Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the intellectual property associated with Naruto.

Hi all,

Here's my new story. I am not going to go into any details. I will let the story speak for itself.

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Chapter 1

"Are you going to kill me, Naruto Uzumaki?"

Naruto crawled his way over to Gaara, every single movement a struggle as his body felt incredibly sluggish. Every cell in his body was screaming out in agony. He was certain that there wasn't a drop of chakra left in his body. At some point during the fight, he had used up his own reserves and accessed the Kyuubi's chakra. It was almost certain that he would experience a great deal of pain considering the corrosive nature of his chakra, especially when he hadn't yet adapted to it.

Temari and Kankuro emerged from the trees, ready to protect their brother.

"Stop!" Gaara screamed at them, freezing them in place.

Naruto finally reached Gaara's side but didn't attack him. He rolled onto his back and gazed up through the trees at the clear blue sky.

"Why would I do that?" Naruto asked.

"Are you simple-minded, Uzumaki? I invaded your village, hurt your friends, and even killed some of your shinobi. You should hate me!"

Naruto scanned his surroundings, but Sasuke or Sakura was nowhere to be seen. His mask slipped off, revealing a face that looked entirely different compared to his usual expression.

"I don't hate you," Naruto said.

"What?"

"I despise this village," Naruto confessed. "Throughout my entire life, the citizens of Konoha have held nothing but contempt for me. Yet, the most devastating aspect of it all is not their hatred, but their utter indifference. If they had only verbally abused me, assaulted me, and inflicted pain. Then, at least, I would have felt their acknowledgement. Instead, I was treated as if I were invisible, as though I didn't even exist. Can you understand the emotional toll that takes on a young child?"

"I have been hated because of the monster that resides in me," Gaara said. "Tell me, for what reason do they hate you?"

Naruto considered whether he should tell Gaara about the Kyuubi, knowing the ramifications of revealing an S-class secret. Technically, he was allowed to reveal the information to anyone he trusted implicitly. He was sure that didn't include an enemy shinobi that just invaded your village.

Making up his mind, he slowly reached down and lifted his shirt. He was uncertain whether the seal tattoo remained visible, as he lacked the energy to raise his head and check.

"He has a sealing tattoo," Temari gasped, answering the question for him.

"I have a monster inside of me as well," Naruto said. "The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox."

Temari and Kankuro hastily retreated a few steps. Instead of being upset by their reaction, Naruto found it hilarious. Even if he looked completely helpless at the moment, their fear overtook their common sense. It was most likely because they were accustomed to living with a monster.

"We are the same, Uzimaki," Gaara turned and locked eyes with Naruto, his pale face accentuating the deep, dark rings beneath his eyes. "Hated for something we cannot control. This is our inescapable destiny. We will always be alone."

"You sound like Neji, that arrogant guy who believes in that fate crap," Naruto snorted. "Are you truly alone? At least you have your siblings. Even now, they stay by your side to defend you, even though they are probably afraid you will kill them one day."

"I don't understand."

"You should treat them better," Naruto stated bluntly. "There are few people in this world that we can truly call precious. Your responsibility is to hold onto them tightly and defend them with your life. Only they can make your life bearable in this fucked up world."

Gaara furrowed his brows as if trying to grasp a difficult concept.

"I have a few precious people of my own that I am determined to protect," Naruto said.

"You can't protect them forever," Kankuro scoffed.

"Why not?" Naruto asked. "There must be a place where we can live in peace—free from the grip of the ninja system that perpetuates an endless cycle of hatred."

"You're delusional, Uzumaki," Kankuro sighed.

Temari maintained her silence, her hands tightly clutching her fan while her face revealed a conflicted expression.

Naruto held his hand up to the sky and clenched his fist. "I will find such a place. Believe it!"

The grey skies cast a pall over Hiruzen Sarutobi's funeral. Over one hundred Shinobi stood before the man's coffin, attending a private ceremony before he would be escorted through the streets of Konoha so the civilians could say their final farewells. The Sarutobi clan, including his son Asuma and grandson Konohamaru, stood at the front to pay their last respects.

