The Cage

After walking for a bit, they stopped in front of an impossibly tall cage that stretched far beyond what Naruto could see. Massive iron bars loomed before him, and at the center, a single tag with kanji written on it read: Seal.

Naruto stared at it before looking at Sukuna. "W-what is this place…?"

"This is where the fox resides. It's inside the cage," Sukuna answered.

Naruto stepped closer, his legs began moving before his brain could catch up. Curiosity outweighed his fear for a moment. He peered into the darkness beyond the bars but saw nothing.

Nartuo stepped even closer. "I don't see anything…" But then he stopped, he couldn't explain why but he felt something inside him screamed to stop.

Without warning, a massive claw emerged from the shadows lunging at him. It slammed into the bars with a deafening crash, sending a shockwave rippling through the seal.

"Ahh!" Naruto stumbled backward, falling onto his butt startled.

As he scrambled back to get away, he saw it. Two massive crimson eyes with slit pupils appeared, glowing ominously in the dark. They were larger than his head, unblinking and locked onto him.

Then came the teeth—razor-sharp and impossibly large. A low, rumbling growl filled the space, vibrating through the air. The water beneath him rippled, and a chill ran down his spine. Each tooth looked like it could crush him in an instant.

The air thickened as the Nine-Tails' suffocating and ominous chakra surged outward, slamming into Naruto pinning him in place. He tried to move but couldn't, he was completely paralyzed by fear and his legs refused to obey.

The Nine Tails stepped forward, its full form now visible.

"So, the parasite brought my jailer to meet me. Foolish brat."

"W-what are you?!" Naruto stammered in fear.

Before the fox could respond, Sukuna grabbed the back of Naruto's collar, lifting him to his feet as if he weighed nothing. "Calm down, brat. It can't get to you from over here." He gestured to the bars with one of his hands. "Though, I've gotta say, you're either the bravest or dumbest person I've ever met. Even I didn't stand that close when I first met it."

Naruto gulped, his legs were a bit shaky as Sukuna set him down. "You've… met it before?"

Sukuna nooded, as he turned to face the cage, his expression unreadable. "Of course, but you're the one who has to deal with it now, boy. So you'd better learn quickly. Do you get it now? Everything I've told you is true. And guess what? For all its power, this thing? It's only half of what it's supposed to be."

Naruto's head snapped toward Sukuna, his confusion turning into disbelief. "Half? What the hell do you mean half? Do you even see this thing?!"

Sukuna turned to look at him. "Obviously. But I see what you can't. Out of the three of us, I understand the soul better than you ever will. And having been inside you, feeling your chakra flow and this beast's tainted energy, it wasn't hard to figure it out."

He glanced back at the cage. "This thing's soul is fractured. Half of it is missing. This isn't even close to its full power."

Naruto's eyes widened as he looked back at the massive crimson gaze behind the bars. "You're… you're joking… r-right?" he stammered

The cage rattled as the Nine-Tails let out a low growl, its enormous claws flexing against the bars."Shut your mouth, parasite. You know nothing about me."

Sukuna took a few steps closer, just short of the Nine Tails reach. "Is that so? Then why are you getting so worked up? If I'm just an annoying parasite, why not stay quiet? Seems like I hit a nerve."

The Nine-Tails' growl deepened and narrowed its eyes. "Watch yourself, fool. You have no idea who you're dealing with."

"And neither do you," Sukuna said, crossing two of his arms while the others gestured toward the fox. "You're not the only one who knows what it's like to be bound, to be caged. But you? You're not even whole. You're just a piece of what you're supposed to be. And I can see it clear as day."

Naruto's eyes darted between Sukuna and the fox, trying to make sense of all this "How is it even possible that half of it is missing?"

Sukuna replied "Ask your precious Hokage. He's the one who kept that from you."

Naruto stiffened. "What?"

Sukuna continued unconcerned."Besides, I've had my soul split into twenty pieces before, so noticing a fracture like this? No big deal for me."

Naruto stared at Sukuna like he'd grown four more arms "Wait, what?! Split into twenty pieces? How does someone even—never mind! Ugh, this is all so confusing."

Sukuna ignored him. "The real question isn't how it happened. The question is… where's the other half of this beast's soul?"

Naruto blinked, glancing toward the massive fox behind the bars. "So… where is it? I don't see it in the cage."

Sukuna shrugged. "I don't know. But I'd bet this thing does." He nodded toward the Nine-Tails. "And here's where it gets interesting. Remember how I told you this place—this seal—is connected to you?"

Naruto hesitated before nodding. "Yeah… you said something about it being tied to my innate domain or whatever."

