NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: chapter 4
In his sleep, Naruto's consciousness was suddenly engulfed by a strange chakra and transported to a dark, damp space.
"Where is this?" Naruto muttered, looking around in confusion.
It didn't take long for him to figure it out. The stagnant water under his feet, the massive cage in front of him, and the faint growl of a beast behind the bars left no doubt—he had entered the sealed space of the Nine-Tails.
"After all these years, I finally meet Kyuubi," he murmured, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in his voice.
He took a few cautious steps forward. The flickering candlelight on the walls illuminated the massive creature within the cage.
Nine-Tails was majestic, its fiery red fur shimmering like molten lava. Its long ears twitched slightly, and its nine tails swayed with a wild elegance. Even caged, the beast radiated an aura of raw, overwhelming power.
Sensing its guest, Nine-Tails turned, fixing Naruto with its enormous, glowing eyes. For a moment, Naruto froze, unable to move under the creature's intense gaze.
Then, to his surprise, Nine-Tails smirked. A small portion of its chakra slipped through the bars, enveloping Naruto.
Hatred. Resentment. Anger.
The negative emotions in the chakra triggered an explosion of suppressed feelings within Naruto. He saw flashes of his previous life, the tragedy of the Fourth Hokage's death, and the mistreatment he had endured over the past four years.
These memories consumed him, and for a moment, it seemed the overwhelming negativity would swallow him whole.
But then, Naruto's willpower surged. He clenched his fists, forcing himself back to clarity.
Though shaken, he was not broken. He stood firm, his breathing steadying as he regained control.
Nine-Tails narrowed its eyes in surprise. It hadn't expected a child, especially one so young, to resist its influence.
"Impressive," the beast rumbled, its voice a deep growl. "But don't think you're safe. You carry me, the great Nine-Tails, within you. The villagers are right to call you a demon fox."
Naruto tilted his head, processing the words. "So, you're the reason they hate me," he said, his tone calm yet accusatory.
The beast smirked again. "That's right. I destroyed much of Konoha and killed the Fourth Hokage. As my vessel, you are the target of their hatred. But you don't have to suffer. Accept my chakra, and I'll give you the power to crush those who wronged you."
Naruto's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Big fox, you can't fool me. If you had that kind of power, you wouldn't be stuck in this cage. And I wouldn't be your jailer."
The jab hit its mark. Nine-Tails growled, slamming against the bars of its cage, but the seal held firm.
After a moment, the beast calmed, though its eyes still glinted with frustration.
"You think you're clever, boy," it muttered.
"Maybe," Naruto replied, shrugging. "But let's face it—you're my tenant. You live in my body rent-free. Honestly, I should be charging you for this prime real estate."
Nine-Tails snarled. "You think I want to be here?"
"And you think I want to be your container?" Naruto shot back. "We're both stuck in this situation, so let's not pretend one of us is having a better time."
The fox huffed, turning its