Chapter 55: Chapter 55 - The beginning of a good friendship
"Why are you so reluctant to work with Naruto?" Ryu asked, his eyes narrowing as he read the Kyubi's thoughts. He already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from Kurama himself.
"You know why," Kurama replied, his voice tinged with bitterness. "I can sense your emotions, and your arrogance is palpable."
Ryu frowned, taken aback by the comment. He hadn't realized that his newfound power might have made him a bit overconfident. "You're right," he admitted, the surprise evident in his voice. "I didn't take that into account. I'll need to work on it."
Regaining his composure, Ryu continued, "But that's not the point here. Naruto had no choice but to be your jailor, and you've seen firsthand how much he's suffered for it. You have no reason to hate him besides his lineage, which has only ever brought him pain."
Kurama hesitated for a moment before begrudgingly agreeing. "Fine, I'll talk to the brat. But if we don't see eye to eye, I'll just take his body."
"If you do that, I'll make you suffer a fate worse than death," Ryu warned, his voice calm but deadly serious. Kurama sensed the unwavering confidence behind Ryu's words and couldn't help but feel a genuine threat from him, especially with only half his power at his disposal.
Ryu stared fearlessly at the giant fox whose body dwarfed mountains, daring him to try.
Kurama grumbled under his breath, clearly irritated. "Fine, fine," he muttered as he closed his eyes and entered Naruto's mindscape.
Upon entering the mindscape, Kurama found Naruto in a pitiful state. The boy was huddled in a tight ball, tears streaming down his face. As Kurama observed him, he could feel the whirlwind of emotions raging within Naruto: anger, despair, helplessness, fear, sadness, and resentment. The intensity of those feelings was overwhelming, threatening to tear Naruto apart.
As Kurama watched, he couldn't help but notice the parallels between Naruto's situation and his own. Though Naruto's emotional turmoil couldn't compare to the decades of pain Kurama had endured, there were striking similarities. This realization softened Kurama's gaze, and he found himself beginning to empathize with the young boy.
Quietly, Kurama approached Naruto and sat down beside him, waiting for the tears to subside.
After a few minutes, Naruto managed to compose himself, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. "Thanks for waiting..." he said weakly, glancing at Kurama.
"You certainly took your time," Kurama replied, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "So, did you hear the brat's proposal?" Kurama questioned.
"Yeah, I heard it all," Naruto responded, his voice somber. "It's strange. I can see and hear what you experience as if I'm there, but I'm stuck here... Is this how you experience the world through me? It must be terrible."
Kurama let out a dry chuckle. "You could say it's the ultimate tease."
Naruto's eyes filled with remorse. " Stuck like this for decades... I can't imagine what it's been like for you... I didn't realize... I'm sorry I played a part in that. Maybe I can make it up to you by creating a more comfortable space in my mindscape. Get rid of the chains, at least."
Naruto's brow furrowed in confusion. "But you're not planning to take over my body, are you?"
Kurama sighed. "As irritating as it is to admit, your friend made some valid points. If I take over your body now, it'll just lead to a never-ending pursuit, one I might not win since I'm only at half-strength. But if we work together to control this place, I could move freely, borrowing your body when needed." Kurama didn't mention his uncertainty about facing Ryu.
Changing the subject, Kurama asked, "So, do you still want to become Hokage?"
Naruto hesitated. "I'm not sure. A big part of why I wanted it was to be acknowledged. That wasn't the only reason, but it was important. This village doesn't deserve me, and it's not worth my effort. Why should I be its Hokage?"
"For revenge. Show them how great you truly are," Kurama suggested gruffly. "But that seems so hollow," Naruto mused. "Then do it for your few friends. This village is in trouble, and if things continue like this, more innocent kids will suffer. Fix it up for them and for the future generations," Kurama proposed with a shrug.
"Can... Can you give me a couple of minutes? I need some time to process all of this... And sort out my feelings," Naruto requested, his voice faint. "Sure, kid," Kurama replied, waiting patiently in silence.
After ten minutes, Naruto found his resolve.
"...I guess that sounds good. Fine, I'm on board, let's do it." Naruto's voice was soft, but his eyes held a spark, a spark strong enough to ignite a fire that would change the world. "Heh, you're not so bad, kid," Kurama chuckled, noting the shift in Naruto's emotions. The chaotic mix was replaced with determination. "Thanks. So... Can I get my body back now?" Naruto asked, scratching his head awkwardly, the momentary intensity dissipating.
"*Sigh*, yes. But let me take over from time to time, alright?" Kurama set his condition. "Seems fair, sure," Naruto agreed immediately, causing a smirk to form on the Kyubi's face. "Alright, Naruto. Go and fix our reputation," Kurama said, relinquishing control to Naruto.
"I take it you're back, Naruto?" Ryu asked, observing the boy who had returned to his original form. "Yeah. Ryu, I want to change this place. Can you help me? I'll do any training, no matter how difficult!" Naruto declared with determination. "I'll hold you to that," Ryu smirked, accepting the challenge.
Weekly Power Status
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