Chapter 571: Nine-Tails Throws a Tantrum
"What?"
"Hmph. One of my greatest pleasures in this existence -- is saying 'I refuse' to an overconfident brat who assumes too much!"
"...Kurama. Are you throwing a tantrum?"
"Wh -- what!"
Nine-Tails' voice shot upward immediately. "Idiot! I'm a Tailed Beast! How could I possibly throw a tantrum! Do you think I'm capable of something that childish!"
Its voice kept climbing, growing more agitated by the word. The entire fox radiated the energy and expression of something deeply, guiltily flustered.
...Pure tsundere. Completely unadulterated tsundere.
Naruto felt a wave of fond, slightly dazed recognition. After all this time, affection meter completely full, and Nine-Tails was still exactly this.
Not a single thing had changed.
If he was being honest with himself -- Satsuki now gave him the kind of gentle compliance that made him feel safe and warm and genuinely loved. And he treasured every bit of it. But sometimes, unexpectedly, he found himself missing the version of her from when they were children.
The one who clearly cared about him but would not admit it under any circumstances. Who clearly wanted to walk alongside him but had to frame it as "I just happen to be going the same direction." Whose face would go red all the way to her ear tips the moment he called out what she was actually thinking. That Satsuki, all edges and evasions.
Nine-Tails, right now, was that to the letter.
It was throwing a tantrum. The specific kind that belonged to a creature that hadn't quite figured out how to express itself -- the kind where something was genuinely hurt and genuinely would not say "I need you."
It wasn't refusing because it didn't want the power. It was refusing because of how Naruto had offered it.
When Naruto had given the power to others -- to Shisui, to young Sasuke -- the implicit meaning had always been: you'll need this, so take it, and then fight alongside me. We're going into something together.
But what Naruto had said to Nine-Tails was: here, take this, so you won't have to worry about being controlled anymore. Here. So you'll be fine on your own.
Not "let's go together." Not "I need your strength." Just: here, this is for you, so you'll be alright without me.
There was not a single word in that offer that suggested Naruto needed Nine-Tails for anything.
And the truth was, Naruto hadn't used Nine-Tails' chakra in battle for a very long time.
In the decisive battle against Akatsuki, Naruto had used the Star Eye from beginning to end. No Nine-Tails chakra cloak. No Tailed Beast Bomb. Just that one eye -- though Naruto might have argued it was because he couldn't afford to expose his identity.
Nine-Tails had a very clear understanding of its own purpose. Its purpose was to fight alongside Naruto. That was how it defined itself. It was deeply proud of that definition. It had watched the enemies who faced Naruto together with it. Had watched the fear on their faces when Nine-Tails' chakra hit them. Had felt profound satisfaction watching them fly backward with that "how is this possible" expression of despair.
It had thought: without me, how would that kid manage? It had thought: the only person in this world worthy of fighting beside me is this irritating brat right here. It had thought: let's just keep going like this -- keep following him, keep fighting with him, right up until neither of us can fight anymore.
But it had watched Naruto use that eye for divine-level work so many times now. And it had been a long time since there had been any fighting.
If Naruto hadn't made a consistent effort to visit, to talk to it, to keep it company -- Nine-Tails might have arrived at the conclusion that Naruto simply didn't need it anymore.
To be precise: in the domain of combat, Naruto genuinely did seem to no longer need it.
"Hey, Kurama? If I apologize right now, will you accept it?"
"You're giving me a headache!"
Nine-Tails' voice detonated again. "Apologize for what! I never asked for an apology!"
...It hadn't said go away. Hadn't said leave me alone. Hadn't said any of the words that would have actually driven someone off. It just kept shouting -- and the longer it kept shouting without saying any of those things, the more it resembled exactly what it was: something waiting to be reached.
"Then... if I run into a really difficult enemy next time, can I ask you to lend me your chakra?"
Nine-Tails didn't answer.
Its head was still turned to one side. But its eyes -- making such determined effort to look elsewhere -- moved very slightly when they caught the words "ask you."
Like a cat being scratched under the chin. Clearly enjoying every second of it. Absolutely refusing to purr.
It cut a sidelong glance toward Naruto, then looked away just as quickly.
...Easier to bring around than I expected.
That one glance told Naruto he'd said the right thing. As expected -- with a tsundere who has feelings for you, the only reliable method is to keep going along the grain.
"I'm sorry, Kurama."
Naruto's voice dropped a little softer. "Looking at it honestly, I've been relying on this power too much. And in doing that, I overlooked how you were feeling."
"Relying on it? But compared to me, that eye is the power actually living inside your body. You don't need to worry about it being taken away or anything..."
"That's different. Because compared to the Star Eye --"
Naruto looked at Nine-Tails' face, which was trying to hold onto its dignity but had already obviously been moved.
"-- you're my family."
The expression on Nine-Tails' great animal face shifted from studied indifference to something it didn't quite know what to do with. And from there toward something that was visibly trying to hold itself together and failing.
It bore down on its own expression, dragging its mouth corners back down, pressing its ears flat, wrapping its tails around itself -- using every available resource to maintain the appearance of a proud and indifferent Tailed Beast.
"Then let's make a promise."
Naruto extended his hand, pinky finger stretched toward Nine-Tails. "When the next fight comes, we go in together. If the enemy turns out to be more serious than expected, I want you to protect me. If it really comes to that point, I'll ask you. Properly."
Nine-Tails didn't actually have any objection to getting stronger. Who would refuse the chance to become more powerful?
"Hmph."
Its nose twitched. Its tails behind it were moving in a way that was entirely outside its control -- back and forth, back and forth -- betraying every canine instinct it carried.
"Fine. Since you've gone so far as to ask me -- I suppose I can condescend to agree."
Naruto smiled. "Thank you. I'm counting on the strongest Tailed Beast there is -- the great Lord Kurama."
Nine-Tails found that thoroughly acceptable.
"Then I'll head out for now. Talk soon."
Naruto raised a hand in a brief wave, and his consciousness began to withdraw from the inner world. In the moment Naruto disappeared, Nine-Tails finally stopped holding itself together.
It sprawled there on the grass, its tails swinging behind it with considerably more enthusiasm than before, ears pricked straight upward, the corners of its mouth pulled back to reveal its enormous teeth -- but there was not a single trace of threat in that expression. What it held was the pure, uncomplicated satisfaction of a large canine that had just gotten exactly what it wanted and knew it.
It felt that this mood called for some kind of outlet. It was light and floaty and -- though it would never in its life admit to the word -- happy. And so, to properly mark the occasion of feeling this unexpectedly good, Nine-Tails' consciousness set off in the direction of an old acquaintance.