Naruto: All depends on the Nine-tails Fox

"Where is this place?"

Naruto looked around, dazed. He wasn't surprised by being pulled into a strange space—after all, it had happened just a few days ago. He was already somewhat familiar with this kind of experience, so he wasn't startled.

What did catch his attention was how familiar this place seemed. It looked a lot like the place he often dreamed about, an entirely white space. But unlike his dreams, this area was more vibrant and colorful.

Naruto curiously looked around at the grass and flowers. The more he observed, the more familiar it felt. He couldn't help but feel like he'd been here before.

"What's this? Are you really that excited about seeing your own inner world?"

A sudden voice rang in his ears, startling Naruto so much that he nearly jumped.

Turning around, he saw a familiar set of bars—totally out of place in this serene environment. Behind them was the gigantic Nine-Tailed Fox, eyeing him with amusement. Instinctively, Naruto blurted out, "A monster... Wait, why does it feel like I've called you that before?"

He scratched his head, trying to recall. Pacing in circles, he squinted at the bars, and suddenly, a look of realization dawned on his face. "Isn't this the fox monster I saw in my dreams once?"

I thought it was just a dream, but the fox is real! So this fox...

Naruto's eyes widened as he pointed at the Nine-Tails. "You—you're that... the one everyone in the village talks about..."

Before he could finish, the Nine-Tails cut him off.

"Quit fooling around." The Nine-Tails' massive tail thumped against the ground, shaking the space and lifting Naruto's feet off the floor for a moment, effectively silencing him. "Time is limited. I've got some things to explain to you today, so you can be prepared."

"Oh." Naruto, expecting more banter, was surprised by the seriousness in the Nine-Tails' voice. He immediately sat down, curiously poking at the cold mist around him. After confirming it wasn't harmful, he looked up attentively, like a student ready for a lesson.

Wow, is this the instinctive reaction he developed from all those dream lessons with Minato? The Nine-Tails thought, taken aback. Although it had listened to Minato's teachings countless times, it hadn't expected Naruto to absorb so much even subconsciously.

Seeing Naruto like this, the Nine-Tails was genuinely shocked. It had never seen Naruto act so studious in any of its memories, not in this life nor the previous one. Minato Namikaze—what a "terrifying" man indeed.

"Aren't you curious about who I am?"

"You just said this is my inner world, so you must be the Nine-Tailed Fox everyone in the village talks about. No wonder they always give me those looks and talk behind my back; it was all true." Naruto gazed at the Nine-Tails in awe. "You're huge! Are you really inside my body? How does that even work? Is it some kind of sealing technique?"

Naruto's calm curiosity left the Nine-Tails momentarily speechless.

In truth, the Nine-Tails had already adjusted its expectations. Though Naruto had experienced sadness and loneliness in this lifetime, thanks to the guidance and help from both the fox and Minato, he had gained more friends and supporters. With the Nine-Tails controlling its malevolent chakra, Naruto grew up basking in Konoha's warmth.

Naruto's exceptional performance had even earned him the title of "Top of the Ninja Academy," despite being just two years in. His classmates, even the top students from other grades, considered defeating Naruto as the ultimate test to prove themselves. Given all this, it was easier for this Naruto to accept the existence of a demon fox within him compared to the Naruto from the Nine-Tails' memories.

Additionally, at this moment, Naruto didn't sense any hostility or danger from the massive creature in front of him.

"You sure have a lot of questions," the Nine-Tails said nonchalantly. "First off, yes, I'm inside your body, sealed away. You know about sealing techniques, right? Without the proper method, I can't get out and definitely won't hurt you, so don't worry. Also, I don't hold any grudge against Konoha anymore. The destruction I caused back then was partly because I was manipulated."

"And secondly, this place is your inner world, created by your own mental state. I'm just borrowing it for now to teach you something!"

"Teach me? Wait, are you the one who's been in my dreams every night...?" Naruto hesitated, then asked quickly.

"No, that wasn't me. You'll meet that person later, but not now... Don't interrupt me!" The Nine-Tails growled impatiently. "For certain reasons, I'll be the one teaching you a special kind of energy technique for the time being. Mastering it will greatly enhance your strength!"

"Really?" Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"But unlike before, this training requires precise control and strong willpower, so you can't just learn it in your dreams." The Nine-Tails explained, "You'll need to come to this mental space during your regular training sessions in the real world. The training will drain your energy, so you'll probably need to eat and rest afterward... You'll also need someone to look after you."

"Hmm, I get it." Naruto nodded knowingly, as if he had already thought of the perfect person for the job.

"Good. Now listen carefully. Here's what you need to prepare..."

"Wait, wait! I still have more questions!" Naruto quickly interrupted, noticing the Nine-Tails' eagerness to start. "The other day, I suddenly ended up in a strange place and then found myself at Hinata's house. Was that your doing?"

"More or less. You were in danger and panicked, so I took control of your body to save you," the Nine-Tails replied frankly. "Once it was safe, I handed your body back to you."

"Then... do you know what happened to Izumi-sensei?" Naruto asked urgently, finally having a lead. He had been worried sick about this for days.

"Uchiha Izumi? Don't you have a Flying Thunder God mark on her?" The Nine-Tails paused, confused. It had been busy adjusting the scenery of the mental space and hadn't noticed anything unusual besides monitoring Naruto's safety.

"I can't sense the Flying Thunder God mark on her anymore. Do you know why?"

"That's strange... Minato once said the mark never fades," the Nine-Tails mumbled, glancing up at a giant chakra orb it had fashioned into a "sun" in the sky. "Did I mess up the technique? Or was Minato keeping secrets from me? I hope I didn't only remember a fraction of the skill..."

Without a clear answer, the Nine-Tails admitted honestly, "I really don't know. Maybe someone else can help you figure it out later, but not now."

"I see... Then can you tell me what happened to Sasuke's family?" Naruto sighed.

This question seemed to reignite the Nine-Tails' spirit. Its massive tail shot up, and a hint of excitement laced its voice. "Oh, I've got a lot to say about this! First of all, Naruto, remember this—most of the Uchiha clan are troublemakers. If you ever come across an Uchiha, strike first! Of course, your friend is an exception. But that clan, especially that Madara Uchiha, is full of no-good scoundrels..."

With Naruto sitting attentively and the Nine-Tails lying down to chat, the scene was surprisingly harmonious—just like two old friends who had known each other for years.