"You're really slow, Tōma."
Uzumaki Naruto stood balanced on top of a utility pole, scanning the street with exaggerated seriousness. He had heard from Fujimoto Sana that Tōma would be back today, so he had been waiting here for a long time.
Too long.
Which, in hindsight, made sense. If Tōma had gone to see Tsunade, delays were guaranteed.
"Yo, Naruto."
The voice came from behind him.
Naruto yelped, his foot slipped, and he tumbled straight off the pole, landing flat on his back with a dull thud.
Tōma calmly stepped onto the wire Naruto had just vacated, looking down at him.
"When did you get here?!" Naruto groaned, rubbing his head as he sat up.
"Just now," Tōma replied, hopping down and walking over.
Naruto blinked, then grinned. "Man, if I could use Flying Thunder God too, I could just—"
He trailed off, smiling stupidly.
Tōma took one look and understood immediately.
"Naruto," he said casually, "maybe try paying attention to your surroundings. You're not the only one watching someone."
"Huh?" Naruto scratched his head. "I am?"
"Just… keep an eye out."
"Oh. Okay."
Tōma did not spell it out. Feelings were better discovered than explained. Though honestly, considering Naruto's density and Hinata's tendency to short-circuit around him, Tōma was not optimistic.
He sighed internally, then asked, "So. What did you come to see me for?"
"Hehe." Naruto laughed nervously, scratching his cheek. "I need your help with something."
"Let's go inside," Tōma said, glancing around.
Naruto sat in Tōma's small living room, fidgeting and looking everywhere at once. It was his first time here.
Simpler than he expected. Plainer than his own apartment. And way cleaner.
Tōma handed him a cup of tea and sat across from him.
"Alright," Tōma said. "What do you need help with?"
"Uh… thanks." Naruto held the cup with both hands, even though he clearly did not like tea. "It's about the Nine-Tails."
Tōma paused. That was unexpected. He had assumed Naruto would ask about training.
"The Nine-Tails?" he repeated.
"Yeah." Naruto nodded seriously. "It's helped me a lot. And during the Land of Snow mission… if it hadn't stepped in, that machine would've drained me dry."
Tōma said nothing.
"So I want to unlock more of its seal," Naruto said firmly. "Let it out more."
Tōma frowned.
The seal he had already adjusted was pushing Naruto close to his limit. Any further, and losing control became a real risk. That was not something the Nine-Tails could simply prevent.
Naruto seemed to sense his hesitation.
"I'll be fine," Naruto said quickly. "And even if I go out of control… you'll stop me, right?"
Tōma sighed. "You really know how to throw responsibility at people."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "So you'll help?!"
"I will," Tōma said after a moment. "You came with reasons. I won't ignore that."
He could handle it. Even if Naruto sprouted four tails, Tōma was confident he could suppress him. The seals and markers he had placed were not for show.
"Awesome!" Naruto grinned. "Oh, and there's one more thing."
Here we go, Tōma thought.
"I was wondering," Naruto said earnestly, "could the Nine-Tails see what I see? Being stuck in that space all the time… it feels lonely. Kind of sad."
Tōma gave him a sideways look. "You're sure it's the Nine-Tails you should be worrying about?"
"Well, it pays rent on time," Naruto said seriously. "So I figure I should upgrade its room."
Tōma almost choked on his tea.
"You know," he said dryly, "foxes are famous for being manipulative."
Naruto froze. Then squinted. "Uh… it says humans are worse."
"…So it already senses the outside," Tōma said.
"Yeah, but only vaguely," Naruto replied. "Not all the time."
Tōma studied him. "You really want to help it?"
Naruto nodded. "Rent's probably going up too. Gotta match the price."
Tōma rubbed his temple. "Alright. Go into the seal space. Say out loud exactly what you want to do. Then come back and tell me how it feels."
"Eh?" Naruto did not understand, but he trusted Tōma. He closed his eyes on the spot.
Inside the seal.
"You brat!" the Nine-Tails roared. "Don't act like you pity me!"
"I'm not," Naruto said calmly. "You helped me. So I want to help you too."
"I helped you because it amused me!" the fox snarled. "If you're weak, it reflects badly on me!"
"Doesn't matter," Naruto said seriously. "You still helped."
"Then why not release me completely?" the Nine-Tails sneered.
"Because Tōma said I'd die," Naruto replied honestly. "And I haven't become Hokage yet."
He scratched his head and smiled. "Also, I don't wanna die."
The Nine-Tails fell silent.
Naruto began speaking out loud, just as instructed. He explained what he wanted. What he hoped for.
As he finished, something warm wrapped around him.
He could not see it. But he felt it.
A voice echoed softly. Gentle. Familiar.
"It's okay."
Tears spilled down Naruto's face before he understood why.
The Nine-Tails stiffened, sensing a presence it recognized all too well. Its chakra surged violently, then froze.
That voice.
The fox turned away, sitting with its back to Naruto.
Annoying humans, it thought.
And yet…
For the first time, it remembered the lonely child who cried in silence, night after night.
And it stayed quiet.
Outside, Tōma watched Naruto's closed eyes and smiled faintly.
Maybe… this was not too fast after all.