The First Encounter

Outside the city was a secluded pond with moonlight reflecting off its surface; Yugito, on her way there, was fighting off anxiety as she considered backing out. She would be severely punished if the Raikage found out she was giving out village secrets, even though she knew she was not under any surveillance due to the trust she had developed with the Raikage over the years.

Yugito heard Matabi's voice in her head. "Calm down, Yugito. There's no use in getting cold feet now."

"I am calm," she hissed.

As Yugito entered the clearing, she noticed Naruto and Fu conversing on the ground. Her body tensed at the sight of an uninvited guest standing on the pond, looking up at the moon. She immediately recognized him by his distinct features and lowered herself into a stance, ready to run.

"What are you doing here?" asked Yugito, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Jiraiya turned to her with a grin. "Well, I'm here to watch the night sky with a beauty like you."

Naruto furrowed his brow and turned toward Jiraiya. "Stop being weird with our teacher, pervy sage."

Jiraiya's grin faded, and he gave Naruto a disapproving look. "For the last time, kid, stop calling me that."

Naruto stuck out his tongue.

"Whatever you say, Pervy Sage," he said.

Fu followed his lead, pointing and mimicking the nickname. Together, Naruto and Fu mockingly chanted "Pervy Sage" in a crescendo.

Jiraiya sighed and rubbed his hand down his face in exasperation.

Yugito, feeling anxious, watched the light-hearted display with confusion. Still cautious, she asked her question again.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to help. I can't let two inexperienced jinchūriki train without a seal expert," Jiraiya replied.

Yugito thought about the situation for a moment. She contemplated how she would intervene if things went wrong, knowing that she had very little knowledge of seals beyond her own. Her only plan was to overpower them if the situation escalated.

"Fine, but you will only interfere if something goes wrong, which I don't believe will happen."

"Fair enough," Jiraiya replied as he stepped away from the pond and leaned against a tree. "I'll let you get these kids up to speed."

Yugito turned to Fu and Naruto, instructing them to sit on the edge of the pond and assume a meditative stance using their chakra.

She then took a seat in front of them and began to speak.

"Before I show you how to enter your mindscape, I need to give you some warnings."

Fu and Naruto nodded in understanding.

"First, it's important to remember that these are living beings, and they are lonely. They have been mostly isolated for hundreds of years, which has made them standoffish. The barriers they create may seem insurmountable. However, if you continue to reach out to them, they will eventually listen. You may not make much progress on your first visit, but if you persist, you can not only find peace within yourself but also gain a lifelong friend."

A small smile crossed Yugito's face as she reflected on her relationship with Matabi. She knew that without her or B, she likely would not have been able to maintain her sanity for as long as she had. Shaking off the thought, she continued.

"First, be honest and do not deceive them; they are more perceptive than you can imagine and can see through any dishonesty immediately. Most importantly, before you engage with them, remember that you are in control; they can only take control if you lose it or willingly give it away. Stay true to yourself, and you will be fine."

She looked at both of them with a stern expression. "Do you both understand?"

"Yes, Sensei," Naruto and Fu replied, nodding enthusiastically.

"Alright, both of you," she began, her voice steady and reassuring. "Entering your mindscape requires clear intent and a sense of calm. You need to center yourselves and focus on your bond with the beings inside you."

"First, close your eyes," she instructed gently. "Take a deep breath in…" She demonstrated, inhaling deeply and holding it for a moment. "…and exhale slowly. Allow your mind to clear. Think about the one inside and how you feel about them."

Naruto scrunched his face in a mix of anxiety and determination. "How can I bond with something that destroyed my village?" he muttered, but he closed his eyes nonetheless.

Fu interjected softly, "Just remember what Yugito said. They're lonely too, right?"

"Exactly," Yugito affirmed encouragingly. "Now, focus on that connection, even if it seems distant. Imagine visualizing a path leading to them. The path may not be straightforward, but it's there."

As she spoke, Yugito could feel their energies beginning to shift. She sensed a faint aura of chakra radiating from both children as they concentrated more intently.

"Now, picture your mindscape," she continued. "Visualize it as a place that reflects who you are. It can be serene, chaotic, or anything in between. When you're ready, take a step forward in your mind's eye."

