At the same time,
within the Land of Snow.
Naruto was also preparing to welcome the envoys from the various ninja villages.
In truth, there wasn't much for him to prepare.
Karin handled everything—venues, food, and lodging.
What Naruto needed to do was create something that would make everyone fear him.
More precisely, that something was Kurama.
At present, Kurama possessed nearly four times the chakra volume of his complete form in the original timeline.
He also contained portions of chakra from the One-Tail, Shukaku, and the Two-Tails, Matatabi.
It could be said that the current Kurama was invincible beneath the Ten-Tails.
In fact, Kurama's chakra quantity was even more terrifying than that of the Ten-Tails itself.
The only reason the Ten-Tails was still considered superior was because its chakra had fused with many tailed beasts, giving it far greater density and destructive intensity.
Moreover, the Ten-Tails possessed a physical body, whereas Kurama was a pure chakra entity.
But none of that mattered.
Naruto arrived at a secluded area deep within the Land of Snow.
He raised his hand and placed it against his abdomen, forcibly drawing Kurama out of his body.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
Terrifying scarlet chakra erupted outward, violently swirling and lifting wind and snow hundreds of meters into the sky.
The chakra condensed in midair, and the massive physical form of a terrifying giant beast slowly took shape.
Its size was overwhelming—far larger than the Ten-Tails itself.
After appearing, Kurama instinctively let out a deafening roar.
In an instant, the surrounding land trembled violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
After roaring for a moment, Kurama suddenly remembered Naruto was still nearby, and the madness in his eyes immediately faded.
He lowered his head, looking at Uzumaki Naruto suspended in midair, then squatted down, casually using a small hill as a seat.
"Naruto," Kurama said, his voice booming like thunder, "are you already starting to look down on this old man's power?"
Naruto shook his head slightly and got straight to the point.
"You and I both understand this," Naruto said calmly. "I need your chakra, and you want to break through your chakra limits."
"Even though our relationship is good, at its core, this is still a transaction."
Hearing Naruto speak so bluntly, Kurama's fox mouth curved upward.
"You really are the most honest human this old man has ever met."
"But I like that feeling!"
Naruto ignored the praise and laid out the truth directly.
"I'll be honest with you—I still have nine complete versions of you."
Kurama's pupils shrank instantly.
"What?!"
"Nine?!"
In his shock, Kurama's tails slammed down uncontrollably, flattening several nearby hilltops.
Seeing this, Naruto reminded him helplessly, "Kurama, don't get so excited. This is the Land of Snow—my base. If you ruin everything, what am I supposed to look at?"
It took Kurama a long time to calm down, but he still followed Naruto's words and used chakra to shrink his body.
As a pure chakra life-form, the greater Kurama's chakra reserves became, the more compact his body grew, and the more intense his color became.
What had once been a standard red gradually deepened into a blood-like scarlet.
After a while, Kurama finally recovered his composure.
Knowing Naruto hated unnecessary nonsense, he asked directly, "Naruto, what do you want?"
Naruto answered without hesitation.
"I want your unconditional support."
It was called "unconditional support," but in reality, it meant loyalty.
Naruto had deliberately chosen softer wording to make it easier for Kurama to accept.
It was the same logic as when Kurotsuchi had once mentioned a "marriage alliance." Naruto couldn't accept that—but when it was reframed as "dating," it suddenly sounded tolerable.
After speaking, Naruto added, worried Kurama might hesitate, "At least for as long as I am alive."
To tailed beasts, a human lifespan was insignificant.
Kurama had lived for over a thousand years—possibly much longer.
Compared to that, Naruto's mere century of life was nothing.
Kurama would gain power, and in exchange, only give up a short span of time.
From Kurama's perspective, this wasn't just profitable—it was robbery.
"I agree!" Kurama said without even thinking.
This was something he had already considered; Naruto had simply stated it aloud.
Once spoken, everything became clearer, leaving no lingering doubts.
Seeing Kurama agree, Naruto didn't waste words.
"Can you absorb the chakra of all nine of them right now?"
Kurama frowned slightly.
"It has to be done one by one."
Naruto nodded.
"Of course."
As Naruto prepared to summon the nine tailed beasts, Kurama found the situation almost unreal.
He asked again and again, "Naruto, are you sure you want to give this old man their chakra in advance?"
Naruto looked puzzled.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Heh," Kurama chuckled. "This old man is a tailed beast. In human eyes, we're all treacherous monsters."
Naruto shook his head lightly.
"If I said this was based on trust, even you would find it disgusting."
Kurama nodded. That was undeniably true.
They weren't the same species, and hatred between humans and tailed beasts had existed for centuries.
Kurama could consider Naruto a friend—but absolute trust? He wouldn't believe that for a second.
Naruto continued, "This is a transaction."
"For me, it could be a lifelong commitment."
"But for you, Kurama, it's just a tiny fragment of your existence."
"If you break this deal, then the next time you meet a human like me, will he still trust you?"
Kurama burst into laughter.
"You're right! But don't worry—this old man isn't Shukaku. I never go back on my word, nor would I stoop that low!"
"This old man swears upon the Sage of Six Paths—if you give all their chakra to me, I will never betray you. I will serve you wholeheartedly, Uzumaki Naruto, until the day you enter the Pure Land!"
Naruto smiled.
"Deal."
Both the man and the fox believed they had gained the advantage.
In reality, only Naruto truly profited.
Kurama never imagined that Naruto would one day gain eternal life.
Of course, neither of them knew that yet.
After saying "Deal," Naruto immediately took out the Nine-Tails card from his system inventory and activated it.
A thunderous roar echoed through the sky.
The first Nine-Tails descended.
"Sage Art: Wood Release—Myōjin Gate!"
…
Three full days passed.
Only then did Kurama completely absorb the chakra of all nine tailed beasts.
As before, he deliberately left behind portions of chakra within each one.
His plan was simple: let them slowly recover, then harvest their chakra again in the future.
Naturally, if Naruto chose to make them jinchūriki, Kurama wouldn't object.
After all… a hundred years later, Naruto—and any Nine-Tails jinchūriki—would be dead.
When that time came, wouldn't it still be Kurama who truly called the shots?
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