The rest of the shinobi attending were lined up in rows, in strict accordance with how intimately they had known the Hokage. Naruto watched on from the third row. The number one emotion he felt at the moment was resentment. Towards Orochimaru for attacking Konoha, and Jiji for dying. However, his deepest resentment was directed at those responsible for organising this funeral and placing him in the third row.

It wasn't rational to hate those faceless people. Why shouldn't he be in the front row? It was as though his relationship with the old man held no significance. A man whom he regarded as a grandfather during a time when he had very few positive role models in his life. He supposed he should be grateful that he was allowed to be here at all, considering how the majority of the village felt about him.

Naruto watched as a man stepped up to the coffin, interrupting the priest who was conducting the memorial service. The man appeared frail with bandages on his arms and head, relying on a cane for support. He looked like a decrepit mummy that had just crawled out of the grave. The priest stepped aside for Danzo, who turned and faced the onlooking shinobi.

"Danzo, you bastard."

Naruto turned his head and saw a familiar face standing beside him. "What are you doing back here, Jiraiya?"

"Are you finally calling me by name, kid?" the tall white-haired shinobi smiled.

"You get a free pass today," Naruto replied. "Who is Danzo?"

"Trouble," Jiraiya said. "And the new Hokage."

"What? This old fart is the new Hokage? How come I have never heard of this guy before?"

"Because he is not meant to be seen," Jiraiya said. "While Hiruzen worked in the light, Danzo operated in the shadows. He possesses a ruthless nature and is willing to engage in morally questionable actions in order to accomplish his objectives. I am surprised that the Daimyo chose Danzo as the fifth Hokage."

Danzo commenced his speech, projecting his voice so that all could hear.

"Listen, kid, things are going to get tough," Jiraiya said. "Danzo is going to completely change Konoha, and not for the better. I want you to hang in there, no matter what happens. I will…"

"You're going to do what?" Naruto asked, watching Danzo intently. "You don't have to worry about me. I am used to dealing with the village's bullshit."

Jiraiya remained silent, prompting Naruto to turn his head and discover that he had vanished."How rude."

"Naruto Uzumaki."

An Anbu had appeared on his other side. "What is it?"

"The Hokage wants to see you in his office."

"Now? But he hasn't finished his speech yet. Let's see what he has to say for himself."

Anbu didn't respond but didn't force him to leave. He stood silently beside him. Naruto was curious about the identity of the Anbu, as he was certain that he hadn't met them before.

He sent out invisible tendrils of his chakra from his stomach. They slowly reached out until they locked onto the Anbu's leg, who didn't react at all. So far, he has managed to remain undetected by the numerous shinobi and civilians he has used it on. Included in the group was Jiji. If someone as powerful as the Hokage couldn't detect them, then they were definitely something special.

The chakra tendrils were invisible and intangible to others. They bestowed upon him the gift of empathy, allowing him to perceive the emotions of others and providing him with a glimpse into their thoughts. It proved to be much more effective against civilians and genin, although he had not yet mastered the technique.

The golden chakra was completely separate from his normal reserves, which had him scratching his head. As far as he knew, shinobi could not access another source of chakra besides what their own body produced, with the exception of the jinchuuriki. So, where did it come from?

When Naruto caught a glimpse into the mind of the Anbu, he shuddered and swiftly retracted his chakra. The only thing he sensed from the Anbu were extremely muted emotions. It almost felt like he was trying to read an inanimate object. He had never experienced this feeling before, and he found it extremely unpleasant. He preferred the animosity that the majority of his targets harboured towards him over the emptiness.

Naruto couldn't recall the first time he was able to use this technique. It must have been shortly after he unlocked his chakra for the first time. He had practised with it extensively because it provided him with valuable insight into people. When you were a social pariah, it was important to be able to determine who actually didn't hate you.