Fu's brows relaxed as she focused, her lips parting slightly with concentration. "I see... a meadow," she whispered. "It feels... peaceful."

"Good! Keep going," Yugito encouraged.

"Meadow, huh?" Naruto said, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. "I can see a... a forest?" He sounded almost surprised by his own insight.

"Perfect! Now, hold onto that visualization. As you take a step, imagine that you are moving forward into that space. The more grounded you feel, the easier it will be to meet your tailed beast."

Yugito could feel their chakra fluctuations stabilizing, which was a good sign for the exercise.

"Now, keep your heart open," she said, her voice softening, "and don't be afraid. You're in control. No matter what happens, you set the pace. If it gets overwhelming, feel free to pull back." With that, she watched intently as their breathing synchronized with the rhythm of the night air. The palpable tension eased, and in that moment, they seemed to connect to an unknown realm within their minds.

Naruto felt his feet submerged in water and was surprised. He opened his eyes to find himself in a vast sewer with many branching paths. The sewer was frigid, and the cold water brought him discomfort.

"Hello," Naruto yelled out, but only his voice echoed back in response.

Unsure of where to go, he suddenly felt a rush of hot air from the tunnel to his left. With no other clues to guide him, he decided to venture down that tunnel. The only sounds around him were the splashes of his footsteps and the occasional drip from the pipes above.

After a while, Naruto found himself at a junction with five different tunnels. As he examined each entrance, he noticed that the air coming from one of the tunnels was noticeably hotter than the others. He continued to follow the increase in temperature among the tunnels until the section of the sewer he was in began to feel like a sauna.

The tunnel Naruto was walking in took a sharp left and opened into a room that had a slightly different layout than the rest of the sewer. He began to hear a low grumbling sound that vibrated off the walls. At the end of the room stood a set of double doors. Naruto placed his hands on the doors and pushed them open, causing scalding air to rush out toward him. As the heat enveloped him, he braced himself for pain, but it never came. Gathering his courage, he stepped forward and entered the room.

The room was nearly pitch black, except for the faint glow of a torch light illuminating the walls. The only discernible feature was a massive set of bars that seemed to shine through the darkness. Hanging on the bars was a large piece of parchment marked with a complex seal. Naruto could barely make out some explosive tags, but he didn't even attempt to figure out their meaning.

Naruto entered the room and approached the bars of the cage, straining to see inside. Suddenly, the whole room began to rumble. As he looked down, he noticed the water at his feet creating large ripples. When he looked back up, he was uncertain of what he would find.

Naruto's heart dropped. Looking back at him was the massive eye of the Fox; the red orb stared into his soul. Naruto felt as if his body had shut down, and his breath was caught in his throat.

The eye began to tower over him as the gigantic nine tails stood over him from the cage; the Fox exhaled, unleashing a torrent of searing wind over Naruto. It then began to speak, the force of its voice shaking the room and causing Naruto's bones to feel as if they were chattering.

"So my jailor has finally come to visit me."

Naruto closed his eyes as he began to steel himself. He remembered Yugito's words and had to form a relationship with this thing. What do you do when you first meet someone."

"Hey! Fox, what's your name?" Naruto yelled, trying to sound as confident as possible.

Kurama growled, sending a shockwave of force reverberating across the room. "What makes you think that you're worthy of knowing that!"

"Maybe because you've been taking up space inside me for free," retorted Naruto

The nine-tails growl deepened, echoing through the chamber like an earthquake. "Taking up space for free?" the Fox sneered, his sharp teeth gleaming as he grinned. "Foolish vermin. Do you not realize the power I've granted you? I have had to save you once already due to your weakness."

Naruto flinched slightly at the weight of the Fox's words but quickly regained his composure.

"Yeah, but it's not like I wanted your power. To me, you're just a giant furball in my gut," Naruto shot back, crossing his arms.

The Fox's eyes narrowed, his voice a low rumble that shook the air. "You dare speak to me that way? The nine-tailed Fox, the living embodiment of destruction?"