Sukina began to explain. "Well, from what I see, based on your souls, not only does this fox's chakra leak into yours bit by bit, but if you die…" he paused. "It dies too."

Naruto's eyes widened. "What?! So… it's tied to me? Like, really tied?"

"Exactly. This isn't just some beast locked in a cage—it's a part of you now. Whether you like it or not. Its life is tied to yours. One falls, the other follows." Sukuna nodded. In

The Nine-Tails snarled and flared its ominous chakra. "Enough of your nonsense, parasite! You speak as if you understand me, but you know nothing!" The weight of its chakra pressed down on Naruto even harder making it difficult to breathe.

But Sukuna didn't even flinch. "Oh? Did I hit a nerve? You're really worked up for someone who claims I don't know anything."

The fox's massive claws slammed against the bars with a deafening crash. The cage shook under the force as its crimson eyes burned with fury. "You would do well to watch your tongue. Your arrogance will be your undoing. I could kill you in an instant if not for this accursed cage."

Naruto flinched at the sound, gripping his pants as he tried to steady himself. "Wait, wait, hold on! Is he serious?!" he shouted, looking between Sukuna and the Nine-Tails. "If I die, it dies too? How does that even work?!"

Sukuna glanced at Naruto. "It works because of this seal, brat. It's not just a cage—it's a bond. An unbreakable tie between the two of you. And let's face it, the fox here isn't thrilled about that little detail, is it?"

The Nine-Tails' growl deepened, its massive form pressing against the bars."Do not speak as if you know my thoughts, parasite. You're nothing but an invader."

"Invader?" Sukuna repeated sounded offended. "How rude. I prefer the term 'tenant.' After all, I'm as much a part of this mess now as you are."

Naruto took a shaky breath, as he processed everything. "So… let me get this straight. This thing's tied to me, and if something happens to me, it goes down with me? And on top of that, its chakra is leaking into mine?"

Sukuna nodded. "Bingo. You're catching on, brat. Slowly, but surely."

The Nine-Tails snarled. "Do not listen to this parasite, boy. He seeks only to manipulate you."

Sukuna didn't bother denying the accusation "Maybe I do. But that doesn't make me wrong."

Naruto's voice trembled with pain and confusion. "Why… Why me?" He stared at the ground, his already bloodied hands shaking. "I don't understand. Why did the Fourth Hokage do this to me? Why seal this thing into me?!"

Neither the Nine-Tails nor Sukuna answered, and Sukuna couldn't. They simply watched as his emotions spilled over.

Naruto continued and his shoulders shook as the sobs poured out. "Why didn't anyone tell me? Why didn't the old man—why didn't the Hokage—just tell me the truth?! They all treat me like I'm the fox! Like I'm some kind of monster! But I'm not! I'm just me—Naruto! It's not fair! … T-They treat me like this and don't even tell me why! Why not someone else?! Why did it have to be me?!"

His voice echoed in the silence that followed. His chest heaved as he stood there, enraged, hurt, and lost all at once. Tears streamed down his face, spilling over in waves he couldn't contain.

The Nine-Tails watched him silently. Its massive eyes narrowed slightly, and for a brief moment, the snarl on its face faded. It said nothing.

Sukuna didn't move, letting him vent without interruption.

"You were right, Sukuna…" Naruto's voice was quieter now. "No matter what I do, no matter how hard I try… I'll never be accepted. I'll always be rejected." His hands clenched tighter. "I thought that if I worked as hard as everyone else—if I worked harder, if I was good—they'd stop treating me like this. But no… I was wrong. I—"

Sukuna cut him off "Get up."

Naruto didn't move. "What's the point? I—"

"I said," Sukuna growled, "get your ass up."

Naruto didn't respond, staying on his knees with head hung low as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.

(Need something here)"Where's the boy who stood defiantly before me and told me to fuck off? Where's that fire? Look at you now—you're pathetic. If your parents could see you, they'd be disappointed."

Naruto's head snapped up at that, his blue eyes blazing with anger and tears. "You don't get it!" he shouted, his voice strained as he suddenly pushed himself to his feet. "You don't know what it's like to be me! To be hated and despised by everyone!"

Sukuna didn't flinch. "Oh, is that so?" His words were calm but challenging. "Then go ahead. Tell me. What's it like to be you?"

Naruto's rage boiled over. "You know nothing about me! Nothing! You don't know what it feels like to live like this! To wake up every day knowing no one wants you! That everyone looks at you like you're some kind of monster! To live with people whispering behind your back, glaring at you, treating you like you're not even human! They treat me as if I look like you."

