"Naruto!"
Kakashi stared in disbelief at the sight of the three massive toads and Naruto being launched through the air. He immediately turned his gaze toward the monstrous chameleon that had suddenly appeared.
The aura it emitted was more terrifying than that of all the Jōnin combined.
But what was even worse—behind that chameleon were dozens more monsters, each equal in size and aura.
All the shinobi who witnessed this were stunned.
Some even dropped to their knees in helpless despair.
"Is this a dream? What kind of nightmare is this…?"
Asuma was shaken to his core, unable to comprehend what was happening.
It reminded him of that dreadful night years ago—when the Nine-Tails attacked Konoha.
He had been just a child then, powerless to do anything but watch.
And now, after finally becoming a strong Jōnin, he was once again rendered helpless by an even greater threat.
It wasn't just Asuma—many others shared the same thoughts.
A deep, suffocating despair loomed over everyone's hearts.
Meanwhile, Naruto and the three giant toads crashed into a nearby forest, groaning as they struggled to rise.
"Cough, cough! Naruto, are you alright?"
Gamabunta looked back at the boy on his back. He had deliberately used his body to shield Naruto from the fall.
"I'm fine. What about you guys?"
Naruto asked with concern.
"We're okay. But that damn chameleon really messed us up. We need to rest. Sorry, Naruto…"
With those words, the three toads disappeared in clouds of smoke, leaving Naruto to fall to the ground.
"Damn it…"
Naruto clenched his fists in frustration. He couldn't believe the monsters from the Blood Pool were so strong—strong enough to overwhelm the toad chiefs he had always relied on.
BOOM! BOOM!
Even from a distance, the sound of explosions echoed from the direction of Konoha. Naruto could almost feel the screams.
"No! I have to get back to the village… But with just my power, I can't protect everyone. What should I do?!"
Naruto clutched his hair in anguish. He regretted how he had slacked off lately, fooling around instead of training.
But even if he had trained, would it have changed anything?
"Right… I can use Kurama's power. But my body can't handle too much of it…"
Naruto stared at his hands. He remembered what Jiraiya had told him—his body could only handle a limited amount of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Any more, and he risked backlash.
"If I could use Kurama's full power, I might be able to stop those monsters. So that means…"
Naruto closed his eyes and entered his mindscape, approaching the cage that sealed Kurama.
"…What is it now?"
Kurama opened an eye and looked at him, confused.
"I want to ask you to save the village. If you're willing to help, I'll release you!"
Naruto pointed at the seal.
"Hah?"
Kurama blinked, stunned.
"You saw those monsters too, didn't you? Konoha can't stop them. I can't use more of your power without breaking. Only you can fight them!"
Naruto hurriedly explained.
BANG!
Kurama slammed a paw against the bars, making Naruto jump back in alarm.
"Don't get cocky! The fact that I let you use my power at all is a kindness! And now you want me to help your village? Have you forgotten who sealed me in here?!"
Kurama's eyes burned with hatred and venom. If it weren't for the cage, it looked like he would devour Naruto on the spot.
"Go ahead, release the seal if you want. But I'm not making any promises."
Kurama bared his fangs in a vicious grin.
"You're lonely, aren't you?"
Naruto's quiet words stunned Kurama.
"I used to think you were scary… but last time we spoke, I realized you're not impossible to talk to. You have your own thoughts.
You hate everything because you've been misunderstood, haven't you?"
Naruto stood tall and spoke slowly, looking Kurama in the eye.
"What do you know?! You think you understand me?!"
Kurama snarled in rage.
"I might. I've lived my whole life being hated too."
Naruto looked straight into Kurama's eyes.
The hatred he saw there… he had seen it before—in the mirror.
"Ever since I was a kid, I've been blamed, bullied.
I once thought about taking revenge, just like you.
But I held on—because I didn't want to become the kind of person they expected me to be.
I didn't want to give up!
So, Kurama… are you really okay with being seen as a monster forever?"
Kurama was stunned into silence.
Naruto's words echoed with the memory of something the Sage of Six Paths had once told him.
"You… who do you think you are?"
Kurama growled.
"I'm nobody. I'm Uzumaki Naruto!
I'm going to become Hokage!
And I'm also your friend!
We've been through the same things—so why should we be enemies?!"
Naruto grinned brightly.
Kurama was speechless.
"If we don't do something, Konoha will be destroyed anyway.
And if you decide to destroy it too after all this, well… so be it.
I'm not someone who overthinks things. I just want to try.
We can figure out the rest later."
As he spoke, Naruto reached for the seal.
"…You're really crazy."
Kurama muttered, surprised by Naruto's resolve.
"Hehe…"
Naruto just smiled. But just as he was about to release the seal—
A hand grabbed his wrist.
"Wait. Are you sure about this? The consequences could be devastating."
The voice came from none other than—Minato Namikaze.
"You're…?"
Naruto looked up in shock.
The man before him had the same blonde hair—but taller, and far more handsome.
"I'm the Fourth Hokage. The one who sealed Kurama inside you."
Minato smiled gently.
"YOU'RE the Fourth Hokage?!
You're the one who sealed the Nine-Tails inside me?!"
Naruto cried out in disbelief.
"The Fourth?! It's you?!
Get in here—I'm going to kill you!!"
Kurama roared in fury upon seeing Minato, slamming his paw against the cage, desperate to break free and devour him.
"Too bad for you—you can't reach me from in there! Woo!"
Minato teased, making a funny face.
WHAM!
Naruto suddenly punched Minato in the stomach.
"Why did you do it?!
Do you have any idea how much I've suffered?!"
Tears streamed down Naruto's face.
If it weren't for this man—he would've had a normal childhood.
(End of Chapter)
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