Author Note: [If any of you know an editor. Please send them my way. I've tried reaching out to the beta readers on this site and no one answered me. And I think I need an editor badly. But tell me what you think.]

Inside of Naruto:

Naruto stood his ground, fists clenched. The pressure from Sukuna's KI was gone, but the weight of it still sat heavy in his chest. It had been a test—one meant to make him kneel. He didn't.

The silence stretched between them. Sukuna sat motionless on his throne, watching.

Naruto swallowed and finally spoke. "If you're not the Shinigami, then who are you? What are you? What do you want? And where are we?" His voice was steady, but his pulse pounded in his ears.

Sukuna didn't answer right away. He watched, almost like he was waiting for something. Or maybe he was just amused. After a moment, a small grin surfaced. "You ask good questions, brat. Guess you're not as dumb as you look."

"That doesn't answer my questions!" Naruto snapped, stepping forward. "Stop playing games—I want answers!"

Sukuna leaned forward slightly. "And what makes you think you have the right to demand anything from me?" He tilted his head. "You're in my territory. You don't know where you are, how you got here, or what I am. For all you know, I could kill you on a whim—or take over your body—and there's not a damn thing you could do about it."

Naruto tensed. His nails bit into his palms.

Sukuna studied him. "Look at you," he said. "Frail. Weak. And yet, here you are, barking orders like a scared little dog trying to sound tough. You think you can hide your fear behind anger? It's so... human. What makes you think I owe you anything?"

Naruto clenched his fists tighter, but he didn't look away. "You brought me here. So yeah, you do owe me an explanation! You haven't even told me your name—if you even have one! And if you're planning to kill me or take over my body like you said, then why haven't you? Huh?"

Sukuna chuckled. "Why haven't I?" He repeated the question like he was tasting it. "Because there's no fun in that."

Naruto blinked. "What?"

"I like the hunt," Sukuna said. "I like to play with my prey before sinking my fangs in. To see how far I can push you before you break. To watch every shred of hope you cling to crumble in my hands. To make you feel despair so complete, so overwhelming, that you'll beg for death just to escape it."

His grin widened. "Show you how meaningless your existence really is. Drown you in suffering, in pain, in the sound of your own screams."

Naruto opened his mouth to respond, but Sukuna cut him off.

"Imagine it—your spirit reduced to dust, your body drenched in blood and guilt. Wanting to die but unable to, because I won't let you. Watching helplessly as your existence is ignored, your worth rejected, over and over again."

Naruto felt Sukuna's words crawling on his skin. He clenched his fists tighter, blood dripped into the liquid he was standing in as he took a breath trying to calm himself. "You think I'll just break that easily?!" he shouted, voice shaking but firm. "You're wrong! I've been through worse than this—you don't scare me!"

Sukuna let out a low chuckle. "Oh really? You look like you're about to piss yourself. Or maybe you already have."

Naruto's face burned from embarrassment and he shouted. "Shut up, I'm not scared of you! You're just some creepy monster trying to act like you're all high and mighty!"

Sukuna spread his four arms showing he was unbothered. "Oh? Is that what you think? That I'm just some 'creepy monster'? Brat, you have no idea who you're talking to."

"I know enough!" Naruto snapped. You're just another coward hiding behind a throne, running your mouth like you're invincible."

Sukuna laughed at him. "Brave words from a boy who's shaking in his boots. Tell me, does it help? Lying to yourself?"

"I'm not lying! I'm still standing, aren't I?"Naruto shot back, taking another step forward.

Sukuna sighed, giving him a bored look. "You really don't get it, do you? I'm not here to play into your little hero fantasy. I'm here to see what's left of your spirit when I tear it apart."

Naruto gritted his teeth. "You're wasting your time."

"Am I?" Sukuna's grin faded just a little. "Do you know what true despair is, boy?"

Naruto didn't answer, so Sukuna continued

"It's not just pain or fear. It's knowing that no matter how hard you fight, no one will care. It's waking up every day knowing you'll never be enough. Never seen. Never heard. The harder you try, the deeper you'll sink—until you're nothing but a hollow shell, begging for an end that will never come."

"I said shut up!" Naruto shouted. He didn't want to admit it, but this thing was getting to him.

Sukuna ignored him. "That's the suffering I enjoy. Watching someone like you—so full of hope, so desperate for recognition—be reduced to nothing..You think you've suffered? Hated by your village, mocked, ignored? That's nothing. Child's play."

Naruto swallowed hard but kept his glare fixed on the monster.

