"Hah! Trying to control me? That's a laugh!"
Inside the sealed space, Kurama snorted with utter disdain. It had already formulated its plan: next time Naruto drew on its power, it would unleash everything. It would make the kid remember what true, mind-shattering terror felt like.
Did they really think it was some pet fox that could be ordered around?
Even if it played along with Menma, that was the only exception. To everyone else, it was the Nine-Tails—a calamity of hatred given form.
Just as Kurama was fantasizing about tormenting Naruto, the boy himself suddenly collapsed onto his bed back in the real world, his consciousness plunging into the mindscape.
Menma, who had been reviewing system notifications, frowned in annoyance at Naruto's reckless entry.
"Don't do anything stupid," Menma warned the grinning fox immediately. "Keep your mouth shut."
Kurama stretched languidly, arching its back into a V-shape. "Relax, I won't interfere with your little plan to take over the body. Besides, this kid seems worried about you. Maybe he'll just give it to you willingly if you ask nicely."
The fox leaned closer to the frantic Naruto, who was scanning the empty void, desperate to find Menma. After spending so much time observing their conversations, Kurama had pieced everything together. Menma wanted to become the primary personality again.
Kurama knew the requirement: Naruto had to give up the body voluntarily, with genuine, heartfelt willingness. That was the only explanation for why the usually cold Menma would bother pretending to be kind and playing house with the kid.
"Multiple personalities are such a hassle," Kurama muttered to itself. "Thankfully, my Yin side isn't like this. With Menma backing me, that weakling has no chance against me now."
With that thought, Kurama swiftly closed the distance to Naruto.
SWIPE!
A massive paw pinned Naruto flat against the ground.
"Hey, brat. Stop looking around. The person you're looking for isn't here."
Kurama's vulpine face twisted into a malicious grin. "You saw it yourself. He was sealed away three days ago. Or have you already forgotten?"
"Liar!" Naruto snarled, baring his teeth like a cornered animal. "You're the one who manipulated Menma! You tried to break the seal! That's why the Second Hokage had to sacrifice himself to stop you, you monster!"
"You actually believed that flimsy excuse?"
Kurama lifted Naruto by the collar, holding him up to its massive eye. "Let me tell you the truth, kid. That Senju brat and everyone in the Hidden Leaf have been lying to you from day one. They're just using you."
"They fear Menma. They can't control him. That's why they've been trying to seal him away or kill him, leaving only the weak, easy-to-control version of you to use my power."
With every word, Naruto's face grew paler. His struggle weakened until he just hung there, head down, mumbling in denial.
"That's not true... It was you... it had to be you..."
"See?" Kurama sneered, dropping him like a rag doll. "Even you can't believe that lie anymore, can you? You're just clinging to it because the truth is too painful."
"Then," the fox added, its voice dripping with false innocence, "let's pretend that lie was true. But I actually know a way to save Menma from his seal. Want to hear it?"
"Save him...?" Naruto's head shot up, hope flickering in his eyes before he quickly looked away again. "No... you're just trying to trick me into opening the seal."
"Trick you?" Kurama let out a disdainful chuckle. "Menma can break the seal without a key. You can't. Unless you're stupid enough to use all my chakra and let me out myself, which isn't happening."
"I won't let you out!" Naruto scrambled to his feet, jaw set with determination.
"Hmph. Pathetic." Kurama's expression soured. "Fine. Here's the only way to save Menma: you willingly relinquish your position as the primary personality and become the secondary one. The body will then pull him back to the forefront."
Naruto fell silent, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles were white.
After a long pause, he stammered, "I don't believe you. You're just trying to trick me into handing over my body so you can steal it."
"Rather than trust a monster like you, I trust myself. I'm Menma's little brother. Whatever he can do, I can do too! I'll master your power, become strong enough to protect everyone, and rescue him myself! Then he'll be proud of me!"
As Naruto's eyes blazed with renewed fire, Kurama's own narrowed in genuine disgust.
"In that case, get out of my sight."
WHOOSH!
A colossal fox claw slammed down on Naruto's head. He exploded like a burst balloon, dissolving into shimmering blue mist.
Outside, Naruto shot up in bed, clutching his head with a strangled cry of pain. His face had turned deathly pale.
---
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