What Event Made Kurama Anime Naruto Lose Hostile Tendencies?

One thing that always grabbed me about 'Naruto' is how Kurama’s hostility isn't flipped off by a single speech or plot device — it melts away because Naruto refuses to treat him like a monster. Kurama (the Nine-Tails) had been burned by humans for generations: used as a weapon, sealed, feared, and hated. That backstory is key to understanding why his anger runs so deep. The shift in Kurama’s attitude happens through a chain of emotional moments rather than one neat event, but if I had to point to the turning point, it’s Naruto’s consistent empathy and the conversations they have during the Fourth Great Ninja War that finally break Kurama’s hatred.

Early on, Kurama is pure suspicion and contempt. He’s been betrayed and shackled, so he expects manipulation. Naruto initially treats Kurama like an enemy — he tries to control, contain, and take power when he needs it. But Naruto’s whole arc in 'Naruto' and 'Naruto Shippuden' is about breaking cycles of hatred, and that idea plays out directly with Kurama. A few important beats help soften Kurama: Naruto learning Kurama’s history through Kushina and Minato’s memories, Naruto repeatedly refusing to use Kurama as a mere weapon, and Naruto’s willingness to enter Kurama’s mental space and actually listen. Those quieter, character-focused scenes humanize both sides and lay the groundwork for trust.

The emotional climax comes during the war. Naruto doesn’t just demand Kurama’s chakra — he speaks to him, shows restraint, and refuses to become the same kind of person who would hurt others to force an outcome. There’s a powerful exchange where Naruto confronts the pain Kurama carries and refuses to mirror it with hatred. At that point Kurama starts to question his assumptions about humans because Naruto’s behavior is so steady and sincere. Then, when the stakes explode (fighting Obito, Madara, and the Ten-Tails), Kurama chooses to cooperate and lend his chakra willingly. That cooperation isn’t a tactical decision alone — it’s a meaningful hand extended by two characters who have finally acknowledged each other’s suffering. Kurama goes from being a resentful, used force to an ally who respects Naruto’s choices.

What hooks me is that this is exactly the kind of slow-burn reconciliation I love in stories: it respects both characters’ history and lets trust grow organically. Naruto didn’t flip a switch; he kept acting in ways that proved he wasn’t the enemy Kurama expected. By the time they’re fighting side-by-side and Kurama openly supports Naruto, it feels earned and heartfelt. It’s a great example of how empathy — and persistence — can turn even the deepest rage into something like friendship. Honestly, that transformation is one of the moments in 'Naruto' that still gives me goosebumps every time I rewatch it.