Sukuna pressed on. "I can make it far worse. And do you know the best part? You'll do it to yourself. Every step you take, every fight you put up—you'll destroy yourself, piece by piece, until there's nothing left to save. Every ounce of pain, every drop of blood, every scream… it'll mean nothing. Because you are nothing."

Naruto walked closer, his anger flaring "I've heard enough."

"Oh? Touched a nerve?"

"You don't know me," Naruto growled.

Sukuna hummed. "Don't I? I know everything about you. You're just a lonely orphan, despised by the very people you cling to. No parents. No clan. No future. That's all you are."

Naruto's fists trembled harder than before.

"And that girl… what's her name? Sakura?" Sukuna let the name roll off his tongue slowly. "Even she thinks you're pathetic."

Naruto's stomach twisted.

"You heard her, didn't you? 'An annoying orphan.' The one person you keep chasing doesn't even want you around."

Naruto's fingers twitched.

Sukuna chuckled. "Now that must sting."

Naruto's legs felt weak, the weight of Sukuna's words pressing down like iron chains.

An annoying orphan.

Sakura's voice echoed in his mind. It was like hearing her say it all over again.

"She doesn't care about you. She doesn't see you as anything but a nuisance. A loud, stupid boy who embarrasses himself at every turn. And do you know what's even funnier? She didn't even hesitate to say it. No regret. No second thought. She laughed."

"There wasn't a trace of pity in her voice—just scorn. And yet, you keep chasing her, thinking someday she'll see you. But she won't. None of them will. You'll always be nothing to them."

Naruto's shoulders shook, his breath heavy. He stared at the ground, unable to meet Sukuna's gaze. His body refused to move, caught between anger and despair.

"And you know what's worse? You know I'm right. No matter how loud you scream, no matter how hard you fight, none of them will ever care. Not Sakura. Not your precious village. No one."

Naruto's chest heaved, his throat tightening as tears welled in his eyes. He tried to blink them away, but they came anyway, hot and unwelcome. His hands trembled, blood smeared across his palms.

"I said shut up!" he roared, voice raw, breaking as he stumbled forward a step. His words felt hollow, more like a plea than a demand. "You don't know anything! I'm not going to listen to you!"

Sukuna laughed. "You can scream all you want, boy, but you know I'm right. And no amount of yelling will change that."

Naruto's tears fell freely now. His breath was shaky, uneven. His legs threatened to give out, but he refused to fall, even as Sukuna's words cut through him like jagged steel. The weight of the monster's presence pressed down harder, suffocating, like a black void swallowing him whole.

Is this it? Is this all I am?

The words echoed in the hollow parts of his mind, the places where doubt had always lived. A lifetime of rejection, of being overlooked, of reaching out only to be met with cold indifference—it all came rushing back like a tidal wave.

An annoying orphan.

It stung more than it should have. He had heard worse. But this time, it came from Sakura someone he had believed in. Someone he had trusted.

His knees wobbled. His hands shook. His chest burned.

But something deep inside him stirred—a faint ember in the darkness.

I've always been alone… hated… unacknowledged…

He had fought so hard to change that. To prove he wasn't just some pest, some dead-last failure everyone dismissed before he even had a chance. He had pushed forward every single day, waiting for the moment someone—anyone—would finally see him.

And yet, here he was. Alone. Again.

The ember flickered.

But I'm still standing.

After everything…

I'm still standing.

The fire grew, fueled by every scar he had carried since the day he could remember. The lonely nights. The empty stares. The aching in his chest that never quite went away.

His breath steadied. His legs no longer trembled. His fists remained tight, nails biting into his palms—not from fear this time, but from something else.

Resolve.

He lifted his head. Blue eyes still wet with tears, but beneath them burned something stronger. Something unshakable.

Naruto met Sukuna's gaze.

"Shut the hell up," he said, voice low but firm.

Sukuna's smirk faltered slightly.

Naruto stepped forward, his legs were no longer shaking. "You don't get to tell me who I am."

Sukuna's grin faded further as he watched Naruto.

"Yeah, maybe I am an orphan," Naruto continued, his voice growing steadier. "Maybe no one cares about me. Maybe the whole damn village does hate me. But so what? You think that makes me weak?"

He pointed at Sukuna, his bloody hand trembling but determined. "You think you can break me just by throwing my pain in my face? You're wrong. I've been through hell my whole life. I've fallen and gotten back up more times than I can count. And yeah, I cry, and yeah, I get angry, but I don't stop."

