SIDE CHAPTER 4 (On Truths and Redemption)
Chapter Summary: Uzumaki Kushina starts thinking about the sentient creature that was sealed within her. Being one who understands loneliness, she attempts to befriend the Kyuubi in hopes that they heal each other's wounds.
I was afraid.
I was always told by Uzumaki Mito that the Kyuubi was the personification of hate and power. Its strength was enough to level the Valley of the End and I heard that he could've destroyed any of the major villages should it have had the chance to do so.
Although he was under the control of Uchiha Madara, it took the whole might and full power of Senju Hashirama to be incapacitated. That was how strong the tailed beasts were.
When I received the tailed beast as Uzumaki Mito was dying, I was very scared. Scared of the possibility that I may be the cause of destruction if I was irresponsible in handling it. I was scared of being rejected by the village I swore to protect just because I had become the prison of a monster.
I was so afraid that I didn't even stop to think about how the monster was also afraid.
When Hiro-chan told me of the story of the Sage of Six Paths and the Bijuu, I thought it was a joke. It was a joke for people to even think that these beings were monsters. All of us should've known that these beings had seen almost everything of recorded history, therefore should be more perceptive of the fickleness of humans.
If the story of the Sage of Six Paths and the Bijuu were to go with, it would be understandable how much pain and disappointment these beasts had felt as the humans that were gifted and taught by the Sage had defiled the ways of chakra and used it to wage wars instead.
I was still apprehensive of I was about to do but I steeled myself for the sake of healing a heart. I delved into the mindscape that held the nine-tailed beast.
I opened my eyes to see a orange, furry fox towering over everything within the sewer-like mindscape. He was chained up by my adamantine chains and a seal was in place in the form of a gate to hold him back further.
I used to come here to make sure the seal is always intact. Whenever I was here, I reminded him of his place. I am ashamed to admit that I might have gone overboard at times and I truly regret that now as he looked at me with scorn in his eyes.
{Well, well. What do we have here? Does my jailor grace me with her presence?}
Once again, I gathered up every ounce of courage that I had, "Hello, Kyuubi. I'm here to ask you something."
He snorted, {Ask? Let me guess. Is it my power once more? Just like any other human. You mortals have become so predictable.}
I shook my head to show that his thoughts were wrong, "No. Even if I wanted to, I don't think I have the right to ask or even forcefully use it."
The fox raised an eyebrow at my rather subservient behavior. I was reminded once more of how I behaved in his presence. It's shameful, 'ttebane!
I continued on with my words, "I just wanted to ask if… if you… had a name, perhaps?"
He seemed shocked at my question as his chains clanged with his figure slightly backing in disbelief. He had wide eyes that seemed curious as to why I asked such a thing.
After a while, though, he snorted, {Are you kidding me? Me? A devil in your and your people's eyes, has a name? If I have a name, then I guess it's the Kyuubi!"
He acted menacingly, wanting to dash towards me and hold me by his hand. The chains could only clang around as they never fail in restraining him.
I looked down towards the ground in shame, "I… I heard from a friend that you and your siblings go way back. To the time of the Sage of Six Paths. He told me of a story about how you came from one entity that caused destruction and how the Sage became its vessel, making him the very first Jinchuriki. I also heard that you and the other tailed beasts came from said entity, the Juubi, and how you were born as the Sage split the Juubi into nine tailed beasts."
As I continued my words, I gained the courage to raise my head once more. I could see that the information I relayed was shocking to him. It wasn't the type of shock that would be shown when one hears something the first time. It was the shock that would be shown as one hears something that wasn't spoken off for a long time.
With wide eyes, the Kyuubi growled at me, {Where did you hear that?! No one is supposed to know of that story anymore. Not when all of you forgot everything of old!}
He struggled to escape the chains that bind him. I could only look with astonishment as he indirectly confirmed the story that Hiroshi told us. I had my doubts, really. But, to think that everything was actually true. Oh, how cruel had time been.
Without any more words, I brought my hands together and focused on my chakra. The chakra travelled through me and into the gorund, finding its way to the adamantine chains grasping the Kyuubi. With a forceful release, the chains loosened until they were finally shed away from the fox.
This time, the Kyuubi stood stunned. He wouldn't have expected me to do something so significant. No matter what he thinks, though, I believe that he deserved the breathing room I had released him from.
I looked at him with courage and sincerity, "When I heard of your story from my friend, he also explained how us humans had strayed from the ideals that the Sage of Six Paths, your father, had laid out. You, who follow the will of the Sage, were casted out. I believe you would have accepted just that. But then, we started fighting our own kind with the same teachings that the Sage had given us. You must've felt disappointed. We then saw your power and sought it for ourselves, sealing you into people just like how you are with me. It must've felt so unfair."
The fox stood there with a calculating expression. He seemed to have been waiting for something.
I knelt on both of my knees and prostrated myself in front of him, "On behalf of all humans, I deeply, sincerely apologize to you and your siblings. For our misgivings about you, for our greed, and for forsaking the teachings of the Sage of Six Paths."
I held that position for a while and raised my body to a sitting position. The fox's eyes showed conflict while his body showed wariness.
He then asked, {Why exactly are you doing this? If you want me to grant you my power, you could have just forced me. I do not understand your actions.}
"I just wanted to apologize for everything we have done. It must have been lonely, being able to live for all this time and yet being disappointed, feeling hatred, for my people."
{Why do this now?}
"Because it was already too late for now. If I had done this later, I'm afraid it would have been impossible by then."
The fox evaluated me as he looked at me.
{You… seem to be sincere. This situation is quite curious. I'm willing to believe your words, but I cannot trust them. The human heart is capricious; one moment you mean something and the next time, you do not. Years of me being a human pet will do that to you.}
I felt so downcast but I persevered, "Then can we start over? Let me understand you and I will make you understand us. I know that you feel that change for us is too late. But am I not living proof of a human's change? I used to torment you but now I am striving to understand you. You may think that my change is due to impulsivity but do know that I know how loneliness feels. I refuse to let others feel the same way I did. I hope that, just like how I found family from people who treat me preciously, you could also confide in me. I hope we can start over. I hope you will grow to trust me."
The fox widened his eyes a bit, {Again. You are sincere. This… is quite… problematic.}
We locked into a stare of what I thought was hours until he relented and sighed.
{Very well. I shall… give you a chance to prove yourself. But! Should you ruin this chance, I will vow to destroy humanity and make you feel my despair.}
Despite the ominous words he spouted, I couldn't be happier with how he agreed to my request. I was so happy that I stood up abruptly and jumped in my place.
"Yes! So, can I know your name now?"
He laid down on his side of the gate comfortably and snorted, {You do not deserve to know my name yet, human.}
Seeing as I wouldn't be able to get his name right now, I proceeded to talk about random stuff to him. He looked annoyed but I noticed how he gradually enjoyed our conversation.
If this was in the past, I wouldn't have thought to be having a conversation with the Kyuubi, an entity of mass destruction. I wouldn't have known how pleasant he was to talk to and how sarcastic he is in his responses.
I thought back on to the story that made all this possible.
I guess the future that the Sage of Six Paths dreamed of may still be possible after all.