Hokage Tower
Seeing that Shizuka had finished petting the little fox, Nagi spoke softly.
"Alright, Shizuka. It's time to talk with the Nine-Tails."
"Mm."
Shizuka gently let go of Kurama.
After a moment, Kurama stood up comfortably from the floor and rubbed affectionately against Nagi's pant leg.
Then he turned his gaze toward Naruto and the others, his expression becoming cold again.
"So, what exactly do you want to talk to me about?"
"Your attitude changed way too fast!!"
Naruto couldn't help shouting at Kurama's blatant double standard.
"Tch. If you have something to say, say it quickly."
Kurama showed complete disdain for Naruto.
You don't have Nagi's immortal-like presence or pure heart. And you're not one of Nagi's girlfriends either. The fact that I'm even talking to you is already giving you face.
"I feel like this guy is looking down on me."
Naruto muttered irritably.
Nagi crouched down and gently stroked Kurama's head.
"Naruto, don't be like that. The Tailed Beasts are actually quite pitiful.
"They were created a thousand years ago by the Sage of Six Paths. But later generations coveted their power. Human greed shattered the peaceful lives the Tailed Beasts once had.
"So they were turned into weapons of war."
Nagi glanced at the portraits of the previous Hokage hanging on the office wall.
"But the most extreme cases were the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara."
Before Tsunade could ask anything, Kurama's fur instantly bristled.
Just hearing those two names reignited the fury in his heart.
However—
"Mmm…"
Nagi gently stroked Kurama's fur again.
The Nine-Tails immediately calmed down, clearly enjoying it.
"The First Hokage's Wood Release and Madara's Sharingan completely countered the Tailed Beasts. During their era, almost all the Tailed Beasts ended up under Konoha's control.
"And the creation of Jinchūriki only made the Tailed Beasts' situation even worse."
"In the Shinobi World Wars, both the Jinchūriki and the Tailed Beasts were treated as weapons. From then on, the Tailed Beasts had almost no freedom."
"The One-Tail, Shukaku, has always been sealed by Sunagakure."
"The Two-Tails, Matatabi, and the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, had relatively better situations later on. However, the Two-Tails has now been captured by the Akatsuki."
"The Three-Tails can be considered one of the most unfortunate."
Nagi glanced at Kakashi.
Kakashi's body trembled slightly, his eyes losing focus as painful memories resurfaced.
"Alright, let's focus on the Nine-Tails."
"The Nine-Tails' original name is Kurama, a name personally given by the Sage of Six Paths."
"NANI!? The Sage of Six Paths!?" ×5
Naruto and the others looked completely confused.
The Sage of Six Paths gave the Nine-Tails his name? Wait—does the Sage of Six Paths actually exist?
Nagi nodded.
"Yes. As for the origin of the Tailed Beasts, someone will explain it to you in the future."
He glanced at Kakashi again.
Tsunade asked curiously,
"Then how do you know all this?"
Nagi smiled.
"My teacher told me."
Technically speaking, that wasn't wrong.
Back when Nagi was reading the manga, Tobirama had always read ahead of him—constantly spoiling the plot.
"Uh… alright."
Tsunade felt the explanation somehow made sense. Her grand-uncle Tobirama Senju was extremely knowledgeable. Even if he knew something absurdly obscure, it wouldn't be surprising.
Kakashi and Shizune also nodded. If it came from the Second Hokage, they weren't going to question it.
"Teacher? Kakashi-sensei or Iruka-sensei?"
Naruto and Sakura looked confused.
Kakashi quickly interrupted them.
"Alright, that's not important. Let Nagi continue."
The fewer people who knew about the Second Hokage's secrets, the better.
Nagi continued.
"During the Warring States Period, the Second Raikage once sent Kinkaku and Ginkaku to capture the Nine-Tails. However, they failed.
"Near the end of the Warring States era, Uchiha Madara directly controlled the Nine-Tails with the Sharingan and fought the First Hokage at the Valley of the End.
"After the battle, the First Hokage won. But that was also the beginning of the Nine-Tails' nightmare.
"The First Hokage sealed the Nine-Tails inside Uzumaki Mito, and Kurama lost his freedom."
"Several decades later, Kurama was sealed again inside Uzumaki Kushina—Naruto, your mother."
"My… mom?"
Naruto froze.
When he had first graduated from the Academy, the Third Hokage and Nagi had already told him that his mother had once been the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
But hearing her mentioned again still made Naruto feel a little sad.
Nagi continued.
"And more than ten years later, Kurama was sealed into you, Naruto. For decades now, Kurama has basically lived in captivity."
After hearing this, Naruto looked at Kurama with sympathy.
"Nine-Tails—no, Kurama… I didn't know your life was so miserable. From now on, I'll treat you better."
Kurama instantly exploded with anger.
"You brat! Who gave you permission to call me by my name!? I don't need your pity!
"And I'm the one who killed your parents! We're supposed to be enemies!"
Naruto paused.
But he still shook his head, crouched down, and gently patted Kurama's head.
"That's a different matter. At the very least, for the past ten years… you've been the one who's been with me the longest."
"Hmph. Don't touch me!"
Kurama slapped Naruto's hand away with his paw.
Even so, Kurama could sense people's hearts better than anyone.
He could clearly feel Naruto's genuine kindness, and his tone unconsciously softened.
Nagi smiled at the scene before speaking again.
"Alright. Let's go."
"Go where?"
"To meet Uncle Minato and Aunt Kushina."
"Huh? HUH!?" ×5
Konoha Waterfall
Jiraiya, Tsunade, Shizune, Yamato, Kakashi, Sakura, Nagi, and Shizuka had all gathered there.
With recommendations from Jiraiya and Nagi, Shizuka—despite being from another village—was allowed by Tsunade to participate in this operation.
Yamato used Wood Release to construct a platform resembling a ritual altar.
If Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra went berserk, Yamato could immediately suppress it with his Wood Release techniques.
Shizuka stared at the Wood Release structure with a slightly strange expression.
Jiraiya thought she was shocked because it was her first time seeing Wood Release, so he proudly said,
"Well, Shizuka? Pretty impressive, right?"
"Yeah."
Shizuka nodded.
To be honest, she had never seen such weak Wood Release before.
Nagi's Wood Release was on an entirely different level. And Naruko's Wood Release usually summoned vast forests, flower seas, and even Wood Dragons.
She had subconsciously believed Wood Release was supposed to look like that.
This tiny structure Yamato created was the first time she'd seen such a small-scale version.
Nagi, Kurama, and Naruto stepped onto the wooden platform.
At that moment, Nagi looked toward Jiraiya and Kakashi.
"Aren't you two coming?"
"Even though Aunt Kushina will probably beat you both up, after all these years… shouldn't you meet her again?"
"T-That…" ×2
Tsunade immediately smacked both of them on the head.
"Stop acting like cowards! At a moment like this, you're still trying to run away?"
Jiraiya and Kakashi exchanged a helpless glance and smiled bitterly.
Then they stepped onto the platform as well.
Nagi smiled gently.
"Alright… let's begin."
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