He took another step forward, his resolve solidifying with each word. "If you wanna kill me, then go ahead. Do it right now." His arms spread wide as he stared down Sukuna. "Like you said, I've got nothing to lose. I'll probably be reborn or something anyway."

Sukuna's grin returned, but this time, it wasn't mocking—it was something else.

Naruto continued, his voice unwavering. "But I won't cower. I won't break. And I sure as hell won't be your plaything." His eyes locked onto Sukuna's, burning with defiance. Then, without hesitation, he lifted his hand and gave Sukuna the middle finger. "Fuck you."

For a moment, the tension in the space held, thick and suffocating. Then Sukuna's gaze stayed on Naruto and his raised middle finger.

The oppressive air in the space seemed to lift slightly as Sukuna leaned back in his throne, his crimson eyes narrowing. The silence crackled with unspoken tension, both of them staring each other down like it was some kind of cosmic showdown.

Then, finally, Sukuna laughed. "Hahahaha! Oh, now that— that is priceless!" He leaned back, gripping his throne trying to steady himself, his laughter rolling like thunder through the endless void. "That's real good! You've got some balls, brat! Out of all the…" his words trailed off as he continued laughing.

Naruto scowled. "What the hell is so funny?!"

His face burned even redder, and he suddenly felt like an idiot standing there with his middle finger still raised. He quickly dropped his hand, scowling. "Tch. Son of a bitch."

He felt like an idiot. Here he was, dead-serious, throwing everything he had at this bastard, and now he was just laughing at him?!

After a while, Sukuna's laughter died down, and wiped a nonexistent tear from his eye as his laughter began to die down.

"Not bad, brat. Not bad at all." He exhaled sharply with a shit eating grin on his face. "Alright—you passed."

Naruto blinked, confused. "Wait, what? What are you—"

"Did I stutter?" Sukuna cut him off, his grin never fading. "I said you passed. This was all a test."

"A test?!" Naruto shouted as he stepped forward. "What the hell does that even mean?!"

Sukuna sighed, rubbing his temple. "Think, boy. Put those tiny scraps of brainpower to use for once."

Naruto's frown deepened as he stared at Sukuna, his mind turning painfully slowly like an old, rusty gear struggling to move. "So… you mean…" His voice trailed off before his eyes widened, realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. "You were just messing with me?!"

"Yep." Sukuna gestured lazily with one of his four arms. "Took you long enough."

"You're telling me all of that—everything you said—was just a game to you?!" Naruto wanted to knock that shit eating grin right off that thing's face. He felt even more embarrassed.

Sukuna shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world."Of course. What's the point of testing someone if you don't push them to their limit?" He leaned back, his smirk still in place. "I wanted to see how far I could push you before you broke." He tilted his head slightly. "And for what it's worth… you lasted longer than I expected."

"That's messed up! Who the hell does something like this just to mess with someone?!" He pointed a finger shouting pointing his finger. What the hell is wrong with this thing….or guy

Sukuna replied. "The fun kind. But there's more to it than that. This wasn't just for my amusement—though I'll admit, that part was a nice bonus. This was about seeing how strong that resolve of yours really is. And what better time to test it than when you're at your absolute weakest? When the weight of everything is pressing down on you, threatening to crush you? That's when the truth comes out. That's when you see who someone really is. The true nature of their soul."

"All that crap you said? About no one caring? About Sakura? About me being nothing… that was all just part of your stupid test?!"

"Of course," Sukuna answered "What did you think this was? Some heartfelt confession?" His grin stretched wider. "Boy, I don't swing that way—but even if I did, you wouldn't be my type."

Naruto's eye twitched so hard, he was half-convinced it was trying to awaken the Rinnegan out of sheer spite.

"I wanted to see how far I could push you before you broke," Sukuna continued. "And I have to admit… you lasted longer than I expected."

Naruto felt his blood boil. "You're a real bastard, you know that?! You're worse than Sasuke!"

Sukuna's grin sharpened, his interest piqued. "Oh? You want to compare me to the Uchiha boy?" He chuckled. "You mean the same one who humiliated you in front of everyone? The one who beat you so badly it was painful to watch?"

Naruto flinched. His face started heating up even more than before.

Sukuna leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand,"If humiliation were a weapon, you'd be unstoppable. But as it stands, the Uchiha buried you in front of everyone. Thoroughly. I mean,

damn, brat, I've seen massacres with more dignity than what happened to you." Sukuna shook his head. "It was like you were trying to set a record for the most pathetic performance possible."He let out a slow, mocking sigh. "Honestly, you might as well have handed him a sign that said, 'Please kick my ass in front of my peers,' because he took that invitation very seriously."

