around instantly, heart pounding.
"Who's there!?"
There shouldn't be anyone else in the training ground at this hour.
And that voice—those words—what did they even mean?
A chance to change his life?
Eyes narrowing, Shinji scanned the intruder.
Whoever this was, he wasn't wearing a Konoha forehead protector. He wasn't one of them.
Not a Leaf shinobi.
"Who are you? What do you want!?"
Though still drained, Shinji forced his body upright and took a defensive stance.
His chakra hadn't fully recovered, but he could still fight if needed.
The robed figure didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Just stood there calmly… then spoke again.
"I can give you a way to become stronger."
"The question is… do you want it?"
...
TN:
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