The sun over Konoha, once a mere source of light, had become for Naruto a complex symphony of energies—a constant dance between Life and Chaos. Since his first encounter with Aethel and the unexpected exchange with Kurama, a week had passed, and each day had revealed a new layer of understanding.
The D-rank "missions" came and went—those same old chores: walking dogs, pulling weeds, picking up trash from the streams. For Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura, it was the monotonous routine of Genin life. But for Naruto, it was an open-air laboratory.
He continued to play the role of the eccentric and slightly incompetent ninja, but his senses and intellect—sharpened by the Multiverse—were constantly working in the background. He could perceive the aura of every person he encountered, the hidden intentions behind their smiles, the unspoken truths in their conversations.
The old woman who asked for help with her garden wasn't just a client; her aura, tinged with subtle melancholy, revealed the recent loss of her husband. A slight manipulation of the energy of Life by Naruto on her withered plants brought her an invisible comfort.
The Eye of the Multiverse was both a blessing and a curse—he saw too much, felt too much, and the weight of those perceptions was sometimes overwhelming. He had to train himself to filter, to focus only on what mattered, or risk drowning in the flood.
The relationship with Sakura continued to develop subtly. After the incident in the Land of Waves, she looked at him differently—not with the usual disdain or irritation, but with a budding curiosity and respect. Thanks to the Eye of the Multiverse, Naruto still saw the golden thread that tied her to Sasuke, strong and unwavering, but he also perceived a new thread forming between them—thin and delicate, a pale pink vibrating with hesitant tenderness.
He didn't always understand the intricacies of complex human emotions, but he understood connection, resonance.
One afternoon, during a mission to catch a runaway cat, Tora's escape turned into a chaotic chase through Konoha. Using the speed granted by Space, Naruto moved with superhuman efficiency, managing to herd the feline toward Sasuke, who caught it. Sakura, out of breath, caught up to them, her cheeks flushed from the exertion.
"Naruto, how did you… how are you so fast all of a sudden?" she asked, a mix of admiration and confusion in her green eyes.
Naruto scratched the back of his neck, letting out a nervous laugh. "Hehe, it's the energy of youth, Sakura-chan! Gotta be fast if I want to become Hokage, you know!"
He looked at her, his pupils returning to their usual blue, and Sakura's aura pulsed with an unexpected warmth.
Later, while returning the cat to the Fire Daimyō's daughter, the princess was so exasperated by Tora that she ordered her guard to eliminate the animal. Naruto felt the energy of Death stirring around the guard, and the cat's aura—usually chaotic and mischievous—was suddenly tinted with panicked fear.
Without thinking, Naruto stepped in. "No! You can't do that! It's cruel!"
For a brief moment, his chakra burst out—not the Kyūbi's, but the raw power of the Multiverse—creating a shockwave that made both the guard and the Daimyō step back. Everyone stared at him, stunned.
Naruto realized his mistake—he had revealed too much. He scratched the back of his neck again, that goofy smile returning. "Hehe, I guess I'm just a little... too passionate about animals, you know!"
Kakashi sighed, but his aura showed a mix of surprise and quiet pride. Sasuke looked at him, one eyebrow raised, intrigued. Only Sakura seemed to truly understand—her pink-and-green aura pulsed with soft admiration.
The solitary nights in the forest became Naruto's true training ground. Aethel, the Primordial Dragon King, hadn't appeared physically since their pact, but his presence was constant—a source of ancient wisdom resonating within Naruto's mind. Aethel taught him not to force things, but to attune himself to the energies.
"Your body is a filter, Guardian. The power of the Multiverse is infinite. Control is the key, not brute strength."
Naruto began with perception exercises. He would sit in silence, closing his Genin eyes to allow his Eye of the Multiverse to blossom. He saw the network of underground roots as veins of life, the rocks as points of spatial stability, and the air as a whirlwind of micro-events. He sensed Life in every leaf, Death in every fallen twig, and Time flowing through the layers of soil.