Sukuna didn't react. He waited, almost expectantly. "Well?" he said, gesturing faintly. "Don't stop now."

Naruto's chest heaved. "You don't know what it's like to eat alone every single day. To be ignored, laughed at, or hated just for existing! You don't know what it's like to have no one! You don't know what it's like to want so badly to be acknowledged, to be seen, and have it ripped away from you over and over again!"

The Nine-Tails watched silently from behind the bars, its crimson eyes narrowing. It said nothing, just observing.

Sukuna tilted his head slightly. "Feel better now? Or do you need more time to wallow in your little pity party?"

"I'm not wallowing!" Naruto snapped. "I'm telling you the truth! You don't know what it's like to live in constant pain and loneliness!"

Sukuna chuckled slowly, and presence once again became heavy and oppressive. "Oh, but I do, boy. More than you realize. You're not the only one who's suffered."

Before Sukuna could say more, the Nine-Tails cut in.

"Boy, don't listen to this parasite's nonsense," the fox growled. "He doesn't care about you—he only wants to twist you, to make you doubt yourself. I, on the other hand, am offering you something real. Power. Freedom. A chance to rise above the misery they've forced you to endure."

Naruto hesitated, his hands clenching and unclenching as he tried to steady his thoughts.

This is it, the Nine-Tails thought. The brat is at his weakest. If I can just convince him to release me…

"Think about it," the fox pressed. "Your entire life, you've been nothing but a scapegoat. A punching bag. You've done nothing to deserve the hatred they show you, yet they treat you like dirt. They whisper behind your back, glare at you when they think you're not looking. Even the children shun you, don't they? Because their parents filled their heads with fear and lies."

Naruto shifted slightly. The fox saw it.

The Nine-Tails dug its claws into the bars. "They've stolen everything from you," it continued. "Your chance at a normal life. Your childhood. Even your parents. And for what? So they could sleep at night while you carry their burden? While you rot under their stares and suffer in silence?"

Naruto swallowed hard. "I… I don't—"

"They will never see you as anything but a monster," the fox cut in. "It doesn't matter how hard you try, how much you sacrifice, or how much you bleed for them. They will never see you as Naruto. To them, you will always be a demon. A curse."

Naruto took a shaky step back, his chest tightening as the memories resurfaced. The glares. The whispers. The cruel words.

"Stop it," he muttered.

The fox's voice turned smooth, almost calming. "You know it's the truth. And deep down, you've always known. That's why you try so hard. That's why you work yourself to exhaustion. You think that if you're strong enough, if you're good enough, they'll finally see you. But they won't. No matter what you do, no matter how many times you save them, they will never acknowledge you."

Naruto didn't respond.

"Release me," the Nine-Tails urged. "With my power, you won't have to fight for their acknowledgement. You'll take it. You'll make them kneel before you. You'll show them what happens when they reject you. I can give you power beyond your imagination. All you have to do… is remove the seal."

Naruto stared at the fox. "…Remove the seal?"

"Exactly. It's that simple. Remove the seal, and I will give you everything. Strength, respect, acknowledgment—all of it. You will become more than they could ever dream of. They will fear you, yes, but they will also bow to you."

Sukuna spoke up. "Well, isn't this interesting? The great Nine-Tails, reduced to begging for freedom like a common prisoner."

The fox snarled, claws gripping the bars. "Watch your tongue, parasite. Unlike you, I am no prisoner by choice."

"And yet here you are," Sukuna shot back, "making deals like a desperate merchant."

Naruto cut in. "Why… why would you offer me that?" He looked at the fox. "Why would you want me to let you out?"

The Nine-Tails didn't hesitate. "Because, boy, our fates are tied. My power is already yours—you feel it, don't you? Leaking into your chakra, making you stronger. But this seal keeps you from using it fully. Release me, and you will have everything. You will never be weak again.

This parasite speaks of your suffering, but I see it all—the hatred you've endured, the loneliness you've carried. You're not wrong, boy. It isn't fair. They've treated you like dirt, like a monster, and yet you've done nothing to deserve it. But you don't have to endure it any longer. With my power, you can rise above them all. You can make them regret every insult, every glare, every ounce of pain they've ever caused you."

Sukuna scoffed. "Don't be stupid, brat. Do you really think it's offering this out of kindness?" He didn't smile this time. "This beast doesn't care about you—it just wants out. And once it's free, it won't bow to anyone… not even you."

The Nine-Tails growled, its massive body pressing closer to the bars. "Silence, parasite! You are no better. You offer him nothing but riddles and pain. At least I offer him power."

Naruto didn't say anything, he just stood there. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, the fox words were getting to him.

