In Naruto's mindscape.
"Huh? I'm quite good at sensing yin and yang energy." Souji continued, "And you? You have a dense yin energy at the core of your chakra." Souji blurted out.
"..."
"So, where is the other part of you? If you have your full power, I can determine the limits of my jutsu."
"..."
"Hey, don't you want to say anything?" Souji asked again.
"..."
"Heh, boring. I thought Kyubi was scary."
"Shut your mouth! Brat!" Kyubi shouted angrily at Souji. "Release me! I'll show you how I'll tear you apart with my hands!"
"Of course, but first, let me absorb your chakra." Souji said. He then came out of the gate and approached Naruto, who was still silent.
"So, what are you thinking, Naruto?"
"..."
"Um, so, is it because of Kyubi, that those people hate me...?" Naruto asked.
"From the point of view of civilians? The answer is yes."
"..."
"They hate me because of the fox inside me?"
"Yes and no." Souji replied, confusing Naruto.
He explained that someone had spread a rumor that he was the incarnation of the demon fox, when, in fact, he was a jinchuriki. A person who becomes a container or prison for a tailed beast.
He also explained that Hiruzen had tried to stop the rumor but he couldn't, because it had already spread. He could only forbid them from talking about it. Of course, it didn't work. Souji was a bit doubtful about Hiruzen telling him this, but since Hiruzen had been kind to him all this time, it wouldn't hurt to protect his reputation with Naruto. Hiruzen owed him that much.
"So... It's like that..."
"Yes, we don't know the real story. Maybe we can find out from Kyubi himself. Why did he suddenly go berserk in the village? Was it because of hatred? Or is there something we didn't know beforehand?" Souji said, then stroked Naruto's hair. Naruto felt calm as he looked at Kyubi, who was unable to move because of Souji's jutsu.
"Dad, is it possible that Kyubi knows who my parents are?" Naruto asked uncertainly, but with a little hope.
"Hm...that's possible." Souji nodded. "Don't worry. After my test is finished, we can ask him."
"..."
"What if he doesn't want to say it?" Naruto asked.
"Don't worry. He will say it."
"..."
Souji and Naruto sat there. Of course, Souji made a chair from a life-seeking ball for them to sit on while waiting for his test. Besides that, Naruto asked Souji about Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts, and Souji answered to the best of his knowledge. All of that conversation was, of course, heard by Kyubi.
'How could a kid like him know about that? Is he the child of someone influential?' Kyubi thought. When Naruto met with Souji for the first time, till before this moment. He was asleep at that time and only woke up when Souji and Naruto appeared before him. Now, he is bound by the chains and his chakra which is being absorbed by some kind of object.
'Snake?' Kyubi thought.
The life-seeking ball bound to Kyubi was connected to Akebi. That's why Akebi was now trying to absorb as much of Kyubi's chakra as possible.
Kyubi remained silent, he couldn't free himself. The more he moved, the stronger the chains became.
He also deliberately gave Akebi large amounts of chakra to see if she would be burdened by it. However, the possibility he had considered did not happen, instead, Akebi absorbed it easily.
'What the hell?!' Kyubi thought.
"Sss..." Akebi hissed at Souji.
"Even with a little bit of Kyubi's chakra remaining, Akebi isn't full, and she doesn't feel anything." Souji said, admiring Akebi.
Could he possibly make Akebi a new vessel to create a new Jubi?
"Hm... interesting." Souji thought.
"Come on, Naruto. It's time to ask Kyubi, but first—" Souji touched the sealing paper attached to the gate. Then, he used his life-seeking ball to absorb any chakra within it.
"..."
'Oh, that must have been Minato's chakra.' Souji thought.
'Don't worry, Minato. Your child and wife are safe. I will protect and love them.' Souji thought seriously as he saluted Minato, who had sacrificed his life for the village, as well as for Souji's own benefit.
'The Green Flash of Konoha. I will always remember.'
After absorbing Minato's chakra, Souji checked to see if any remained.
However, he was confused. Where was Kushina's chakra?
It couldn't have been absorbed too, could it? He could check the chakra inside his Life-Seeking Ball, but he couldn't find any trace of Kushina's chakra.
