BOOM.
The ground shook. Trees splintered and crashed. An enormous orange fox materialized on the back mountain, nine massive tails swaying like flags in a storm.
The Nine-Tails had arrived.
"Naruto!" The fox's voice boomed across the forest. "Why did you make me wait an entire night?! Do you have any idea how uncomfortable that was?!"
Then it looked around—actually saw the open sky, felt wind on its fur, smelled the forest—and all anger evaporated.
"I'M OUT!" It bounced like an oversized puppy, all nine tails wagging. "I'M ACTUALLY OUT!"
Each landing cratered the ground. More trees toppled.
Naruto wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead. Thank god I released it here and not at home. My apartment would be kindling right now.
The Nine-Tails froze mid-bounce. Something metal was clamped around its front paw. It lifted the appendage, squinting at the object.
"What is this?" The fox shook its paw, and the boar trap flew off, sailing through the air.
Its head tilted, ears swiveling. "Hmm. I sense two small creatures. Hiding in a tree about three hundred meters away. Want me to catch them?"
Naruto's curiosity piqued. "Sure."
Three hundred meters away, two ANBU operatives stood frozen on their branch.
The Nine-Tails. The demon that had nearly destroyed Konoha seven years ago. The creature that killed the Fourth Hokage.
It was free.
Hawk's hands trembled. His breath came shallow and fast behind his mask. He'd been there that night. He'd watched friends die. He'd seen the Fourth Hokage make the ultimate sacrifice to seal this monster away.
And now it was loose again.
"I'm reporting to Lord Third." Wolf jumped from the branch.
A boar trap fell from the sky.
CLANG.
It struck Wolf directly on the head. He swayed, seeing stars.
"Oh no." Hawk's voice came out strangled. "It knows we're here."
Red chakra erupted from the Nine-Tails like living flame. It solidified into ropes, whipping through the forest faster than kunai.
Hawk tried to move. His body wouldn't respond. Fear had turned his muscles to stone.
The chakra ropes wrapped around both ANBU operatives and yanked them through the air. They tumbled through branches, crashed through leaves, and landed in a heap at Naruto's feet.
Wolf looked up at the seven-year-old boy and the mountain-sized demon fox looming behind him.
He raised one trembling hand. "Hi, Naruto!"
Naruto studied them. The forehead protectors marked them as Konoha ninja. "Were you two trying to steal birds' eggs from that tree?"
Wolf's mind raced for an excuse. "Yes! Exactly! Bird watching. Very educational."
"There are no birds in that tree," the Nine-Tails rumbled. "They're lying to you."
"There were two! Two birds! Very rare species!" Wolf's voice pitched higher with each word.
"Oh." Naruto's gaze settled on him.
Just one look. One casual glance.
But something in that gaze pressed against Wolf's chest like a physical weight. Instinct screamed at him to tell the truth, confess everything, explain himself to this authority that shouldn't exist in a seven-year-old child.
Cold sweat soaked through his undershirt.
How am I being intimidated by a kid?
He didn't understand. Couldn't understand. The elemental tempering had fundamentally altered Naruto, given his presence a weight it shouldn't possess at his age. Natural authority that demanded honesty.
"Naruto." The Nine-Tails licked its chops with a tongue the size of a person. "I'm hungry. Can I eat them?"
"DON'T EAT ME!" Wolf's composure shattered completely. "I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! Lord Third sent us to protect you! We've been watching you for years!"
Naruto went very still.
Lord Third. Grandpa Third. The kind old man who helped apply medicine. Who gave him a backpack for school. Who told him to study hard.
He'd sent people to watch over Naruto all this time.
Someone cared. Someone actually cared.
Heat prickled behind Naruto's eyes. His throat tightened. He turned away quickly before the ANBU could see his expression.
"Nine-Tails, can you make them forget they saw us? Saw you, I mean?"
"I can try."
Red chakra washed over both operatives. Their eyes glazed, then cleared. Confusion replaced fear.
Moments later, they hung from branches again, scratching their heads and wondering why they'd lost the last ten minutes of memory.
"Naruto." The Nine-Tails' voice dropped to something almost gentle. "I don't think they're protecting you. They're watching you. Monitoring the container."
Naruto looked toward the distant village, expression unreadable. "I know. Why would anyone protect a civilian kid? But whether it's protection or surveillance, it means someone's paying attention. Someone cares enough to assign people to watch."
The Nine-Tails blinked its massive eyes. "Your head works better than expected."
"By the way." Naruto turned back to the fox. "Did you just threaten to eat people? You don't actually eat people, do you?"
"Eat—ahem!" The Nine-Tails coughed violently. "Of course not! People taste terrible. Too stringy. Hard to chew. Not remotely appetizing."
It definitely hadn't been about to brag about past meals. Definitely not. The cold look in Naruto's eyes encouraged complete honesty on the subject.
Not that I'm afraid of him, the Nine-Tails thought quickly. Just... cautious of whoever's backing him. That hand that shattered the seal like paper...
The memory made its tails shiver.
"You're too conspicuous like this." Naruto gestured at the mountain-sized fox. "Make yourself smaller."
POOF.
Smoke and chakra swirled. When it cleared, a fox the size of a house cat sat on the ground, all nine tails perfectly scaled down.
Naruto scooped it up and rubbed his chin against the soft fur.
So comfortable.
The Nine-Tails' eye twitched. Its fur stood on end. (〃>_<;〃)
I'm only tolerating this because of that mysterious strong person behind him. Only that reason. No other.
Nine fluffy tails swept across Naruto's face, tickling his nose. He sneezed and laughed.
After a moment of petting, Naruto set the fox down. "Hide eight of the tails. Keep just one visible."
Another transformation. Eight tails vanished, leaving only one orange tail swishing behind the small fox's body.
Naruto stared at the tail. His hand reached out. Lifted it gently.
"Hey!" The Nine-Tails jumped backward, all fur bristling. "Human brat! Too far!"
Naruto's face flushed red. "I was just... wondering what gender you are?"
"THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"
"Sorry! Sorry!" Naruto held up both hands in surrender.
An awkward silence stretched between them.
Then Naruto lowered himself to one knee, bringing his eyes level with the miniature fox. He extended his hand, palm up, expression solemn.