Naruto looked at Gaara and said firmly,
"The Konoha Crush Plan is Orochimaru's scheme. He's working with Sunagakure to strike Konoha, and the timing is set for the Chūnin Exams—six months from now!"
"Orochimaru plans to use the Exams as cover. During that time, he'll have Sunagakure lower its guard, infiltrate Konoha, and then strike directly from within. Since it's not their own territory, they won't hesitate to unleash full force."
Naruto waved his hand as he explained. Gaara fell silent, his eyes narrowing in thought.
The plan… was frighteningly feasible.
"Afterward, your father—Rasa—should tell you the full details. But you must realize, your strength will be indispensable."
Gaara stiffened.
"You mean… Ichibi?"
"Exactly. The power of a Tailed Beast is like a natural disaster. Against ordinary shinobi, it's no different than a dimensional collapse." Naruto grinned.
"That's true."
As Shukaku's Jinchūriki, Gaara knew better than anyone how destructive the One-Tail could be—especially now, when Shukaku willingly lent him its chakra. The devastation he could unleash was beyond imagining.
"This plan will be your chance to earn prestige," Naruto continued. "Afterward, we can start laying our foundation in the Land of Wind."
His voice brimmed with confidence. This Konoha Crush would not unfold like in the original timeline. This time, the world would witness Konoha's weakness.
"So soon?" Gaara muttered in surprise.
Naruto smirked at his expression. He knew Gaara would eventually become Kazekage, but gaining the trust of the people was another matter.
Now, Naruto intended to push Gaara ahead of schedule—using Umbrella's influence to ensure the Daimyō of the Land of Wind would back him.
Compared to the other great nations, the Land of Wind was the poorest. But if handled properly, even its extravagant Daimyō would be pleased. In the end, the Daimyō only cared that the Kazekage remained obedient.
That was why Rasa had agreed to Orochimaru's plan: to secure Sunagakure's survival.
He had long given up on developing the Land of Wind itself. Repeated requests for financial support had been ignored, leaving Rasa no choice but to pan for gold personally to sustain the village.
His mastery over Magnetic Release itself had been honed through years of that backbreaking work.
Rasa, however, was no Raikage. If the Land of Lightning's Daimyō ever withheld funding, the Raikage would barge into the Daimyō's chambers the next day and demand with clenched fists, "Are you paying or not?"
That was why Kumogakure's coffers were always full—and why they could even afford to develop secret weapons like the Chakra Cannon.
(Though, Naruto suspected that cannon hadn't yet been completed in this timeline.)
"Time waits for no one, Gaara. But I believe in you—you should believe in yourself too!"
Naruto's encouragement made Gaara's chest tighten. What mattered most to him right now was Naruto's acknowledgment.
"I'll try," Gaara answered, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
Just then, a voice rumbled inside Naruto's mind.
"Brat, let me speak with Shukaku."
"Kurama?!" Naruto blinked.
"No problem," he replied, though he already guessed what the Nine-Tails was after. Nothing good. After all, Kurama and Shukaku had always been rivals.
Kurama had a habit of ranking Tailed Beasts by their tails, and his pride as the Nine-Tails made him scorn the One-Tail. Still, that arrogance had its foundation.
Kurama's chakra was nearly limitless.
By comparison, Shukaku possessed barely a fraction of it—perhaps one-tenth. Yet Ichibi wasn't the weakest. Its unique ability to use Ninjutsu and Magnetic Release made it formidable in its own right.
If only Shukaku understood physics, Naruto mused. With its chakra reserves, the One-Tail could probably break beyond the limits of a normal Kage.
In truth, the weakest Tailed Beast was the Three-Tails. Its chakra was so small that it might not even reach one-tenth of Shukaku's.
Perhaps the Sage of Six Paths had simply disliked its appearance—why else would it have been given such pitiful chakra compared to Kurama?
In the original story, even Gaara had been captured by Deidara with relative ease.
"Gaara, relax your mind. Kurama wants to speak with Shukaku inside you," Naruto said calmly.
Gaara gave a small nod. Deep within him, Shukaku bristled with irritation. What is that damn fox plotting now?
Naruto and Gaara bumped fists, linking their consciousness. With Naruto's help, a mental space unfolded—stable, clear, and far easier to maintain than the raw communication methods Tailed Beasts normally relied on.
Inside that space, several figures appeared.
"Stinky fox, what do you want?" Shukaku demanded, glaring across at the looming form of the Nine-Tails.
Kurama smirked, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"Long time no see, Shukaku. Hah! You're still as weak as ever! Ahahaha!"
Shukaku's eye twitched. Did this bastard just come here to mock me?
"Stinky fox, do you want to fight your great self?" Shukaku growled, his tone bristling with hostility.
"You? With only one tail? Don't make me laugh. Maybe in your next life!" Kurama roared with laughter, tails swishing proudly behind him.
Naruto blinked at the display. Kurama had been spending too much time around him; the fox had even picked up some of his mannerisms. These were the exact kind of words Naruto often threw at Sasuke.
"Damn fox!" Shukaku snarled. "Strength isn't measured by tails!"
Of course, deep down, he knew the Nine-Tails was the strongest among them. But that smug face—just looking at it filled Shukaku with disgust.
"Are you here to fight me, then?" Shukaku asked darkly.
"Of course not!" Kurama said, feigning innocence.
Shukaku's tension eased for only a moment before Kurama's grin widened.
"This old man just came to show off!"
Kurama declared. With a wave of chakra, he shifted the scene around him.
Blue skies stretched above, white clouds drifted lazily, and a vast field of grass rolled out endlessly. There was still a cage, yes—but far larger, far more open, and undeniably freer than Shukaku's barren desert prison.
Naruto couldn't help but stare. Since when had Kurama become so mischievous? Wasn't he just provoking Shukaku into a fight?
"Is this damn fox trying to bait me into a brawl?!"
Shukaku thought angrily. He was sure of it. That Uzumaki brat has corrupted him! Kurama wasn't like this before!
What Shukaku didn't realize was that Kurama had simply been pent up too long. Freed somewhat by his bond with Naruto, the Nine-Tails' personality had shifted. Once, he would've simply fought Shukaku head-on. Now, he found it far more entertaining to watch the One-Tail seethe.
...
TN:
⚒️ Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin (Support me! 😊)