"Wait—don't go!"
"Let's talk this through!"
Kurama panicked.
What terrified him most wasn't endless darkness—
But seeing a sliver of light…
Only for it to vanish instantly.
Any creature trapped in despair—
Once it glimpses hope—
Can endure anything.
Another ten years? Twenty?
Fine.
I can endure it.
Freedom—
Was within reach.
Kurama clenched his resolve.
He would not let this chance slip away.
"You've thought it through?"
"You can accept it?"
Uchiha Ren smirked inwardly.
The fox had taken the bait.
"I accept!"
"It's just a few more years—I can handle it!"
Kurama puffed his chest.
Ren nodded.
Now that Kurama had conceded—
It was time to press further.
The initiative was his.
If not now—
When?
"Then let's set some terms."
"I guarantee your freedom after Mito dies."
"In return, you'll stay near Konoha as a guardian tailed beast."
"Of course, the village will provide protection and ensure your living conditions."
Ren wasn't stupid.
There was no way he'd release the strongest tailed beast into the wild.
Even as Hokage—
The village elders would never allow it.
It would shake Konoha's foundation.
Worse—
Release Kurama today—
And tomorrow he might be captured by Madara Uchiha lurking in some cave.
Ren genuinely believed—
This was for Kurama's own good.
"…What?!"
"I still have to stay near Konoha?!"
"That wasn't the deal!"
Kurama flared up.
Another condition?!
Typical—
Evil Uchiha!
"What did I say earlier?"
"I agreed to free you."
"I'm helping you—shouldn't I get something in return?"
"Or are you like Shukaku? Stingy and ungrateful?"
"If that's the case… I misjudged you."
Ren looked disappointed.
Like Kurama had betrayed him.
The mention of Shukaku hit a nerve.
Kurama hated Shukaku.
They fought all the time.
Being compared to him?
Unacceptable.
He was the strongest tailed beast.
Even death was preferable.
Kurama paused.
…Living near Konoha…
Wasn't actually that bad.
Forests.
Open land.
Freedom.
As for "protecting the village"?
He could just pretend.
Fire off a few Tailed Beast Bombs—
Call it a day.
If the enemy could tank those—
He probably couldn't win anyway.
At that point—
He'd run.
Simple.
First priority—
Escape.
Everything else—
Later.
Kurama felt his thoughts expand.
Freedom—
Was worth temporary compromise.
Endure now…
And one day—
I'll soar free like a bird in the sky.
He was even impressed by his own poetic thinking.
"Fine."
"I'll agree—for your sake."
"I'm not an ungrateful tailed beast."
Kurama grinned slyly.
Tsundere energy overflowing.
Ren was delighted.
This fox—
Was surprisingly easy to handle.
"Then it's settled."
"Let's seal it with a fist bump."
Ren copied Naruto Uzumaki.
Supposedly—
That created mutual understanding.
Though—
He wasn't sure.
Kurama extended a massive fist.
They bumped.
…Nothing happened.
No resonance.
No connection.
Guess the bond wasn't there yet.
Ren didn't care.
The objective was achieved.
Time to get serious.
"So—Kurama."
"How are you going to help me?"
Ren's tone turned sharp.
After all—
Kurama had lived for thousands of years.
There had to be tricks.
After all—
Mito Uzumaki wasn't overpowering him like Madara or Hashirama Senju.
Kurama definitely had influence.
"Hmph."
"I've been eroding the seal for years."
"Bit by bit."
"Too small to notice."
"But I have time."
"Water dripping through stone."
"One day, the seal will weaken."
"And then…"
Kurama grinned darkly.
Ren nodded.
As expected.
Foxes—
Were cunning.
Ren gave him a thumbs-up.
Kurama felt a bit smug.
Then continued:
"When you leave—"
"I'll mobilize all the chakra I've embedded in the seal."
"It'll weaken instantly."
"I'll reclaim as much chakra as possible."
"At that point—"
"Mito will be forced to suppress me."
"She won't be able to maintain tailed beast form."
"The rest…"
"I don't need to explain."
Kurama's grin turned vicious.
"Beat that woman senseless for me."
Clearly—
He held zero goodwill toward Mito.
To him—
She and Hashirama were the same.
Neither saw tailed beasts as equals.
"Deal."
Ren agreed instantly.
Beating someone while they were down?
He excelled at that.
And if he wanted to establish dominance—
He had to crush the strongest opponent.
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