Naruto: All depends on the Nine-tails Fox

Tailed Beasts, unlike traditional creatures, are merely condensations of chakra – pure energy. Kurama, the Nine-Tails, had no surprise at his resurrection. When aiding Naruto in battles against powerful foes like Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, the heavy particle mode Kurama provided had simply burned through his chakra as fuel. However, like water evaporating into gas, burned-out chakra transforms rather than vanishes entirely. Once depleted, Kurama's physical form couldn't be sustained, but with time, his chakra would naturally reform, eventually reshaping his body.

Yet, as he looked at the young Naruto in front of him, Kurama felt that something was off—this wasn't the kind of resurrection he'd expected. How could he be reborn in a time long past?

"So, where exactly is this place?"

"…"

"Hey, you're caged in there, huh? This gate is huge. Are you just going to stay silent?"

"…"

"What sort of demon are you, and why are you here? If you won't answer, I'm leaving!"

The incessant chatter grated on Kurama's nerves. Already unsettled by this bizarre situation, he dug his claws into the floor, growling in frustration. "Enough! Hey, Naruto."

Naruto, startled by the sudden voice, instinctively replied, "Yes?"

"Remove this seal. Being trapped in here is unbearable," Kurama said, extending a long, sharp claw to tap on the paper seal plastered on the bars.

"How do you know my name?"

Little Naruto rubbed his ear and looked in the direction Kurama had indicated. His gaze fell on the seal's strange symbols, a sight that filled him with unease, causing him to hesitate.

"What's the matter? Go on, tear it off." Kurama said, sounding slightly annoyed, "Or are you worried I'll harm you if I get out?"

"Huh? If I tear it off, you can come out?" Naruto asked, a little taken aback. "Then why don't you just take it off yourself?"

"I can't touch it. Without your hesitation or some weakening of your resolve, I can't even reach beyond these bars. Just go and pull it off," Kurama said in frustration, reminiscing about the older Naruto who understood him so well, unlike this cautious little child.

But even after all this urging, Naruto remained frozen, staring at the seal in a daze.

He glanced again at the enormous fox behind the bars, then cautiously reached out to touch the bars, withdrawing his hand quickly and wearing a thoughtful expression. Was he scared of Kurama, even as a child? After all, his early hardships had all stemmed from the presence of the fox within him.

Watching the young Naruto deep in thought stirred something in Kurama, making him feel a strange unease.

After a while, Kurama couldn't take it any longer. "Fine. If you don't want to tear it, then—"

"Alright! I've thought of a plan. Just wait there," Naruto interrupted him with a determined grin. Clenching his fist, he finally beamed brightly.

Under Kurama's astonished gaze, Naruto hurried to the bars and stood in front of the seal. He removed his scarf and outer jacket with the Uzumaki swirl on it, carefully tying them together. Seeing Kurama's puzzled expression, he explained, "This is so I can climb up and reach the seal! Now, hold onto this end for me."

Kurama stared in disbelief at the boy's unexpected ingenuity.

"Come on, it's cold here," Naruto urged, waiting for him.

Was he really thinking about how to reach up there?

"You… are willing to help me?" Kurama, almost in spite of himself, asked quietly, "Weren't you just scared of me?"

"Yeah? Anyone would be scared of a huge guy like you at first, but I'm okay now!" Naruto gave him a thumbs-up and a grin, his expression pure and sincere. "You don't seem mean at all, and unlike others, you haven't cast me aside. Of course, I'll help you!"

Kurama froze momentarily, and then a barely noticeable smile curved his giant fox lips. All his anxiety since awakening seemed to melt away—this child was indeed the Naruto he knew.

Kurama carefully pinched Naruto's improvised rope between his claws and lifted him up. Naruto felt the tightness around his waist and instinctively wriggled a bit, but soon he was at the height of the seal.

Without a second thought, he reached out a small hand to grasp the seal, ready to pull it off and release Kurama.

But in the next instant, a gentle hand held Naruto's, stopping him. He felt himself pulled back.

"Not so fast, Naruto."

"Huh?" Naruto tried to turn his head to see who had spoken, but a sudden dizziness swept over him, and he lost consciousness.

Kurama's gaze lingered on Naruto's body as it faded away, showing no surprise. Instead, his focus shifted to the figure that had appeared by the seal.

"I left a fragment of my chakra here as a safeguard, but I didn't expect my seal to deteriorate so quickly that Kurama could already manipulate Naruto…" The golden-haired man's gentle expression gave way to seriousness as he looked at Kurama through the bars. "Kurama, you really are formidable."

"The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze," Kurama sneered. "What, didn't you leave that chakra here just to reinforce the seal in moments like this?"

Minato, the Yellow Flash of Konoha, once a legendary figure across the ninja world, now looked heavy-hearted, even a little desperate.

He didn't understand why his safeguard had triggered so soon. In that brief moment he'd touched Naruto, Kurama had severed their connection—intentionally, without giving Minato any time to warn Naruto. How could Kurama control this mental space with such freedom, even from within the seal?

And Kurama wasn't even at full strength right now, according to the memories within Minato's chakra fragment.

"Tailed Beasts… truly more challenging than I imagined." Minato murmured, not bothering to argue with Kurama. He had little chakra left; he needed to reinforce the seal quickly.

But before Minato could act, Kurama's next words took him by surprise—

"Come here. I'll give you some chakra so you don't fade away." Kurama flicked his tail casually, his tone relaxed.