"Now… your first mission is… to find Lady Guji's cat, Yukki!".
Kakashi shows a picture of the cat. A fat, lazy looking, orange boy.
"EHH? What kind of mission is this-ttebayo! Why are finding a stupid cat! Why not just call the police!", Naruto retaliates, swinging his limbs here and there.
"Hm? The Konoha Police Force usually won't take such requests. Though, theft of pets can be considered- No, what I am saying. Hiring Shinobi is often the fastest. We are working directly after all. Besides, there are commissions to work outside the village as well".
"No! I don't care about that, why are we doing chores!".
"I agree with Naruto…", Sasuke supported.
"... Until you 3 improve your teamwork, all 3 together, I wouldn't allow you to take any more than D rank. Just go find the cat. I will just be reading over here…".
Kakashi takes out Icha-icha paradise, ignoring the complaint from Naruto mostly.
After spending 7 whole hours since morning to find the stupid cat, finally the team caught it. Thankfully Naruto remembered by the 3rd hour his shadow clones could share information and he just sent swarms of them to overrun Konoha to find the cat…
"Ah! My baby!~ How could you run from mummy! I am so worried~ look at how dirty and stinky you are...", the old lady hug the fat cat, almost choking it alive.
"Thank you little shinobi's. Here's the reward~". The old lady handed 3000 ryo in 3 piece of cash.
"Waaa! 3000 ryo! Then it's 1000 each!".
"-for all 3 of you…". Kakashi take one note and handed it to the trio, while pocketing the remaining 2 notes.
Kaa… kaa… the crow of disbelief filled the silence.
"What! Kakashi sensei! You didn't do anything! Give us our money!".
"Hey now… I am stuck tutoring you, and I can't do real Shinobi missions now can I. So the largest cut belongs to me".
"AAAA! NOOO!", Naruto just screamed in frustration.
"Dobe. You are well off enough. What are you screaming about". As for Sasuke, the money in the bank from his inheritance is large enough. His family was the family of the patriarch after all.
As for Sakura, she has businessmen parents supporting her.
"That's Tsu-chan money! I will soon get my own money and won't have to take money from her! Believe it!". Now Naruto realized just how difficult gaining money was. He almost forgot he once was poor. These days he can eat anything and everything in the village whenever he wants unlike when they were little.
"Hm…". Hearing Naruto say that, suddenly Sasuke felt a little embarrassed. He's using what was left to him by his parents.
"Let's finish more D rank missions quickly. So we can get to C rank and get a real mission". Sasuke said to the two of them.
"Yeah! Kakashi sensei, let's take another mission!".
"... No. For tomorrow we rest. The day after tomorrow we can go again I guess". Kakashi shrugged.
"Ehh… You are just lazy!", Naruto accused.
"... Shinobi need to balance work and life".
"I agree with Kakashi sensei. Rest is important too, Naruto", Sakura chimed.
"It's just finding a cat! I am not tired!".
"I am the Jonin here. No mission tomorrow. That's it"
"Urgh…".
"Well you two can leave. Naruto, come here".
"Hm..? Where to…?".
"Kakashi-sensei, what do you want with Naruto?", Sakura asks, Sasuke is also curious.
"Important matter~ go back you two".
Sasuke could ask later since he's living under the same roof with him anyways so he just left.
"See you then, Sakura". Sasuke said casually before leaving, not turning another look to her.
"Ah… See you later Sasuke-kun!". Sakura looks with blushing cheeks.
***
"Ooo! I will train with ero-sennin tomorrow?!".
"Ero-sennin? That's Jiraiya? That's fitting…", Kakashi muttered.
"Yes. A special training. Your little sister would explain to you in detail if you ask, she should have already undergone the training with him. Or you could just wait for Jiraiya to explain tomorrow".
"Hm? Can't you just tell me now? What special training Kakashi sensei!".
"Hm…~ how do I put it…".
"Come on come on…!".
"9 tails".
"H-huh…?".
