I sank to the cool stone floor of the cave and closed my eyes, letting my breath slow. With a deliberate exhale, I let my consciousness slip inward, following the ocean of energy beneath my awareness.
It was enormous. Raw. Ancient. Wild.
Kurama.
The Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra, roaring beneath the surface of my mind like a storm trapped in a canyon.
And then the world dissolved.
When I opened my eyes again, I wasn't in the cave anymore. The landscape around me was alive, almost breathing, a vast expanse of swirling red and gold. The air shimmered with pure chakra, thick and tangible, like the world itself had been forged from it.
Before me loomed a colossal gate, towering higher than any mountain I had ever seen. Rusted, jagged, yet glowing faintly with the kanji for seal etched into its iron.
And then the eyes opened.
Two massive orbs blazed like twin suns, burning through the very fabric of the mindscape.
"So… you're finally awake, brat."
The voice rolled across the landscape, deep and thunderous. I looked up.
Kurama.
Every inch of him radiated power. His fiery crimson fur rippled like living fire, his nine tails swaying with lazy, terrifying grace. The air stirred violently with the force of his chakra. And yet… I didn't flinch.
I smiled slightly. "Kurama."
He narrowed his eyes, tilting his massive head. "You know my name already? Hmph. Must be from your past lives."
"Something like that," I said, stepping closer. "You could say we've met—at least, our souls have. I'm Indra Ōtsutsuki's… after all."
Kurama's expression softened ever so slightly. Surprise flickered behind his blazing eyes.
"Indra… the Sage's eldest son. No wonder your chakra feels so familiar."
I nodded. "He was my father, wasn't he? In another life. And you… you were created by the Sage himself. That makes us family, in a way."
A low, rumbling chuckle shook the chakra-laden air. "Family, huh? That's… new. Humans usually just try to control me."
"I'm not here to control you," I said simply. "I'm here to understand you."
The fox studied me in silence, his colossal gaze probing, measuring. For the first time, I saw curiosity instead of hostility.
Then, the massive gate began to dissolve, fading into golden light that replaced the iron bindings.
"You already broke the seal?" Kurama asked, his tone a mixture of surprise and amusement.
I smiled faintly. "The god who sent me here said I'd be the perfect jinchūriki. I guess he meant it."
Kurama laughed again, but this time, it was warm. Genuine. "You've got guts, kid. Most humans would've fainted just standing here."
I stepped closer until I stood before his snout, letting his immense chakra wash over me. "We don't need to be enemies, Kurama. You're not just a beast—I know what you are. You're the embodiment of chakra, of creation. The Sage made you to protect balance."
He studied me silently, and I could feel his energy brushing against mine—testing, measuring, weighing.
Then, almost gently, he spoke.
"You remind me of the old man… and a little of Indra too."
I felt it then—his chakra surged again, but not with hostility. Warmth, ancient and powerful, flowed into me like fire and wind combined. Red and gold light expanded in the mindscape, merging with the faint pulse of divine lightning that crackled along my own aura.
"From this moment," Kurama said, his voice echoing like rolling thunder, "we're partners. Not master and weapon—equals. You've earned that much, little brother."
I bowed my head respectfully, smiling. "Glad to hear it, Kurama. Let's shake the heavens together."
The massive fox's eyes softened further. "Heh. You sound just like the Sage."
His laughter filled the mindscape, warm and resonant, and I felt the connection solidify—no walls, no cages, no chains. Our chakra intertwined, seamless and pure.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the cave. Crimson chakra flared around me, swirling in intricate patterns like fire and lightning combined. My body hummed with power, every muscle buzzing, every cell alive.
Kurama's voice echoed faintly in my mind.
Let's show the gods what true power looks like.
I smirked. "You read my mind."
The cave trembled under my feet. Lightning flickered across my skin as my aura of divine and demonic energy swirled in magnificent chaos.
This was no longer just the beginning. This was the birth of something unstoppable.