Konohagakure.
The spacious training grounds of the Ninja Academy.
Jiraiya brought Naruto and his companions here, intending to proudly demonstrate his student's mastery of the Summoning Technique.
But as always, life never follows the script.
Just as a massive toad appeared, and Jiraiya was about to boast about Naruto's progress—
Kaguya was already descending from the sky.
Her rabbit-like crimson eyes radiated pressure.
Yet now, they gleamed with an eerie white brilliance.
On her forehead, the unique pattern of nine tomoe — reminiscent of the Rinne Sharingan — pulsed with a blood-red light.
At the training ground—
Toad Bunta puffed his pipe, preparing to scold Naruto for summoning him without permission.
But before he could say a word—
A barrage of fists stormed toward him.
Only someone who had mastered their chakra to an absolute peak could unleash such overwhelming physical might.
When the rabbit extended her paw—
Her ocular power flared simultaneously.
Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!
The technique resembled the Hyuga Clan's Eight Trigrams Palm — but amped to a level that defied human comparison.
And with her Byakugan-like sight aiding it, the blows rained like a divine punishment.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
No threats. No taunts. No delay.
Only destruction.
Each phantom fist landed squarely on Toad Bunta's body — it was a catastrophe for the chief toad.
Before he could understand what hit him, a colossal punch from Kaguya smashed him into the ground, bellowing in pain.
Then he glanced miserably at Naruto — and past him to Jiraiya — before disappearing in a poof.
Yes.
He fled.
Toad Bunta wasn't ashamed — no, he was terrified. He swore that if he took even one more hit, his internal organs would be soup.
The force of the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack left shockwaves behind.
When Kaguya glided down and nestled once again into Bai Ye's arms—
Half the children's training grounds were in ruins. The haze of dust and chakra remnants settled over the area.
Finally—
Silence.
Jiraiya, Naruto, Sasuke — all of them stood still.
They gazed at the crater-pocked earth, ten-meter-long imprints of divine fists carved into concrete, and fell into deep contemplation.
A long pause.
Then Jiraiya regained his composure, glancing warily at the rabbit in Bai Ye's arms.
He finally muttered:
"…What kind of deep grudge does this rabbit have with toads?"
"Did Bunta offend her or something…?"
Jiraiya silently swore—
If Bunta hadn't triggered Reverse Summoning after the first impact, the old toad would've been flattened like a pancake.
What kind of rabbit is this!?
Even Jiraiya himself wasn't confident he could endure that barrage.
What sort of animosity had been cultivated?
...Forget it. He probably deserved it.
Kaguya cast a frosty glare at Jiraiya.
Had this man not been on good terms with Bai Ye, she might've sent him to dust alongside the toad.
After all—
Three years.
Under Bai Ye's guidance, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had uncovered truths even she, once a goddess, hadn't known.
A thousand years ago—
The mastermind behind her downfall wasn't just her sons.
It was the Great Toad Sage — Gamamaru.
That so-called "immortal toad" whispered manipulative dogma into Hagoromo's ears — twisting her own son into sealing her away.
With such a debt of betrayal, could she ever not strike?
Now, even the lingering chakra of Gamabunta made her sick to her core.
Back then, she hadn't noticed that her son fraternized with toads. But now, with her clarity returned—
The toads had always been enemies.
And now, one and one toad — irreconcilable!
Jiraiya's heart trembled.
Naruto, meanwhile, stared blankly at the wrecked ground, and in the echoing silence—Kurama's voice suddenly rang out in his ears.
Sasuke, intrigued, stared curiously at the rabbit nestled in Bai Ye's arms.
Was this rabbit Bai Ye's personal Summoning beast?
He dared not ask.
But quietly—
He wondered if this rabbit might ever have offspring.
And if so, would Bai Ye bestow one upon him?
According to his mother, the rabbit was female.
That made the possibility… not impossible.
"Are you done yet?"
Naruto suddenly muttered.
