Chapter One
In an unknown and otherworldly space, the land was devastated and scarred—evidence of an intense battle that had just taken place.
Buzz—
A thread of chakra, red as blood, dissipated from the body of a blond man wearing the Hokage's cloak. This man was Naruto Uzumaki, the Seventh Hokage of Konohagakure. His consciousness was now immersed in his spiritual space.
In that familiar yet hazy realm, Naruto's eyes suddenly snapped open as he sat up abruptly.
"I'm here, Naruto."
A calm voice came from behind him.
"Kurama."
Naruto immediately felt a sense of relief. Turning his head, he saw the ever-lazy Kurama lying there, as usual.
"Oh... so I've already..."
Seeing Kurama so calm, Naruto assumed they had both died. Apologetic words were already on the tip of his tongue.
Even though he knew tailed beasts like Kurama don't truly die, expending all of one's life force in such a manner meant it would likely take a long time to come back.
Still, Naruto himself appeared remarkably calm. As Hokage, he had prepared for this moment since childhood. To protect his village and the loved ones within it, he was willing to face death without fear.
To stand against the overwhelmingly powerful Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, Naruto had no choice but to activate the Baryon Mode, which burned away both his and Kurama's life force.
"I'm here to say goodbye to you. At least, let's call it that."
Kurama met Naruto's gaze and continued, "This will probably be the last time we speak. Say whatever you need to now."
"Yeah… my parents were killed by you... No, that's not it…"
Hearing Kurama's words and realizing it would revive eventually, Naruto was somewhat comforted. Still, this would be his last time seeing Kurama, and despite expecting this farewell, he struggled to find the right words, muttering nonsense.
Scenes from the past flashed before his eyes—how he went from being a lonely child scorned by the village to becoming the Seventh Hokage, respected by both villagers and the entire shinobi world. Looking back, he had met so many people who deeply impacted his life.
But the only one who had witnessed all of it was Kurama.
Thinking of this, Naruto's heart suddenly cleared. The weight on his chest lifted, replaced by a serene smile.
"In the end, despite everything we've been through, I'm really glad you were with me."
"Thank you."
Kurama's tone suddenly turned irritated. "That's it? That's all you've got to say?"
Naruto scratched his head. "I had already prepared to die, so suddenly having to say goodbye—I honestly don't know what to say."
Kurama replied lazily, "Baryon Mode worked as planned. It caught Ōtsutsuki completely off guard. Still, I wouldn't waste my life on a meaningless death. So, all things considered, this isn't the worst outcome."
"Yeah…" Naruto said with concern, "But I still have so many worries—Boruto, Kawaki, and the future of the village…"
"Hmph. That has nothing to do with me," Kurama snorted, closing its eyes. "You'll have to handle it all on your own now."
Naruto was stunned.
Kurama opened one eye, staring at Naruto's confused face with a hint of pride. "Normally, when a tailed beast is extracted, the jinchūriki dies. But that won't happen this time. Only my chakra will disappear."
"Your outward appearance might look like you're dead, but you're just in a temporary state of shock. You'll wake up soon."
"Wait—what are you saying?" Naruto couldn't immediately process what Kurama meant.
Staring at Naruto's bewildered face, Kurama thought, This kid is as slow as ever.
But that's exactly why Naruto would choose to use Baryon Mode.
"The cost of Baryon Mode… is my life, not yours."
As it watched Naruto's expression shift to shock, Kurama grinned triumphantly. "For the record, I never lied to you. I never said you would die."
"Kurama… in a situation like this, how can you still…" Naruto's voice trembled as he stared at the smiling fox.
"If I had told you from the beginning that it would cost my life, you would have hesitated," Kurama said softly. "You might've even opposed me, though you knew there was no other choice."
"You've always been such a pain. Am I wrong?"
Kurama said with a sigh. At this moment, white mist began rising from its enormous body.
"Kurama…" Naruto's expression suddenly turned like a guilty child's. Now, finally understanding what had happened, he looked utterly helpless—an emotion he hadn't shown in many years, ever since becoming a powerful shinobi.
"Don't look at me like that. That kind of gaze is annoying," Kurama muttered.
But it couldn't look Naruto in the eyes anymore, choosing instead to speak to the air: "Anyway… It's done. I have to go now. Be careful… You no longer have the power you once did."
"If you act recklessly, it won't be long before you follow my path."
"In any case… take care, Naruto."
Kurama could feel its body quickly disappearing. In Naruto's eyes, its enormous form was dissolving like smoke.
Naruto tried to reach out and grab it, but his palm only touched a fleeting mist.
In his azure eyes, the last traces of Kurama's form flickered like smoke.
"Wait…"
"Don't go!"
"No!"
"Kurama!"
"… What a pain. I don't even know how to say goodbye to you," Kurama thought as his consciousness faded.
"How embarrassing."
He couldn't help but mock himself. After spending so long with that kid, he'd unknowingly become a softy.
And yet… he didn't regret it.
"If possible… I really wouldn't have minded staying with you forever."
Darkness followed.
Who knows how much time passed, but slowly, Kurama felt himself regaining consciousness.
Had he been revived?
No...
"Yo, never thought I'd see you here one day."
"Nine-Tails."
Kurama heard a very familiar voice. As he opened his eyes, a strange world unfolded before him—bright and eternal, never touched by night.
Before him were several figures. One of them, a young man with white hair and facial markings, smiled warmly at him.
"Old man…" Kurama's gaze settled on the hovering figure of the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.
Then his eyes flicked to the white-haired youth.
"Jiraiya."
Jiraiya was in his prime appearance—the same as when Kurama had seen him during the era of the previous jinchūriki.
As Kurama suspected, after using Baryon Mode, he truly had died.
This place was the afterlife.
