In an underground sewer where light was barely present stood a blond haired kid with sky blue eyes and another kid with light brown eyes and long black hair.
It was obviously the brothers Naruto and Tobio, in front of them was a huge cage and inside was a gigantic shadow with bright crimson slit eyes. The nine tails fox.
"Nii-san, where are we? What kind of Genjutsu did you do this time?" Naruto asked, clearly spooked especially in the presence of the nine tails.
"A very important Genjutsu so we can talk to a powerful being. And to also befriend him."
'It was successful! I'm finally here! If there's anyone that I can count on in this world. Naruto's partner is definitely the only one. But right now, he's still hostile, it's important that I tread carefully.'
[Deep laugh in amusement]
"Hahahaha"
"That's the funniest thing I have ever heard in a thousand years. You a human befriending me? Me!? Hahahaha"
"Glad to make you laugh, Kurama." Tobio nonchalantly replied which earned him a glare from the fox.
"Naruto, stay behind me." He immediately said to his younger brother who got the signal and followed him. Naruto hid behind and pulled his shirt while peeking with his head to Tobio's right side.
"How do you know that name!? Who are you?" Demanded the fox. That however earned a smile on Tobio's face, a genuine one. As the nine tails, Kurama could feel no ill intent coming from the boy and that his smile right now was true.
"I'm glad you asked. I have long since decided to have my brother's last name so I didn't have much chance to say it. I am Uzumaki Tobio. Naruto's big brother. It's nice to finally meet you, Kurama Otsutsuki."
"Who- what are you?!" Kurama's emotions was stirred but he controlled himself. Why? There's supposed to be no soul in the current era who knows his name besides his siblings. Especially that last name.
"I just answered that question. May I ask you a question now?" Tobio said with no hint of provocation but with proper courtesy. As if he wasn't talking to a demon or a monster but to another individual like him.
This treatment got Kurama's curiosity. 'how does he know my full name? what does he want? why can't I sense any malicious intent from him? is he even genuine? Almost all my life, humans are scared of me. This is the first time a human looked at me as an individual. Based on how he talks, he even seems to have a bit of respect to me.'
"Go ahead." Tobio heard the confirmation, so he immediately casted the bait.
"Will you be my and my brother's friend?"
"Hahahahahahahahahahaha!"
'He really asked what he said awhile ago about befriending me? He's a crazy human!'
"Why?" Kurama asked in amusement, curiosity and wariness. All humans are the same to him. 'They are always greedy especially when it comes to power. Even that brat minato was subjected to it that he sealed me to his own child no less. I'm sure he has ulterior motives behind this farce.'
Tobio thought hard regarding this. Honestly he didn't expect to even have a success of accessing Naruto's mindscape. It was all just theory that he put up together. Casting illusions to the five senses was the beginning of Genjutsu but even that was in the branch of control.
But in the end, what's the use of controlling the five senses if you can't control them directly? The next step was ofcourse the mind. Controlling the mind gives one control to an individual like a puppet or just like how obito controlled the nine tails with a mangekyou sharingan, access to what they are thinking (mind reading) and maybe even access to their memories or altering their memories or the most brutal, erasing their memories. Genjutsu has many possibilities and Tobio was already on the verge of advancing further than this world.
And right now, he was thinking hard how to convince Kurama. He remembered one fanfic where the MC possessed Naruto's body and told Kurama everything. But, that was a fanfic, this is reality. The only reason Tobio did this was for Naruto to have early access to Kurama's power.
"Alright Kurama, to tell you the truth, it was for Naruto's sake that I am asking to be friends with you." Tobio looked at Naruto and smiled.
"little bro, I am taking away your hearing for a moment since I don't want you to hear what I say next. It's not that I don't trust you but you're still too young to understand. Once you're old enough, then we will tell you everything that Kurama and I talked about today. Do you understand?" he asked cautiously afraid to make his brother suspicious of him. Fortunately, his fears didn't come true since Naruto's still a kid.
"I understand Tobio-nii. I think I'm tired so you guys better hurry. I need to sleep soon since I'm finally going to the academy tomorrow."
'Oh, right. I'm a 4th year academy student starting tomorrow!'
"Don't worry. We won't take long." With a single hand sign tobio casted another Genjutsu on top of his currently active Genjutsu. Leaving him less than half of his reserves. 'Damn, I really need to up my reserves too in this remaining 2 years.'
"Why did you do that Human?" Kurama asked suspiciously. 'Is he trying to control Naruto? but I still don't sense any malicious intent or ulterior motives from him. just what is he?'
"oh that? well he's just a 7 years old kid. And obviously as his older brother, it is important that I let him know things he must know in the right time. I can only imagine what it will feel like once we have 'the talk'..." although he only muttered that last bit.
"Whatever, human. So what do you mean about making me your friend for his sake?" Kurama gestured to Naruto.
"First of all Kurama, my name is Uzumaki Tobio, you can call me Tobio. And to answer your question I think it would be better if i show it to you no?"
"So in the end it all comes down to you casting a genjutsu on me and controlling me! hump! you really think I don't know what you've been doing? and what your intentions are.?! You weakling! You don't even have enough chakra to do that!" Kurama loudly snarled preparing to lash out.
