The weight of Sasuke's words hung in the air, a tangible presence that shifted the very atmosphere between them. Naruto's eyes, usually bright and brimming with an almost reckless optimism, were clouded with a deep, unsettling sadness. The revelations about the Tailed Beasts, about the centuries of hatred and pain inflicted upon Kurama, had struck a chord within him, a resonance with his own lonely existence.
"Sasuke…" Naruto began, his voice barely a whisper, "Is… is it really true?"
Sasuke, his expression a mixture of resolve and a quiet empathy, reached out and placed a hand on Naruto's stomach, directly over the seal that contained Kurama. A faint pulse of chakra rippled beneath his palm, a silent acknowledgment of the volatile power contained within.
"There's only one way for you to be certain," Sasuke said, his voice low and steady. "We'll ask him ourselves."
With a surge of chakra, Sasuke activated a mental link, a temporary bridge between their consciousnesses. The world around them dissolved, replaced by the familiar, oppressive darkness of Naruto's subconscious. The cavernous space loomed, the air thick with a primal energy that crackled and hissed.
Before them, the familiar scene unfolded: the towering, red cage, its bars glowing with an ominous light. And within, the colossal form of Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox. But unlike the times Naruto had seen him, Kurama's eyes were open, a slit of crimson light piercing the gloom.
Naruto's eyes widened, a mixture of shock and apprehension. "Sasuke… how did you…?"
"That's not important," Sasuke interrupted, his gaze fixed on Kurama. "What is important is that we get answers."
Naruto turned to Kurama, his expression a blend of sorrow and tentative hope. "Fox… is what Sasuke said true? About you being sealed here, for… for so long? Is that why you hate humans?"
Kurama remained silent for a moment, his gaze shifting from Naruto to Sasuke, a flicker of something akin to curiosity in his eyes.
"Uchiha brat," Kurama rumbled, his voice a low, guttural growl that echoed through the cavern. "How do you know so much? And know this, more than any other humans, I despise the Uchiha."
"I understand your reasons," Sasuke replied, his voice calm. "But you're directing your hatred at the wrong people. And besides, there are only three of us left anyway, including myself."
Kurama let out a harsh, humorless laugh. "And I would relish the day I see all three of you extinguished."
Naruto, his heart aching at the raw, unbridled hatred in Kurama's voice, stepped forward. "So it's really true…"
Kurama's gaze shifted to Naruto, his eyes narrowing. "I don't need your pity, brat. Stop looking at me with those pathetic eyes."
"Naruto," Sasuke asked, his voice firm. "What do you intend to do now? Do you still see him as a demon?"
Naruto, his expression resolute, moved closer to the cage, his fingers brushing against the cold, glowing bars. "I… I understand what it's like to be alone," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "To be hated, to be feared… to have everyone turn their backs on you. You've been alone for so long, trapped here, hated by everyone… just like me."
He looked up at Kurama, his eyes filled with a desperate plea. "But you don't have to be alone anymore. I… I want to understand you. I want to know why you're so angry, why you hate us so much. I want… I want to be your friend."
Kurama's eyes flickered, a momentary softening in their crimson depths, but his face remained impassive. "I don't need the pity of a sniveling brat."
"But I don't want to pity you," Naruto insisted, his voice filled with a raw sincerity. "I want to be your friend. I want to understand you."
Kurama remained silent, his gaze fixed on Naruto. Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he closed his eyes, turning his back on them.
Naruto, understanding that Kurama had no intention of continuing the conversation, sighed. "I… I understand. But I won't give up. One day, we'll be friends."
With a final glance at the sleeping form of Kurama, Sasuke and Naruto returned to the training grounds, the oppressive darkness of the subconscious fading into the familiar light of the setting sun.
"So," Sasuke said, his voice thoughtful. "You really want to be friends with him?"
Naruto nodded, his expression resolute. "Yes. I definitely will."
Sasuke smiled, a quiet satisfaction settling within him. 'This will work,' he thought. 'With Naruto's… unique talents, Kurama will eventually come around. And then, Naruto will have access to his chakra. At will.'
Deep within Naruto's subconscious, Kurama's eyes flickered open, a flicker of unease in their crimson depths. 'That brat… wants to be my friend?' he thought, a low growl rumbling in his throat. 'Will he still have same thoughts when he realise… that I'm the reason he's an orphan? That I killed his parents?'
The thought lingered, a dark, unspoken truth that hung heavy in the air.