Deep within the subconscious of Minato Namikaze, a powerful entity stirred. The Nine-Tailed Fox, known to some as Kurama, lay dormant, its immense chakra restrained by the intricate seal that kept it contained. Yet even in its confinement, Kurama was ever vigilant, aware of the world outside.
Kurama's attention was drawn to a familiar presence, a chakra signature that stirred ancient memories. "Her," the beast murmured to itself, its voice a rumble that echoed through the cavernous mindscape. "That chakra... it belongs to Her."
The memories rushed back, unbidden but vivid. Kurama remembered the night it was forcibly extracted from Kushina Uzumaki's body, a night of chaos and bloodshed. The memory of that unknown Uchiha, who claimed the name of Madara, resurfaced. Kurama recalled the malevolent Sharingan that had seized control of its will, turning it into a puppet of destruction.
But amidst the turmoil, a gentle, soothing voice had pierced through the haze of fury and pain. "Kurama, please calm down. At this rate, you will injure them."
The voice belonged to a figure shrouded in a soft, radiant light, her presence a stark contrast to the darkness of that night. She had spoken Kurama's true name, a name known to so few, and her gentle command had stayed the beast's wrath.
"This could be the last time I help you," she had said, her tone filled with a profound sadness. "In the future, please help me to take care of them."
Kurama had been shocked by the familiarity and the command in her voice. It had been an eternity since anyone had spoken to it with such compassion and authority. "Will we see you again?" Kurama had asked, its voice a mixture of hope and confusion.
"Let destiny unfold itself," she had replied, her form fading into the mists of memory.
Back in the present, Kurama's thoughts churned. The presence of that familiar chakra outside Minato's body tugged at the beast's curiosity. It had sensed it in Ryuga, the boy with the rare ice dragon chakra. The same chakra that had intervened on the night of the Kyuubi attack.
"Her power... within the boy," Kurama mused. "What is your connection to him? What secrets do you hold?"
Kurama shifted within its confinement, its eyes narrowing as it pondered the future. The beast was not accustomed to feeling uncertainty or curiosity, yet Ryuga's presence invoked both. It wondered if the boy would be a harbinger of peace or chaos.
"In the future, please help me to take care of them." Her words echoed in Kurama's mind, a request that had become a promise. The beast had agreed, though it had not fully understood why. Now, it felt the weight of that promise more keenly.
"I will watch over them," Kurama resolved, its voice a silent vow within the confines of Minato's seal. "For her sake, and for the sake of those who bear her light."
As Kurama settled back into its watchful slumber, it remained attuned to the world beyond its prison, ever vigilant for the threads of destiny that would shape the lives of Naruto and Ryuga. The beast's ancient eyes, though closed, were always aware, ready to protect those it had sworn to watch over, even from within the shadows.