"You're an idiot, you know that?" Tobio said blatantly.
"What did you just called me!?"
"Sigh. If I wanted to control you then I could've just casted it already from the beginning. And like you said just now, I don't have even 'enough chakra' to control you. Basically you just made yourself a moron by countering your own argument."
...
[an imaginary Crow passed by]
"Oh." was all that came out of Kurama's mouth.
[Silence]
A few moments later
"Okay, so here's what I'm going to show you. It's a proof of where I came from. Basically I'm making myself an open book so you can trust me. And remember, don't fight because I can't control you, I'm simply sending you my memories. And please don't go on a rampage afterwards." Tobio had to emphasize that last part a bit. Kurama who made a fool of himself awhile ago nodded in agreement, probably still embarrassed by what he did.
Tobio's Genjutsu to enter Naruto's mindscape was still experimental. Although he had many successes with animals with the different kinds of genjutsu he created. It was also true that he made more mistakes than that.
Letting Kurama access his memories was also experimental. Therefore there was no illusions where they sat down and watch his memories in a flat screen TV. It was simply letting Kurama relive his past life from the day he had awareness as a kid until his mother killed him. Kurama might have experienced 10 years or less reliving Tobio's life. But in reality or in Naruto's mindscape. Only a few seconds had passed.
After the memories Kurama received. He contemplated for a moment. He was actually in a world that was just an imagination of an individual. And Tobio was from that world where that individual lived. What's more is the memories of what would've happened if Tobio didn't pick up Naruto. How Naruto would've suffered more and endures it all to become stronger and acknowledged by everyone in the village. How they became the strongest tag team just like Gyuki and Bee, when he finally accepted Naruto as a partner.
How Naruto was acknowledged by his father and Hagoromo and how he was actually the child of prophecy. He was the one his old man told him about that will come and reunite him and his siblings. Kurama, since his separation with his father cried. 'It took so long jiji.' tears came down running from his eye socket. Then he felt two individuals were hugging him.
Tobio already cancelled Naruto's Genjutsu and told him that they need to comfort their new friend, what better way to comfort a friend than a hug?. Naruto was ecstatic to be friends with a giant fox creature. So he followed his big brother's example.
"We're here mr. Kurama. You're not alone. So don't be sad." Naruto's kid voice was heard by the fox.
'if he just have the memories I just received from Tobio, then he might not have said that. I'll definitely be able to use that in the future once his older. hehe' was Kurama's thoughts in the middle of the drama.
Kurama then turned to look at Tobio. Only now did he remember Tobio's life that he sympathize with him. He was too focused on the information about this world that he forgot how Tobio was killed by his own mother. How Tobio even after what her mother did, still loves her and was even thankful.
"Tobio, You are also not alone. The kid and I are here for you." Kurama's voice surprisingly sting a bit to Tobio's eyes.
"Hmmn" was all Tobio responded while burying his face into Kurama's fur.
.
.
.
.
"Okay stop, stop. Let's end this farce now!" Kurama complained.
"Haha okay." Tobio and Naruto stopped hugging.
"I agree." Kurama blurted out.
"what?" Tobio asked confused.
"I said I agree to be your and Naruto's friend." Tobio smiled at that while Naruto had stars in his eyes.
"Yey! I have a giant friend! So cool.!"
"Hey brat, I'm not a giant and my name is Kurama.! you better remember that!"
"I'm not a brat. I'm Uzumaki Naruto. Dattebayo!"
"Hahahaha. Alright settle down you guys. I am almost out of chakra. what do you say we all rest for now and talk again tomorrow after coming back home from the academy.? well actually that only applies to me since both of you can talk to each other anytime so, Kurama just convey to Naruto if you want to say something or if you want me to come here from now on. is that okay?"
"That's acceptable."
"Alright I'm outta here.!" just like that Tobio was out of Naruto's mindscape living the duo inside.
"Wait Tobio-nii. what about me? Don't leave me!" Naruto shouted in concern but Tobio was already gone.
"Hahahaha, you idiot. Your in your own mindscape.!"
"Huh? what do you mean? nevermind that, Tobio-nii left me. Do you think he hates me that's why he left without me?"
'oh right, he's a 7 years old. Ughhh, this is gonna be a pain in the ass years until he matures.'
"Listen here you moron-"
"I'm not a moron! I'm Uzumaki Naruto. How many times do I have to repeat myself!"
"Ugh, fine Naruto. Listen to me. You-"
And that was the beginning of Kurama's torture of having a kid Naruto as his container. The things he needs to explain so that Naruto can understand.
Life in Konoha continues while Hiruzen was peeping at them awhile ago when they moved. He was not able to get to the part where Tobio casted Genjutsu at Naruto since he has other matters to attend to. Like the coup the Uchiha clan was planning.
Although Tobio and Naruto were far away from all this. It was however still happening and wasn't influenced by Tobio. Only Naruto's childhood was changed and the part where Naruto saved Hinata with a genuine clone jutsu this time.
2 years has passed since then and Tobio graduated from the academy. Still maintaining that bottom area of the class results but graduated nonetheless.
End of chapter 4
