Chapter 17

"Don't take it personally," began Kurama, his voice more mature and controlled than Son Goku would have expected. "We're not children anymore. We have been around for hundreds of years, thousands, it doesn't matter. I just want to ask you one little thing."

Son Goku frowned, observing Kurama with suspicion and cautious curiosity. "You're acting a bit strange, you know? After all these years, you started to have patience? Even though you remain arrogant and conceited."

Kurama gave a slight nod, as if acknowledging the accusation, but not letting it affect him. "Yeah, I changed, for a certain reason, but that's none of your business. Back to the point... brother, are you satisfied with your life?"

The question caused Son Goku to hesitate. His expression hardened, and he looked away before answering. "What do you think?"

Kurama kept his gaze fixed on Son Goku, unwavering. "I don't know, it's your life, you tell me."

Son Goku grunted, his earlier frustration giving way to unexpected reflection. "You were giving that speech about freeing your brothers from their prisons, but now you're indecisive. The great Kurama is indecisive!"

A subtle glint passed through Kurama's eyes, reflecting a mix of emotions he rarely allowed others to see. "Do you want to be free?" he asked, getting straight to the point. "Do you want me to kill your jinchuuriki for that to happen?"

Son Goku crossed his arms, his fiery aura pulsing around his massive body. "I myself don't want to stay another minute trapped in here," his deep voice resonated with determination, though his eyes betrayed a glimpse of internal conflict.

Kurama, with his red fur and imposing aura, prepared to leave with a serene expression. "Well then, goodby..." he began, but was interrupted.

"But I don't see why kill my jinchuuriki," Son Goku cut in, his voice softer, but laden with a weight that neither could ignore. "I don't like him, I hate him and the others, but I don't think he deserves that."

The unexpected response drew a deep laugh from Kurama. "Hahahahaha," he laughed, surprised and somehow impressed. "It's unbelievable, you really amaze me," he said, looking at Son Goku with a new light of respect. "As you wish, my brother, I won't do anything to him."

Son Goku relaxed a bit, but his curiosity was far from satiated. "You all?" he repeated, tilting his head with interest. "Kurama, you're acting strange, respecting my opinion and that of Kokuo... Something very good must have happened, from what I see, you don't seem to hate humans."

Kurama sighed, his stance still maintaining a dignity few could challenge. "I still have it," he admitted in a deliberate tone, "but I don't let it control my thoughts," Kurama's red eyes met Son Goku's with an intensity that only centuries of existence could forge. "Like I told you, there are things that don't concern you."

Son Goku looked at Kurama with a mix of irritation and curiosity. "How did you get Shukaku's sand? You have his chakra, how did you get it? Did you do something to him?" he inquired, his deep voice vibrating with unspoken suspicions.

Kurama raised an eyebrow, almost amused by the question. "No," he said simply, "have you never wondered why we have more than one tail?"

Son Goku looked confused for a moment before his features softened with understanding. "Does that mean we can use each other's powers and chakra depending on the number of tails? You're not lying, are you?" he questioned, suspicion still hanging on every word.

"Do you think I need to lie?" Kurama responded with a muffled laugh, almost as if the mere idea was absurd for someone of his caliber.

Son Goku crossed his arms, still not completely convinced. "No, but how did you get it?" he pressed, wanting to extract the truth from his Bijuu brother.

Kurama shrugged, a casual and mysterious gesture. "You'll have to figure that out on your own, I'm not telling you anything. You figure it out."

Son Goku's patience was wearing thin. "I wasn't expecting you to," he grumbled, "get out of here, I'm sick of your face."

Kurama just smiled, a smile he knew to be irritating to the other. "Bye, brother. And stop being so finicky," he said with a voice full of confidence and a touch of provocation. "And admit that I am stronger."

With those words, Kurama turned and left the space where the Bijuu resided within their respective jinchuuriki, leaving Son Goku alone with his thoughts and the growing curiosity about the mysteries that his nine-tailed brother had hinted at.

The conversation between Kurama and Son Goku had ended, and Kurama now stood before Roushi, still in his Bijuu form, but with an expression that belied the ferocity expected of a creature of his magnitude.

"You're lucky, you know?" said Kurama with a tone that suggested more than mere words. "Congratulations."

Roushi, trapped in the sand that was once Shukaku's weapon, was surprised and relieved at the same time. His voice was hoarse, the sound of a man who had faced more challenges than most could imagine. "I wasn't expecting him not to want me dead."

Kurama looked at Roushi, his eyes gleaming with an almost human intelligence. "Treat him better from now on," he said, referring to Son Goku's jinchuuriki. "And don't let the village treat you and him like a weapon."

As he spoke, Kurama's ear gave a subtle twitch, as if he had heard something in the distance. He turned, the question already formed in his mind, although he already knew the answer. "How long have you been here?"

Turning to look out of the corner of his eye, Kurama spotted Minato and several ANBU ninjas scattered through the destroyed trees from the duel between the three tail beasts. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo were also there, watching him with an intensity that needed no words to be understood.

Minato, with his customary calm, was the first to speak. "For a little while. I see that you've defeated the two-tailed beasts from the Stone Village. Glad you didn't kill, thank you."

Kurama maintained his composure, though his tone was acidic. "Thank them, not me. If it wereup to me, I would have killed both, but my brothers saved him."

Before Minato could respond, Danzo intervened, his voice laden with authority he often imposed. "Are you going to return to the village? It's your duty to stay in the village."

Kurama fixed his single eye on Danzo, the irritation clear in his voice. "Look here, Cyclops, don't come at me with your schemes, because they won't work on me. So keep quiet and stay out of my way."

Danzo, unaccustomed to being challenged, retorted with a venomous tone. "What insolence, you beast!"

The members of the Root around him prepared for combat, each ready to defend their leader and follow his orders without hesitation.

Before the situation could escalate into a conflict, with the tension rising, Hiruzen Sarutobi, also known as the Third Hokage, quickly intervened. His voice, though older, still carried the weight and authority of an experienced leader.

"Danzo! Do not complicate matters!" he reprimanded, casting a severe look towards the Root leader. The members of Root, though loyal to Danzo, recognized the supreme authority of the Hokage and hesitated, waiting for Danzo's commands, ready to attack if ordered.

---------------

29 chapters on patreon, whoever can support me I appreciate it. patreon.com/Louisdg