As long as part of my body isn't bound… this seal can't hold me!
Those damned humans — it's time they paid the price!
"Hahahaha!" Kurama's maniacal laughter echoed through the blood-red space. "Once I get out, I'll tear those filthy humans apart!"
But then—
"Huh?!" Kurama's eyes widened. "Why… can't I control it?!"
He tried to seize hold of the chakra that had just appeared, only to find — he couldn't.
It was like this chakra didn't even belong to him.
Impossible!
When the Ten-Tails was divided, he knew exactly how it happened. Every fragment of power had been accounted for.
There couldn't be another him in this world!
Yet just as that thought struck, the strange chakra floating above him began to descend, pooling and swirling before him — until it slowly took shape.
A small, orange-red fox cub materialized.
Kurama: "!!!!!!"
"What the hell are you supposed to be?!" he roared, thrashing against the chains. "How dare you impersonate me as a kid!"
Kurama's entire body strained, the chakra chains clanging as he struggled. It was rare to see the great Nine-Tails this shaken—almost afraid.
When the Ten-Tails had been split, there was nothing left unaccounted for.
So how could a chakra he couldn't control suddenly appear… and even take the form of another Nine-Tails?!
"Awoo?" The tiny fox tilted its head, blinking up at him in curiosity.
"Awoo awoo!"
Feeling Kurama's agitation, Seisui appeared in the blood-red space with an exasperated sigh. "Kurama, calm down. This way, we both benefit."
Then he spotted the little fox on the ground and froze. His gaze flicked from it to the chained Kurama above.
"…Are you cosplaying yourself now?"
"And how'd you even break free of the seal?"
He bent down and scooped up the little fox, giving its fur a gentle rub.
"So fluffy… and soft too."
"If you wanted to come out, you could've just done this from the start," Seisui said, shaking his head helplessly. "Such a tsundere fox."
"No more acting like that next time, alright?"
The real Nine-Tails didn't believe a word of it. Clearly, this was another one of that damned human's tricks to mock him.
"You vile human! What illusion is this?!" Kurama bellowed. "How could there be another me!?"
"You think you can fool me with some imitation chakra?!"
Seisui blinked, his expression turning thoughtful.
Another batch of Nine-Tails chakra… that turned into a new fox?
He looked down at the tiny Kurama in his arms.
When he lifted his hand from its head, the little fox whined in protest.
Then, seeing Seisui's hand move away, it leapt up to headbutt his palm — only to bounce off and flop onto the floor.
Was I really that dumb as a kid? Kurama thought blankly.
As he stared at the little one, deep doubt flickered in his eyes.
Seisui, meanwhile, had already pieced it together.
It had to be connected to the template he'd drawn earlier.
Uzumaki Naruto (Fourth Tail).
Or rather — Naruto's Tailed Beast Form, where he'd entered the fourth-tail state.
By pulling that template, Seisui had inherited a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra — not much, but still the real thing.
And since it came from an external system, it wasn't under Kurama's control.
That meant it had manifested as a completely new Nine-Tails.
After sorting it out in his mind, Seisui smiled and picked up the tiny fox again, rubbing its head affectionately.
"Kurama, you were actually pretty cute as a kid."
"You damned human!" Kurama roared. "And how do you even know my name?! Was it that mutt Shukaku who told you?!"
He glared furiously, his tails thrashing in rage.
Humans were born evil — always scheming. And this one had somehow created another version of him!
Seisui didn't answer. He simply lifted the little fox up with both hands.
"Let's see if you're a boy or a girl."
"YOU WRETCHED BRAT!" Kurama's eyes blazed. "DON'T YOU DARE LOOK!"
"I'LL RIP YOU TO SHREDS! ROAR!"
But the little fox just squinted its eyes in bliss, front paws stretched out like wings.
"Awoo~"
"No gender, huh?" Seisui muttered after glancing between its legs, shaking his head.
Well, that makes sense. Tailed beasts are pure chakra — what gender could they possibly have?
"You'll regret this, brat!" Kurama bellowed, his voice echoing through the entire seal space.