It had been overwhelming at first, as he lacked any control over the technique, so he was bombarded by the emotions of everyone in his immediate vicinity. The relief only came after he learned to shape the chakra, honing it into its current iteration, where he needed to be connected in order to read the target's emotions.

The technique still had a long way to go. He could only extend the chakra tendrils out a few feet. When the target moved beyond that range, the connection was severed and the chakra withdrew back into his body. Additionally, it only allowed him to sense intense emotions without much nuance. People were far too complex to be categorised as either good or bad.

Unfortunately, honing the technique didn't give him any other benefits such as refining his control with his innate chakra. The two operated independently of each other. He still struggled with his chakra control due to Kyuubi's influence.

Naruto returned his attention to Danzo as he made his speech. His voice was commanding and held the attention of those in attendance.

"...I knew Hiruzen Sarutobi for over five decades. We are both relics of a previous age and should not have survived for as long as we have. Unfortunately, one of us has finally succumbed to the inevitable end that every individual in the shinobi world must face. He was not just my comrade, but also my brother in arms against those who sought to conquer us. Together, we have fought in wars, and we have experienced happiness, grief, despair and everything in between.

"I frequently found myself in conflict with Hiruzen due to our conflicting beliefs and differing viewpoints on the path Konoha should follow. However, I must express my deep admiration for his remarkable achievements and his embodiment of the will of fire. Now, I have taken up that mantle as the fifth Hokage…"

The Anbu tapped his shoulder, signalling that it was time to go.

"Do you know the Shunshun technique?" The Anbu asked, ignoring his protest.

"No, I haven't learned it yet."

"Useless." The Anbu reached out and grabbed him.

"Bastard. Let go, I haven't finished paying my respects to the old man."

The man didn't bother to reply, and Shunshin'd them away from the cemetery. The technique utilised chakra to temporarily vitalise the body so the user could move at extreme speeds. It appeared as if they had vanished into thin air. Unfortunately, it was not a technique that was designed to carry passengers. Naruto could swear his body was about to be torn apart in the brief moment it took to arrive at the Hokage's tower.

Half an hour later, Naruto was kicking his heels outside the Hokage's office, waiting to be summoned into his office. He was angry because he had been kept waiting after being rushed here from Jiji's funeral. If they were going to make him wait, why not have him spend that time with Jiji?

Naruto took a few deep breaths to calm down. He had no idea what the Fifth Hokage was like, so he had to play it cool. From what he knew of him so far, Danzo was definitely a man not to be trifled with. Unlike the Third, he wouldn't let Naruto get away with his usual antics.

"The Hokage will see you now," the secretary approached him, gazing at him as if he were dirt beneath her feet.

The clear disdain she displayed brought out his mischievous nature.

"I could have sworn I saw you in the Red Light District," Naruto whispered loudly as she walked away. She whirled around in anger, but he had already fled into the office.

Naruto walked up to Danzo who was sitting behind his desk. He didn't look up as Naruto saluted but instead continued to read from a folder on his desk. After some time, he grew restless and began to impatiently bounce his leg.

"You lack discipline," Danzo said, raising his head. "Stand still."

Naruto stopped moving. The Hokage got to his feet and walked slowly around his desk, his cane tapping against the floor. He held a file in his hand and proceeded to read it aloud. The file happened to be a report detailing his shinobi career.

"Naruto Uzumaki, the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi, who recently graduated from the academy. He is part of team seven under Kakashi Hatake's leadership. Graduated dead last in class and only passed because he was dumb enough to be tricked into stealing the Scroll of Seals. Only managed to defeat the traitor because of sheer dumb luck and a Jonin's worth of chakra at his disposal. Am I correct in my analysis so far?"

Naruto said nothing. The circumstances involving the Scroll of Seals were incorrect, as he was fully aware that Mizuki was lying to him. He had planned the theft of the scroll with the old man, in an attempt to uncover any other traitors aiding Mizuki. He had no intention of correcting Danzo, however.

