Grinding Perfection (3)

"J- Just what do you want?" Kushina floats around Kyubi's head. The beast, however, pays the girl no attention.

There are two situations when it comes to Kushina's seal. First is this one where Kyubi cannot even touch her and all the malice of its chakra is broken into actual chakra and absorbed by the seal, making its presence, not the least bit threatening.

But the conditions of coming to terms with Kyubi meant somehow getting through it and that would be by giving it a fighting chance. This meant that Kushina would have to loosen the seal and the moment she does this, Kyubi would corrupt her chakra. Now, if it was before, this would be a slow process. But given the fact that Kyubi was essentially a 'battery' in this seal and her chakra wasn't being used to suppress it, Kushina would most definitely enter the four or even five-tailed state of madness.

This isn't that concerning. Kushina cannot even feel pain because her consciousness would be limited here and Kai would easily subdue her and heal her by the time she gets back with only physical exhaustion being an actual limiting factor.

The entirety of the situation devolved into a stalemate. Kyubi wouldn't respond to her at all when all its chakra gets absorbed... and when they do release it a bit, they aren't in a position of negotiating and Kushina just cannot 'fight' with Kyubi using her actual chakra consciousness, and would instead use a mere flicker of her mind to appear near the beast.

Again, her question falls on deaf ears and this annoys Kushina more than she would like to admit, "You know what! I'm happy Grandma Mito tore you in half!"

This makes the beast's fur wave with a hint of chakra leaking through it.

"I did not ask to be your damn jinchuriki but would it be so bad if we could work together, 'tebane?!"

The beast still keeps its eyes shut and 'sleeps' through the screams.

"I... There MUST be something I could do, right? Something that could make you not hate me... and try and work with me..."

"Hmm..." its disturbingly gravelly and deep feminine growl filled the giant loop of a seal, "You could die. That would set me free."

Kushina thins her lips, "Why would I want to die?!"

But she gets no response in return, infuriating her even more!

There is a third situation that Kushina hadn't tried, of course. Kai made it very clear that she wasn't ready for it but the tomato threw caution to the wind and the beast instantly notes the change in her being.

It opens its wide and large eyes as Kushina's form settles in front of it. Actual form. Instead of just a ghost of her true self, Kushina could now wield chakra which made her more than just a specter of yin and... which meant that Kyubi could harm her entire being by attacking her chakra form!

"What do you think you're doing?" It slowly stands instead of attacking instantly.

"Without being able to use my chakra, and only comprising of yang chakra you cannot form those damn bijudama!" Kushina grins cheekily, "I'm tired of trying to talk, dattebane! There may be a world where you and I can chat about Ramen but you made me do—"

Her voice freezes in her throat as Kyubi tosses its head up and begins to collect a large mass of a purplish ball of devastating chakra...

A Bijudama...

---

"So... you forgot that like us... Tailed beasts are also capable of nature transformation?" Kai questions 'calmly' while trying not to laugh at the face of such a rookie mistake!

Kushina blushes furiously. She was, of course, already patched up, not knowing that each use of Mystical Sage Palms would boost her immunity and wee-bit of already astonishing strength.

"Well, the good thing is, in this situation, you don't instantly transition to four-tails mode so maybe I was wrong to assume that this is not the way to go," He leans forward and pecks her forehead, "We're gonna fuck it up... ehm, and Kyubi... if you can listen, well, of course, you can, I'm seriously gonna blow Kushina's mind when we do it. I mean WAY harder than Hashirama ever could have done Mito or vice versa... so... how about you just submit—"

His rather terrifying threat instead makes Kushina's eyes widen and she hisses, "Hey! Don't make me remember that it can watch us!"

"What's the big idea?" Kai pouts, "I keep on spanking you... how would doing you be any different?"

Truer words have never been uttered!

---

Kai spent his days training Kushina as his clones continued to grind more and more sage arts. By now, his clones could collectively complete three sage art variants each week and this just fell into a disciplined routine. Kai didn't try to overachieve by forming more and more clones. He would rather keep a hefty sum of his chakra reserves saved for anything serious.

Even if Kushina's situation was getting somewhat better, two things were key to her problem.

First, she now realized she needed to learn Kyubi's pattern of attacks so she doesn't have to use pure brawns to suppress it... and second, she needed a way to... well... make friends with the beast. Really, it's a head-scratcher of a contradiction when Kyubi is so callous and hateful against them.

For the former, Kai began to use his clones and at times, Tsunade, to cover for Kushina and himself to delve into the seal with Kushina, and observe the attack patterns and general nature of Kyubi's movements to help Kushina form strategies.

And this DID help, somewhat. Kushina could, at times, interrupt Kyubi from performing a Bijudama by forming adamantine chains that spread its limbs in an instant. She would use wind-style attacks to form large and heavy bursts of gust that would lower the momentum of its tail and evade. Heck, Kushina even used Tsunade's signature jutsu, [Chakra Enhanced Impacts] that sent gut-wrenching pain wherever she managed to strike but...

