Chapter 4: Facing the Nine-Tailed Fox

A fairly capable chunin led two other average chunin, with the remaining five being rather sharp genin. Their opponents were none other than the renowned battle-hardened shinobi of the Cloud Village. White-Hair believed defeating them posed no real challenge; at the very least, he would need to use the Body Flicker Technique a few times.

Yet this was the first time he had so effortlessly dispatched eight ninja using nothing but a weapon—without employing any jutsu at all. This weapon… it was terrifyingly powerful!

And to think this weapon had been made by that three-year-old little runt?

Three years old, seriously?!

Teacher, Lady, just what kind of monster did you bring into this world?

“How awful, this is just too much!”

Naruto looked down at the enemy corpses lying on the ground, mangled beyond recognition, and found himself at a loss for words.

How to put it? The battle… had been something of a disappointment. The gap between these ninja and White-Hair’s Anbu squad was simply too wide. Naruto hadn’t even witnessed the effects of any ninjutsu; White-Hair alone had dispatched the entire enemy force with nothing but his body and swordmanship.

He hadn’t even had a chance to test out the mechanical flying shuttle he’d crafted.

It was honestly pitiful.

“Naruto.”

White-Hair was silent for a moment before handing the mechanical dagger to Naruto.

“Keep this ninja tool safe. Don’t let anyone see it—not even the Third Hokage, understand?”

White-Hair didn’t trust the Third. He remembered all too clearly how his own father had died. If the Third ever learned of Naruto’s abilities, Naruto would spend his entire life forging ninja tools in the shadows, never to see daylight again.

It was bad enough that the teacher’s child had become a weapon for the village—if things got any worse, White-Hair wouldn’t know how to face his teacher ever again.

Not that he had the face to see his teacher now.

But Naruto didn’t take the dagger. He shook his head and said, “This one’s for you. I’ll make another for myself. Consider it payment for protecting me.”

White-Hair took a deep breath, his voice low and suppressed. “You fool! I told you not to let anyone see this ninja tool—it’s dangerous for you! How can you just give it away? How do you know I’m not a bad person? How can you trust me so easily?!”

Naruto looked at White-Hair’s mask, saw the genuine concern in the single eye behind it, and broke into an innocent smile.

“Of course I know! But are you anyone else?”

Grinning, Naruto continued, “You’ve protected me so many times—I know that! If you wanted to harm me, you would’ve done it long ago.”

White-Hair fell silent.

He tucked away the mechanical dagger and rapped Naruto firmly on the head.

“You fool, you’re nothing like your father.”

“My father? You knew him? You were his friend?”

White-Hair ignored Naruto’s questions and stubbornly carried him back to the village. After seeing Naruto home, White-Hair left.

Whatever White-Hair said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, it must have been something—because that evening, Hiruzen came by again, and after that, Naruto found even more Anbu assigned to protect him.

But it was clear that White-Hair had not mentioned the mechanical dagger.

Night fell, drawing a quiet curtain over Naruto Uzumaki’s day. As usual, he went out to buy some daily necessities, did a set of stretches before bed, drank his milk, and went to sleep.

When Naruto’s consciousness next returned, he realized he was not waking up. Instead, he found himself standing in darkness, deep within a damp, shadowy sewer. The only light came from a pair of burning red eyes ahead, staring at him like twin flames.

“Come here, brat. This way.”

The owner of those eyes spoke.

Then Naruto saw it—a massive iron gate, sealed with a single talisman. Behind it loomed a fox of mountain-like proportions, fur blazing orange.

“Come closer, brat. Step up to the gate,” the enormous fox rumbled. “Tell me, do you really accept this?”

“Konoha is a peaceful village, and you’re just a three-year-old child.”

“Other children get to run freely in the sunlight, basking in the luxury of peace.”

“But you? Though you know the Third Hokage himself, you struggle just to survive, forever burdened by the stares of others—kept at the margins of this bustling world.”

“Come… draw near to me. I’ll give you power. I’ll give you a chance…”

“Come… accept me…”

With each whispered lure from the giant fox, Naruto stepped closer to the massive cage.

A ferocious grin twisted across the fox’s face. As far as it was concerned, the temptation had succeeded.

After all, a three-year-old understood so little—a few well-chosen words would surely be enough. And besides, the fox prided itself on a tongue so silver that even seasoned shinobi would fall prey to its persuasion; this child was certain to be utterly ensnared.

But as the fox looked into Naruto’s eyes, it was stunned.

Naruto’s gaze was clear as crystal, with not a hint of enchantment upon it.

“So you’re my tenant?” Naruto asked, his voice childish, yet utterly lacking in childishness.

The giant fox narrowed its eyes, curling its lips into a sly smile.

“That’s right, brat. I reside within you. But whether I’m truly your tenant… well, perhaps we’re enemies instead.”

The fox’s deep, powerful voice seemed to pierce Naruto’s very soul.

Naruto grinned.

“Whether we’re enemies or not, for now, we’re in the same boat, aren’t we? I’m giving you a place to stay, so for the time being, just call me the landlord!”

Naruto’s smile was so bright, the fox was momentarily taken aback. For an instant, he seemed to see that man—the one who had given everything to seal him away.

“Hahaha! You’ve got guts, brat!”

The fox burst into laughter, its booming voice shaking the entire space.

“In all my years, you’re the first to strike a bargain with me! Interesting! Very good, brat—I find myself rather liking you. You’re the first jinchuriki I’ve ever actually liked.”

“So, what about the rent? How are you going to pay?”

Naruto asked.

Danger flashed in the fox’s eyes, though it seemed intrigued by Naruto’s words.

“Rent? I’ve been paying you rent from the very first day I moved in! I’m no deadbeat.”

As the fox spoke, a cloak of dark red energy flared over Naruto’s body.

Naruto tested the power swirling around him—the fox hadn’t lied. This energy was familiar, always lurking within. Though the cloak pulsed with negative emotions, Naruto could sense the fierce, vital strength wrapped beneath the hostility.

The fox studied the unaffected Naruto, its interest piqued.

“I’ve given you your rent—whether you can use it, or how far you can take it, that’s not my concern.”

“That’s enough. Time for you to go. I’ve no interest in chatting with a nagging landlord.”

The fox closed its eyes, tucking its head beneath its forelimb.

Darkness crashed in, swallowing Naruto whole.

His consciousness began to fade.

Just before losing himself, Naruto called out, “What’s your name? I can’t just call you Nine-Tails forever, can I?”

The fox snorted.

“Call me whatever you like! I’m used to it! As for my name—go find it out yourself!”

With that, Naruto’s consciousness was gone.

When he next opened his eyes, he was back in his room. Morning light filled the sky.