The Nine Tails voice dropped even lower coaxing Naruto. "You feel it, don't you? My chakra seeping into yours, making you stronger. It's already a part of you, boy. This seal only holds you back.

Why hesitate? What have they ever done for you? The ones who shun you, who hate you for nothing more than existing? They would let you die in the dirt without a second thought."

The weight of its words bore down on him. The memories—the glares, the whispers, the loneliness—clawed at his mind, threatening to pull him under.

Then, Sukuna spoke.

"I see."

The shift was immediate. The fox stopped talking. Even Naruto, lost in his thoughts, felt it.

"You really think you're alone in this?" Sukuna's voice was quiet. "You think you're the first to be abandoned? To be treated like you're less than human?"

Naruto looked up, his anger faltered a bit.

Sukuna wasn't looking at him. His gaze had drifted somewhere far away, to something Naruto couldn't see.

"I know exactly what it's like," Sukuna said. "To be hated the moment you're born. To be feared. Despised. To walk through life knowing that no matter what you do, no one will ever see you as anything but a monster. was an unloved, unwanted, wretched brat. Treated like trash. Cast aside like I didn't matter. No one cared if I lived or died. To them, I was a monster. A curse. Something that should never have existed."

The Nine-Tails growled, but Sukuna didn't acknowledge it and continued.

"They never gave me a chance. No family. No friends. No one to look me in the eye and see anything other than the beast they thought I was. I grew up hearing their whispers, their curses. I grew up knowing I was hated. I was an abomination in their eyes, and they made sure I knew it. They didn't just reject me—they feared me."

The words sank deep in Naruto as he sat there listening.

"And do you know what fear does to people?" Sukuna asked. "It makes them cruel. It makes them violent. They didn't just ignore me; they hunted me. They tried to destroy me before I could destroy them. That's what they thought. That's what they believed. So, I stopped trying to prove them wrong. I stopped begging for acceptance. And do you know what I did instead?"

Naruto didn't answer, he couldn't answer. He didn't understand why, but for some reason he felt like he should listen. Perhaps it-or he truly was a human.

Sukuna continued "I carved my name into history. I carved my name into history. Through blood and battles, I became something they could never ignore."

Naruto's eyes widened."What… What do you mean? How did you do it?" he asked

"I made them remember me. I tore through armies, crushed their heroes, and burned their villages to the ground. I was a god to some and a demon to others. They feared me. They worshipped me. But above all—they could never forget me. I didn't need their acceptance. I didn't need their love. I became more than any of them could ever hope to be. And I did it all with my own hands."

He gestured to himself, his four arms spread wide. "I took their hatred and made it my strength. I became the thing they feared most—a monster they couldn't stop. A curse they couldn't escape."

"But… that's not the same as being happy," Naruto responded.

Sukuna laughed with a bitter smile, he shook his head "Happiness? "Happiness is a lie they sell to fools. Power is what rules the world, boy. The strong write the rules. The strong decide what's right and wrong. And the strong don't beg for scraps of love and kindness. They take what they want and destroy anyone who stands in their way. Happiness can never be achieved so long as you are weak

And me? I stood at the top of the world, unmatched as the strongest. No one could rival me. I was a god among mortals, and every battle only reminded me of how far above them I was."

Naruto's heart pounded as he listened to Sukuna's words. He could feel the pride, as well as some sadness in Sukuna's words.

"And do you know what I did? Because I was bored—bored of a world too weak to challenge me—I had my soul split into twenty pieces. Twenty pieces sealed away, so I could incarnate into new vessels long after my death."

"You… you did that to yourself?" Naruto asked in disbelief. Sukuna had mentioned it earlier, and he wasn't sure if Sukuna was serious, but now…

"I did. And when I returned, I wreaked havoc and chaos upon the world. I killed millions. And some of them…" He paused. "…some of them died simply because I existed. But near the end. I had the fight of my life. A man who was known in that new era as the strongest stood before me. His name was Satoru Gojo. And let me tell you, boy…"

The pride and bitterness in Sukuna's voice faded, replaced by a look in his eyes that could almost be called admiration and happiness . "It was glorious. The best fight I've ever had. A true test of my strength. And in the end? I killed him."

Naruto felt his stomach twist, but Sukuna wasn't finished.

"After that, I fought his students, his comrades, and even my own nephew—my previous vessel, after I moved to another which was his friend. They threw everything they had at me. And for all my power, all my skill, all my tactical ingenuity and might…I lost. I died."

Naruto blinked, confused "You… lost? But you were the strongest."

"I did. And I died. Being the strongest doesn't mean you're invincible, eventually as time passes someone by some means will reach your level or come close to it. But do you know what stayed with me, boy? Even as I lay there, defeated, with all the power and strength I'd ever dreamed of?"

