Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

"So it really was the Nine-Tails I encountered back then."

"Since this is Naruto's inner world, has it been able to break free from the seal and appear freely?"

Even though Kakashi had mentally prepared himself, facing the Nine-Tails still made him tense.

After all, in his memories, the chaos of the Nine-Tails' attack remained one of Konoha's deepest wounds.

It had taken the lives of Minato-sensei and Kushina-sama.

It had plunged Konoha into one of the darkest periods in its history.

And now, seeing the Nine-Tails still acting so aggressively only reinforced his assumptions.

"As expected."

"The Nine-Tails is still filled with resentment after being sealed away by you for so many years."

Kakashi folded his arms and snorted.

"Nine-Tails."

"Even after spending more than ten years with Minato-sensei, your violent nature still hasn't changed?"

"Huh?"

Kurama froze.

Minato froze as well.

"After meeting Jiraiya-sama, I kept wondering."

"If you were truly alive and had been guiding Naruto all this time, why had you never contacted us?"

"And then, after seeing you here inside Naruto…"

"A lot of things suddenly made sense."

"Mm?"

"You met Jiraiya-sensei?"

"Wait, Kakashi, I think you may have misunderstood something—"

Minato hurriedly tried to explain.

But Kakashi shook his head with a look of complete understanding.

"Everyone knows somebody must have been teaching Naruto."

"We just couldn't figure out how."

"And the Third Hokage always wondered why Naruto only experienced occasional leaks of the Nine-Tails' chakra when he was very young."

"After that, his chakra remained completely stable."

"He grew up healthy."

"Incredibly healthy."

"Frankly, Naruto's chakra reserves are already far beyond my own limits."

"They're practically bottomless."

"At first, we assumed it was simply because your seal was extraordinarily strong."

"But now I understand."

"This chakra you left behind…"

"That was your mission."

Kakashi's gaze softened with admiration.

"You weren't merely teaching Naruto how to become stronger."

"For over ten years, day after day, you've been suppressing the most vicious tailed beast in existence."

"You've been struggling endlessly to keep the Nine-Tails contained."

"That's why you couldn't leave."

"And even under those circumstances…"

"You still raised Naruto into a shinobi who protects his comrades and loves his village."

"He's become so exceptional."

"So powerful."

"And yet he still strives to improve himself every day."

"He studies."

"He learns."

"He never becomes arrogant."

Unlike me.

Unlike the burden I placed on you back then.

Kakashi lowered his head.

"This place is Naruto's inner world, isn't it?"

"It's warm."

"It's bright."

"I can't imagine how much effort it took to create this."

"When I compare myself to you…"

"The fact that people now call me a teacher feels almost embarrassing."

Silence filled the white space.

Kurama slowly lowered the wicked grin he had been wearing.

Then he turned expressionlessly toward Minato.

"Oh?"

"So all of this was your doing?"

"How incredible, Fourth Hokage."

The utterly flat tone made Minato instantly sweat.

Seeing Kakashi's face that clearly proclaimed I have figured everything out, Minato scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Uh…"

"Where exactly should I start explaining?"

"Forget it."

Kurama snorted.

"You two talk."

"I have no interest in listening to your student worship you."

The giant fox began sinking back into the void.

"Besides, Kakashi's illusion is too weak."

"If I don't strengthen it, Naruto will wake up before you finish talking."

Then Kurama added casually:

"And Watergate."

"If Kakashi refuses to cooperate, call me."

"I'll handle him personally."

"Seal him."

"Erase some memories."

"Whatever works."

"I've never had the chance to experiment on a real person before."

"Understood."

"Thank you, Kurama-sama."

Minato nodded politely.

As Kurama disappeared, Kakashi could still faintly hear his muttering.

"...Not his own eye."

"No wonder the visual prowess is so weak."

"I have to strengthen the illusion myself."

"Then again, Sharingan is garbage anyway..."

Kakashi blinked.

The interaction felt...

Strange.

Very strange.

For some reason, the relationship between Minato and the Nine-Tails seemed nothing like what he had imagined.

Meanwhile, in the outside world—

Naruto and Kakashi both sat motionless on the floor.

Kakashi's expression remained calm.

Naruto's did not.

His brows occasionally twitched.

His face sometimes tightened.

He seemed to be struggling against the illusion.

Yet every time he was about to wake up, his expression would gradually settle once more.

Inside Naruto's consciousness—

A chaotic landscape stretched endlessly.

Countless figures walked past him.

A younger version of the bushy-browed man.

A slightly younger-looking Kakashi.

His father.

Many familiar faces.

Many unfamiliar ones.

Some appeared crystal clear.

Others were blurry and faded.

"Hmm?"

Naruto looked around in confusion.

At that moment, Kurama's consciousness appeared within the space as well.

Originally, he had intended to ensure Naruto stayed asleep.

Instead, he discovered something unexpected.

"Interesting."

"Naruto entered Kakashi's inner world?"

Kurama narrowed his eyes.

The idea itself stemmed from a realization he had gained in another life.

Years ago—

When Naruto and Sasuke reunited after three years apart—

Kurama had been speaking with Naruto within his inner world.

Then Sasuke's Sharingan had forcibly broken into Naruto's consciousness through its ocular power.

Not only had Sasuke entered—

He had also dispersed the chakra fragment Kurama had painstakingly managed to leak out.

Back then, Kurama had found the phenomenon irritating.

Now, however, he realized something else.

If two minds became linked through ocular power…

Then Naruto could just as easily enter the other person's mental world.

Watching countless people from Kakashi's memories pass by—

Kurama soon lost interest.

To him, humans were humans.

Different ants.

Same category.

Some faces stood out.

Terumi Mei appeared clearly.

Others had already faded into obscurity.

Kurama's gaze lazily drifted across the crowd.

Then suddenly—

His eyes narrowed.

"Hm?"

Among the figures, he spotted a familiar face.

Pink eyes.

A small frame.

Yagura Karatachi.

The Fourth Mizukage.

"And Isobu's current jinchūriki."

Kurama sank into thought.

Tailed beasts could communicate with each other.

But only within a certain range.

In the future, Naruto would eventually connect all the tailed beasts together.

Through him, they could gather within a shared space regardless of distance.

But in this timeline, Naruto had yet to meet any of them.

Not Shukaku.

Not Isobu.

Not the others.

"Heh."

"Though it won't be long now."

Kurama's tail swayed slowly.

"When I finally meet them again…"

"I wonder how they'll react to my plan."

"Most of them probably won't object."

"But Gyūki…"

Kurama clicked his tongue.

"And a few others…"

"What a troublesome bunch."

His words were filled with annoyance.

Yet deep inside—

He was looking forward to it.

More than he wanted to admit.

Eventually, his gaze settled on Naruto.

The golden fox eyes softened.

Showing an emotion he never revealed in front of Naruto or Minato.

"No matter what…"

"This time…"

"I won't let you suffer through all of that again."

"You'd better keep growing stronger."

"Don't disappoint me."

For a long moment, Kurama simply watched the boy.

Then, quietly—

The giant fox smiled.

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