crimson, oppressive aura filled the air.
Dark red swirls of chakra slowly coiled toward Menma, inching closer and closer to envelop him.
In the next second, Menma—who had been walking forward with a glazed look in his eyes—suddenly jolted. His pupils regained their focus, the clarity returning to his gaze.
He planted his feet firmly, stopping his advance.
As his consciousness fully returned, a look of lingering fear crossed his face.
That sensation. That overwhelming seduction.
He had to admit, it had shaken him to his core.
Menma lifted his small head, staring at the towering, crimson shadow directly in front of him.
This was the strongest Tailed Beast in the shinobi world, a being split from the Ten-Tails itself: Kurama, the Nine-Tails.
"Heh... You're pretty rough for a first meeting, aren't you? That's not the attitude a good tenant should have, Nine-Tails."
Menma took a deep breath to steady his racing heart. Suppressing his emotions, he forced a faint smile as he looked up at the colossal fox.
Even though he kept telling himself there was no need to be afraid, biological instinct was screaming at him to run. The sheer pressure of the beast's aura was terrifying.
Standing before the Nine-Tails, Menma felt like a lone boat adrift in a violent storm on the open sea—helpless and insignificant.
The power of the Nine-Tails.
Menma was finally experiencing the tip of the iceberg.
And this was only half of the Nine-Tails' full power.
Yet, even at half strength, this chakra was easily Kage-level. In the original series, didn't Pain—the so-called "gatekeeper of the Super Kage level"—fail to fully suppress the Nine-Tails? His watered-down Planetary Devastation couldn't hold the fox for long.
That was partly due to Pain's limits, but it was also a testament to the Nine-Tails' sheer terror.
"Hmph? It seems you knew of my existence all along, brat. Unusual. You are truly unusual."
Kurama lowered his massive head, his giant slit pupils fixated on the tiny boy. A surprisingly human expression of curiosity and intrigue appeared on the fox's face.
Even though he was sealed inside Menma, Kurama wasn't completely cut off.
As the strongest Tailed Beast, his senses couldn't be fully blocked.
Over the past five years, he had been able to perceive the outside world through Menma to some extent. He could sense Menma's emotional shifts. The disconnect between Menma's outward behavior and his internal feelings had already caught Kurama's attention.
And now?
This brat clearly knew about him before they even met.
Interesting.
This was very interesting.
"Of course I'm unusual. Otherwise, how could I be the vessel that holds you? By my count, this is our second meeting, Nine-Tails. Since we're stuck in the same boat—sharing one life, essentially—why don't we try to get along?"
Menma sat down cross-legged on the floor, acting as casually as if he were in his own living room. He looked up at Kurama with a grin.
"Second meeting? Hmph! Brat, who do you think I am?! 'Sharing one life'? What a joke! You want to get along with me? Hand over your body, and I might consider it!"
Kurama laughed, his voice dripping with mockery.
Sure, the kid seemed a little special. But at the end of the day, he was just a six-year-old brat.
That red hair was an eyesore, reminding him of her, but that was it. Did a six-year-old really think he had the same sealing prowess as his mother?
Kurama didn't take Menma seriously at all.
"The first time was five years ago, naturally. Oh, and I know you won't die. You're a mass of chakra; you'll reform eventually. But if I die, it's going to be a major inconvenience for you, right? As for handing over my body? Sure, no problem. If you think my body can actually handle your power without exploding, be my guest."
Menma chuckled lightly. Then, as Kurama's pupils constricted in shock, Menma calmly stood up and walked through the bars of the cage.
He stepped right inside.
This unexpected move—combined with what Menma had just said—left the fox stunned.
"Five years ago?! Do you mean... you...?!"
Kurama stared at Menma in disbelief, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Yes, five years ago. The masked man with the Sharingan. My parents sealing you away. My foolish little brother. I know everything, Nine-Tails. Everything."
Menma's voice was low and eerie as he looked down.
Kurama stared at him for a moment.
Then, he threw his head back and roared with laughter.
"Bwahahahaha! Is that it?! Is that really it?! That old monkey thinks you're clueless! This is incredible! Hahaha! Interesting! This is truly interesting, brat! You really are different!"
Kurama's eyes were filled with pure, unadulterated sarcasm.
But the mockery wasn't directed at Menma—it was directed at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As a being who had lived for a millennium, Kurama was an expert on human nature. He knew exactly what game Hiruzen was playing.
But now, hearing Menma speak, Kurama realized the old Hokage's plan was built on a lie. The kid knew everything.
He knew his identity. He knew his situation. He knew Hiruzen's intentions.
Was Menma lying?
Please. He was the Nine-Tails. He was the embodiment of malice.
Human negative emotions were as clear as day to him. Here in Menma's mental world, Kurama couldn't read thoughts directly, but he could tell truth from deception.
Menma wasn't lying.
Which meant this kid had been conscious since the moment he was born.
"So, we naturally have a basis for getting along—maybe even working together. Don't we, Nine-Tails?"
"Hmph. A basis for cooperation? That's rich. Why exactly would I want to cooperate with you, brat? Hmm?"
Kurama looked down at Menma with disdain.
"Heh, there are plenty of reasons. If I die, it's bad for you. But more importantly... don't you want freedom, Nine-Tails? True, absolute freedom?"
This time, it was Menma's turn to use a seductive tone. He looked up at the fox, a knowing smile playing on his lips.