"In the fight against the missing-nin Zabuza Momochi and the mercenary ninja Haku, Uzumaki performed surprisingly well. Unfortunately, he chose not to rely on his own abilities. When he couldn't save his comrade, he let the Kyuubi take over. Such a weak shinobi should not be the jinchuuriki of the most powerful of the nine Biju. He is ill-disciplined, lazy, and overly emotional. I suggest that he undergo retraining to prevent him from becoming a liability for Konoha."

As he was speaking, Danzo didn't even look at him, as if he was unworthy of his regard. Naruto resisted the urge to lash out at the man. Danzo closed the folder with a snap and came to stand behind him.

"Do you know who wrote that report?" Danzo asked. "It was your sensei, Kakashi Hatake. "Clearly, he doesn't consider you to be a worthy shinobi."

Naruto shifted uneasily on his feet but didn't say anything. He was well aware of what his sensei thought of him. It was hard to hide from Kakashi that he knew just how exactly the man felt about him. Although Kakashi didn't hate him, he didn't seem to like him that much either.

"I won't speak of the Chunin Exams," Danzo continued, "because we all know how that went. The only time that you truly shined was during the invasion when you subdued Gaara, the jinchuuriki of the Sanbi. Although, I guess we can attribute that down to Jiraiya's excellent training methods."

Naruto was caught unawares when Danzo lashed out with his cane, sweeping Naruto off his feet. He landed on his back, the force of the impact left him gasping for air.

"You are Konoha's jinchuuriki, and far too valuable to pursue the typical shinobi career. As such, I am withdrawing you from your genin team effective immediately. Your training must be taken in hand to develop you into a valuable asset for the village. You will be used as a deterrence against other villages as should have been the case from the beginning."

When Naruto glared up at Danzo, he drove his cane into his stomach, causing him to cry out and curl into a ball.

"You shall learn some respect, boy," Danzo said mildly.

"Respect is earned," Naruto wheezed.

"Don't worry, once I'm finished with you, you'll have earned the right to respect me."

Danzo bent down, and he struck Naruto's neck, causing the boy to lose consciousness.

"Fu!"

A man in a white uniform and mask appeared, kneeling down in front of Danzo. "What are your orders, Lord Hokage?"

"You will be taking personal charge of Naruto Uzumaki. He needs to be torn down before he can be rebuilt into my personal weapon. There is no need to hold back. The Kyuubi will heal any injuries. Just make sure you don't kill him."

"Hai!" Fu responded, yet he made no move to leave.

"Was there something else?"

"Sir, are you going to give him a binding seal, so he cannot reveal your secrets if he somehow manages to escape?"

After considering the idea for a moment, Danzo decided against it. "No, it is fine to wait. I have run into trouble in the past when I applied the seal to unwilling participants. Best to wait until his will is broken. Go now."

"Hai." Fu picked up Naruto and shunshin'd away.

Danzo returned to his desk and took a seat, feeling overwhelmed by the tasks that awaited his attention. Despite achieving his ambition of becoming Hokage, there was no time for celebration.

The path leading up to this achievement had been filled with countless challenges. He did not fool himself into believing he would ever become Hokage through conventional means. The Daimyo would never have given him the position normally, as his methods were considered too extreme. It is why he had to take matters into his own hands.

It had taken him well over a decade, but he had finally managed to place a handful of spies within the Daimyo court. It wasn't easy, as all potential recruits had to undergo extensive background checks. There was also a high level of security. The samurai guarding the Daimyo were dangerous, and he had a lot of shinobi among his ranks as well. The Daimyo recruited shinobi when they were still young and impressionable, just as he did himself.

His purpose in placing spies in the imperial court was so that he could secure a private audience with the Daimyo alone. As soon as Hiruzen's death had been confirmed, he travelled swiftly to the capital to enact his plan. Usually, the Daimyo chooses the next Kage when the previous Kage dies or becomes incapacitated. However, he did take the advice of the Shinobi Council and the Jonin Commander into consideration. It was vital that he preempted the meeting and ensured that the Daimyo had already made his choice before he even travelled to Konoha.