He leaned in close to Naruto, his gaze piercing. "That bitterness. That loneliness. The pain I felt as a child. It never left me. Even after I carved my name into history. Even after I became a god to some and a demon to others. I was still alone. The only person beside me at the end… was my servant, Uraume. The one who followed me through it all. But even then, I rejected love. I rejected peace. And when my own nephew—the one who had every right to hate me—offered to spare my life out of pity…"

His eyes darkened.

"…I rejected that too."

"Why? Why would you do that? He was family." Naruto asked

"Because I couldn't accept it. I couldn't let anyone see me as weak. Not even at the very end. I chose death over pity. I chose destruction over peace. Because that's all I ever knew. That's all they ever gave me." Sukuna answered.

Naruto's fists tightened, arms trembling with a frustration that ran deeper than simple anger. He hated this—hated the way some part of him understood Sukuna's bitterness.

"So that's it?" The words scraped out of his throat, harsher than he intended. "You got everything—power, fear, respect—but none of it mattered. You were still alone."

Sukuna didn't so much as blink. "Correct."

Naruto felt his stomach twist, an ache settling in his chest. "All that… and you were still the same unwanted brat, weren't you? No matter how much blood you spilled, no matter how strong you got—it never filled that hole."

Sukuna's silence was answer enough.

"The power, the fear, the legacy—none of it erased your pain," he said, crimson eyes drilling into Naruto's. "It didn't bring me peace. Don't you see, brat? You could become the strongest. You could make the whole world kneel, drown it in blood… but it won't change a thing. You'll still be alone."

Naruto's hands clenched tighter, nails biting into his palms. "Then why the hell are you telling me this?"

Sukuna stepped forward, his presence a cold weight pressing down on Naruto's senses. "Because you're not like me."

Naruto swallowed, forcing himself to stand his ground.

"You fight against it," Sukuna went on, voice low but edged with an odd note of respect. "Even when the darkness pulls at you—trying to drag you under—you keep pushing back."

For just an instant, a flicker of something else sparked in Sukuna's gaze.

"…And that," he said softly, "makes you stronger than I ever was."

Naruto exhaled shakily. "Stronger? Me?"

"Yes," Sukuna said simply. "Like my nephew, you possess an indomitable will. The kind of will that refuses to break, no matter how much the world tries to crush you. And it's that will—the one thing I could never truly understand—that I tried to crush and failed over and over. That is what sets you apart."

Naruto swallowed hard, his fists loosening as he processed Sukuna's words. "So… what? You're saying I'm not like you?"

"You're close to taking the path to becoming me," Sukuna said bluntly. "But no, you're not me. There's a stubborn fire in you that refuses to die out. But make no mistake, boy… The darkness is always there. Waiting. Watching. And if you let it, it will consume you."

Naruto's jaw tightened. "No. You're wrong."

Sukuna raised an eyebrow "Oh? Am I?"

"I'm not like you!" Naruto shouted. "I'll never be like you! I don't care about being the strongest or making people fear me. I just… I just want to be—"

"To be what? Say it. What is it you really want, boy? What's your desire? Your ambition? Your goal? Power? Strength? Women, perhaps? Since you've been whining about the girls ignoring you, maybe you want a harem to feed your desires or fragile ego?"

Naruto's face turned as red as his hair. "What?! No!"

Sukuna kept pushing "Or is it money? Fame? What truly drives you forward, boy? What keeps you from collapsing under the weight of all this hatred and rejection?" He leaned in, his tone growing colder. "Tell me, because I already know the answer."

Naruto "You don't know anything about me. I'm going to be hokage! That's my goal."

"As I expected you'd say. You think I haven't seen that pathetic dream you cling to like a lifeline? You want to be Hokage, right? That's the grand dream, isn't it? To sit at the top of the village, to finally get the respect and acknowledgement you've been chasing your whole life?"

Naruto's expression hardened. "So what if it is? What's wrong with wanting that?"

"What's wrong with it? Everything. Because even if you do it—even if you achieve that lofty dream—it won't change a damn thing."

Naruto recoiled, uncertainty forming on his face. "What are you talking about?"

Sukuna didn't even blink. "Do you really think being Hokage will make them love you? You imagine that sitting in that chair will erase the years of hatred and fear they've poured into you. They'll never see you as anything more than what you've always been—a monster."