"You looked shocked".
"I… how do you know… since when…". Naruto suddenly looked uncomfortable. It's more because he's afraid Kakashi would hate him.
"What. You think I would be scared of you? You are such a brat. You think too much~". Kakashi knocked his book onto his head, giving a slight smile behind his mask.
"Ouch! Sensei that hurts!".
"Well~ that's about it. See you then". Kakashi turned around, continuing his read his book.
"...", Naruto looks at Kakashi's departing back.
Kakashi sensei doesn't care about the fox either…
A small smile grazed his lips. Let's ask Tsu-chan about tomorrow!
***
Tsuyu takes a sip of her imported luxurious coffee, one book containing compiled maps, especially the countries and lands bordering the Land of Fire. A notebook sprawled open on the table where Tsuyu writes notes. Some blocks, circles, triangles and arrows are drawn. Not that Naruto understands what she's even doing.
"It's training to control 9 tails power. Jiraiya-sama will oversee our training, and hold us down with the Sealing Squad if need be".
She said it lightly. Naruto recalled the scene last time where Tsuyu sent pillars of earth to bind and suppress her 9 tails.
His eyes almost shining, already thinking of beating the fox. He feels a lot of dissatisfaction towards it…
"... Naruto, let me say it again. You should try to cooperate and work together with him. He is a reasonable per- fox".
"What? No way! Last time I saw him he wanted to eat me!". Naruto crossed his arms.
"... Are you aware why he's locked up in us?", Tsuyu put down her book, looking at Naruto seriously.
"Of course! He destroyed the village!".
"That, too. But before that".
"Before he destroyed the village…? … Um. I don't know. Destroy other villages?".
"...", Tsuyu was speechless.
"Do you know how the tailed beasts are captured and then distributed to each of the 5 hidden villages?".
"Uh… what…".
"... Right. Of course you don't. At the founding of our village…".
Tsuyu yaps about Konoha founding. She's pretty sure she had already did, maybe it goes through his skull and disappears with the wind. Eventually, the captured 9 tails, the other tailed beasts captured and distributed.
"The tailed beasts originally are freely living in the wild. The 1st Hokage kidnapped them from their home, and placed them in cages called Jinchuriki - that's what happened".
"What!? That can't be true!".
"It's fact… for most people, the tailed beasts are dangerous creatures that could destroy everything easily. And they could. They had the ability to do so. So anywhere they go, they are often seen as a calamity. 1st Hokage, Hashirama senju simply collected them and distributed them instead of letting them roam freely".
"...that's… that's so wrong… we… we take away their freedom?". Naruto held his stomach, where the seal to kyubi was.
"... Technically, even if the 1st Hokage didn't do that, humans always have feared the tailed beasts. Often they would find a quiet, isolated place with no people to live in. I read in a book, there's legends that once people worshipped them, with temples built too. Though, there are among them that are more violent than the other, and would choose revenge and vengeance. But if it's you who are locked up first, being used first, harm you first, you wouldn't just so easily let it go would you".
"...", Naruto understood this reasoning. The tailed beasts have always been the first victim at the very core. Their reactions are out of retaliation.
"Then… then what do we do…".
"Like I said, work together. I understand if you hate him-".
"No!… I… not anymore… it's not like he asked to be inside me… just as I never asked to have him…"
"But he will hurt everyone if we release him… he hates the villagers…".
It's a dilemma for Naruto. 9 tails deserves freedom. But he hates everyone and would destroy everyone.
"Yes, he would. Humanity had done him wrong enough. We both have seen our mindscape".
"Being locked up in a cage, in such a gloomy place, unable to move anywhere, not able to eat anything good, have no one to talk to for years, for generations… if it's me I would have gone crazy".
Gasp… Naruto felt like crying for the fox suddenly. The more Tsuyu describes it, the more horrible it gets. No wonder he's so angry.