Once he was alone with the Daimyo, he subdued the man. He uncovered the bandages covering his right eye, revealing a Sharingan implant. He cast a powerful yet subtle mind-controlling genjutsu on the man. Kotoamatsukami was a dojutsu that Shisui's Sharingan granted him, and it was augmented by Hashirama's cells implanted in his body. Typically, the cells enhanced the dojutsu to give him the ability to use it more than once a day.

However, he had discovered a way to strengthen the genjutsu, turning it from a subtle mind-controlling genjutsu into an overpowering directive. He used it to manipulate the Daimyo into choosing him as Hokage, as well as giving him a route to escape the palace undetected. He could have given the man additional orders, but the more commands he gave, the less effective it became.

The command was so strong, he was sure it would last at least a year. The only downside was that the Daimyo would be aware that he had been manipulated when he finally broke free of it. It would no longer matter by the time that time came.

Danzo rubbed his eyes tiredly. Even though he had secured the Hokage position, his hold was only tenuous. There would be a lot of resistance from the Shinobi Council and clans, which would take some time to resolve. He couldn't completely alienate them. But he had to undermine their position of power.

Some clans, like the Hyuga's, were too powerful and posed a potential threat to the village. The possibility of them rebelling, similar to what the Uchihas had planned, was cause for concern. Thankfully, he had already devised a method to fracture the clan, which was well underway towards completion.

A knock sounded at the door, and the secretary entered. "Hokage, there are Suna representatives waiting downstairs. They are very insistent that they see you right away."

"Tell them they can wait a bit longer," Danzo ordered. "I am busy."

"Yes, sir."

They had no right to demand an audience. It was they who invaded Konoha, so he wouldn't show them any respect. His future plans included Suna, and it just so happened that he had the Kazekage's children in his grasp. They would be used as a bargaining chip in order to gain concessions from the Suna council in the future. It was the first step in one of many in order to destabilise their village. His ultimate goal was to assimilate the village into Konoha.

At that moment, he would possess two jinchuuriki, just like Kumo did. His enemies jinchuuriki posed a significant threat, as they had harnessed the power of their Bijuu to such an extent that they could walk into Konoha and cause a lot of damage.

Danzo was broken out of his thoughts when someone jumped through the open window. Before the Anbu hidden in the office could attack the man, he waved them off.

"It didn't take you long to secure Naruto," Jiraiya said as he sat down.

"I am surprised you did not intervene," Danzo replied, keeping a watchful eye on Jiraiya.

"I cannot act impulsively," Jiraiya stated. "I must weigh all my options before taking action. Naruto will be fine for the time being. He may suffer a little, but he will get some training that he desperately needs."

"Do you intend to commit treason against Konoha? Because I will not hesitate to declare you a rogue-nin and have you killed."

"It is not going to be as easy as you imagined," Jiraiya replied, ignoring Danzo's threat. "You are going to alienate a lot of the shinobi with your methods. There is even a possibility that many of them will abandon the village. What are you going to do then? Send them all to their deaths?"

"Let me worry about persuading the shinobi of my vision for Konoha. In the meantime, I want you to return to your spy network. The Akatsuki are a threat to Konoha that we cannot ignore."

"Are you trying to get me out of the way?" Jiraiya stood up. "It will not be that easy."

Jiraiya strode out of the room. The moment he left the Hokage's office, his expression changed. The situation was dire. He knew exactly what Danzo had in store for the village. The madman intended to start another war in order for Konoha to rise as the sole supreme power. And not only that, he aimed to dismantle the imperial system that reigned over the Elemental Nations.

"I'm sorry, Naruto, but I will not be able to help you in the short term," he whispered. "I must gather allies and consider my next moves carefully."