"You're wrong!" Naruto shouted, his voice shaking with anger. "If I work hard enough, if I prove myself, they'll—"

"They'll what? Suddenly forget every thought they've ever had about you? Suddenly decide you're worthy of love?" Sukuna interrupted sharply. "Face it, boy—your dream isn't about protecting the village or leading it. It's about proving yourself to people who will always see you as nothing but a mistake."

Naruto stepped back, fighting the urge to protest. "That's not true… I just…"

"You just want to stop feeling like you do," Sukuna cut in. "You think becoming Hokage will make the pain vanish. You think the loneliness will evaporate. But it won't. You'll get to the top and still feel that same hole eating away at you."

Naruto looked away, refusing to meet Sukuna's intense gaze. "I… I don't believe you."

Sukuna's eyes hardened as he pressed on. "Stop lying to yourself, deep down you know I'm right. You think that by becoming Hokage, you'll earn their respect—but all it will do is place you on a pedestal, one they're eager to bring crashing down. They'll never forget what you truly are. And if you want the pain to end, that gnawing void in your chest to disappear, then stop scrambling for acknowledgment like a desperate puppy. It's pitiful. You think that groveling, screaming, and throwing yourself at their feet will force them to see you? The world doesn't work that way, boy."

Naruto glared at him, torn between rage and doubt. He wanted to say something, tell Sukuna to shut up. But he couldn't, even if he didn't admit it Naruto did feel that deep down. It was part of why some nights he cried as he laid in bed, crying until he didn't have anymore tears to shed.

"If you want something in this world," Sukuna went on, "You must seize it with your own hands. The world doesn't hand you anything just because you asked. It's like Santa Claus—not real."

Naruto blinked. "Wait… are you saying Santa Claus isn't real?!"

Sukuna nearly facepalmed but refrained. "That's not the point!"

"Well, you could've said it better." Naruto huffed. "And it's not like I needed to know that anyways."

Shaking his head at the absurdity of having to explain this to a child, Sukuna refocused. "Listen, boy. The point is, if you want respect, recognition, wealth—even women—a harem, if that's what you crave, you don't beg for it. You take it. You earn it. You force them to acknowledge you by sheer force of will, not by pleading like some kid asking for leftovers. Stop waiting for someone to feed you. Be self-reliant. Yes, you might need help now and then, but the decision has to be yours. Decide your own path. Seize your destiny with your own two hands and shatter expectations. Hell tear fate apart if that's what it takes."

Naruto's eyes widened slightly. "Seize my destiny…?"

Sukuna nodded slowly. "Do you understand what I'm telling you? The world isn't fair. It doesn't give a damn about you. If you want something, you have to take it. If you want respect, earn it. If you want to be acknowledged, make them see you. You won't become Hokage simply because you crave validation. Those in power got there because they were already acknowledged. That's just the way life works."

Sukuna's words hung in the air like a kunai Naruto couldn't avoid. He wanted to protest, to yell something back—but nothing came out. It stung worse than he'd ever admit. He'd always imagined that becoming Hokage was about proving himself to the people who glared at him in the streets, about forcing them to see he wasn't some mistake. But Sukuna had ripped that idea apart in seconds, and now Naruto felt a hollow ache he didn't know how to fill.

He shook his head, still trying to deny it. Yet the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Every Hokage he'd ever heard of earned respect long before they wore that title. They were chosen because the village already believed in them. So where did that leave him? Was his dream nothing but a desperate need to belong—something that would never come, no matter how many promises he made to himself?

Naruto swallowed hard, searching for the defiance that usually burned in his chest. "So what do I do then?" he finally asked, his voice rough at the edges. "If you're right—if just chasing that seat doesn't change anything—then how am I supposed to make them see who I really am?"

It wasn't an admission of defeat, but it was close. Even as the words left his mouth, he hated how unsure he sounded. He wanted to cling to the idea that hard work and perseverance would turn the villagers' hatred into admiration. But this moment forced him to consider a harsh possibility: maybe the world wouldn't just hand him acceptance because he longed for it. Maybe he really did have to seize everything on his own terms.

Sukuna went on without hesitation, "For too long, you've been chasing after people who will never give you what you want. It's time to stop running." He extended his hand. "If you're sick of the way you're treated—of feeling powerless—then take it. I see something in you. Something that could become much more."

Naruto eyed that outstretched hand, doubt swirling in his mind.

"The fox doesn't care about that potential," Sukuna said. "All it wants is to free itself. It doesn't care if you suffer, if you fall apart. It just wants out. But if it breaks free, you die. My story is already over, but yours is just beginning."

Naruto clenched his jaw. "And what's the catch?"

Sukuna gave a short laugh. "Smart question. There are conditions, of course."

"Conditions?" Naruto repeated.

