Chapter 54 - Logic claims victory

"Finally! I'm free once again!" the Nine-Tails roared, the earth quaking beneath his immense form. "This time, I'll wipe you all out!" Fury burned in his eyes, and he lashed his tails at the air.

"Enma, push him back!" Hiruzen commanded, his voice desperate. As his staff extended, it crashed into the colossal fox, driving him further from the village. They were now at least a dozen kilometers away from the Hidden Leaf, but Hiruzen knew it wasn't enough. One Bijuudama would be all the Nine-Tails needed to obliterate their home.

Dozens of shinobi appeared around the mighty beast, prepared to launch their attacks. Both the clans and civilians understood that no single individual could take on the Nine-Tails, and so they had to unite for the sake of their survival.

Suddenly, giants materialized around the fox, the Akimichi clan springing into action. Although their size paled in comparison to the Nine-Tails, their enlarged forms packed a powerful punch. Simultaneously, the massive creature's movements were hindered ever so slightly as numerous Nara clansmen attempted to bind his shadow, though their efforts were ultimately fruitless.

Members of the Sarutobi, Uchiha, Hyuga, Lee, Inuzuka, and other clans attacked the beast with Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, explosive tags, and every other technique they could muster. Meanwhile, the Yamanaka clan tried to infiltrate the fox's mind. Yet against the overwhelming power of the Nine-Tails, their efforts were futile. They couldn't even graze his fur, let alone cause any significant damage.

With a derisive laugh, the Nine-Tails flicked his tails, easily batting away the shinobi that dared to challenge him. However, a peculiar phenomenon occurred as his attacks descended. Each time a tail was about to strike a shinobi, its form was altered just enough to miss the target. The flat surface of the tail would curve inward at the last moment, sparing the shinobi from certain doom.

As the Nine-Tails continued his assault, this mysterious occurrence became increasingly evident. Frustration flared within the colossal fox. "Who's toying with me?!" he roared, his pride wounded by the inexplicable interference.

The bizarre occurrences during Kurama's attacks continued to escalate. "Who's toying with me?!" he bellowed, his anger boiling over. The repeated interference with his strikes wounded his pride.

"Hey there, foxy!" Ryu called out casually as he sauntered into the battlefield, apparently unconcerned by the massive, raging beast before him.

"Are you the brat who's been messing with my tails?" Kurama demanded, menace dripping from his voice. "Yeah, that's me. Guys, I need to have a chat with our furry friend here, so head back for now, alright?" Ryu said, snapping his fingers. In an instant, the surrounding shinobi vanished from sight.

Transformed into wisps of air, the violent winds generated by the ongoing battle whisked the shinobi away from the battlefield. The gale's intensity scattered them throughout the area, but Ryu's unique technique allowed him to revert them to their original forms with a single touch. To Kurama's eyes, it appeared as if they had simply teleported.

"What did you do?" the Nine-Tails demanded, astonishment evident in his voice. Even the Fourth Hokage, the man responsible for sealing him away, hadn't been capable of teleportation on such a scale. And yet this youth had done it with seemingly no effort. A flicker of wariness stirred within the great fox as he regarded the young man before him.

"Oh, that? Just a little trick I've picked up," Ryu said, his expression turning serious. "Now, are you willing to hear me out?" Reluctantly, Kurama agreed. "Talk. I won't kill you... for now," he growled, studying Ryu closely. He was no fool, and Ryu's abilities had raised several red flags that he couldn't afford to ignore.

"I think it would be best if you and Naruto reached some sort of understanding," Ryu began. "Your current situation is clearly less than ideal, right? Perhaps the two of you could take turns with the body, or something similar."

"Why should I?" Kurama snarled, his eyes bloodshot. "I've been trapped inside these humans for decades, used as nothing more than a weapon. Why should I cooperate with this brat now that I have his body under my control? Why shouldn't I seek my well-deserved revenge?"

"...You're right that you deserve revenge, but there's a better way to achieve it—one that leads to more satisfying results," Ryu said, pondering the Kyubi's words for a moment.

"Explain!" Kurama demanded, his voice sharp with anger. "I speak from experience when I say that if you destroy this village in the name of revenge, you might feel a brief satisfaction. But ultimately, that feeling won't last, and nothing will have truly changed," Ryu said solemnly.

"Imagine you do go through with it, killing everyone. What then? Other villages will hunt you down, and even if they can't capture you—especially if they don't work together—you'll be constantly hounded. You'll either be caught in an endless cycle of violence or forced to find a secluded place to hide away," Ryu continued.

"Then what do you suggest?" Kurama asked, his tone mocking. "The best revenge is self-improvement. Picture this: instead of annihilating all these people, you become their commander. They would have to obey your every word, and live with the knowledge that the one they oppressed out of fear has risen above them. Rather than the fleeting satisfaction of bloodshed, you would experience lasting contentment. Doesn't that sound better?" Ryu proposed.

Kurama was genuinely taken aback by the idea. He had only intended to buy time to figure out Ryu, but the young man's words held merit. "They won't listen to me or the brat, especially not after this. If anything, we're now even bigger targets," Kurama countered.

"In the shinobi world, power commands respect. If you and Naruto work together, you'd undoubtedly be strong enough to claim the position of Hokage and make everyone forget about these minor incidents. The key is for you and Naruto to be united in this goal. Given what he's just learned, I'm not sure he's entirely on board with this plan. So, why not use this opportunity to get to know him? You have no real reason to hate each other; you've both been mistreated by the same people," Ryu suggested as Kurama considered his words.