He was confident that there were people closely monitoring him to ensure that he departed from the village. Little did they realise that he possessed the means to reenter the village without being detected. After all, he was Jiraiya, the Toad Sannin. If he couldn't achieve this much, he might as well give up as a shinobi.

Jiraiya retrieved his worn-out copy of Tales of a Gutsy Ninja, concealed beneath his kimono. With a heavy heart, he gazed at it for what seemed like an eternity. "It feels as though my cherished dream is slipping even further out of reach," he lamented.

Fu led Naruto into a cramped room, containing nothing but a small bed and a toilet. The absence of windows, combined with the presence of a heavy steel door, immediately unsettled Naruto. It felt as though the walls were closing in on him, creating a suffocating sense of confinement.

After pushing him in, Fu shut and locked the gate behind him. "I will be back in a minute," he said before walking away.

Immediately, Naruto attempted to perform a jutsu, only to find that his chakra was unable to manifest. There must be a sealing array present in the room, obstructing his ability to generate chakra.

"Dammit," Naruto kicked the bed. Ignoring the pain in his foot, he approached the door and closely inspected it. The door was a sturdy piece of solid steel, yet there were no visible locks. Attempting to push the door open resulted in no success; it remained firmly shut. Stepping back a few paces, he then sprinted forward, forcefully colliding with the door using his shoulder.

Naruto cried out as he bounced off the door and tumbled to the floor. He winced as he got up, rubbing his shoulder. That was a stupid move. He sat down on the bed and wrapped his arms around his legs. He was unaware of his location since he had been blindfolded for most of the journey. The secrecy scared him, as it hinted at something that needed to be hidden away from prying eyes, something potentially harmful.

Naruto attempted to strike up a conversation with Fu during their journey but was met with silence from the man. He attempted to gauge the man's emotions, but he found that they were similar to those of the Anbu he had encountered previously. His emotions felt incredibly muted as if there was nothing but a blank canvas behind his eyes. It was the second time he experienced such a feeling, within a very short period of time. Danzo must be doing something that is causing them to behave this way. Will they try to do the same thing to him?

"I wonder what Sakura and Sasuke are doing now?"

They hadn't been at the funeral. Sasuke was still recovering from his injuries, and Sakura probably was by his side. What would they think when they learned that he was not on the team anymore? Would they be happy, sad, or indifferent? Surprisingly, he wasn't too upset by the fact that he was no longer a genin. It had been on his mind for a while now, about leaving the village, even if that made him a missing-nin. The passing of Jiji and the recent appointment of the new Hokage had only served to reinforce his resolve. However, he needed to find a way to escape this place first.

Fu arrived accompanied by a man dressed in a simple grey uniform and wearing a white mask. The man was carrying a small bundle of clothes. Two other men, similarly attired, followed closely behind, transporting a tub filled with soapy water. "Shu, this is our new recruit. He needs to be prepared for his stay here."

"Hai," Shu said. He walked forward and stood in front of Naruto. "Strip."

"Sorry, I'm not into guys. Why don't you try Fu over there? He seems to be in dire need of some company."

Shu seized Naruto's hair, hoisting him up from the bed. Naruto screamed and threw a wild punch at Shu's stomach. However, Shu effortlessly evaded the strike. with a deft twist of his waist.

Shu retaliated by slapping Naruto across the face, blooding his lip. "I am not going to ask again. Strip."

Naruto spat some blood into Shu's face. The man wiped it off his cheek, not looking too bothered by the act. Shu buried his fist in his stomach without warning, and Naruto felt his breath escape him, followed by excruciating pain. Naruto gasped as he attempted to take in some air frantically.

To his utter humiliation, he was stripped of his clothes and chucked into the tub full of water.

"A wooden tub? Is that all you can offer? Where is the manager? I want to make a complaint," Naruto said, glaring at his tormentors.

"You are nothing," Fu said with contempt. "Less than a cockroach. What makes you think that you deserve any better?"

