Majestic Armored Susanoo

— — — — — — 

Kurama charged forward, his massive body rolling like an unstoppable force of nature. With a flick of his tails, he whipped them around Kitaro, binding him tight. The plan was simple: fling this annoying human far, far away.

But Kitaro didn't budge. No matter how hard Kurama struggled, twisted, or flung himself around, Kitaro held on like a tick on a bull. And worse? He kept punching. Relentlessly.

BAM!

POW!

SMACK!

Each strike landed with enough force to make even a Tailed Beast like Kurama feel it. The blows weren't just strong—they had something else behind them, a mysterious energy that cut deeper than Kurama was ready to admit.

For the first time in his life, Kurama found himself thinking, "Am I getting my ass kicked… by a human?!"

Not even Senju Hashirama, with all his fancy Wood Style and giant Buddha statues, had done this to him.

At least with Hashirama, it was quick—trap, suppress, seal, done. But this? This was humiliation.

By the time the Fourth Hokage and his team returned to the scene, what they saw felt like a fever dream. Kitaro, perched on Kurama's back, raining down punches like it was a full-time job.

Kakashi blinked. "Is he… beating up the Nine-Tails? With his bare hands?"

Guy scratched his head. "Uh… isn't that normal?"

"Absolutely not," Minato muttered, still trying to wrap his head around the absurdity of the situation.

Meanwhile, Kurama was still clinging to hope. "No way this human can keep this up forever," he thought. "Eventually, he'll burn out, and I'll show him why messing with the Nine-Tails is a bad idea."

— — — 

Three.

Whole.

Days.

For three days and nights, Kitaro didn't let up. Punch after punch, blow after blow, he just… kept… going.

The landscape around them transformed into a war zone—mountains flattened, forests obliterated, craters everywhere. And still, Kitaro kept swinging.

By the third day, Kurama had hit his limit. His massive body slumped to the ground, twitching in exhaustion.

His bones? Broken and healed more times than he could count.

His pride? Shattered.

His energy? Gone.

Even his infamous regenerative powers weren't enough to keep up. For the first time in his life, the mighty Nine-Tails was utterly, completely done.

Kitaro hopped off Kurama's back and stretched like he'd just finished a light workout. "Tired already? Huh. And here I thought you'd be tougher." He smirked. "Don't worry. Rest up. I hear taming a hawk can take six months to a year. Once you've recharged, we'll go another round."

Kurama's eyes widened in horror. Six months?! A YEAR?! I can't even handle THREE DAYS of this!

The fox growled, his voice shaky. "You… you're from the Uchiha clan, right? With strength like yours, don't tell me you haven't awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan yet."

Kitaro raised an eyebrow. "Mangekyo? Oh, I unlocked that ages ago. I was six, I think. Why?"

Kurama's jaw practically hit the ground. "SIX?! This psycho awakened the Mangekyo when he was SIX?!"

"Then why," Kurama roared, "WHY are you doing all this?! You could've enslaved me ages ago with that stupid eye of yours!"

Kitaro shrugged, grinning like he'd just been asked why he preferred ramen over sushi. "Eh, enslaving's not really my thing. I'd rather have you submit willingly. Feels more… authentic, y'know?"

"AUTHENTIC?! You think punching me for three days straight is going to make me willingly submit?!" Kurama growled, his voice laced with both anger and disbelief.

Kitaro shrugged again. "Better than mind-controlling you with the Mangekyo, don't you think?"

Kurama froze. "Wait… what?"

For the first time, Kurama actually listened. He'd assumed Kitaro was just another power-hungry Uchiha, like Madara, looking to turn him into a weapon. But this guy? He wasn't like that.

"I don't want to trap you in some Jinchuriki or mess with your mind," Kitaro explained. "I just want to tame you. Properly."

Kurama stared at him, stunned. Properly? Every human he'd encountered had either wanted to seal him away or bend him to their will. No one had ever said they wanted to tame him.

"Why?" Kurama finally asked. "Why go through all this trouble?"

Kitaro grinned. "Because you're the strongest. Out of all the Tailed Beasts, you're the top. Even at half power, you're still leagues above the rest."

Kurama couldn't help but puff out his chest a little. "Damn right I am."

"And I'm the strongest human," Kitaro continued. "So, it just makes sense, doesn't it? The strongest human needs the strongest companion."

Kurama snorted. "Strongest? You're strong, kid, I'll give you that. But you're not on Madara's level."

Hearing this, Kitaro's smirk widened. "Oh? You think I've been going all out this whole time?"

Kurama blinked. "You mean… you haven't?"

Kitaro didn't answer. Instead, he took a deep breath.

"SAGE MODE: ACTIVATE!"

Energy surged around him as markings appeared on his face, and the natural energy of the world seemed to bow to his command.

"SUN BREATHING: TOTAL CONCENTRATION BREATHING!"

Flames erupted around him, his body glowing with a fiery aura that radiated pure, unbridled power.

"MAJESTIC ARMORED SUSANOO: ACTIVATE!"

A full-body Susanoo, blazing with orange armor, materialized around him. Wielding a colossal Nichirin blade, its edges glowed red-hot, layered with Armament and Conqueror's Haki.

Kitaro swung casually.

BOOOOM!

The ground split open, creating a canyon so deep it seemed to stretch into the core of the earth. A distant mountain crumbled into two perfect halves.

Kurama's fur stood on end, his instincts screaming. This… this guy…

"So," Kitaro said, resting the massive flaming blade on his shoulder, "still think I'm not the strongest?"

Kurama swallowed hard, his pride barely holding on. For once, he had no comeback.

.

.

.