The boy's voice echoed in the seal's domain.
It wasn't loud, but it made the Kyūbi suddenly go quiet—realizing that its chakra could no longer disturb this boy's mind.
It glared down at Naruto, growling low:
"You want to release ?"
As it spoke, Kurama's nine colossal tails whipped through the darkness like a storm, roaring:
"I'll make a deal with you! Let out, and I'll help you crush Konohagakure!"
"That won't be necessary."
Naruto rejected it imdiately.
His battles—he would fight them himself.
"What I want is this: stop interfering with my chakra. And when I need it—lend your power."
"In exchange, I'll give you my word—within the next ten years, I'll set you free."
ROAR!!
"You DARE toy with !?"
Kurama bellowed, seething with fury. It wanted nothing more than to rip this golden-haired boy to shreds.
"You think I'd trust a human's promise!?"
Naruto scratched his head. "Bit of a problem, then… I'm not the type who's good at convincing people."
After thinking for a mont, he said earnestly, "Kurama, I don't lie."
The fox growled.
"Let out, and you will die. You think I won't tear you apart?"
"I'm not looking to die. But freeing you doesn't necessarily an death either. You should know what happened earlier…"
"I've been to the other side of the ocean using space-ti ninjutsu. A world far different from this one. There, humans are born with bodies that rival monsters."
"And I've inherited so of that. My body's strong now—very strong. Even if you were free, I might survive it."
Kurama gradually cald.
It looked at the boy thoughtfully.
It had sensed sothing. A place that was not this world. And yes—it had lent the boy power once during his mysterious absence.
It didn't surprise the Kyūbi. After all, the boy's father, Minato, had used space-ti ninjutsu.
But…
The other side of the ocean?
The Sage of Six Paths had never ntioned such a thing.
Just then, Naruto sensed sothing.
"Kurama, soone's calling . I've got to go."
"But before I leave, I want you to know this—"
"You're called a natural disaster. But to , you're just another victim."
"It was human greed for your power that started it all."
"I'm also seen as a monster, a demon fox. So I understand what you feel. The hatred. The loneliness."
"Think it over. I won't go back on my word."
With that, Naruto didn't use the ntal Door again.
He simply opened his eyes—and returned to his body.
Right in front of him stood Sarutobi Hiruzen, wearing his signature grandfatherly smile.
"Naruto, were you sleeping here?"
Naruto gave him a smile in return.
"Jiji… I guess I was tired. But more than that… I think I was just… sad."
"Sad?" Hiruzen blinked.
"Yeah," Naruto nodded. He looked out the window toward the kids who didn't dare co near the school.
"No matter what I do… no matter how hard I try… everyone in Konoha still hates . And honestly… I think I'm losing hope."
Sarutobi's heart clenched.
Crap.
This… this wasn't part of the plan…
He'd allowed the villagers to abuse Naruto for years—just enough to isolate him emotionally.
So that he, the Third Hokage, could be the boy's only light. His savior.
But this ti, he'd let it go too far.
Naruto had reached the brink.
If this continued… all those years of manipulation would go up in smoke.
Even worse, if Naruto truly gave in to despair, the Nine-Tails could fully awaken.
And once that happened—Hiruzen knew he'd be the first to be blad.
The entire village might turn on him.
Panic surged in his chest.
He forced a warm smile and said:
"Don't think that way, Naruto. The people of Konoha are kind. There are many who like you."
Naruto didn't respond.
He just kept watching the clouds outside.
Sarutobi's chest grew heavier.
The boy had changed.
He no longer believed his words.
Damn it… Those fools! Who threw that stone!? Do they want to destroy the whole village!?
After a few more half-hearted reassurances, Sarutobi stood and gently patted Naruto's head.
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then Sarutobi left the classroom, grim-faced, and stord back to the Hokage's office.
Imdiately, he summoned the ANBU.
"Reporting in, Hokage-sama."
The masked ninja kneeled.
"Find out who threw that stone at Naruto," Hiruzen growled.
"Drag that idiot to Interrogation. I want to know if he's a spy—no true villager of Konoha would attack one of our own."
"And pass this down as law:"
"From this day forward—no one touches Naruto. No one throws anything at him. No one calls him monster or fox again."
"Anyone who breaks this order… is to be arrested."
…
The Third Hokage roared with fury.
The boy he'd spent five years manipulating—now pushed to the edge of full-blown despair.
And the Nine-Tails nearly broke free.
Hiruzen couldn't forgive the villagers. Not this ti.
The ANBU broke out in a cold sweat.
They'd followed Hiruzen for years—but never seen him this enraged.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
With a flicker, the ANBU vanished from the office.
But Sarutobi still hadn't cooled down.
His chest heaved. His fists clenched.
He wanted to kill the one responsible.
Monts later, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu entered the room.
They looked at Sarutobi with grim faces.
They'd already heard what happened.
Even they hadn't expected it.
The usually cheerful Naruto… had fallen into despair.
"…Sarutobi," Homura began, "Could this be the work of the Uchiha's dōjutsu?"
"No."
Sarutobi shook his head imdiately.
"I examined Naruto myself. No signs of genjutsu or manipulation."
Koharu frowned.
"But I've heard… Naruto's grown taller. His strength has skyrocketed. Isn't that strange?"
"That's not genjutsu," Sarutobi said, voice calr now. "That's just… raw power."
"From what I've seen, his physical capabilities are already hundreds—thousands of tis stronger than an average child."
"No jutsu can explain it. Not even the Akimichi Clan's techniques."
"…It has to be the awakening of the Senju bloodline."
(End of Chapter)
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