Shu stood behind him and Naruto felt him grab his hair again. But this time he wasn't trying to hurt him. He gasped as he felt a tug in his hair before some golden strands fell into the water.

"Shu is very proficient in wind-style ninjutsu," Fu said. "Lord Hokage trained Shu himself."

Naruto gritted his teeth as the man proceeded to remove all of the hair from his head. As it came closer to his scalp, he could feel the buzz of the wind chakra as it passed over his head, removing the last bits of hair. He wasn't gentle, and Naruto winced when the blade made some shallow cuts in his skin. He was now completely bald, and blood was dripping down his head.

After Naruto exited the tub, he dressed in the clothes they provided him. He was led out of his room and down a corridor into a large chamber. It was a training area, with a target range, and racks of weapons arranged along the wall.

"Drop and give me two hundred push-ups," Fu ordered.

Naruto briefly considered refusing, but he realised that he was in no position to resist at the moment. It would only lead to more pain. He dropped to the floor and started doing the push-ups.

After fifty, he began feeling the burn in his arms. When he reached one hundred, he was clearly struggling. Sweat dripped down his face and his arms shook uncontrollably. He was barely able to lift himself off the ground as his form began to lose shape.

"Stop," Fu ordered. "Correct your form. I won't have any half-hearted attempts. If you don't complete it correctly, I will add to the total amount you need to finish."

With great effort, Naruto managed to keep his form long enough to finish the two hundred push-ups. It took him far longer to finish them than the first hundred, but he did it. He slumped to the floor, utterly exhausted.

"Your stamina is pathetic," Fu said emotionlessly. "We will need to work on reducing the time by half. You get a five-minute rest, then we will move on to another exercise."

Naruto sighed, complying with the man's demands. He knew he had to endure the situation for now, but he was determined to escape this dreadful place when the opportunity arose. They were mistaken if they believed they could shatter his spirit. After all, he was none other than Naruto Uzumaki. Believe it.

Later on, Naruto lay in his bed with his eyes closed. Anyone watching him would think he was asleep, but he was actually accessing his mindscape. Jiraiya had explained to him that the seal created a storage space in his mind to keep the Kyuubi imprisoned. At first, he didn't know if he could access his mindscape due to the containment seal. Did he need chakra?

When he next opened his eyes, he was in his mindscape. It was a spacious room that resembled a sewer but fortunately lacked an offensive smell. There was a central channel with sluggish water, its depths obscured in darkness. A line of pipes adorned the walls, and they vanished out of the boundaries of his mindscape, their ultimate destination unknown. The only sound in the chamber was an audible drip of water resonating loudly in the background.

Naruto really wanted to question the person who designed the seal, and what made him think it was a good aesthetic choice to make it a sewer. Naruto felt personally attacked as if his creator believed his mind was tainted with impure thoughts and filth.

Naruto stepped forward, his feet wading through the shallow pool of water as he approached the huge cage that represented the seal containing the Kyuubi.

"Hey Kyuubi, we need to talk," Naruto shouted.

Deep in the confines of the cage, a form moved out of the shadows until he was standing before the gate. The orange fox, with its menacing red eyes and long ears, loomed over him. Kyuubi growled lowly in its throat as it glared down at him malevolently. In spite of Naruto seeing him many times before, he could never get over his awe and terror at the sight.

"Human, what do you want? Why must I suffer in your presence?"

"Don't be like that," Naruto replied. "I know you love seeing me. It must get lonely down here. Maybe you should give it a makeover? It looks a little depressing."

The Kyubi roared, hitting the cage violently, sending Naruto stumbling back in fear. It was an instinctive response, something he had no control over. The Kyuubi was a malevolent force of nature and something to be respected.

"Tell me what you want before I get really angry."

Naruto let out a sigh, his expression shifting to a serious one. "I find myself in quite a predicament. I want to strike a deal with you. I promise it will definitely be worth your while."

A long silence. "I'm listening."

So, what do you think? Can Naruto escape? And how long will it take?

Thanks for reading.