Starting as a Ninja in the Naruto World

Emiya Shigen's time with the Nine-Tails was brief.

In the ancient era, during one of Shigen's travels through a small village where he healed and saved lives, he encountered a young Nine-Tails. At the time, the juvenile Nine-Tails, curious about humans but too shy to approach, secretly observed him from afar.

Back then, the young Nine-Tails was undeniably adorable.

Though its body was already large, it had a clumsy, childlike demeanor and would often cause small mischief. Intrigued by the reverence people showed Shigen, the young Nine-Tails developed a fascination with him, clumsily attempting to hide its massive form while tailing him.

Shigen, noticing the creature's innocent curiosity, chose not to drive it away. Instead, he spoke to the young Nine-Tails, sharing stories about his journey and the people he helped heal.

The Nine-Tails, captivated by Shigen, insisted on following him.

Like a naïve child eager to help, it even offered to pull Shigen's cart.

For a time, their travels together were joyful. The Nine-Tails, Shigen, and Katsuyu visited many villages, witnessing beautiful landscapes and saving countless lives along the way.

Despite its imposing size, the young Nine-Tails harbored a pure heart. Wanting to deepen their bond, it proposed becoming Shigen's Jinchūriki, offering to seal itself within him. It believed that by sharing its chakra, it could help him even more.

However, Shigen gently declined.

This decision, though made with kindness, marked the beginning of the end of their short-lived friendship.

Shigen's ideals clashed with the world.

Unashamed of his intentions, he openly shared his desire to destroy the Ninshu order and challenge the Sage of Six Paths. The Nine-Tails, caught in a moral dilemma, tried persuading Shigen to abandon his plans.

But when it became clear that Shigen's resolve was unshakable, the Nine-Tails made a heart-wrenching decision. One night, it quietly left.

As one of the Sage's creations, the Nine-Tails felt a deep connection to the Sage's teachings. It couldn't bring itself to assist Shigen in his rebellion, even if it meant parting ways with the only companion who had ever treated it kindly.

The separation was painful.

The Nine-Tails felt immense sorrow upon leaving Shigen, and that sorrow deepened when it later heard of Shigen's fatal clash with the Ninshu. The knowledge of Shigen's death lingered in its heart for years.

Believing that its bond with Shigen proved it could also connect with others, the Nine-Tails sought friendship with humanity.

But the world wasn't as kind as it had hoped.

As the most powerful of the tailed beasts, the Nine-Tails possessed immense chakra and an acute ability to sense human intentions. Unfortunately, this gift often revealed the darker sides of those who sought it.

Humans feared its power yet coveted it, resorting to deception, coercion, and brute force to claim its chakra.

This hypocrisy enraged the Nine-Tails.

Even Shigen, its only friend, never demanded its chakra. Why did these lesser beings believe they had the right?

In its fury, the Nine-Tails killed countless humans who sought to exploit it.

Over time, the beast grew stronger, its body larger and its hatred deeper. Its once-hopeful desire to connect with humanity soured into hostility.

As the years passed, the Nine-Tails became synonymous with destruction. Humanity feared it as the most vicious of the tailed beasts—a reputation it had earned through bloodshed.

"Kurama…"

Standing before the now-ferocious Nine-Tails, Shigen regarded it with a tinge of regret. "You're not nearly as cute as you were back then."

"You!"

The Nine-Tails bared its fangs, snarling in frustration.

Despite its anger, a part of it couldn't ignore the bittersweet nostalgia of seeing Shigen again—the one who had once been its only friend.

Ironically, it was Shigen who had inspired the Nine-Tails' hope for friendship, a hope that led to years of bitter disappointment and resentment toward humanity.

The beast's encounters with humans often ended in violence, and with each conflict, the negative emotions within its chakra—anger, pain, and hatred—only grew stronger.

"Let me go, Shigen!"

The Nine-Tails growled, its sharp gaze flicking between Shigen and Hashirama and Mito behind him. "I'll tear them apart!"

"Kurama," Shigen said calmly, his voice steady as he repeated words the Nine-Tails once spoke to him. "Conflict only brings pain and hatred."

Those were the very words the Nine-Tails had said to Shigen before leaving him all those years ago.

"You…!"

The Nine-Tails choked on its outrage, stunned that its own words from centuries ago had come back to haunt it.

From a distance, the Konoha shinobi watched in disbelief.

Never before had they seen the Nine-Tails interact so civilly with a human.

Even more astonishing was Shigen's identity.

"Emiya Shigen…"

Hashirama murmured, his mind racing as he pieced together the truth.

The man standing before them wasn't just anyone.

Shigen was the same revered figure from his childhood, the one whose body had been preserved in the crystal coffin that Hashirama often snuck off to admire.

Now it all made sense—the sense of familiarity whenever Hashirama saw Shigen's face.

"Is it really him?" Hashirama asked aloud, his voice filled with awe.

"Yes, it's him," Tobirama muttered under his breath, irritated by his brother's slow realization.

"Wait…" Hashirama suddenly turned to Tobirama, suspicion in his eyes. "Didn't I order you to seal away the Edo Tensei technique?!"

Tobirama folded his arms, prepared for his brother's outrage. "Brother, this was necessary," he replied coolly. "But right now, you should be worrying about Madara."

Tobirama shifted his attention to Shigen.

"Emiya-sama," he began, carefully choosing his words. "We will take responsibility for the Nine-Tails. Konoha will ensure it cannot be controlled by Madara's Sharingan again."

Tobirama's suggestion was pragmatic but harsh.

To protect Konoha and the world from further destruction, the Nine-Tails' freedom would have to be sacrificed.

Despite the diplomatic phrasing, Shigen could see through the true intent: Konoha would imprison the Nine-Tails.

Shigen turned to the Nine-Tails, his voice soft.

"What do you think, Kurama? What do you want?"

"I want to kill them!"

The Nine-Tails snarled. "And the next time Madara tries to summon me, I'll kill him too!"

Shigen rubbed his temples.

"How bold of you," he muttered. "Weren't you just mind-controlled a moment ago?"

Mito stepped forward, her tone cautious but firm.

"Emiya-sama," she said, "Konoha plans to seal the Nine-Tails within me to prevent future threats. I… understand this is not ideal, but—"

"Wait," the Nine-Tails interrupted, narrowing its eyes. "You think you deserve to be my Jinchūriki?"

Shigen sighed, stepping between Mito and the Nine-Tails.

"Kurama," he said, his tone both stern and compassionate. "You don't have to make this choice now.

"But remember, you deserve a companion who truly understands you—a friend who will stand beside you. Go find that person."