He focused on the Katon element. Ninjas were taught to use hand signs, to mold chakra. Naruto, however, sought the source. He concentrated on Chaos, the raw and unpredictable energy. He fused it with Creation, the energy of birth. He didn't form any hand signs. He simply extended his hand. A small flame flickered in his palm, then grew—not like a jutsu, but as if the heat of the sun had condensed there. It danced, without burning him. It was a pure flame, a Primordial Flame, born from the energies of the Multiverse. He could shape it, make it dance, make it roar like a miniature dragon, or reduce it to a comforting warmth. It was a fire that burned without consuming, that gave life while also having the power to destroy. It was the duality of energies.
He practiced manipulating this flame—making it invisible, odorless, or, on the contrary, dazzling and thunderous. He understood that this was not chakra, but an energy of a different order, undetectable by conventional shinobi means. It was his secret trump card.
One night, after an especially intense training session with the Primordial Flame, Naruto found himself once again in his subconscious. The landscape was less dark, the chains on the cage less visible, and the seal slightly faded. Kurama was there, curled up, but his red eyes opened as Naruto approached.
"You're making progress, kid," Kurama growled, his voice slightly less harsh than before. "This energy… it's not chakra. It's older, purer. I recognize it. It's the very essence of my being, freed from hatred."
Naruto sat down in front of the bars, crossing his legs. "It's the energy of the Multiverse, Kurama. I'm its Guardian. I can manipulate Life, Death, Time, Space, Chaos, Creation, Destruction. And you… you're made of Chaos and Destruction, but you're also a force of nature—not just a monster."
Kurama let out a rough laugh, almost a growl. "You know a lot for a brat. You've seen beyond the seal, beyond the hatred humans forced upon me. Fine. Listen, kid. I'll tell you my story. Not so that you'll release me—at least, not yet—but so you'll understand."
The Kyūbi began his tale. He spoke of the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, the founder of Ninshū, the one who had freed the Tailed Beasts from the Divine Tree and given them names. He told of the separation, of the Sage's kindness, and the promise that one day, they would be united once more.
"After his death," Kurama continued, his voice heavy with memories, "humans, hungry for power, began to hunt us. We, the Tailed Beasts, creations of the Sage, were reduced to weapons. I was sealed inside you by your father, the Fourth Hokage. He wasn't like the others. He wanted to protect you, even if it meant turning me into your prison."
Naruto listened, his face serious. His Eye of the Multiverse showed him images—flashes from the Kyūbi's past—moments of rage and pain, but also fragments of ancient wisdom. He saw the humans' attempts to manipulate the beast, the hatred they projected onto the demon. He saw the sacrifice of Minato and Kushina—not as a direct vision, but as a tear in the Thread of Time, an energetic scar.
"So… you weren't really the monster who attacked the village," Naruto said softly. "You were just a wounded, angry tool."
"I am the Great Kyūbi," Kurama replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "I am powerful, yes. But I was manipulated. And sealed. You feel my chakra, don't you? The hatred that radiates from it. That's not my true nature. It's the reflection of centuries of captivity and human hostility. But in you, Guardian, I sense… something else. A purity I haven't felt since the Sage. You're the first to look at me without fear. Without hatred."
"We're both outcasts, in a way," Naruto said, a sad smile on his lips. "Me, the cursed kid. You, the captive demon. But now, we have a purpose. I'm the Guardian of the Multiverse. And you have a story to share. I want to understand you, Kurama. I want us to be friends—not just a jailer and his prisoner."
The Kyūbi was taken aback. "Friends? A demon and a human?" There was a spark of... amusement, or perhaps curiosity, in his eyes. "That's a strange notion. But I recognize the truth in your words. Very well, kid. I'll watch you. And maybe—just maybe—we can find a new path. You have my attention."
The bond between them shifted. It was no longer just a constraint, but a faint connection—the beginning of mutual understanding. Naruto's consciousness withdrew from his subconscious, leaving Kurama, for the first time in many long years, with thoughts no longer driven solely by rage and solitude.
Naruto opened his eyes in the quiet of his room. The sun was just about to rise. His body was filled with energy, his mind clear. The weight of responsibility was still there, but he was no longer alone. He had Aethel as a cosmic ally, and now, the beginnings of an understanding with the tailed beast that resided within him. The path of his destiny was unfolding—complex and dangerous, but also filled with unimaginable promise. The next chapter of his life—and of his world—was about to be written.