"Four of them," Sukuna replied. "I'm stuck with you, after all. Relax—they're not too crazy."

Naruto frowned. "So, what are they?"

"One: I want to learn more about this world—its history, its people, its sources of power."

Naruto lifted an eyebrow but kept quiet. That one didn't sound too bad.

"Two: I want to borrow your body every now and then," Sukuna continued.

Naruto stiffened. "Borrow my body? What the hell does that mean?"

Sukuna rolled his eyes. "Don't freak out, brat. I'm not talking permanent possession. Just brief moments when something piques my interest. If I see a battle worth fighting, I want a turn."

Naruto tightened his gaze. "That already sounds extreme."

Sukuna snorted. "Then feel free to keep wallowing in mediocrity. I'm offering a deal—take it or leave it."

Naruto's glare didn't waver, but he didn't say no, either.

Sukuna waved a hand dismissively. "We'll work out the details later. Third condition: I want to fight you at full strength one day."

Naruto's confusion showed on his face. "Why would you want that?"

"A real battle," Sukuna said, a grin stretching across his features. "No restraints, no holding back. One day, when you're strong enough, I'll challenge you. Watching someone grow into their power is fascinating. Facing them when they're at their peak?" He let out a low chuckle. "That's real excitement."

Naruto was skeptical, his gut told him that this deal was dangerous. But at the same time…

Sukuna had a point. The fox had never cared about him, and if Sukuna really wanted control, wouldn't he have just taken it by now? He'd hinted as much before. Naruto's gaze drifted back to Sukuna's outstretched hand.

Nobody had ever offered him anything like this—raw power, real knowledge, a path forward. People had always pushed him away, treating him like an outsider. Even those who didn't hate him outright still kept their distance. But Sukuna... Sukuna was offering him something tangible. No half-baked promises, no sugar-coated lies. It was a chance to stop waiting for everything to magically get better. A chance to break out of that powerless feeling once and for all. His throat felt tight, but he forced down the hesitation. Sukuna stood there, calm but unreadable. "What's it going to be, boy?"

Naruto hesitated, swallowing hard before cautiously reaching forward. In that moment of indecision, he remembered Sukuna had four hands. "…Uh, which one do I—" he began, but before he could finish his thought, one of Sukuna's extra hands lashed out and grabbed him firmly.

Naruto yelped, his shoulder nearly wrenched out of place. "Hey—!" It was fast, too strong, and way too rough for a handshake. His feet scraped the wet floor before Sukuna hoisted him up like a ragdoll.

"Gah! You could've just let me pick one!" Naruto shouted, trying to get his balance.

Sukuna smirked and tightened his grip just enough to make a point, then dropped Naruto back down. "Took too long. I got impatient."

Naruto scowled, rubbing his sore wrist. "Yeah, well, you could've given me a warning! That felt like being picked up by a damn gorilla!"

Sukuna chuckled, folding two of his arms across his chest while the other two hung at his sides. "You hesitated. Not my fault you got decision paralysis and couldn't make up your mind."

Naruto muttered something about crazy strength as shook out his arm, a nagging thought told him this might be a bad idea.

And then, without warning, a roar erupted—a sound so monstrous and ear-splitting that it shook the ground. The bars of the cage trembled, and the water beneath them rippled violently as the fox's fury boiled over.

"FOOLISH BRAT! You would listen to this parasite over me?" the Nine-Tails bellowed. "You would trust his lies, his manipulations, while rejecting the power I offer? You are even more pathetic than I thought!"

Naruto didn't budge this time. He met the fox's glare head-on, blue eyes bright with a new resolve. "Sorry, fox. But he's right. I've spent my whole life waiting—waiting for somebody to notice me, to tell me I mattered. But not anymore."

Off to the side, Sukuna let out a dismissive sigh and raised a hand, casually cleaning his ear with his pinky. "Oh, you're still here fox." He paused briefly as he inspected his pinky before shaking off the unwanted debris. "I expected you'd have dozed off by now. "Thought you took a nap or something."

The Nine-Tails' burning gaze snapped to Sukuna. "Tch. And I thought a parasite like you would have shut up by now," it snarled.

Sukuna flashed a lazy grin. "I was beginning to think you were nothing more than a cranky, oversized house cat with a bad attitude."

"Watch yourself, parasite! Unlike you, I am not some squatter. I am hatred incarnate! The Nine Tailed fox, strongest of all the tailed beasts!" The Nine Tails roared at Sukuna.

Sukuna rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Big scary monster, locked behind bars. Super impressive."

"If these bars weren't here, I'd tear you limb from limb!" The Nine-Tails claws scraped desperately against the metal.

