Sigh…
Namikaze Kaoru turned back with a faintly melancholic look, glancing once more toward the boy's residence.
She didn't understand why that special boy always treated her so coldly…
Had she done something to upset him?
At ten years old, Kaoru wasn't the sort to overthink things, nor would she assume malice in others. In the end, she could only conclude that the boy she found so pleasing to look at simply… didn't like her.
However, when she returned home, she was startled to find someone already sitting in her modest living room.
"H-Hokage-sama?!"
Kaoru stared in shock at the man before her.
Why would the Hokage—someone so high above everyone else—be in her home?
Shouldn't the Hokage be incredibly busy?
"Yes… Kaoru, was it?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled kindly and beckoned her closer.
Kaoru obediently walked over.
"Why are you here, Hokage-sama?"
The blonde girl looked at him with open confusion.
"Kaoru, I've been paying attention to you for quite some time."
Hiruzen gently patted her head as he spoke.
That only made her more confused.
Paying attention… to her?
Why?
She was just an ordinary Ninja Academy student.
Was it because of Jiraiya-sensei?
"Kaoru," Hiruzen said with a smile, "you like Kyūsei, don't you?"
The bluntness of the question made Kaoru's face instantly flush red.
She wasn't even sure whether what she felt counted as liking. She just knew that no matter how she looked at that boy, he seemed pleasing to her eyes.
Even if he never paid her any attention.
Seeing her reaction, Hiruzen more or less had his answer.
This girl's background was spotless. She was Jiraiya's disciple—by seniority, that made her his own grand-disciple.
Given Jiraiya's habit of shouting about prophecies and chosen children, this girl was undoubtedly someone he viewed as fundamentally good and upright.
Hiruzen trusted Jiraiya's judgment.
"Do you know why Kyūsei is staying in Konoha?" Hiruzen asked.
"Because… his family died…"
Kaoru answered hesitantly. It was something everyone knew—Kyūsei had announced it openly on his first day at the academy.
Still, speaking about someone's deceased family behind their back made her feel guilty.
"Yes. Kyūsei's homeland was the Land of Whirlpools, a nation that shared a brotherly bond with the Land of Fire."
"But four years ago, the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed by a coalition of other countries. At that time, Konoha was deeply entangled in the fiercest phase of the Second Shinobi World War. We simply didn't have the strength to help."
Hiruzen calmly recounted a piece of history Kaoru had never known.
"And so, Kyūsei came to Konoha."
"He is a member of the Uzumaki clan—born with exceptionally powerful sealing abilities."
There was a trace of sorrow in Hiruzen's voice.
"Then what happened after that?" Kaoru asked, curiosity overtaking her hesitation.
"What comes next is an S-rank secret of the village," Hiruzen said solemnly. "Kaoru, can you promise me you won't tell anyone?"
His expression hardened sharply.
"Ah… um…"
Kaoru hesitated, torn.
"If it's that important… then maybe you shouldn't tell me, Hokage-sama…"
She was curious about Kyūsei's past—but she was also afraid she might let something slip by accident.
"Heh. Just like Jiraiya said—a good child."
Hiruzen looked at her approvingly.
"It's fine. As long as you're careful."
Ignoring her conflicted expression, he continued.
"Kyūsei carries the blood of the Uzumaki clan. They are born masters of sealing techniques."
"One of the main reasons the Five Great Villages are called 'great' is because each possesses a living weapon known as a tailed beast."
"And Konoha…"
"…possesses the strongest one of all—the Nine-Tails."
"To seal a tailed beast, a human vessel is required."
Kaoru's eyes widened.
Could it be…
Hiruzen's tone grew heavy.
"That's right. Inside Kyūsei's body resides the strongest tailed beast in the shinobi world—the Nine-Tails."
So that was it.
No wonder Kyūsei was always followed by ANBU, no matter where he went.
The village's greatest power… of course it had to be watched.
Which meant—
Monitored.
"Honestly, I don't really care, but is this really okay?"
Kyūsei turned his head after undoing his pants, glancing at Nightingale standing guard at the bathroom door.
"Cut the crap and hurry up," Nightingale snapped. "You think I want to watch?"
"With that little sparrow of yours!"
"Small body, big attitude!"
She leaned against the doorway, her gaze drifting awkwardly to the side.
Damn it.
This woman's looking down on me.
With a splash of running water, Kyūsei shook himself off, flushed the toilet, and pulled his pants back up.
As he walked out, Nightingale professionally returned to her post at the window.
"Hey, I'm still a guy," Kyūsei said toward the window. "If your future husband finds out you watched another man pee, he's definitely going to get jealous."
…
That fist clenched again.
Seeing no response from the window, Kyūsei lost interest.
"People like Kyūsei are known as jinchūriki," Hiruzen said slowly.
"And what's sealed inside him is the strongest of them all—the Nine-Tails."
He emphasized each word as he looked at the stunned girl.
"Tailed beasts are born embodiments of malice. Their chakra constantly erodes their host."
"Kyūsei must resist that evil chakra at all times."
"Then… Kyūsei must have it really hard…"
Kaoru murmured absentmindedly.
"Hmph. Just thinking about being stuck inside a brat like you makes me sick."
Listening to the fox's usual sneering, Kyūsei let his consciousness sink directly into the sealing space.
"Little Nine! I haven't visited you in three whole hours!"
"Did you miss me?"
Floating forward on the power of the seal, Kyūsei grinned as he stopped in front of the Nine-Tails.
"Get lost!"
"Who would miss garbage like you?!"
"And another thing!"
"My name is Nine-Tails!"
"NINE-TAILS!"
Ignoring the roaring fox, Kyūsei leaned closer and patted its pitch-black nose.
"Aww, so tsundere. What's wrong with 'Little Nine'? It sounds cute."
At that moment, the Nine-Tails' massive nose twitched.
A faint… suspicious smell drifted in.
"You brat!"
"Did you wash your hands?!"
"Oh~ I think I forgot."
The red-haired boy's eyes curved into crescents as he smiled brightly.
"ROOOAR!"
"I'LL KILL YOU!!!"