Seeing Naruto understand the emotional point, it's easier for Naruto to work with him. And being a little kind to the fox helps cooperating with him with how susceptible he is to Stockholm syndrome. Besides…
Kurama will remain sealed in us, no matter whether we are purely using him as tools or as partners.
At the end of the day the tailed beasts had no choice. The choice is up to the hosts. If mutual cooperation fails… they can always force it.
This is a dark truth. Tsuyu won't say it to 9 tails though. Tsuyu wasn't deceiving Kurama at all, in fact, and when she made her promises she was serious. But if she failed or couldn't fulfill it - she would still use 9 tails chakra even forcefully if need be.
Naruto had an entirely different idea. He must be lonely… all alone. Hating everyone. Sounds like me… but I do have people around me. He had it worse…
Mindscape
"YOU! DON'T YOU DARE LOOK ME DOWN! I CAN CRUSH YOU TO PIECES, KILL EVERYONE AROUND YOU!".
Seeing Naruto looking at himself in that expression is a humiliation for him.
"I know you hate everyone. I can understand that… I still won't forgive you for destroying the village. And it still hurts, remembering the looks villagers gave me. But-! I won't hate you! Fox!".
"DON'T TALK TO ME! LEAVE!". Kurama forced Naruto out. His voice is so annoying! And he's talking nonsense! How dare mere human pity me!
Naruto grumbled as his consciousness returned.
"Yeah… now that I think about it he's like a grumpy lonely old grandpa".
"Pfft-", Tsuyu almost choked on her coffee. Actually, that sounds accurate.
"I can see that".
***
Fast forward, Training Field 5.
The surrounding is cleared, a barrier is set up to isolate 9 tails chakra from leaking out of the area to avoid panic. The Sealing Squad is ready.
Naruto looks around at the masked ANBU here and there surrounding him. Then at Jiraiya.
"Why there's so many people here!", it felt awkward with so many gawking at him.
"These are the Sealing Squad prepared in case you lose control. Now, are you able to meet him?".
"Yes! I met him a few times before… I got used to how it felt to go in there?".
"... You have it rough huh-". Jiraiya crossed his arms, looking a little sad for Naruto. A few times of meeting him means he must have experienced his lowest points multiple times.
"Well, it sucks a lot of times but I will still become the strongest shinobi and let people see the real me! Believe it! Heh!",
"That's good mentally to keep. Let's proceed. Met him, tap into his power".
"... uh… got it".
Naruto sat down in a meditative state. His consciousness once more appears in his mindscape.
"You can never control my power, brat!". Kyubi looked down on Naruto. In fact, Kyubi can choose whether to give it to Naruto or not. If Kyubi wasn't a prideful, so-called strongest beast, and wasn't arrogant, Kyubi would have sulked and refused to give ANY chakra at all to any of his previous jinchuriki.
But this means… he would be trapped for eternity, with zero chance of escaping. Kyubi had 1000 years of experience in the Shinobi world so he knows first hand. So in his convoluted coping thinking - refusing to give any chakra to those who trapped him means he's acknowledging they might have the ability to control him! While not giving any means he's giving up on himself and cutting off his own chance at escaping!
Hundred of years of mental torture made him cope hard and end up giving his chakra.
NO! THEY CANNOT! I AM KYUUBI, THE 9 TAILS, THE STRONGEST OF THE TAILED BEAST! YOU. CAN'T. CONTROL ME!
Breaking the seal, possessing its user, making them lose control is a show of his strength and pride!
"Since you asked for it…! Take it!". A wave of bloody red chakra leaked out towards him, drowning his entire body.
"Nnnh..!!". Bubbles of red chakra form from under his skin, covering him in a red chakra cloak.
1 tail… 2 tails…his skin starts to flake, the cloak turned darker as the 3rd tail began to form.
"Aaack!!", Naruto grunted in pain. Due to previous crash outs, the seals are widened considerably, enough for Kurama to drown Naruto with his chakra all at once.