Sukuna smirked. "Oh? You mean if you weren't completely useless at the moment? Yeah, you're terrifying. You caged up like a stray. What's next? Gonna bark?"

The Nine-Tails was about to retort, but Naruto stepped between them. "Alright, both of you—shut up."

Amazingly, they actually stopped and looked at him.

Naruto sighed, surprised himself that it worked. " Look, for once, can we skip this endless battle of egos? You two are worse than Ino and Sakura fussing over Sasuke. We get it! You're mad Nine Tails, and you two could maybe argue in your sleep."

Sukuna shrugged. "I don't actually sleep, so that's possible."

"That wasn't a cue to be proud." Naruto deepanned Then he turned back to face the Nine Tails, it growled at him "Look, fox. I know you want out. You think your power is the only way I survive. But you're wrong. I'm done waiting for everyone else to decide my worth. I'll get stronger, but not by taking the easy way out."

"Foolish child!" the fox snarled. "You cannot survive in this world without power—and I can grant you more than you could ever dream of! Yet you turn your back on me?"

Naruto folded his arms. "Yeah, because that 'power' ends with me either dead or lost entirely. Don't pretend you care about what happens to me. You just want out."

Sukuna laughed. "Well, well. Looks like the brat finally grew a spine."

The Nine-Tails bared its massive fangs, pressing its face harder against the bars, glowing eyes fixed on Naruto. "You are a fool if you believe you can stand alone in this world. You are nothing without power. You will crawl back when reality slaps you in the face—when your so-called strength fails you."

Naruto shook his head, unable to be swayed "Maybe. I'll probably mess up. Maybe I'll fall. But if I do, I'll stand back up. Every single time."

The Nine-Tails roared in fury, slashing it's claws at Naruto who was just beyond its reach. "You dare defy me?! You will regret this, boy!"

Naruto didn't answer and started walking away, there was nothing more he could say to the Nine Tails.

Sukuna followed him, then paused to glance over his shoulder.. "Sorry, fox, but he chose me."

The Nine-Tails wanted to reach out and crush Sukuna, but it could do nothing as they faded into the shadows of the seal. The Nine Tails began to recede into the depths of the cage.

"You'll regret this… both of you," it growled, that was the last thing Naruto and Sukuna heard.

Sukuna's Innate Domain:

They emerged in Sukuna's Innate Domain once again, the stifling atmosphere of the Nine-Tails' prison completely gone. Naruto blinked a few times, letting his vision settle. Ahead of him, Sukuna slouched on a throne as before.

"Well?" Sukuna asked. "Feel any different, brat?"

Naruto flexed his fingers and rolled his shoulders. Nothing felt off. No sudden rush of power, no weird stabbing pain in his chest, no strange energy trying to devour him. "Doesn't feel like anything," he admitted. "I thought something would happen as soon as I took your hand."

Sukuna raised an eyebrow. "Power's not a switch you flip on, kid. You might have potential, but that's not the same as mastery. Hence the concept of training."

Naruto exhaled, absorbing everything that had just gone down. "So… what do we do now?"

Sukuna leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand. "You rest. Tomorrow, we start your training. No point in breaking you before we even begin, and you'll need every shred of strength you can scrape together."

Naruto frowned. "Training? For what exactly?"

Sukuna smirked. "For everything. Your body, your mind, your abilities… all of it needs sharpening. Raw strength without real understanding is wasted. And I don't waste anything. You'll thank me once you're strong enough to actually do something with that stubborn will of yours."

Naruto clicked his tongue. "So what, you're my sensei now?"

Sukuna scoffed. "Tch. Don't kid yourself. You're not worth being called my pupil yet—just some brat who stumbled into something bigger than he realizes."

"Hey! I–" Naruto started

"Spare me the injured pride. We'll sort it all out later." Sukuna waved a hand like he was shooing away a fly.

Naruto exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck as the reality of it all sank in. This was truly happening. He wasn't dreaming or hallucinating—he'd struck a deal with a damn demon, and there was no going back now."…Fine," he muttered. "So… how do I get out of here?"

A grin spread across Sukuna's face—one that set off alarms in Naruto's gut. "We'll deal with that later."

Before Naruto could form another word or even process the promise, a force slammed into him like a stampede of enraged bulls. His vision blurred as if reality itself was being violently tugged backward.

"Wait—what the—!" Naruto managed to choke out before being engulfed in a blinding white light—-

Then..

.

.

THUD

He landed face-first on the floor of his apartment. For a second, he didn't move, limbs feeling like lead. He forced himself onto his elbows with a groan. "…Damn bastard."

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could've sworn Sukuna was laughing at him.