Naruto: SSS-Rank Romance System

"Hmm?"

"What did you just say?"

"Don't act like you didn't hear me!" Ino turned her face away, muttering, not daring to meet Naruto's gaze.

"Can the skirt be a bit shorter?" Naruto asked.

"No way! Absolutely not!" Ino snapped, crossing her arms in front of her chest and making a big "X."

"What about wearing black stockings?"

"I don't have anything like that!" Ino shook her head vehemently, her face filled with disdain. "As expected... you really are a complete pervert."

"Thank you."

"That's not a compliment, you jerk!"

Ino was nearly driven mad, teetering on the brink of losing her temper entirely.

"Fine, maybe next time." Naruto unexpectedly backed down.

"Huh?"

Ino was taken aback but felt even more uneasy. For someone as shameless as him to suddenly lose interest in teasing her felt even more suspicious.

"You're usually going on about how much you want to..." Ino blushed, her gaze shifting away as her voice trailed off. "I don't know how to handle this if you're feeling down."

"You don't have to go to such lengths." Naruto chuckled wryly. "I really do want to see, but..."

He pointed behind her and said, "Your mom seems to be watching us from the shop."

"Wha—?!" Ino's face turned pale. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she spun around in panic, only to whip her head back, her pupils shaking.

After leaving the Yamanaka Flower Shop, Naruto originally planned to head to the Hokage office but reconsidered since it was getting late. He decided to head home instead.

After grabbing some food, he washed up and lay down. As soon as he closed his eyes, his consciousness sank into the sealed space.

Before him was the familiar giant red-barred prison, with the film reel spinning idly. The Nine-Tails was dozing off, indifferent to Naruto's presence.

To be honest, Naruto wished the Nine-Tails would turn into a helpful, cute fox spirit.

Unfortunately, the Nine-Tails wasn't getting the hint, so for now, he could only keep it locked up.

The problem was that there wasn't a proper vessel for the Nine-Tails. Its immense power meant it could only exist within a jinchūriki.

It had to either be released or remain sealed.

Naruto leaned toward letting it go. Although it might cause trouble, he wanted to ask the Nine-Tails what it preferred.

In any case, the seal had to be undone.

"Kurama, wake up. I need to talk to you."

Naruto's voice echoed through the sealed space. The Nine-Tails reluctantly opened its eyes, glaring at him with evident irritation.

"Brat, say your piece quickly. Don't disturb my sleep."

"Your release date is coming up, you jerk," Naruto said, kicking the red bars in frustration. "I want to know where you plan to go."

"Release date?" The Nine-Tails' ears perked up, its massive eyes lighting up briefly before narrowing in suspicion.

"You humans always try to trick me!" it sneered, pressing its claws against the bars.

"I've figured you out! You just want me to take the hits for you again!"

"Don't tell me there's an Uchiha brat out there?"

"There aren't any Uchiha left in Konoha," Naruto replied nonchalantly. "What, is the strongest tailed beast scared of a mere Uchiha ninja?"

"Shouldn't those weaklings be afraid of the great Kurama, the strongest of all tailed beasts?"

"Not like me, living under Itachi Uchiha's shadow, constantly on edge. It's so painful," Naruto added dramatically.

"Itachi Uchiha?" The Nine-Tails raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You mean that brat who was setting fires a while back?"

"Yeah, probably the strongest of the Uchiha clan," Naruto said with a straight face.

"The strongest Uchiha?" The Nine-Tails scoffed disdainfully.

"Anyway, Kurama, it's time for a decision." Naruto suddenly grew serious. "I'm going to break the seal and let you out."

"Have you lost your mind?"

"Not at all." Naruto shook his head, gazing up at the massive Nine-Tails. "I've found a way to undo the seal without dying, so don't worry about that."

"What do you plan to do once you're free?"

"Destroy Konoha!" the Nine-Tails declared without hesitation.

"Fine by me," Naruto sighed, rubbing his forehead. "But if you do that, you're likely to get captured again. Do you really want to go through all that again?"

"What's your plan, then?"

"I don't have a solid one yet. I just wanted to give you a heads-up." Naruto looked up at the Nine-Tails. "Destroy Konoha if you want, but don't step on my house."

Pulling his consciousness out of the sealed space, Naruto lay on his bed. The sky outside was overcast, and his living room was dim.

He'd exaggerated a bit to coax the fox. In reality, he wouldn't break the seal in Konoha. If the Nine-Tails went on a rampage, it would be Naruto who paid the price.

Tailed beasts couldn't die; they'd simply reform.

But all the blame would fall on the jinchūriki. Naruto had no intention of giving the Nine-Tails that kind of freedom. An obedient fox was the best kind.

The village elders were already exploring the concept of a perfect jinchūriki, and proposals were being drafted.

Meanwhile, the Nine-Tails was fixated on destroying Konoha. If that ever happened, no one would listen to Naruto's explanations. He'd not only take the fall but likely become a rogue ninja.

He wasn't about to give up everything he had just to become a rogue ninja over the Nine-Tails' whims.

As he thought this over, Naruto slowly closed his eyes.

His sleep was restless, haunted by dreams of the Nine-Tails attacking Konoha. He saw Ino and Hinata in Chūnin uniforms on a rooftop, their eyes filled with despair as a Tailed Beast Bomb descended.

He woke up multiple times, drinking water from a glass in the kitchen before finally managing a fitful sleep until morning.

The next day.

Naruto dragged himself out of bed around noon, washed up half-asleep, and ate some bread and milk before heading out.

The previous day's events left him confused. While he had sealing techniques to control the Nine-Tails and Tsunade to keep Danzo in check, these measures only ensured his daily stability as a jinchūriki. They weren't real solutions.

He needed to speak with Tsunade and get her perspective.

______________________________________________

If you want more chapters ahead, check out my Patreon: 

patreon.com/PureParadox