Chapter 269: Encounter with the Nine-Tails

Shikamaru extended his hand forward and a huge arch filled with starlight appeared right out of thin air in front of him. Together with Isobu, the two went inside. Seascapes immediately changed to a huge endless forest. The branches of the trees were so huge that even the sun barely illuminated the ground. Shikamaru and Isobu immediately came to an open area with several giant rocks. Right there, on the flattened grass, sat a huge Nine-Tailed Fox. As soon as he noticed the arrivals, his pointed ears twitched, and he immediately lifted his long muzzle.

— Grrraa! - uttering a furious roar, Kurama without thinking twice rushed to those who had broken through. But, as soon as he waved his paw, Isobu abruptly stepped forward and shouted:

- Stop! Before Shikamaru could frown and interfere, Kurama stopped and stood up on his hind legs in surprise:

- Isobu! So it was you... I felt you!

The boy swallowed, he had just acted on reflex, and now aware of the situation, he became nervous:

- Long time no see...

Kurama gritted his teeth and his eyes never stopped glowing with rage.

“You… What’s wrong with your body?! Why do you look like a human?! And that bastard behind you, who is he?! Where am I anyway?!

Shikamaru stepped forward and patted the boy on the shoulder, smiling at him.

“I myself,” turning to the fox, he became serious:

"I pulled you out of Minato and put you in this place."

“Hmm… “This place”? Kurama narrowed his eyes, "Who are you?"

“I am Shikamaru, at the moment you and Isobu are sealed in my body.

- Sealed?! Karama growled, and then said in disbelief:

- It can not be! I don't feel any seals, it's like a normal world. What nonsense?!

Shikamaru raised his hand and did something, Kurami's pupils immediately contracted.

“T-this is…” He was finally able to sense the limits of this world. He was finally able to feel a connection with this person!

- Now you see? Lowering his hand, Shikamaru also removed all of Kurama's access to the borders of the seal. The fox immediately started up and growled:

"What have you done, you little bastard?" What kind of seal is this?!

“Hmm,” the man chuckled, “If you haven’t seen normal seals, that’s your problem.” Those who locked you up like a hunted animal didn't even think of you as a living being. They sat in a cage and used chakra. I created the forest for you, and the sea for Gyuki. Although this is an illusion, it is better than a dark cell. Your chakra is of no use to me at all. I will take it occasionally, for my jutsu, you will have to put up with it. And don't look so mean, I'm not going to keep you here forever Kurama.

Fox's face changed dramatically.

— You... My name... Where...

Shikamaru smiled.

“You don’t need to play tough in front of me, I know you even shed tears in the last meeting with Hogoromo. Just because people have terrorized you for centuries doesn't mean I'm the same. Nine tails or eight, I don't care. You are not a slave here, but if I release you into the world, you will very quickly fall into the clutches of those whose plan is to resurrect the Ten-Tails. I think you should understand what will happen to you as a result?

The fox's eyes trembled, everything that Shikamaru said, his every word, shocked more and more. He knew his name, knew the name of the Sage, and even knew about the Ten-Tails, and even knew about that case from childhood!

Throwing an angry glance at Isoba, Kurama snorted and warily asked Shikamaru:

“Even if that fool told you everything, so what? Do you think I'm going to wag my tail in front of you?! I'll just kill you!

“I n-no…” Before Isobu could finish, the jinchūriki stopped him with a shake of his head.

It's all right, he has every right to doubt.

Naturally, Shikamaru said all this with no hope of trust, or with a smug desire to win the fox over with his honesty. All these are just simple words that need to be backed up with deeds over time. People like Kurama will obviously not believe people after a couple of beautiful words. And in fact, Shikamaru did not want this. Whether the fox believes him or not, what difference does it make? It's still sealed.

Turning to Kurama, he calmly said:

“I don't care if you believe me or not. I already said - I don't need all your power, I have my own and in a pinch, Isobu will lend me some of the chakra. If I wanted to use you, I would have simply caged you and suppressed your mind. Turning around, Shikamaru waved his hand.

- I'll collect the rent later. Until then, consider my words. Would you prefer my cage with a nice view or a cage like the seals of your past jinchūriki.

Kurama continued to growl while Isobu and Shikamaru simply walked away, leaving the fox alone. The nine tails continued to flutter furiously and carry the earth trembling:

- Bastard! With a snort, Kurama turned around and slowly lay down between the rocks. Although he wanted to destroy something, he was not a fool. The fox knew well that Shikamaru hadn't lied. Once he leaves his body, it won't be long before he is recaptured by humans and put in another cage. Here, at least, he could move and sleep peacefully on the warm grass under the blue sky. Even if it's an illusion, it's clearly better than before. It was only infuriating that this man acted so haughtily and confidently, did not show fear and did not pay any attention to his anger at all!

“Damn, I can’t feel my other half… That bastard sealed me in his son!” If I get to him…” Raising his head to the heavens, Kurama growled.

- I'll kill them all! Isobu, I'll remember this for you! Continuing to snort, the fox eventually dozed off. No matter how he tried to feel the seal again or find a way to get out, nothing worked. He was shocked by the structure of this place, involuntarily she began to take this suspicious person more seriously. Still, he managed to tame Isoba, even though Kurama treated his relative with some disdain, but it's enough that Shikamaru sealed two bijuu in the body! This already spoke of his special abilities, with such a person you clearly need to be on your guard and definitely will not be able to intimidate him. All Fox could do was find another method... He absolutely wasn't going to sit in this place forever!

As a result, Kurama himself did not even notice how he fell asleep in silence. Feeling no cage, he didn't feel like a prisoner, felt almost no connection to his jinchūriki, and for the first time in a long time, a sense of peace slowly penetrated the depths of his mind. In that silence, for the first time in years, he was finally able to sleep. The events of the past, that ill-fated day in Konoha, flashed over and over again in Kurama's memory...