NOVEL NEXT Chapter 112: Kuruma's Past
"I was known as the Kyūbi by all the people in the world. But I was born nearly two thousand years ago alongside other beasts," he began, his voice heavy with nostalgia. "Those other beasts were my brothers and sisters. Yet, above us all, there was a father—a man the people of that time called the Sage of Six Paths. He was the one who introduced chakra into the world and laid the foundation for what would become the Shinobi world."
"Oh, so you were created by the Sage of Six Paths?" I asked, my voice tinged with surprise.
Kurama's tone grew somber as he continued, his deep voice echoing slightly in the vast space we were in.
"Yes, the Sage of Six Paths—Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki. He was a man of great wisdom and power, unlike anyone else who has ever existed. He was our creator, and in many ways, he was like a father to us. He divided the Ten-Tails into nine separate entities, each of us unique and carrying a fragment of its immense power. He named us, cared for us, and taught us about the world. He wanted us to coexist with humans, to help guide them, and to protect the balance of the world."
Kurama's expression darkened, and I could feel the bitterness in his words.
"But humans… humans are short-sighted and driven by fear. Instead of seeing us as allies, they saw us as threats, as monsters to be tamed or destroyed. It didn't matter how much we tried to live peacefully. Their greed for power and their fear of the unknown always got in the way. We were hunted, captured, and sealed away. They used us as weapons in their wars, chaining us to their will, never caring about our thoughts or feelings."
I listened intently, feeling a pang of sadness for Kurama and the other Tailed Beasts. "So… the Sage's dream of harmony was ruined because of human greed," I said softly.
Kurama nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Exactly. At first, I tried to live by the Sage's teachings, to see the good in humans. But as the centuries passed, all I saw was their hatred and fear. I began to hate them in return. I became what they feared—a demon, a beast of destruction. They didn't deserve my kindness or my power."
He paused, his gaze meeting mine.
"And then… I was captured by your village, by the Senju and the Uchiha. Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, sealed me away to be used as a weapon to protect Konoha. Over the years, I was passed from one Jinchuriki to another, each one seeing me as nothing more than a tool. Your mother, Kushina Uzumaki, was one of the few exceptions. She was strong, and she treated me with respect, even though I was trapped inside her."
I felt a lump in my throat at the mention of my mom. "My mom… she must have gone through so much because of you being sealed in her."
Kurama's gaze softened slightly. "She was strong, Naruto. Stronger than most humans I've ever known. She endured the pain of being a Jinchuriki, not for herself, but to protect others. She didn't hate me, even though I was the cause of her suffering."
He let out a deep sigh, his massive form shifting slightly.
"And then came the night you were born. I was ripped out of your mother and used by a man in a mask—someone who called himself Madara Uchiha but was really another fool. He unleashed me on Konoha, using his Sharingan to control me, to force me to destroy everything in my path. And then… your father, Minato Namikaze, sealed me inside you, sacrificing himself in the process."
Kurama's voice grew quieter, almost reflective. "You were just a baby, an innocent child. I hated you at first, hated that I was trapped again. But over the years, watching you grow, I began to see that you were different. You didn't treat me like a monster. You… you gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, humans aren't all the same."
I felt my chest tighten as I listened to Kurama's story. "Kurama… I'm sorry for everything you've been through. I can't change the past, but I promise I'll do my best to make things right. You're not just a beast or a weapon to me. You're my friend."
Kurama huffed, a hint of a smirk on his massive face. "We'll see about that, brat. You've got a long way to go before you can earn my trust completely. But… maybe you're not so bad after all."
For the first time, I felt a true connection with Kurama, not just as his Jinchuriki, but as someone who could understand his pain and help him find a better path.
"Hey, Kurama, you said all the tailed beasts were created from the Ten-Tails. What exactly is that? Do you know?" I asked curiously.
"It's a tailed beast with ten tails," Kurama began. "It once accompanied the Sage of Six Paths' mother. But she turned to evil, and with the help of his brother, the Sage sealed her away. Then, he divided the Ten-Tails into us," he explained.
"Do you know the name of the Sage of Six Paths and the others?" I asked, leaning forward in interest.
"Yeah, I know," Kurama replied, his voice steady. "Father told us everything that happened while we were with him. His name was Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki. His brother was Hamura Ōtsutsuki, and their mother was Kaguya Ōtsutsuki."
"Oh, I see," I murmured, thinking over the names. "Do you know what evil things Kaguya did?"
"No," Kurama said with a shake of his head. "Father never told us about that."
"Then, what about Hamura?" I asked.
"Hamura loved Kaguya more than Father did," Kurama explained, "so after they sealed her, he went to protect the seal, ensuring no one could ever break it."
"I see," I said, reflecting on his words. "So chakra started with Kaguya, flowed through the Sage, and eventually reached us. And it could go even further," I mused aloud.
Kurama nodded thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he recalled the ancient tale. "Yes, the origin of chakra traces back to Kaguya Ōtsutsuki."
"Oh, then do you know how Kaguya got her chakra?" I asked.
"No," Kurama replied flatly.
"Then leave it," I said, shrugging. "I can figure that out in the future. For now, let's talk about the other tailed beasts. Do you know their names? And do you have any way to contact them?"
Kurama raised an eyebrow, seeming amused at my curiosity. "You're persistent, aren't you, brat? Fine, I'll share their names. Pay attention." He started listing them off, his tone growing more serious as he spoke about his siblings.
One-Tail: Shukaku, a sand-controlling tanuki.
Two-Tails: Matatabi, a fiery, blue-flamed cat.
Three-Tails: Isobu, a turtle-like creature.
Four-Tails: Son Gokū, a monkey with lava-based abilities.
Five-Tails: Kokuō, a horse-dolphin hybrid with steam-release powers.
Six-Tails: Saiken, a slug-like creature with corrosive abilities.
Seven-Tails: Chōmei, an insect-like tailed beast resembling a rhinoceros beetle.
Eight-Tails: Gyūki, a giant octopus-like beast with bull features.
Nine-Tails: Me, Kurama, the mightiest of them all!"
He smirked with pride as he finished his list, flicking his tails dramatically.
"As for contacting them... we Tailed Beasts share a connection through our chakra. It's a bond we've had since the day we were separated. But I'm not just going to call them up for a chat because you're curious. If you want to meet them, you'll have to prove you're worth their time."
I chuckled, rubbing the back of my head. "I figured as much. Don't worry, Kurama, I'll earn their trust just like I'm earning yours. One step at a time."
Kurama grunted, his expression softening slightly. "We'll see, brat. You've got potential, but the road ahead won't be easy. The other Tailed Beasts have their own experiences and grudges against humans. Winning them over might be harder than you think."
I nodded, determination flaring in my chest. "I'll do whatever it takes, Kurama. Not just for them, but for all of us. You're not just tools of war, and it's about time the world realized that."
Kurama let out a low chuckle, his eyes glinting with approval. "You talk big, Naruto. Let's see if you can back it up."