In the dark, cave-like sealed chamber, a sealing formation resembling an ancient altar stood at the center of the space. Eight massive stone pillars surrounded the altar, each extending thick, meter-wide adamantine chains that bound the nine-tailed fox lying in the middle. A pitch-black sealing pillar, as wide as half the fox's body, pierced straight through its back.
The eight chains were locked tightly, leaving no chance for it to break free.
The Nine-Tails seemed to have long grown accustomed to this environment. Its front paws overlapped before it, head resting on them as it breathed evenly. Its nine tails drooped behind it, and even the slightest movement caused a sharp whistling sound through the air.
Tap… Tap…
Clear footsteps echoed from the tunnel at the end of the sealed space. The Nine-Tails' ears twitched slightly. As the chains rattled, it slowly raised itself from the ground.
Its crimson slit pupils gleamed with a cold, menacing aura.
"Yo~! Kurama, your living conditions have improved quite a bit, huh?" A lazy, teasing voice came from Kei.
He still remembered the first time he entered Kushina's sealing space.
Back then, the Nine-Tails was completely restrained inside a gigantic sphere resembling the Six Paths - Chibaku Tensei.
Its front paws, hind limbs, torso, and all nine tails were pierced through by sealing pillars. Chains extended from these pillars, binding every part of its body tightly.
Forget lying down to sleep—moving even an inch had been nearly impossible.
It seemed that despite all their bickering, Kushina and the Nine-Tails had developed a much better relationship. Otherwise, Kurama would still be trapped in that sealing sphere, playing some extreme bondage game.
"Tch—Are you here just to get cursed at?"
Hearing Kei's voice, the Nine-Tails let out a snicker.
Its crimson pupils flickered, but the previous bone-chilling malice had faded. After a lazy yawn, it shifted into a more comfortable position and lay back down on the sealing altar.
"Pretty confident, aren't you?"
Kei chuckled, continuing forward.
As he approached the altar, streaks of golden light illuminated the dark space. The glow revealed the Nine-Tails in full—its enormous, mountain-like body covered in vibrant orange fur.
---
[Name: Kurama]
[Career: Prisoner]
[Traits: Bijuu (Red), Nine-Tailed Fox (Purple), Chakra Key (Purple), Malice Perception (Purple), Hunter's Instinct (Blue), Fearless (Blue), Nine-Loudspeakers (White), Resentment (Gray)]
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"Prisoner, huh? Poor Nine-Tails," Kei muttered inwardly as he glanced at Kurama's traits, examining each one with interest.
Bijuu – The fundamental power of the strongest chakra lifeform, providing an immense and infinite source of chakra. Even if killed, revival is swift.
Nine-Tailed Fox – A unique trait born from humanity's fear. It absorbs large amounts of negative emotions, increasing intimidation and the ability to manipulate hearts, drawing out the darkness in humans.
Chakra Key – The power that connects people and hearts; essentially an all-purpose adapter, much like the universal charging station seen in the Fourth War.
Malice Perception – A special ability beyond the chakra system, allowing it to distinguish between good and evil and sense spiritual thoughts.
Hunter's Instinct – Enhances combat abilities.
Fearless – Boosts courage and perseverance in adverse battles.
Nine-Loudspeakers…?
The hell?!
Kei's eye twitched violently. He felt like he had just seen something utterly cursed.
Could it be… that the more Kurama swore, the stronger it got?! No wonder Kushina always said she couldn't outcurse the Nine-Tails.
With a skill that increased volume, proficiency, and vocabulary while completely disregarding personal—err, foxly—image, who in the entire shinobi world could possibly withstand it?!
Damn. My illusions are shattered! So this is the real Kurama?!
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"Brat, if you have something to say, say it. If not, scram and stop disturbing my sleep!" The Nine-Tails shot a sidelong glance at Kei, who remained silent, and growled in a foul temper.
With its menacing eyes and saliva-dripping fangs, any normal person would have been scared stiff and bolted on the spot. Unfortunately for Kurama, Kei was anything but normal.
His expression? Simply indescribable.
Nine-Loudspeakers… It was literally a loudspeaker now. The volume was significantly louder than before!
"You damn fox! If you keep barking, I swear I'll beat you up!" At that moment, Kushina finally emerged from the corridor of the sealed space, cracking her knuckles and flipping the threat back at Kurama.
"Tch—drink less, eat more veggies. You think you're some old widow like that hag?" Kurama sneered, eyes full of disdain.
That fox face—if there was ever a perfect embodiment of mockery, this was it.
Kushina's face turned red with rage, and the golden Adamantine Sealing Chains behind her tensed, ready to strike at any moment.
If she were alone, she would've just cursed Kurama right back. But with her boyfriend here? No!
"… Don't be mad, don't be mad! I'll take care of it for you~"
Kei quickly tried to pacify his tomato-faced girlfriend, realizing exactly who Kurama had just called a hag.
He knew better than anyone how much Kushina revered Mito. For Kurama to just blurt out that—of course, she was going to explode.
But for Kei, a seasoned veteran of countless internet flame wars in his past life, who had walked out of the most vicious forums and threads unscathed…
Kurama's trash talk?
Mediocre at best. Nothing compared to the absolutely savage, lung-piercing, heart-stabbing, reality-breaking verbal warfare he had witnessed in his past life.
"Haven't seen you in a while, huh? Feeling cocky now? How exactly do you plan to 'deal' with me? Scratch my itches? Give me a leg massage?"
Kurama lazily half-opened its eyes, completely dismissing Kei's attempt to calm Kushina.
Deal with it? Did he really think he was Hashirama or Madara?
"Troll!"
Kei clapped his hands together, using a hand-seal-less illusion.
Within his Mind Palace, countless insults from his past life's internet hall of fame—infused with elaborate metaphors, savage one-liners, and merciless taunts—merged seamlessly into the genjutsu.
A full-on verbal blitzkrieg, centered around personal jabs, expanding to family references, bringing in parental comparisons for added weight and finishing with 'remember where you came from' history burns for the final blow.
It happened in an instant.
Kurama's smug expression froze.
And then…
Shock.
Confusion.
Disbelief.
Face turning red.
Burning rage.
Veins bulging.
Bloodshot eyes.
Murderous intent soaring.
ROAR!!!
A deafening roar erupted from Kurama as it rose on its hind legs, shaking the altar violently.
With its massive chakra reserves, it forcibly shattered Kei's self-made C-rank genjutsu.
In its fury, the Nine-Tails thrashed against the sealing stakes piercing through its body and the countless chains binding it to the altar.
Truth be told, Troll was just a small experimental technique he had toyed with back in Ninja Academy.
It was nothing more than a crude hybrid. He had combined the D-rank Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique, which triggered deep-seated fears, with the D-rank Mist Servant Technique, which created multiple illusionary foes.
Instead of phantoms attacking physically, however, they bombarded the enemy's mental weak points with a full-scale verbal assault.
For a C-rank genjutsu, it really shouldn't have been effective against a beast of Kurama's caliber.
The only reason it worked? Kei's absurdly high mental fortitude and master-level proficiency in Yin Release.
But if he truly wanted to use genjutsu to subdue or control a creature like Kurama… Even his mental strength would require an S-rank, long-lasting genjutsu to stand a chance!