Naruto: Uchiha's Resolve

"Wait! Don't go!"

Kurama's booming voice echoed through the fiery-red mindscape, shaking the atmosphere. The Nine-Tailed Fox—proud, cunning, and defiant—now sounded almost desperate.

The great fox couldn't believe itself. Why was it pleading with an Uchiha, of all people? Yet, the thought of returning to solitude, of wasting more years in Uzumaki Mito's seal, was unbearable.

The faint glimmer of hope Uchiha Hirito had ignited was too precious to lose.

---

Hope Rekindled

Hirito stopped mid-step, a smirk creeping across his face. The bait had worked perfectly.

"Have you thought it through?" he asked, his tone measured and authoritative.

"I've thought it through," Kurama growled, reluctantly nodding. "Another ten years in this damned cage… fine! If it means freedom afterward, I'll endure it."

"Good," Hirito replied, his voice calm yet firm. "But there's one condition—"

Kurama's ears twitched, and its massive body tensed.

"Condition?" The fox's tone darkened. "We didn't agree on conditions!"

Hirito chuckled, shaking his head. "I promised to release you from this cage, Kurama. I never promised to leave you completely unsupervised. Once you're free, you'll live near Konoha as the village's protector."

Kurama growled lowly, his tails lashing. "Protector? So, freedom with strings attached? Typical human trickery!"

"Call it what you want," Hirito said. "But think about it—would you rather roam aimlessly and risk being captured again? Or would you prefer a sanctuary where you can live freely while keeping others at bay? Konoha can provide that for you."

The fox's glowing eyes narrowed, suspicion evident in its gaze. Hirito was playing a dangerous game, but his logic was sound.

---

A Cunning Bargain

Kurama's mind churned. The forests surrounding Konoha were vast and peaceful, not much different from the wilderness it had roamed before humans began sealing it. And being a "protector" sounded far better than being a weapon of war.

Still, its pride bristled at the thought of submitting to human authority again.

"Fine," Kurama muttered, its voice heavy with reluctance. "But only if you swear to uphold your end of the deal. I'll live near Konoha, but no chains, no seals, no conditions after I'm released!"

"Deal." Hirito extended his hand, the crimson hue of his Sharingan reflecting in the fox's narrowed eyes.

Kurama grumbled but raised a massive paw, meeting Hirito's gesture with a reluctant fist bump.

---

The Plan

"Now that we're partners," Hirito said, "I need your help with Uzumaki Mito. You've been inside her for years. Surely, you have some tricks up your sleeve."

Kurama's sharp teeth flashed in a sly grin. "Tricks? You mean tactics. My chakra has been eroding her seal for decades. It's subtle, slow, but effective."

Hirito's expression brightened. "Perfect. If we weaken her seal enough, she won't be able to maintain her full transformation. That's when I'll strike."

"Exactly," Kurama said, its voice dripping with satisfaction. "Once the seal weakens, I'll focus all my energy on pulling back the chakra she's stolen from me. That will leave her vulnerable."

"Good," Hirito replied. "When the time comes, I'll make sure she regrets ever challenging me."

---

A Shared Grudge

"One more thing," Kurama said, its tone shifting to one of barely concealed disdain. "Mito and her husband… they were no better than the Uchiha who enslaved me. They saw me as nothing but a tool."

Hirito nodded, feigning sympathy. "You've been wronged, Kurama. Together, we'll put an end to this cycle of oppression."

The fox's eyes narrowed slightly, detecting a hint of insincerity but choosing to ignore it. For now, they had a shared goal—to defeat Uzumaki Mito and secure freedom, even if it came with strings attached.

---

Back to Reality

As Hirito's consciousness returned to the real world, the seal's mindscape faded, leaving only the deafening sound of the ongoing battle. His Susanoo towered over Uzumaki Mito, radiating power amplified by Kurama's cooperation.

Mito, now fully transformed into the Nine-Tails' avatar, narrowed her eyes. She sensed something was amiss.

"You've done something," she said coldly, her voice echoing with the resonance of Kurama's chakra.

Hirito smirked, raising the crimson blade of his Susanoo. "Let's just say your tenant and I had a little chat. He's not exactly on your side anymore."

(End of Chapter)

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