"..."
'Well, whatever.' Souji thought.
He intended to release the Nine-Tails' seal on Naruto just to see Kushina. Who knows? Maybe he could make her chakra survive so that, in the future, he could revive her. But if Souji didn't have the exclusive skill, "Master Key." He might not have been able to do this because opening the seal on Naruto required a seal key, which was with Jiraiya.
"..."
Souji then called Naruto over to remove the sealing paper together.
"..."
After removing the paper, Souji directed his hand at Naruto's stomach and said, "Naruto, please be quiet for a moment." Naruto nodded. Souji touched Naruto's stomach with his five fingers, then moved his hand and said, "Open."
Bang!
Tick Tick Tick
Then, they heard a sound coming from the gate in front of them. They saw a swirling padlock open one by one until it was fully open. Then, Souji pushed the giant gate slightly.
"..."
"Finally open." Souji said.
Kyubi, who had been watching, felt happy. 'Finally! I can be free!'
'Just wait, you damn humans!' he thought, full of emotion.
Still, he realized his chakra was thinning. 'That kid couldn't possibly absorb all my chakra, could he?' Kyubi felt uneasy. Of course, tailed beasts couldn't die, they would reform after their chakra solidified and recovered. But, of course, it would take time.
"..."
But then he thought that, time wouldn't be a big problem.
'Heh? I won't answer any questions from you.' Kyubi thought confidently.
"..."
Souji and Naruto could see Kyubi's body shrinking because his chakra was being absorbed. Souji told Akebi to stop absorbing Kyubi's chakra when only 1% remained. Akebi nodded in understanding.
Souji wondered if Akebi's computing power could determine the exact percentage of chakra remaining.
"Ss..." Akebi hissed at Souji.
She approached him quickly, moving to his neck and bringing her head close to his face.
"All right, thank you, Akebi." Souji said, stroking her head gently.
"Thank you, Akebi." Naruto said. Akebi answered with a hiss.
"..."
"Absorption chain: release." Souji said, releasing Kyubi from his jutsu. Kyubi could move again. Of course, he wanted to finish them both off immediately, but he felt weak and limp. He decided to be silent and replenish his energy and chakra.
"Hey, Kyubi. Didn't you say you were going to tear me apart? I'm waiting for you now." Souji asked.
"..."
There was no answer from Kyubi.
"Naruto, is it impolite to call him Kyubi?" Souji asked Naruto.
"Eh? Hmm... Is it really impolite?" Naruto asked, confused by what Souji had said.
"What if I call you Yellow Head?" Souji asked again.
"Uh, that is indeed impolite." Naruto said, agreeing with Souji.
'Wait...yellow head?' Naruto Thought.
"..."
"Wouldn't it be better if we called him by his name? What do you think, Kyubi? Do you have a name?" Souji asked, and Kyubi didn't answer it.
"..."
Souji nodded. "All right, then."
"I'm, Souji. I'll give Kyubi a name. From now on, her name is Kurumi."
Twitch
'Be patient, Kurama!' Kurama thought, trying to restrain himself.
"Eh? But Dad, Kurumi sounds like a girl's name." Naruto said.
"Exactly, Naruto. Kyubi is a female fox." Souji said with certainty.
Twitch Twitch
"Eh?! Doesn't his voice sound like a man's?" Naruto asked, shocked and confused.
Souji shook his head. "Naruto, Kurumi doesn't have male genitalia."
"Oh, so that's how it is. I understand." Naruto said, nodding his head.
Roar!
"See? It seems Kurumi likes her name."
"Shut up, you brat!" Kurama shouted, directing his sharp claws at Souji.
"Dad!" Naruto shouted worriedly.
"Life-seeking ball: Guardian Shield!"
Bang!
Kurama's claws stopped right at the transparent shield Souji had made.
"See? Relax. You don't need to worry." Souji continued, "Life-seeking ball: Shield Bash!"
Bang!
A shield appeared beside Kurama and slammed into his face.
Bang!
Bang!
Souji hit Kurama's face repeatedly, not letting his body fall. He supported Kurama's body with his life-seeking ball.
