Knock, knock, knock...
Early the next morning, Naruto was jolted awake by a series of rapid, impatient knocks at the door.
Yawning and half-asleep, he stumbled out of bed, one hand ruffling his messy hair, the other scratching lazily at his belly as he dragged himself toward the door.
"Oh~ hi~ yo~ Naruto!"
Outside stood Yamanaka Ino, her face lit with a bright, enthusiastic smile. She was bundled in a thick winter coat, holding a large bento box in her arms.
Naruto rubbed his groggy eyes. "How'd you find me?"
For the past few months, they had only met deep within the forest. He had never told Ino where he lived.
"I asked Shikamaru."
Shikamaru shouldn't know either…
Naruto glanced sideways at her. Ino just grinned sheepishly and shoved the bento box into his arms, then barreled inside like she owned the place.
He didn't stop her. Instead, he opened the box for a peek. The top tier was sushi, the second had grilled meats in traditional Japanese style, and the third held two pieces of pan-fried fish with steaming white rice.
Ino darted into the house, her eyes scanning the room.
There was only a bed, a wardrobe, a small dining table, a refrigerator, a bathroom, and a compact kitchen. Simple, but tidy.
Her gaze lingered, and something in her eyes flickered. She opened the wardrobe softly, revealing a few worn, solitary garments.
A sudden wave of loneliness washed over her, sharp and stifling.
She turned toward Naruto, forcing a smile. "Hey, want to go shopping after breakfast?"
"No."
His answer was flat, unbothered.
Ino's smile drooped. "Then… what do you usually do all day?"
"Lie down."
Naruto grabbed a piece of sushi and popped it into his mouth. "Not bad."
But Ino didn't smile at his praise. She was suddenly painfully aware outside that forest, she had no idea how to talk to him.
Looking back, all their conversations had been one-sided. She had simply chattered while he listened in silence.
She didn't know him at all.
Realizing this, she lost her appetite. Her excitement to share her homemade meal began to fade.
Only after Naruto had devoured the entire bento, she quietly gathered the empty box and left, visibly disheartened.
"You're surprisingly popular for such a brat."
In the seal space, Kurama's voice was laced with amusement. "That girl's a lot gentler than your mom. Kushina... it was hard to tell whether she was mad or her Tailed Beast chakra was just flaring."
Naruto glanced at the fox. "You sure it wasn't just your mouth that got you sealed away?"
Kurama's eyes flared. "You humans only ever wanted my power!"
"Our kind, huh…"
Suddenly, a ripple of chakra surged through Naruto's body. Furry fox ears appeared on his head, and nine orange tails swayed lightly behind him. His eyes turned a piercing red with vertical slits, and dark markings formed like shadows under his eyes.
"Hard to say whether I'm still human or not, huh?"
He gently flicked one of his tails, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "Feels pretty real…"
He had always sensed something dormant inside him, but out of caution, he'd never tapped into it.
Now that he had a truce with Kurama, there was no need to keep hiding it at least not here.
"It is real," Kurama replied, eyes narrowed as he studied Naruto's new form. Surprisingly… it suited him.
"Or rather, they're chakra-born organs. Kid, do you know how Tailed Beasts came to be?"
"Nope. How?"
"We're chakra that was given life."
Kurama's ears twitched as he recalled the past. "The Sage of Six Paths used Yin-Yang Release to give us form and soul. That's our origin."
"So… the Sage was your mom?"
"Old man was definitely male. Don't go twisting it why is that the part you focus on?!"
"Haha, sorry, sorry."
Naruto scratched his head. "So… does that mean I'm a Tailed Beast now?"
"No, you're still human."
Kurama snorted and gestured to Naruto's ears and tails. "But those are the same as mine. They're expressions of a new lifeform. They're chakra flesh if you get hurt, they'll hurt too."
Naruto blinked. "So anyone with a Tailed Beast ends up like this?"
That can't be right! The original Jinchūriki forms weren't like this!
"You're an exception."
Kurama shook his head. "Most Jinchūriki only borrow our chakra. Their Tailed Beast traits are just chakra projections, not real flesh."
"But you… you've recreated my power fully. You're not just borrowing it. You've become the true master of this chakra."
"But there's a catch. Tailed Beast chakra is fundamentally different from human chakra. Human bodies are too weak, and their chakra too gentle. Ours is more intense, aggressive, and powerful."
Kurama's eyes grew serious. "That difference comes from our nature we are chakra given life, with bodies far stronger than any human. You, on the other hand, are still flesh and blood. You don't have the means to naturally refine this power."
Naruto understood. "So if I want to use this chakra, I need to become something like a chakra lifeform myself?"
"Exactly. Well… sort of. You're still human, but you've grown these chakra organs."
Kurama grinned, almost smug.
"This shouldn't be possible. Two others once inherited my power, but at most they showed whisker marks. You, though your stolen chakra is nearly equal to mine."
"Your body couldn't handle it, so the excess chakra formed these organs, evolving you partway into something else."
"You're still a human but you could be called half a Tailed Beast now."
Kurama finished with a grunt. "You've stolen my chakra and even taken on my features. Damn brat you're really testing my patience."
Naruto looked at the fox… then at his own tails. "Hmm… family cosplay?"
"Who's your family?!" Kurama exploded, claws raking the walls of the seal. "You little!"
"Then… brothers?"
"RAHHHH!!"
Kurama launched into another rampage. Meanwhile, Naruto fell into thought.
He had inherited Asura's Sage Body and Wood Release, Minato and Kushina's sealing techniques, Rasengan, Flying Thunder God, and a variety of basic and advanced ninja skills like Clone Jutsu, Body Flicker, and Transformation.
But in terms of combat… he had zero real experience. He couldn't even tree walk or walk on water yet.
"…Time to start training."
Naruto looked out the window. Snow blanketed the world in white.
"…Maybe when spring comes."