Naruto's face burned as the memories resurfaced—Sasuke standing over him, smug as hell, while the rest of the class watched and laughed.

Sukuna wasn't done. "That moment should be framed in history books under 'How To Get Publicly Destroyed.' I mean, I'm almost impressed. You managed to make an already embarrassing loss even worse."

"OKAY, OKAY! I GET IT! DAMN IT, ENOUGH STOP ALREADY!" Naruto snapped, the last thing he wanted was to remember that.

Sukuna raised an eyebrow. "Why should I? It's not my fault you embarrassed yourself so thoroughly. Maybe if you spent less time yelling and more time fighting, you wouldn't have looked so pathetic."

"I said Fine! You made your damn point!" Naruto shouted waving a hand in frustration. "Now answer my questions! Who are you? What are you? What do you want? And where the hell are we?"

Sukuna looked at Naruto with amusement, but for the first time since this conversation started, he finally seemed willing to answer.

"I am Ryomen Sukuna, King of Curses," he said.

Naruto frowned, folding his arms. "King of Curses? You're really full of yourself, huh?"

"Confidence and a sense of superiority are only irritating when they are undeserved. However, I have earned my title." Sukuna replied calmly.

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, real humble. So, what are you, some kind of ghost?"

"You could say that, but in reality, I am human - just like you." Sukuna explained.

Naruto blinked. "Bullshit."

Sukuna chuckled. "Oh? And what exactly do you think I am?"

Naruto gestured at him. "Uh, let's see… four freakin' arms, a throne made of nightmares, two faces, two mouths, and an ego so big it probably has its own gravitational pull. Yeah, you really scream 'human' to me."

Sukuna deepanned. "And yet, you call yourself a ninja while running around in bright orange, screaming your attacks before using them."

Naruto frowned. "Hey, that's... okay, you've got a point there."

Sukuna chuckled but didn't elaborate. Instead, he spread his arms slightly, gesturing at their surroundings. "And this place?" he continued, his tone casual. "This is my innate domain. A small part of your mindscape. I suppose you could say it's… tangled up with yours. Or rather, co-existing."

Naruto frowned, trying to process what he'd just heard. "Tangled up? What the hell does that mean?"

"It means I've taken root here, boy. Call it a side effect of your… unique circumstances."

His answer only confused Naruto more. "Enough riddles and strange talk. Ryom—er… Sukuna—what do you mean by 'unique circumstances'? Enough games. I want answers."

Sukuna's smirk never wavered. "Right, of course you do. But that's the problem, boy—you don't even know the right questions to ask. And why is that? Because the old man you call Hokage hasn't told you. Not a damn thing."

Naruto froze.

"…What are you talking about?"

"I mean exactly what I said. There's a lot you don't know about yourself." His grin widened. "And because you're so dense—"

"I am not!" Naruto snapped.

"Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night," Sukuna shot back,"But fine, let's say you really want the truth," Sukuna continued, his voice lowering. "Are you sure about that? Once I tell you, there's no going back."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Sukuna said, his voice growing colder, "everything you think you know about yourself—your past, your precious village—it'll never be the same. Once you hear it, boy, you'll be forever changed. The world you've built in that naïve little head of yours? It'll crumble to dust."

"I don't care, enough games. Just tell me already!" Naruto shouted at him

"Very well. But don't say I didn't warn you. You have the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox within you," Sukuna said, pausing to let the weight of his words settle. "And from what I've deduced, I was somehow dragged into this world and sealed alongside it—though the circumstances were different."

Naruto froze and suddenly, his throat felt dry. "Wait... what?" he stammered, struggling to process the information.

"You heard me," Sukuna replied, "Go ahead, ponder it for a while."

Naruto stood there, his mind trying to process Sukuna's words…..The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox… within me?

Suddenly, everything began to click.

The cruel names.

The hateful glares.

The way the villagers ignored him like he didn't exist.

Demon. Monster. Fox brat.

He'd heard it all before. But he never understood why.

But now…

It all made sense.

More memories surfaced—the way adults would pull their children away when he walked by, the whispers that followed him everywhere, the accusations he could never defend himself against.

They stayed away because they were scared… of me.

Sukuna observed him in silence, waiting for the realization to fully settle before speaking. "It's starting to make sense now, isn't it, brat?"

