Morning light filtered through the curtains of Naruto's room. He woke up stretching, yawning so much that his jaw dropped. The day promised to be normal. Well... normal if you forgot that a fallen goddess was camped somewhere in his mind.
Kurama mentally growled:
— Wake up, idiot. Your new "roommate" is already active. She seems to be exploring your mind… and frankly, it's embarrassing.
Naruto scratched his head, obviously still asleep.
— What on earth is she doing in my head at this hour?
He closed his eyes to connect to his inner mind, where Kurama had taken up residence. When he opened his eyes in that mental space, he saw her: Kaguya, standing by Kurama's immense cage, her gaze distant and calculating. She seemed to examine every corner with an analytical coldness.
—Hey, Kaguya! What are you making? Naruto asked as he stepped forward.
She slowly turned her head towards him, her long hair flowing gently around her.
— Your mind is primitive. A chaotic, disordered space. How did you survive with such a structure?
Kurama, still behind his cage, snickered.
— Oh, because your "dimensional realm" was so perfect? You act all proud, but look at you. Weak and trapped in a kid's brain.
Naruto, feeling the tension rising, raised his hands in a sign of peace.
— Calm down, you two. Kurama, be nice. Kaguya, don't provoke him.
She crossed her arms, her expression impassive.
— I don't need your permission to speak.
Naruto sighed, crossing his own arms to mimic her attitude.
— Well, then tell me why you're hanging around my mind? Did you lose something?
She looked away, observing the empty horizon of mental space.
— I am analyzing the limits of this bond. If I am to stay here, I want to understand the extent of your power.
Naruto blinked, surprised.
— Why do you care? Are you trying to use me or something?
She gave him an icy look.
— Use a being like you? If I wanted to control you, it would have already been done.
Kurama straightened slightly in his cage, his red pupils glowing menacingly.
—Be careful with your words, Otsutsuki. You're on my territory now.
Kaguya ignored Kurama's warning and turned fully towards Naruto.
—If I stay bound to you, I have to make sure you are able to defend yourself. If you are weak, it will affect my survival.
Naruto, still puzzled, rubbed the back of his head.
— You know, you're really bad at giving compliments. But hey, if you want to know what I'm capable of, stick around. You've already seen what I can do in the war, right?
She raised an eyebrow slightly, almost as if she was considering him seriously for the first time.
—What I saw… was a child manipulating forces he doesn't fully understand.
Naruto almost choked on laughter.
—Manipulating forces I don't understand? You mean the guy who beat you up?
Kurama burst out laughing in his corner, his rumbling laughter echoing through the mindspace.
— Well said, Naruto!
Kaguya, though still stoic, narrowed her eyes slightly.
— Your arrogance is annoying.
Naruto shrugged.
— Well, get used to it, because that's how I am.
Back in the real world, Naruto opened his eyes, stretching again. Kaguya, now able to manifest a temporary physical projection, appeared in a corner of the room, sitting dignifiedly.
—Listen, if you're going to stay here, we're going to have to lay down some rules, Naruto said.
She crossed her legs, her aura of natural authority still present despite her current weakness.
— Rules? Your entire existence is an anomaly, and you think you can make rules for me?
Naruto sat on his bed, looking serious.
— Yeah, because if anyone sees you or senses your chakra, I'm dead. Sasuke would suspect me immediately, Tsunade would give me a hard time, and Sakura… Well, Sakura would give me a hard time. So no one has to know you're here.
Kaguya was silent for a moment, then nodded with calculated slowness.
— Very well. I will remain discreet. But in exchange, I want you to continue to provide me with the means to regain my strength.
Naruto blinked, wary.
— Regain your strength? Wait, you're not planning on going back to the way you were before and trying to take over the world, are you?
She looked at him as if he had just said something absurd.
— My goal is not domination. Not yet.
Naruto stepped back slightly, alarmed.
— "Not right now"? Are you serious?
She sighed, slightly exasperated.
— You have too much imagination. I'm just trying to survive.
Naruto, trying to put things in order, stood up abruptly.
— Okay, okay. You want to survive, I don't want the world to find out you're here. That works. But you'll have to explain to me what you mean by "recover strength."
She turned her head towards the window, watching the morning light.
—Your chakra is linked to mine now. If you become stronger, I will too.
Naruto nodded slowly.
—So… basically all I have to do is train and do my job like usual?
She didn't answer directly, but her silence seemed to confirm his words.
Naruto sighed, running a hand through his messy hair.
— Alright, then it's decided. From today on, you and I are a team. A weird team, but a team nonetheless.
She looked away, her voice cold but strangely resigned.
—If that's what it takes to keep me alive…then so be it.
Kurama, listening to the conversation, couldn't help but comment.
—A team with a fallen goddess and an optimistic jerk. It's going to be a disaster, but at least it'll be entertaining.
Naruto, purposely ignoring Kurama's sarcasm, pointed a finger at Kaguya with a big smile.
—So, welcome to the team, Kaguya! But seriously, we'll have to work on your smile.
She looked at him impassively before answering:
— If it will put an end to your stupidity… maybe.
Thus began their strange cohabitation, where a once-all-powerful goddess and a headstrong ninja would attempt to navigate a world that was ready for neither.