The Pure Land of Bliss.
"You too, huh…"
The Sage of Six Paths looked at Kurama, his elderly face trembling slightly. Though long dead, his immense power allowed him to perceive everything happening in the ninja world, including the Ōtsutsuki clan's current affairs.
"Don't worry, the trouble's been handled… more or less," Kurama said.
Beside Jiraiya stood a handsome blond man and a red-haired woman—Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.
Kurama's gaze lingered on Minato's arms, which had been destroyed by Obito's Truth-Seeking Orbs during the Fourth Great Ninja War. In the Pure Land, however, they had been restored.
Minato frowned slightly. "Kurama… what happened to you!?"
Though unaware of the events in the living world, seeing Kurama arrive in the Pure Land without Naruto gave Minato a bad feeling.
Kurama sighed. "You're dead already, and still worrying. Aren't you tired?"
Nonetheless, he explained what had happened in the ninja world since the Fourth Great War—but conveniently left out the details about Baryon Mode and how he died. He knew Minato and Kushina would try to thank him, and Kurama couldn't stand that.
Still, Minato, ever perceptive, caught on.
"Kurama, thank you. I never expected…"
Kushina was deeply moved and a little incredulous. She had never imagined that the beast once sealed within her and Minato would one day sacrifice itself for Naruto.
"…Such a pain," Kurama muttered.
Then his massive body began to shrink, turning into a red ball of light that shot into the distance, disappearing from view.
Like Jiraiya and Minato, this afterlife world didn't consist of physical bodies. It was made of some kind of energy, allowing everyone to freely change form.
Watching Kurama disappear, Kushina gave Minato a sideways glance. Minato met her gaze and shrugged helplessly.
In this world after death, time seemed meaningless. Light and darkness merged. There were no boundaries.
Kurama eventually discovered that even what each person saw in the Pure Land could be different.
He took on Naruto's adult form—it made things easier—and in this endless journey, he met many familiar faces.
Of course, Kurama only paid attention to those who had mattered in Naruto's growth, despite how meaningless they were to him now.
Zabuza Momochi and the boy Haku roamed this world like wanderers.
The Hyūga clan, still as rigid as ever, gathered together—but one person stood apart, unwilling to be bound again.
Neji Hyūga. Had it not been for him during the Fourth Great War, Naruto might've died.
And then there was the ever-detestable Obito Uchiha, still in his youth, together with a girl. Kurama quickly looked away.
Nearby, several chakras Kurama disliked lingered—Hashirama Senju, Mito Uzumaki, and… Madara Uchiha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and others were also nearby.
One day, Kurama encountered Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko. As he turned to leave, he saw the younger Jiraiya behind him again.
Jiraiya stroked his chin and said, "You're kind of like me now. Got that manly vibe."
Kurama ignored him.
Jiraiya, unfazed, slung an arm around his neck and grinned, "Aren't you bored wandering alone? Wanna tag along?"
"Not interested," Kurama replied coldly.
Time passed—who knows how long? Kurama and Jiraiya began traveling through the Pure Land together. From Kurama, Jiraiya learned many details about Naruto and Tsunade.
"Hahaha! That brat always brought sake to visit me? Man, it's been ages since I had a drink."
Jiraiya laughed heartily, pleased that Naruto had become the Seventh Hokage.
"So Boruto's as stubborn as Naruto, huh? That's gonna be tough."
"With Hinata's gentle personality, she probably can't handle that brat either."
"Tsunade's still gambling? Classic her…"
"And Orochimaru being supervised by the village? That's… unexpected."
"Thanks," Jiraiya said, resting his hands behind his head, glancing at Kurama. Though unspoken, he knew Kurama had helped Naruto overcome countless hardships, at the cost of his own life.
"If Kushina finds out, she'll be emotional."
Sure enough, when they met the Namikaze couple again, Kushina was visibly worried, while Minato nodded slightly at the Naruto-like Kurama.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, red chakra surged from Kurama's body. A rift cracked open above them, exuding a powerful force that began pulling Kurama upward.
"What the—!?"
Jiraiya, Minato, and Kushina stared in shock. From that rift, they sensed a very familiar chakra—
"Naruto!?"
Kurama's eyes widened. "And Ōtsutsuki chakra… It's Boruto."
Though he wasn't sure what was happening, the chakra signatures suggested Naruto and Boruto were summoning him back to the world of the living.
Tailed beasts never truly die, but their revival takes time. Baryon Mode had extended that time even further.
Kurama had assumed he'd only see Naruto again when the boy eventually died—but now, it seemed that wouldn't be necessary.
A proud smile tugged at the corner of Kurama's mouth. Even his usually calm crimson eyes sparkled with anticipation.
But just as he was about to leave the Pure Land, Jiraiya's body suddenly turned translucent—his spirit separating and rising.
"This is… Edo Tensei?"
Minato and Kushina's faces changed drastically. They had learned from Kurama that Edo Tensei was now a forbidden jutsu.
As Jiraiya's soul rose, Kurama's mind raced.
If it were Konoha or allies in the ninja world, they would never use Edo Tensei.
Which meant…
Only Naruto's enemies would.
Though their motive was unclear, it clearly wouldn't benefit Naruto or Konoha.
Kurama instantly extended a claw. Crimson chakra enveloped Jiraiya's soul.
Boom!
Powerful chakra resisted the force of the summoning jutsu. Kurama and Jiraiya, now at the rift's edge, struggled against it. The rift trembled violently.
In the next instant, they were both swallowed by the massive tear, vanishing from the Pure Land under Minato and Kushina's watch.
(Feels kind of familiar, right? But with a twist. The dragon returns to the sea, and Jiraiya returns too. I shamelessly tagged along.)
(End of Chapter)