"No… that can't be…" Naruto's voice wavered. "No… you're wrong. The Fourth Hokage defeated the Nine-Tails long ago. Everyone knows that."

Sukuna gave him a pointed look. "Oh, he defeated it, huh? Is that what they told you? Brat, do you even hear yourself? If the fox was truly defeated, why does your entire village still fear you?"

Naruto opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Sukuna continued, "You really think something like the Nine-Tails could just be defeated and vanish without a trace? Be serious. No, the Fourth didn't destroy the beast. He sealed it. And guess where he put it?"

Naruto's stomach twisted.

Naruto shook his head in denial, refusing to believe this."You're lying. That's not true."

"Oh, it is, brat." Sukuna's voice seemed to press down even harder "And deep down, you know it."

Naruto's breathing turned shallow.

Sukuna clicked his tongue. "Here, let me help jog your memory."

Before Naruto could react, the red liquid beneath them rippled, and the air around him shifted.

Suddenly, the space blurred, and he found himself standing in the middle of a familiar scene—the academy classroom from a couple of years ago.

Memory begin:

The academy classroom was alive with energy, filled with the eager chatter of young students hanging onto every word of their instructor. At the front of the room, the instructor gestured to get the kids attention, as he told them a story about the fourth Hokage.

"And that's how the Fourth Hokage saved the village from the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox!" he declared, his expression glowing with admiration. "He fought the beast head-on and defeated it, saving countless lives. Truly a hero unlike any other!"

A wave of excitement rippled through the classroom.

"Wow! The Fourth Hokage was so strong!" one kid exclaimed.

"He was the best!" another added.

"I wish I could've seen him fight the Nine-Tails!"

Off to the side, Naruto watched.

Or rather, both Narutos did.

The older Naruto, standing unseen in the middle of the memory, watched as his younger self sat at his desk, wide-eyed and leaning forward, drinking in every word. The awe in his expression was unmistakable.

Then, hesitantly, the younger Naruto raised a hand. "Wait, how did he defeat it? Did he use some special jutsu or something?"

The instructor's smile faltered, just slightly. The hesitation was almost impossible to detect—but Naruto caught it.

Still, the man quickly covered it up, his voice remaining light. "Ah, well, the Fourth Hokage was… very resourceful. It was a combination of his unmatched skill and courage, Naruto. Now, moving on—"

"But—" Younger Naruto began, but before he could press further—

Naruto, shaking his head. "Enough, Naruto. This isn't the time for pointless questions."

Younger Naruto flinched, his shoulders shrinking. The curiosity in his eyes dimmed as he slumped back into his seat.

And just like that, the lesson moved on.

The older Naruto stood frozen, watching the scene fade.

Memory End:

The memory faded, and Sukuna spoke "They didn't tell you the truth, did they? Even then, they avoided the real answer. Just fed you excuses—the same way they always have."

Naruto stood frozen. His mind raced, the pieces falling into place whether he wanted them to or not.

The Fourth Hokage saved the village… by sealing the Nine-Tails.

But if he didn't destroy it… then where…?

Sukuna interrupted his thoughts. "It's starting to click, isn't it?" He let the words hang for a moment before delivering the final blow. "You were the answer. You were the vessel."

Naruto stammered "N-No…no, why…? There must be a mistake… it doesn't make sense! Why would no one tell me?! And why treat me like that?! I'm human… a person! I'm not the Nine-Tails… …..You're lying! You're just trying to—"

Sukuna cut him off. "And what reason would I have to lie, brat?"

Naruto clenched his fists even harder. "I don't know! Maybe because you find it funny!" he shouted, his voice cracking. "Just like that sick test of yours! Maybe this is all just some twisted game to you!"

Sukuna's smirk returned,"You're not wrong, I do enjoy watching you squirm. But the truth? The truth is far more entertaining. And it's staring you right in the face, whether you want to accept it or not."

Naruto clutched his head trying to block out Sukuna's words. "No…! No, it's not true! It can't be true! "

Sukuna saw that no matter what he said the brat wouldn't believe it without proof. So he sighed and hopped off his throne. He landed with a dull thud and stretched slightly as he walked past Naruto.

Sukuna looked over his shoulder "Still clinging to denial, are we? Fine. Since words alone won't do, I'll show you."

Naruto hesitated, glancing back at the eerie throne before reluctantly following him.

The scenery around them shifted with each step. The liquid beneath their feet, once red and murky, began to shift. It turned yellow, and the air around them grew stale. The oppressive red sky above twisted, was replaced by damp, grimy stone. The walls closed in, rusted pipes lining the passage.