"Yeah, I dare!" Naruto yelled, stepping forward, his voice cutting through the Fox's booming presence. "Because I'm not just some kid afraid of you anymore. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, and, like it or not, we're stuck together. So you can keep trying to scare me, or we can figure out how to work together."

The Fox's massive tails swished behind him, slamming against the walls of the cage and sending waves of chakra rippling outward. The air crackled with tension as the Fox loomed closer, his enormous eye narrowing until it nearly pressed against the bars. "Work together? With a human like you? Don't make me laugh."

Naruto held his ground, his blue eyes blazing with determination. "Why not? You don't want to stay trapped in this cage forever, do you? Do you think I enjoy having you messing with my life? If you're going to stay in my gut, you might as well pay rent while you're at it."

Kurama tilted his head, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, a deep chuckle rumbled from his chest, low and mocking. "I'll hand it to you, vermin; you're undoubtedly entertaining, but I don't hand out my power to common jesters. Give me one reason why you deserve to use my power."

"Because I know how lonely you are," Naruto said, his tone softer now but firmer. You've been locked up for so long, but I'm giving you my word: If you help me, I'll find a way to give you your freedom someday."

Kurama's laughter stopped abruptly, his crimson gaze narrowing in suspicion. "Freedom? Do you even understand what you're promising, boy?"

Naruto nodded, his eyes unwavering. "Yeah, it's not like I want to be stuck with you for the rest of my life."

The Fox stared at him, the silence stretching like a taut string between them. Finally, the Fox exhaled sharply, a gust of hot wind rushing past Naruto.

"Hmph. You've got guts, I'll give you that," he muttered, his voice less hostile now though still tinged with arrogance. "Fine, brat. Do you want to prove you're worthy of my name? Then show me if you can handle my power."

A massive surge of energy shot through Naruto, almost overwhelming him.

Naruto staggered back, gasping as Nine Tails chakra surged through his body like a tidal wave. His veins felt like they were on fire, the raw power coursing through him, threatening to consume him entirely. His vision blurred, and he could hear the Fox's laughter echoing in his mind.

"What's the matter, boy?" the Fox taunted, his deep, rumbling voice dripping with mockery. "Can't you handle a taste of my power? This is only a fraction of what I'm capable of."

Naruto gritted his teeth, planting his feet firmly on the ground as he struggled to regain control. His hands trembled, but he clenched them into fists, forcing himself to stand upright. "I... I can handle it!" he shouted, his voice raw with determination. "You're not going to scare me off, furball!"

The Nine-Tails chuckled darkly, his tails swaying lazily behind him. "Bold words. But words alone won't prove anything. Show me your resolve, Naruto Uzumaki!"

Naruto closed his eyes, forcing himself to focus. Yugito's advice echoed in his mind: "Stay true to yourself. You are in control."

He took a deep breath, grounding himself, and channeled the overwhelming energy into a more stable flow. The fiery chakra pulsing through him started to settle, becoming a steady, albeit still intense, hum.

When Naruto opened his eyes again, they glowed faintly with Kurama's chakra, and a fiery aura surrounded him.

"Is this what you wanted?" Naruto asked, his voice steady despite the strain. "This power is incredible. But I'm not going to let it control me. I'll use it my way."

The FoxThe Fox's eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and intrigue. "Not bad, brat. You're stubborn; I'll give you that. But don't think that means you've earned my trust for a second. This is only the beginning."

Naruto smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "Good. I wouldn't expect it to be easy. But one day, you'll see I'm serious about what I said. We're in this together, whether you like it or not."

The Fox's laughter echoed through the chamber once more. "We'll see, boy. Don't get cocky just because you've managed to keep your head above water this time."

Naruto felt the connection fade, The Nine Tails' massive presence retreating into the cage's shadows. The sewer around him blurred and dissolved into darkness as the oppressive heat dissipated.

Naruto gasped, his eyes snapping open as he returned to the moonlit clearing by the pond. His body was drenched in sweat, and his breathing was heavy, but there was a faint smile on his face. He glanced at Fu, still deep in meditation, her expression serene.

Yugito's voice cut through the silence of the room, a steady presence amid the lingering tension. "How did it go?" she inquired, her tone calm but laced with genuine curiosity.