Without thinking, Seisui snapped back, "I'm the jinchuriki here, Kurama!"
Then he froze — realizing what he'd just said — and grimaced.
Damn it, Minato! You've got me doing it too!
Once I'm Hokage, I'll make you say it every day!
As Danzo always said — "revenge never expires."
Seisui smirked, then looked up at Kurama with a teasing grin.
"Wanna know how I learned your name?"
"I don't care," Kurama said coldly, turning his head away.
"Then I won't tell you," Seisui replied cheerfully, waving as he left with the tiny fox in his arms.
Only after he'd gone did Kurama turn back, seething.
That damned human brat! He actually didn't tell me!
He'd been trying to bait him into revealing it — but the brat just walked away!
In the outside world, Seisui smiled faintly.
Poor fox Played right into my hands.
Back in his room, the tiny Nine-Tails was perched on his desk, tilting its head curiously.
Seisui chuckled, pressed his palms together, and in the next instant, a scroll appeared.
It was the Uzumaki Clan's Complete Sealing Compendium — detailing every sealing technique ever developed.
It even included formulas for summoning scrolls, storage seals, explosive tags, and more.
When Seisui flipped to the page for Summoning Scroll Creation, he inhaled sharply.
Good lord, this thing's expensive.
Not just expensive — ridiculously complicated.
One glance, and he decided to forget about making a summoning scroll for the tiny fox.
Maybe later.
Fortunately, there was another way — they could sign a summoning contract directly.
All it required was mutual consent.
(Or… forced consent still counted, like with a certain "toyed-with" Kurama in the past.)
"Alright then," Seisui said dramatically, holding up the little fox. "Let's form a contract!"
"O hidden key of the Nine-Tails' power, reveal your true strength before me! By my name — Seisui — I command you: Summoning Contract!"
He whispered the words under his breath — too embarrassed to say them loudly. Wouldn't want to die of social shame.
"Awoo?" The tiny fox tilted its head, clearly confused.
"Come on, paw to hand — we make the contract."
Seisui sliced a shallow cut across his palm and pressed it against the fox's paw.
The little one blinked, then nodded.
A strange warmth pulsed through him — the contract complete.
Now, along with his Panda Clan, Seisui could summon the mini Nine-Tails at will.
"Perfect." He lifted the fox back onto his head and stepped outside.
If the real Kurama could see the outside world, he would've exploded in fury.
Just like that, Seisui had tricked his counterpart into signing a contract.
Normally, a tailed beast could peer through the seal and observe the outside world.
But Seisui's sealing space was… different.
Kurama was trapped in a boundless, blood-red void, unable to see beyond it.
Placing the tiny Nine-Tails atop his head, Seisui strolled toward the Uzumaki compound.
It was time to move.
As clan head, I should live in the clan's territory! (hands on hips)
He also planned to swing by the Hokage's office — and bring Konan and Yahiko along, since they'd been staying nearby.
Nagato, too.
After all, there was no point leaving them behind now that he was relocating.
All talents of the world shall gather under me!
When Seisui finally arrived at the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen froze the moment he saw him — with a tiny fox boasting nine tails perched on his head.
"S-Seisui… the thing on your head…"
"My younger version of the Nine-Tails," Seisui replied casually, lifting it down and waving one of its paws toward the Hokage. The little fox obligingly let out a cheerful "Awoo!"
"The sealed space suddenly produced a mass of Nine-Tails chakra," Seisui explained, "which then turned into a new Nine-Tails."
He emphasized the word new.
Hiruzen immediately understood.
A brand-new little Nine-Tails.
"So it's signed a summoning contract with me," Seisui continued. "It'll usually stay sealed within me."
Hiruzen nodded, smiling in approval. "If it's you, I trust your judgment. Raise it well — I'll handle everything else."
He was genuinely pleased by Seisui's honesty.
A student that open with his elder — what more could he ask for?
Besides, Seisui was his chosen successor.
Unless fate intervened, there would be no surprises.
"Anything else you'd like to discuss?" Hiruzen asked, still studying the little fox.
The tiny Nine-Tails, in turn, stared right back.