"ROAR!! You damn brat..."
Within the released seal space, the Kyūbi bellowed in rage, swinging its claw viciously toward the blond youth perched atop its head.
"This great me will tear you apart! Get off my head already!"
But just as the Kyūbi's claw was about to crush him, Naruto's body flickered—vanishing and reappearing on the fox's back.
BANG!
The Kyūbi struck itself, reeling from the blow, its vision swimming.
Naruto sat cross-legged on its back, resting his chin in one hand, speaking with a tone of boredom.
"Kyūbi, shouldn't you give up already? Even if this is a seal space, I don't want to waste too much time."
The seal space might exist inside his body, but it was more akin to a mental dimension. Time here flowed far slower than in the real world.
By his count, it had been at least two to three hours in this place—maybe longer. Outside, that translated to just a couple of minutes.
The Kyūbi fumed, its rationality nearly lost, flinging its nine colossal tails in fury.
"Damn brat! I am a natural disaster incarnate! How could I lose to the likes of you!?"
Naruto only sighed, his expression weary.
He wasn't the Naruto from the original story. He didn't have that famed "Talk no Jutsu," nor did he care to waste his breath convincing the fox.
A fight was the best way forward.
That way—even if the Kyūbi stayed stubborn, it would still have to listen.
What he hadn't expected, though, was just how spiteful its personality was. Even after being beaten down within the first ten minutes, it still refused to admit defeat.
"Rasengan!"
In his palm, an enormous Chōōdama Rasengan (Super-Super Giant Rasengan) formed.
The orb was massive, its energy terrifying. If it had been black instead of blue, it could easily be mistaken for a Bijūdama (Tailed Beast Bomb) from the Sanbi or Yonbi.
"Want another one!?"
Naruto pressed the planet-sized Rasengan toward the Kyūbi's head.
The fox—normally fearless—shuddered violently.
Not because it was a coward, but because it had just been pummeled with thousands of these oversized Rasengan, nearly blasted half to death.
Through gritted teeth, the Kyūbi growled:
"Damn you, Uzumaki Naruto... just like your father, stealing this great me's Bijūdama to make your own technique..."
Naruto didn't bother to deny it. After all, the Rasengan was indeed inspired by the Tailed Beast Bomb.
With a flip of his hand, the giant Rasengan dispersed. Behind him, four radiant golden chakra chains spread outward.
Extending his left hand, Naruto smirked.
"Then what if I use Kongō Fūsa (Adamantine Sealing Chains)? Or maybe just taijutsu? Which one do you think could beat you?"
The Kyūbi's face darkened. Especially at the sight of those gleaming golden chains, it felt like spitting blood.
Kongō Fūsa!
The Uzumaki clan's bloodline limit. The natural nemesis of all Bijū.
"No way in hell I'll accept that... I'll fight you in taijutsu!" the Kyūbi roared. It still trusted its physical might.
After all, it was a Tailed Beast—its size was mountainous, its strength enough to smash mountains with a single swipe.
No matter how strong Naruto's taijutsu, his human body couldn't match such raw power.
"Taijutsu, huh?" Naruto's grin widened. He raised his right hand.
"Busoshoku: Kōka!! (Armament Haki: Hardening!!)"
His hands turned pitch-black, clenching into fists that crackled with sonic booms, radiating overwhelming power.
"Kyūbi, don't forget our deal—when you lose this time, you'll obediently lend me your strength!"
"Of course!" the fox barked without hesitation, slamming its limbs down and lunging forward, fangs bared.
"This great me will never lose!!"
CRACK!
Its jaws snapped down—but just before closing, a sharp shatter rang out.
Naruto braced its upper jaw with his left hand, its lower with his right.
Whether the fox's bite was too strong, or Naruto's hardened body too unyielding—its snow-white fangs cracked.
The Kyūbi froze, then wailed in disbelief:
"My fangs!!!"
"..."
Back in the real world, atop Isobu's head...
Naruto's eyes snapped open, golden chakra boiling around his form. A faint smirk curved across his lips.
"It's done."
Gone was the violent, malevolent red chakra.
In its place—pure golden chakra, calm yet vastly more powerful.
The mark of a Perfect Jinchūriki.
Even if the fox wasn't truly sincere, it had submitted.
"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Naruto tilted his head at the pirates who had instinctively backed away.
Barrett drew a long breath, eyes fixed on the golden aura cloaking him.
"What... what is that? Just now, you were wrapped in fiery red energy... with tails sprouting behind you..."
Crocodile exhaled smoke, voice grim.
"If not for the fact we're at sea... I would've already run."
The other pirates nodded furiously.
Moments ago, Naruto had been like a demon—scarlet aura erupting to the heavens, six tails of malice lashing, his body sprouting pale bones.
Like some hell-spawned monster.
Even hardened veterans of countless battles had been drenched in cold sweat.
"So... I went into a bijū rampage just now, huh." Naruto muttered, then smiled as his gaze turned to the Gate of Justice.
"It's fine. That's just one of my powers."
Crocodile and the others didn't press further. Their eyes were already fixed on the massive gate ahead.
"Uzumaki Naruto, if you've got a way through, we'd better do it soon. If not, we'll never reach Marineford..."
"I know!"
Naruto cut them off. Golden chakra roared like flames, boiling from his body.
It swelled, sculpting into the shape of a colossal fox head... then limbs, claws, tails—until a full Kyūbi, vast enough to blot out the sky, took form.
(End of Chapter)
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