The sound of dripping water echoed around them, each plop echoing…

It was a sewer.

Naruto grimaced, his nose wrinkling as he looked around. "What… what is this?" His voice was uneasy.

"This," Sukuna said, gesturing lazily around them, "is the seal. It's connected to your mindscape—or rather, my innate domain. The two are tangled up, thanks to your unique circumstances."

Naruto frowned, his expression scrunching in frustration. "Huh? That doesn't make any sense. What does that even mean?"

"Sigh…Let me put it in a way your simple mind can understand."Sukuna said, glancing back at him, as they walked

"Hey! I'm not stupid!" Naruto crossed his arms defensively.

"Right, and the Uchiha didn't completely humiliate you. Next, you'll tell me you totally had a strategy in that fight instead of just flailing around and hoping for the best." Sukuna said, dryly.

Naruto's eye twitched. "For your information, I did have a strategy!"

Sukuna raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what was it? 'Get my ass kicked so badly that my peers develops secondhand embarrassment'?"

Naruto looked away trying to hide his obvious embarrassment. "Tch, whatever. Just keep talking."

"Anyways, innate domain and a mindscape are essentially the same thing, at least in retrospect—

"Retro—what?" Naruto interrupted.

"Focus, boy!" Sukuna snapped.

"Sorry," Naruto muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Sukuna sighed, continuing as they walked. "As I was saying, a mindscape and an innate domain are, in essence, the same thing—just different names for similar concepts. A mindscape is a representation of a person's thoughts, memories, and experiences. It's a natural part of you, reflecting who you are on the inside. It's the space where your consciousness resides."

Naruto tilted his head. "So… like my brain?"

Sukuna groaned. "No, not like your brain. Think bigger. A mindscape is metaphysical, boy. It's a space tied to your mind and soul. Now, an innate domain," he continued, his tone shifting into a lecturing cadence, "is also a mental landscape. It embodies the mind and soul of an individual, but it's something you're born with. Every living being has one—as far as I'm aware."

Naruto blinked, still struggling to grasp the concept. "So… where we were before, with all the bones and blood… that was your innate domain?"

"Exactly, That was my domain, a place I claimed for myself. Not as a part of your soul, but as a separate entity now tangled up with yours." Sukuna confirmed, glad the brat was catching on.

"And this place?" Naruto asked cautiously.

"This is the seal," Sukuna explained, gesturing to the walls and pipes. "It's not a natural part of you—it was created to imprison the Nine-Tails and keep its power from overwhelming you. It's connected to your mindscape because it's a part of you now. Whether you like it or not."

Naruto frowned. "But if everyone has a mindscape, does that mean everyone can come here? To their own… uh, domains?"

"Not quite. Accessing a mindscape—or an innate domain—is no easy feat. It requires focus, training, and a strong connection to your own soul. Most people never even realize they have one, let alone learn how to access it." Sukuna responded.

"So how come I can?" Naruto asked, his tone a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

"You're a special case," Sukuna answered, "The seal makes you unique. It's connected to your mindscape, tying you to the Nine-Tails. That connection allows you to enter this space naturally. With enough practice, you could come and go as you please without needing extensive training, but only because of the seal's influence."

"So this whole place… is because of the Nine-Tails? "Naruto asked, trying to understand.

"Exactly, The seal is what keeps the fox contained. It protects you from its power—though, frankly, you've done a piss-poor job of using it to your advantage." Sukuna scolded.

Naruto scowled, ignoring the jab as he processed the information. "So… you're saying this place, the Nine-Tails, the seal… it's all connected to me? And this seal… it''s supposedly keeping the Nine-Tails in, right?"

"Correct," Sukuna answered. "The seal is a barrier. It keeps the fox contained and protects you from its power. Without it, you'd be nothing but a puppet to its rage. Or dead. Probably both."

Naruto shuddered, glancing nervously at the pipes and walls around him. "So… we're walking through this seal right now?"

"Exactly. This space is the barrier between you and the fox. And because the seal is tied to your mindscape, I can navigate through it freely—just like you'll be able to with enough practice." Sukuna's voice grew darker. "But don't get too comfortable. This seal is fragile. Break it, and the fox is free. And trust me, brat, that's the last thing you want."

Naruto stopped in his tracks, staring down at the yellow liquid. "So… if this seal breaks, I…"

"You die. Or worse." Sukuna said bluntly.