Bang!
Bang!
"..."
"Em... Dad, isn't that a bit too much?" Naruto asked, feeling sorry for Kurama, whose face was being repeatedly hit by Souji's jutsu.
Souji then stopped his jutsu and asked, "How about it, Kurumi? Do you want it again?"
"..."
"All right then. I'll continue." Souji said again.
But before he could use it again, he heard something from Kurama.
"Kurama..." Kurama said weakly.
"Huh? I didn't hear anything." Souji said, preparing to use his jutsu again.
"KURAMA! MY NAME IS KURAMA!" With that shout, Kurama finally fainted from exhaustion and lack of chakra.
"..."
"See, Naruto? He answered my question." Souji said, nodding his head.
"..."
Naruto couldn't say anything.
Then, Naruto asked Souji, "Dad, Kurama fainted. How do we ask him?"
"Don't worry. He'll wake up soon. But before that, there's something you have to do." Souji said as he approached Kurama's head on the floor.
He touched Kurama's head and drew chakra from him. "Naruto, come here." Naruto approached Souji. Souji then drew Naruto's chakra from his stomach and connected it to the remaining Kurama chakra.
"Pull it, Naruto." Souji said.
"Is this okay?" Naruto asked, having seen the chakra coming out of his stomach and connecting to Kurama.
"Just pull it. I want to try something."
"Un." Naruto nodded, pulled it into his body, and fell silent when Kurama's chakra entered his body.
"..."
"Akebi, is any of Kurama's chakra coming out of Naruto's real body?" Souji asked, sounding a little worried.
"Ss..." Akebi hissed.
"Oh, thank goodness." Hearing that made Souji feel relieved. He didn't need to make excuses if something happened to Naruto.
"..."
"I wonder... Did Naruto really meet his mother?" Souji asked, looking at Naruto, who was still silent.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
"..."
Naruto opened his eyes and saw that Kurama and Souji were gone.
"Dad! Dad! Did you hear me?!" He shouted. Then, he saw someone staring at him.
"..."
'A woman?' Naruto looked at the woman who staring at him, too. She was looking at him with teary eyes.
"..."
For some reason, Naruto's chest felt tight and his throat felt choked up when he saw her.
"..."
He couldn't utter a word, and tears came out on their own.
He felt a sense of familiarity despite never having seen her before. Was it possible?
"..."
Still, Naruto didn't dare to approach her or to talk to her, he didn't want his hope to shatter painfully.
"..."
However, all of Naruto's fears and doubts faded after the woman spoke.
"Naruto?" The woman called out.
Spontaneously, Naruto replied.
"Mom?" When he said that word, Kushina nodded and spread her arms wide.
Seeing that, Naruto didn't care anymore. "MOM!" he shouted, running toward her.
Hug
Naruto arrived and was in his mother's warm embrace.
Sob Sob Sob
"Mom... mom... mom..." Tears streaming down his face, Naruto could only say "Mom."
Kushina hugged her son tightly. She kissed his head, gently stroking his back. She cried, seeing her little baby, Naruto, in her arms.
"Mom is here... Mom is here..."
"..."
"..."
They didn't know how long they stayed like that. After they had calmed down, they sat on the floor.
Naruto sat on his mother's lap, and she hugged him, occasionally stroking his hair gently.
Kushina told Naruto about her life, which he was, of course, interested in hearing.
She told him how she got to Konohagakure, how she first entered the academy, how she beat up the people who bullied and mocked her, and how she fell in love with ramen.
She also told him how she became a Jinchuriki. Then she asked Naruto if he knew what a Jinchuriki was.
Naruto answered that he knew what a Jinchuriki was.
"Did the Old Man Hokage tell you that, Naruto?" Kushina asked.
Naruto shook his head. "My Dad told me."
"Oh, so you met Minato?"
"Minato? Who's Minato?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Your father. His name is Minato." Kushina replied.
"Huh? I've never met him." Naruto said.
"Huh? Didn't you say your Dad told you? If it's not Minato, then who?" Kushina asked, confused and curious.
"My father's name is Souji." Naruto answered.
"..."
"Huh?"
"..."
"..."