Naruto wiped the sweat from his forehead and flashed a wide grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "It went better than I expected! But, man, he's such a jerk," he replied, shaking his head in disbelief at the attitude of the beast he had encountered.

Next to him, Fu began to stir, the sound of their conversation breaking through her dreams. Slowly, she opened her eyes and stretched, letting out a big yawn. "Wow, that was easier than I thought it would be," she remarked, her voice still heavy with sleep. "It turns out Chomei is really nice," she added, a smile spreading across her face as she recalled her experience.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Wait, you got his name?" he asked, genuinely impressed by her connection.

Fu nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I did!"

"You're lucky! All I got was a big, grumpy fox," Naruto said with a hint of envy, recalling the not-so-friendly encounter he'd had.

Yugito crossed her arms, her expression softening. "Well, it's a good start for both of you. Building a connection is important. You need to keep nurturing it if you want to learn to control your power," she advised, her voice steady and encouraging.

Naruto and Fu nodded, their resolve stronger than ever. For the first time, they began to feel like they understood the beings within themselves just a little more.

Kabuto sat quietly on a bench along the bustling main street of Center Spring. As the afternoon progressed to evening, the foot traffic began to dwindle, leaving behind a gentle hum of chatter and distant footsteps. Kabuto had spent the past few days gathering valuable intelligence. Still, the tedious process of verifying that information was far more taxing.

Out of the thinning crowd emerged a middle-aged woman with long, flowing black hair. Without a word, she sat beside Kabuto, her presence commanding yet casual.

"Hello, Master," Kabuto greeted her softly, tilting his head slightly in deference.

"Greetings to you as well, Kabuto," the woman replied, her voice smooth and deliberate. It was Orochimaru, concealed in one of his many guises.

"I must apologize again for leaving you to handle these exams alone. Too many eyes are watching this event, and with our plans nearing fruition, I cannot afford even the slightest misstep."

"I understand fully, Master," Kabuto replied, his tone measured and calm. "Will you be staying long?"

Orochimaru shook his head, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "No. After this, I'll be hunting down my former teammate. Kimmimaro's encounter with Kakashi seems to have worsened his illness, and with you away, she may be the only one capable of stabilizing him. Without her, he won't survive more than a few months."

Kabuto flinched subtly at the mention of Kimmimaro. Despite his composed exterior, Orochimaru's sharp eyes caught the fleeting crack in his mask, and her grin widened ever so slightly. The jealousy festering in Kabuto was a source of quiet amusement.

Orochimaru sighed, turning her gaze to the lively street. "It's such a shame the Sound Village couldn't participate in these exams. It would've been a perfect opportunity to showcase our strength. But putting a newly formed village on such a large stage would draw far too much suspicion.

"Do you have anything to report?" she asked, returning the conversation to the present.

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his tone professional as he replied, "Yes. During the second stage, there were reports of a pair of ninjas attacking several teams."

"Was it the Akatsuki?" Orochimaru inquired, her tone sharp with interest.

Kabuto shook his head. "No. From the information I've gathered, it seems to have been En. The other was a missing-nin from the Land of Hot Water. I'm still unclear on his motives, but En appeared to target rare kekkei genkai users in the forest."

Orochimaru's gaze darkened momentarily. "En…" she murmured, her voice thoughtful. "He's worked with me in the past, supplying rare specimens. He's even contributed to my latest project. But it's unlike him to conduct such an operation with so much visibility."

Kabuto hesitated before adding, "There's more. One of the captives is a Chinoike. She's currently in the custody of the Daimyō, but the Leaf and Cloud are embroiled in a dispute over who has rights to her."

Orochimaru's smirk widened. "The Chinoike, you say? How intriguing. Their bloodline has always eluded me. A chance to study one up close is worth extending your assignment. Kabuto," she continued, commanding,

"Your mission has changed. Secure the girl before the end of the exam. I will send a few pawns to assist you. They should prove useful in creating a sufficient distraction."

Kabuto bowed his head slightly, acknowledging the new directive. "Understood, Master."

Orochimaru rose gracefully from the bench, her disguise melding seamlessly into the crowd as she disappeared.

Left alone, Kabuto adjusted his glasses again, his mind calculating his next steps.