UK:GSW Chapter 94: Nine-Tails: Could This Kid Be the One from the Sage's Prophecy?

The Nine-Tails yielded.

Though the giant fox clearly resented it, the frustration and anger blazing in its vertical pupils couldn't hide its fear. Overwhelmed by dread toward Uchiha Kei, its usual arrogance and explosive temperament were rendered irrelevant—everything was pushed to the side.

No matter what, it could not afford to be struck by that move—one that could potentially mark the end of its existence as a Tailed Beast.

In short, the plan to subdue the Nine-Tails had succeeded.

At least for now, it would behave until it could find a countermeasure to Uchiha Kei's abstract abilities.

Still, as someone who had seen the entirety of Naruto, Kei bore no hatred toward the Nine-Tails. In fact, he had no malice or bias against any Tailed Beast. He even thought some of the ones with cute voices were pretty charming.

Compared to the endless stream of extremist shinobi and the abysmal caste system of the ninja world, the Tailed Beasts—with their simple, straightforward nature—were actually easier to deal with. Easier to trick, too.

With that, Kei smiled and said, "Really, you don't need to be this scared. Our goal from the start wasn't to crush or defeat you."

"This is just a necessary step—since you wouldn't talk things out with us, we had no choice but to fight first. Like I said, we came here to negotiate."

Hearing this, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki eased up, their expressions turning serious again. The Nine-Tails, after staring at Kei in silence, suddenly showed a trace of surprise on its face.

Because upon closer inspection, it could sense that Kei harbored no malice toward it whatsoever.

As the strongest Tailed Beast, it was incredibly attuned to human emotions—especially hatred. Human malice had long since corrupted it into a creature of hatred.

But Kei was different. There wasn't even a trace of hostility.

Even those who tried to trick it or treated it like a beast were full of wariness—yet Kei felt none of that. It meant he truly meant what he said and never once viewed the Nine-Tails as a mere beast.

No one had ever done that—not even Hashirama Senju, who had sealed it with one hand.

Kushina and Minato still harbored caution, though. This made the Nine-Tails falter.

How many years had it been since someone showed it no hatred at all?

Not since the Sage of Six Paths passed.

Humans feared the Tailed Beasts, coveted their power and longevity, and treated them like irrational monsters—from the highest elites to commoners alike.

Long ago, the Sage had said that one day, a human would come who could truly understand them and become their friend. On that day, the fate of the Tailed Beasts would change.

But a thousand years passed, and such a person never came. Even the Nine-Tails—the strongest—was captured, sealed, and turned into a weapon of hatred.

It had long given up on humanity.

Yet today, from an Uchiha no less, it felt pure goodwill.

Was this some cosmic joke from the Sage, who pitied the Tailed Beasts?

The real kicker was, this same Uchiha had just demonstrated a terrifyingly malicious jutsu—one so incomprehensibly evil it shook the Nine-Tails to its core.

And yet... the same person also displayed true kindness toward Tailed Beasts. The contradiction was enough to break its mental framework.

Finally, the Nine-Tails spoke in an unusually calm voice: "So... what do you want to talk about? If it's about handing chakra to Kushina and behaving inside her, I already agreed."

Kei shook his head. "That's only part of it. I want you to give her chakra that isn't filled with hatred—but the kind that becomes radiant gold when accepted."

Kushina looked surprised. "What? The Nine-Tails' chakra has a gold version?"

The Nine-Tails narrowed its eyes. "How do you know that giving chakra could cause a Jinchūriki to take on that form?"

Kei paused, then said, "Sorry, I can't share that information yet. Maybe when I'm stronger. For now, just think of it as a special intel source."

Kushina and Minato were curious but didn't pry. They trusted Kei completely.

The Nine-Tails, on the other hand, thought deeply—and remembered the Sage's prophecy. A ridiculous idea formed in its mind.

"Could this kid be the one the old man foretold? Is his 'intel source'... the Sage himself?"

"If the Sage really spoke to him in a dream, then everything checks out. The importance of the information would make it dangerous to reveal too early. Even the Leaf couldn't protect him if word got out."

"The Sage always had his reasons. If he told the kid to stay quiet, that must be part of it. I just have to wait for the truth to come out."

Yes, the Nine-Tails had entered full "self-narration mode."

But it made sense. The golden chakra form was something only the Nine-Tails possessed. Not even the other Tailed Beasts knew it existed—only the Sage, their creator, knew.

Thinking of this, the Nine-Tails' heart raced. Its gaze toward Kei softened. The rage and madness were gone.

"I understand. I'll wait until you're ready to explain the truth."

It lay down on the ground, paws folded elegantly—like a calm, obedient dog.

Minato and Kushina were stunned. Just moments ago, the fox had been seething with resentment and radiating danger. Now it looked completely docile.

How did it change so fast? Kei hadn't even said anything particularly persuasive.

They exchanged confused looks. Ultimately, they chalked it up to Tailed Beasts being impossible to understand.

Even Kei was a little baffled. He had no idea the Nine-Tails had built such a complex narrative in its head.

Then, the Nine-Tails spoke again: "I agree to your terms. I won't pass hatred through the chakra I give Kushina. But to access my purest chakra, she has to do it herself. You know what I mean."

Kei recalled how Naruto achieved the golden mode and nodded. "Yeah. She has to overcome the darkness in her heart first. Only then can she truly receive your chakra and enter that mode."

The Nine-Tails paused. "I meant no resistance or negativity. But... calling it the 'darkness in her heart'—I guess that makes sense in human terms. Yep, he's definitely the one the Sage meant."

It nodded.

Kei turned to Kushina. "Did you hear that? If you want the purest form of Nine-Tails chakra, you need to confront the darkness within and accept it with a clear heart."

Kushina scratched her head. "Sounds easy when you say it, but it's probably really hard. Got any tips?"

Kei replied, "There's a place in the Land of Lightning called the Falls of Truth. It lets you face your inner darkness."

Kushina snarked, "You think I can just go to the Land of Lightning? You think the Hidden Cloud will just let me use it?"

Kei shrugged. "You asked, I answered. If it's too much, maybe Minato can help. Honestly, he's more suited to being the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki. With him, we might see full Kurama Mode pretty soon."

The Nine-Tails narrowed its eyes at Kei. Minato scratched his head awkwardly, embarrassed by the praise.

Kushina glanced at Minato, frowned—then smiled. "Yeah, if it's Minato, I guess it's possible. But... why did you call it Kurama Mode? What's Kurama Mode?"

Kei chuckled. "You'll find out once you become friends with the Nine-Tails. Right? Nine-Tails?"

He said the last part to the fox. The Nine-Tails smirked and gave a tsundere "Hmph," refusing to answer.

That was their tacit understanding. The Nine-Tails' true name—Kurama—would be revealed only by the Tailed Beast itself.

Kushina grumbled. "Ugh, keeping secrets again. I hate riddlers. Fine, don't tell me—I'll figure it out myself someday."

Then Kei suddenly shifted topics. "By the way, Nine-Tails, are you really not interested in the genjutsu game?"

The sudden pivot caught everyone off guard. They had been deep in serious chakra talk, and now it was about games?

Still, the Nine-Tails, now viewing Kei through rose-colored lenses, answered honestly: "Nope. I'm not interested in that genjutsu game stuff. I don't like playing humans, and the game modes don't appeal to me."