Kyubi simply did not give in.

When it wasn't under attack, it was stoic. When it was under attack, it became a rabid beast that would not listen to reason. This annoyed Kushina to no end... but Kai only looked forward to the eventual defeat of Kyubi.

At this point, Kai did not even care about the benefits and the things he may learn from Kyubi. He just worked to defeat the guy... and this kind of dedication both scared Kushina and somewhat... sent her into a 'cultured' daze since she did chance upon the noises from the different bedrooms at times... when Mikoto and Kai would only return to sleep with her in the morning...

But many other things occurred during the coming month.

For instance, Orochimaru and Tsunade shifted their focus from Fukushu to Cerberus since the dog whose entire body was covered with heads was easy to tackle. After all, the former was more of a mystery of chakra while the latter was a mystery of biology... something both the women excelled in.

He himself had yet to make any noteworthy achievement in that project but the duo was taking it relatively easy. After all, Hiruzen didn't demand results immediately and as researchers worth their salt, the duo planned to inform of any bare results ONLY when they had to show for their work. Despite their moral differences... the two weren't that different.

And Orochimaru was informed during this week once Tsunade reached the limits of her patience that both she and Kai were busy with their individual 'goals'... and, the lack of pestering on the Snake's part would result in her getting Kai finally helping her complete the seal she desired.

This promptly stopped Orochimaru from making any advances to poke at them but Tsunade and Kai knew that this was only temporary. You don't just become a woman and NOT have issues to deal with. Bimborochi was clearly more curious than she ever let on... as evident in her dreams and aspirations. But... she could ease the 'aching' need to know many concepts and... sensations... by focusing on Mitsuki and raising him like the functionally sociopathic mommy she was turning into.

---

"You will fail... again," Kyubi's voice fills the void as Kushina stands in front of it in silent defiance once again. While she thought Kai didn't know of her over time as she would try to cut her sleep by entering this space even at night, the Tomato remained unaware that Kai knew of her efforts and silently applauded them. He did. Stuff like hard work and determination in any scenario won Kai's admiration even if it meant for an enemy he is about to slay.

Kushina just frowns and stares at Kyubi stubbornly.

It isn't long until she speaks, "If I die... will you be really happy?"

"I shall be free—"

"ARE YOU?!" For the first time, Kushina screams with a hint of dignity instead of immaturity, "Why do you just keep on blabbering about freedom when we both know you're weaker than before AND will get caught again! To become another's beast!"

This... makes Kyubi opens its eyes for once. It never did open its eyes when Kushina is just in her yin specter form but she manages to rouse its attention nonetheless.

"What does a brat like you know of freedom? The sensation of wind against my fur... the sensation of prey filling the gaps of my teeth, the sensation of... being in a place of no captivity. I'm robbed of it ALL!" Its last words come with a feral roar that formed dangerous waves of shock while Kushina bites her bottom lips.

"What use is hating me for it?" She questions in another odd moment of maturity. To be exact, she IS mature. Just because she loved getting spoiled did not erase the fact that she has killed someone to graduate. That she has killed and killed and killed! That she has seen her clan's works being used for the worst that the humans can achieve...

"What?"

"Why do you hate me?" Kushina demands with her nostrils flaring. It's right to say that she did not fear Kyubi at this point. It could kill her, yes, but its fear has been removed from her heart!

"Why would I not—"

"Then give me a fucking reason!" Kushina snaps, "Why do you hate me?!"

The ninetails grow silent while staring at the girl with its cruel and vicious red orbs.

"I hate you," it declares, "All humans are the same. You thirst for my strength. You've imprisoned me for it and now you think you can talk your way into getting what you want?"

Kushina suddenly puckers her lips and sighs. Her shoulder drops down ever so slightly and tears begin to prick at the corner of her eyes, "You furry bastard... I don't want your strength one bit!" she whispers... her tone somewhat shaky as Kyubi hears the sound of a droplet of water dripping onto the expansive pool of water present in this world.

Kushina's form begins to turn wavy as if she is about to disconnect from this world but is still hesitant and she adds, "I... just cannot leave. Like you. Not without results. I guess I should start hating YOU for that and be unreasonable, too..."

She disappears while Kyubi remains rooted where it stood.

Its gaze, for a moment, reveals a hint of complicated emotion but wiping it away soon after, it settles down indifferently and closes its eyes. Alone.

Yet, annoyingly so, it, like Kushina, feels more comforted in this loneliness when the being around its host tightens his hug and pulls Kushina close to his chest, letting her cry silently against him...

Kyubi's ears would twitch somewhat as the echoes of the tearful cries filled its senses. It could cut them off... but it didn't.

***

Alternate Title: Unreasonable Hatred

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A/N: I hope I didn't make Kurama too corny but just wanted to try and reveal how lonely the poor soul is.

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Shoutout to Lictor Magnus and Mursel Kenan!!

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