Feeling something off, he quickly closed his eyes — shifting into the sealed space inside him.
"Kurama, are you done yet? I'm still not fully synced with you, so I can't just let you out. Hold on, alright?"
Yes.
These days, Naruto and Kurama had developed mutual understanding, thanks to Bai Ye's guidance.
Bai Ye had said: give it two more years, and perhaps Kurama could roam free.
But that was still in the future.
"My uncle said that's not the point!"
Kurama barked in frustration, teeth bared.
"I'm warning you — stay away from that rabbit!"
"You know the old man—Six Paths Sage? That chakra earlier could crush even him! Got it? …Forget it, you wouldn't understand!"
"Just—don't make that rabbit mad!"
"That might be this uncle's ancestor—or even me! Don't you get it!? Don't offend it!"
Naruto was silent for a moment.
Then he opened his eyes and gave Kurama a look full of pity.
"…Why're you looking at me like that?"
Kurama blinked, confused.
"No, I just get it now. No wonder you were sealed all the time," Naruto said seriously. "How many people have you had to warn me about? Should I make a list?"
This wasn't the first time.
When Naruto met Kushina, Kurama had warned him immediately—saying she was too intense now, and should never be provoked.
Then it was Uchiha Mikoto.
The day Mikoto used Mangekyō while tending her garden, Kurama shuddered, urging Naruto to avoid her—Mangekyō Genjutsu was too dangerous.
Then it was Tsunade.
When Tsunade used Wood Style to reshape part of Konoha, Kurama warned Naruto again—reminding him of her grandfather Hashirama's terror, and his one-handed sealing.
And then—
The funniest part.
Guess what?
One day, Naruto saw the Two-Tails, Matatabi, being walked around by its Jinchūriki — Yugito Nii — like a pet.
Yugito, having grown powerful under Bai Ye's training, treated Matatabi like a loyal mount.
Kurama nearly lost his mind.
He ranted that Matatabi had more chakra than him now. Said it made no sense. Screamed about "cat privileges."
In short—
Way too many people in the village were now out of Kurama's league.
And now...
"You're Nine Tails. That's just a rabbit. Are you seriously scared enough to pee?"
Naruto's voice dripped with disappointment as he looked at the yellow puddle in the sealed space.
This was his Nine Tails?
The strongest Tailed Beast?
Godfather Bai Ye didn't act like this. Even his godmother, Yugito, held her head high.
But Kurama?
Terrified of a bunny.
Too much.
You're supposed to be Nine Tails!
Kurama went silent.
He was clearly shaken.
Because...
Too many people in Konoha now couldn't be messed with.
This wasn't the village Kurama used to enjoy terrorizing.
Even if he bragged to Naruto now, claiming he'd once razed half the village with a single Tailed Beast Bomb—
Naruto just looked at him with disbelief.
Didn't say it aloud, but he clearly thought Kurama was washed-up.
And due to their bond—
Kurama could feel that thought directly.
So…
Kurama, now existentially shattered, curled up in silence.
He lowered his head to his knees, sighed, and muttered.
Better to stay inside.
The outside world is too dangerous.
Maybe—
Maybe Hashirama had a point.
Maybe sealing him was the kind thing to do.
Maybe...
He was actually protecting him?
"Hashirama… really was a kind man," Kurama whispered.
Losing his grip on reality.
Naruto shook his head and exited the sealed realm.
"You zoning out?"
Sasuke blinked at him, tapping Naruto's head.
"No, just thinking."
Naruto sighed. "How can the Two-Tails be so strong?"
"You didn't see it that day—when Yugito walked Matatabi, Kurama literally trembled inside me. I swear that yellow puddle wasn't metaphorical."
"…Gross."
Sasuke took two steps back, visibly disturbed.
Poor Naruto.
What a journey.
"And another thing," Naruto added, glancing toward Bai Ye and the twitching-eared rabbit in his arms.
"I think that rabbit really hates toads."
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