Yes! YES!!! More! More! Kurama had a crazed expression on his face seeing Naruto losing control quickly. He felt exhilarated seeing Naruto who acted so confident LOST to him. F*** YOU! I WON, loser!
His eyes opened, his eyes blood red. All of a sudden, he let out a roar, and directly pounced on Jiraiya!
"No…! He's losing control already! Quick suppress him!". Jiraiya takes a step back to dodge his attacks - quickly sticking a Seal onto his forehead. The sealing squads surrounded Naruto, making hand seals and slapped their hands onto the ground. A suppressing kekkai quickly formed with ruins surrounding and wrapping Naruto. And 7 totems of wood built from the ground, seemingly absorbing Naruto's chakra.
Jiraiya widened their eyes in shock. This is a ninjutsu, wood release! Yamato, among the ANBU with masks, took action. Jiraiya didn't know someone can use wood release. Tsuyu wasn't surprised as she's acquainted with a fellow ex-Root ANBU. Danzo naturally tells her since it's important for her training and Naruto's. But she does wonder if this Yamato has the potential of being as strong as the 1st Hokage. If the enemy village knows… It could be a deterrence.
Hm? If he has enough chakra… A new plan suddenly popped in her mind. She would send it to Danzo later to see if it's feasible. Shaking that thought away she focused her gaze back to Naruto.
"Aack…! AH…!". The berserking Naruto struggled and grunted. The formation of the 3rd tail halted, ultimately receding little by little… until Naruto finally looked normal. He fell flat on the ground, as if all of his entire self was drained. His skin looks red and burned, there's a smell of blood emanating from him. Naruto's expression is that of pain, his eyes a little teary as he opens them.
"Ero-sennin… did I…". Naruto couldn't remember his actions. But at the very beginning he felt angry, it's like a dream, that he attacked someone. All the bad memories flooded back into him. It just hurts all over. He feels angry, he wants to destroy everything that had hurt him.
Tsuyu looks from a distance, feeling dissatisfied. Not to Naruto, but towards Kurama in Naruto. But this is Naruto's training and if she went to scold the fox it won't help. Naruto has to learn to suppress his will by himself.
"Are you alright Naruto?", Jiraiya asked with concern.
"I am alright… it's just… hurts all over…". One of ANBU stepped in and used medical ninjutsu to soothe his pain.
Jiraiya felt bad for overestimating Naruto and underestimated 9 tails. He saw Tsuyu control the chakra up to 6 tails. And Tsuyu could limit or expand how much chakra she's taking into herself to slowly go from 1 tail and further. It seems Naruto couldn't even suppress the excess 9 tails chakra and control the amount flowing into him… he rapidly transformed into 3 tails directly.
"It's my fault. I should have tightened the seal for you first. We need to do this little by little for you".
Naruto just nods weakly. Jiraiya stood, giving Naruto space to rest while he summoned Gamatora.
Jiraiya's throat bulges, moving into a bulging cheek. A toad crawled out of his mouth - reminding Tsuyu of that guy. The orange toad had a weird body, as it stretched up to reveal a scroll wrapping his torso.
After a casual introduction about the jinchuriki, Gamatora unrolled the scroll, letting Jiraiya see the seals. After imprinting it on his hand, complex ruin patterns cover the underside of his forearm up to his palm.
Flames of chakra burst from his fingertips.
"8 Trigram Seal!". Jiraiya pressed onto the seal on Naruto's stomach, twisting it anticlockwise - tightening the seal back up.
Kurama sees all his effort go to smoke and growl in anger. Jiraiya could feel deep malice somewhere. Kyubi would still hold a grudge against this old fool that made him see unholy dirty things.
"Good! It's done". Jiraiya let out a sigh of relief.
"Mm…". Naruto felt as if his muscles were all sore, like needles pickling him all over.
"You should rest now. We will continue once you feel well. I will tell Kakashi to let you rest tomorrow".
Naruto just grumbled, seemingly wanting to reject that but he's too tired mentally and physically.