Naruto opened his eyes and froze. A narrow tunnel stretched before him, the floor slick with water. The faint stench of rust and something older clung to the air.
"So this is it…" he muttered.
He knew this place. The endless corridors, the dripping echoes—it was the inner seal inside his body. The home of the Nine Tails.
He hadn't expected to end up here so soon. Normally, entering this place required incredible mental strength. He'd tried before, of course. But his willpower had never been strong enough. By his own guess, he'd need at least fifty points of mental focus to get in—and that was being generous. A hundred would've been more realistic.
Still, this seal was a blessing. Unlike Gaara's, which was practically falling apart, his was perfect. He didn't have to constantly fight against the beast inside, didn't have to worry about losing his body to a monster every time he blinked.
Thinking about it now, Naruto realized how lucky he was. Sure, being made into a human weapon by his own father wasn't exactly "great parenting," but at least he wasn't at risk of being devoured by his tenant.
And as long as the seal stood, the Nine Tails couldn't kill him without dying too.That counted as protection in his book.
He sighed and shook off the thought. "No point overthinking. I didn't come here by myself. So… did you drag me in, fuzzball?"
He didn't expect an answer, but a low growl rolled through the darkness anyway.
Naruto walked forward, each step splashing quietly. The corridor twisted, then widened into a massive chamber. Behind the bars of an enormous gate, crimson light pulsed like a heartbeat.
Then he saw it.
The creature of nightmares. A mountain of orange fur, claws like scythes, and nine tails that moved with terrifying grace. Its slit-pupiled eyes, red as fresh blood, locked on him.
For an instant, his breath hitched. But loneliness was something he'd already drowned in. Fear was nothing new.
"Little brat…"The voice was deep enough to shake the walls. "Come closer."
The Nine Tails' eyes gleamed, and a crimson haze began to pulse outward. The sound of its voice twisted through his mind like a melody that wasn't meant for human ears. His vision swam.
Naruto staggered. His thoughts blurred.
Then—he clenched his teeth.
"…Not happening."
"Very well," the fox rumbled, amused. "Come closer, then."
The light pulsed again, heavier this time. Naruto's body moved against his will, his feet dragging him forward through the water.
"This is genjutsu…" His voice was barely a whisper, but his eyes burned. Even here—in the realm of will—his mind was his own domain. The Nine Tails might be stronger, but this was still his body.
"Ten'gan—open. Ten'on—open."
A flash of gold lit his eyes. The system's voice drifted through his mind, both divine and playfully cruel.
"Activating sensory arts, Host~ My, walking straight into the fox's charm, are we? How bold."
Naruto ignored the echo and focused.
Sound. Sight. Every vibration in the air unfolded within his mind. Within fifty meters, he could feel everything. The illusion cracked like glass.
"Brat, come here," the Nine Tails repeated.
Naruto stood firm, his golden eyes gleaming. "No. Illusions don't work on me anymore."
The beast blinked, almost startled. A human—barely six years old—had resisted it? Impossible.
Rage filled the chamber. The Nine Tails' claw slammed into the cage, the metal bars trembling. Even through the seal, Naruto felt the pressure rip through the air, slicing at his skin.
He didn't flinch. "Better calm down. This seal's tied to my soul. If I die, you die too. You want that?"
The beast froze.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Naruto's gaze dropped to the faint marks on the gate. The symbols weren't just sealing chakra—they carried something deeper. It wasn't just the Eight Trigrams Seal. There was another layer beneath it.
The Shinigami's mark.
He finally understood. The seal didn't just imprison the Nine Tails—it bound it to his soul. If he died, the fox would be dragged into the void along with him.
A seal of mutual destruction. Cruel. Effective.
He exhaled softly. "So that's how it is…"
Behind the bars, the fox's massive eye narrowed. For the first time, its anger gave way to something else—wariness.
Naruto smiled faintly. "Guess we'll be seeing each other a lot, partner."
The Nine Tails growled. "Don't push your luck, human."
From deep within, Rikudō Shingon's sacred voice rippled through his thoughts again, faintly amused:
"Host, befriending an apocalyptic beast? You do love bad decisions."
Naruto's lip twitched. "Shut up."
The divine laughter that followed echoed like wind through a broken temple.