"The fate of a jinchūriki is tragic" From the moment a tailed beast is sealed inside their body, their destiny becomes forever intertwined with that monster.
"Kyūsei's arrogant and unruly exterior hides a fragile heart beneath.
"The hostility he shows the world is nothing more than a protective shell.
"Because even he doesn't know when he might suddenly lose control."
Sarutobi Hiruzen subconsciously reached for his pipe—then paused, remembering the young girl sitting across from him, and lowered his hand again.
"He's afraid he'll hurt others," Hiruzen continued softly.
"So he uses that abrasive attitude to keep people at a distance.
"He's actually a kind child.
"He doesn't want anyone else to be harmed because of him."
His voice carried a trace of deep emotion.
"Here. Want some?"
The red-haired boy held out a plate of green candied fruit toward Nightingale, who was crouched by the window.
"No."
Nightingale replied flatly, staring at the annoying brat in front of her.
"Really not eating any?"
"Consider it my apology, okay…?"
"I shouldn't have messed with you. I'm sorry, alright…?"
Looking at his innocent, almost pitiful expression, Nightingale hesitated for a moment. In the end, she reached out, pinched a piece of candied fruit between her fingers, and lifted her mask slightly to pop it into her mouth.
Then she noticed—
Kyūsei was staring at her intently.
"What?" she snapped.
"Uh…"
"I was just kind of curious what you look like under the mask…"
Kyūsei answered honestly.
Nightingale was so angry she almost laughed.
"You little brat—don't tell me you're being nice just because you're curious what I look like?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
After all, he was just a ten-year-old kid. Maybe she was overthinking things.
"Not at all," Kyūsei said seriously.
"I'm genuinely curious."
"And… a little guilty too. I don't even know how long you'll have to stay with me."
Nightingale stared at him in silence.
God, I really want to punch him.
"Fine. Look all you want."
In a fit of pique, she lifted her mask.
A delicate face was revealed—she looked around fifteen or sixteen at most. But what stood out most were her pure white eyes.
And somehow… she looked extremely familiar.
"H-Hinata…" Kyūsei blurted out instinctively.
"…Hinata?"
"What Hinata?"
"My name is Nightingale!"
She shot him an annoyed glare and casually tossed the candied fruit into her mouth.
"Wait—!"
Kyūsei reached out too late to stop her.
"Huh? Wait for wha—"
The next instant, her face flushed bright red.
Spicy.
A sharp, burning sting.
Tears welled up uncontrollably.
This little bastard had put wasabi in it!
"AHHHHH!!!"
"You little shit, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!"
"And yet," Hiruzen continued gravely,
"we had no choice but to seal the Nine-Tails into Kyūsei.
"No one in Konoha could withstand the Nine-Tails' power.
"If we abandoned it, Konoha would immediately become the target of every other village.
"The shinobi world would be plunged back into war."
"Kyūsei bears not only the Nine-Tails…
"He bears me, you, and everyone in the village."
"That small, thin body carries the weight of us all."
Namikaze Kaoru stood there in stunned silence.
She had never imagined that Kyūsei's identity was… this heavy.
Thinking of that boy carrying the entire village on his shoulders filled her with guilt.
Through his ever-present grin, she seemed to glimpse the enormous tailed beast behind him—
Konoha behind that,
everyone in Konoha,
and herself among them.
"Then… Hokage-sama," she asked softly,
"what should I do…?"
She wasn't stupid. The Hokage hadn't come here just to tell her all this for no reason.
Hiruzen looked at the girl and nodded approvingly at her perceptiveness.
"I have an S-rank mission for you."
"Become Kyūsei's friend."
"Form a bond with him."
"Eh? E-eh?!"
"Me? Me?!"
Kaoru was completely caught off guard. Her first instinct was to accept this S-rank mission—but the memory of Kyūsei's constant coldness made her visibly deflate.
"Kyūsei…"
"He doesn't like me…"
She lowered her head dejectedly.
"Lost little girl~"
Hiruzen stood up, looking down at the blonde child.
"Kyūsei has already sacrificed himself for the village. This is the least we can do for him.
"He's a good child. And so are you."
"There's no one more suitable for this mission than you.
"Kyūsei burns himself for Konoha.
"Why shouldn't we burn for him in return?"
"That… is the Will of Fire!"
"Where the leaves dance, the fire shall never die!"
"And besides," Hiruzen added gently,
"you wouldn't want to see Kyūsei all alone forever, would you?"
Kaoru stared at the Hokage, who seemed almost radiant in her eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes shone with admiration.
"Yes!"
"Hokage-sama!"
"I'll definitely become Kyūsei's friend!"
Watching the girl revive on the spot, Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
Kids really were easy sometimes…
"You bastard!"
"You damn little brat!"
"If I don't beat the crap out of you today, I'll consider myself constipated for life!"
Tears streamed down Nightingale's face as she lunged at Kyūsei like a feral beast—only to be caught firmly by a pair of strong arms.
The one restraining her was the other ANBU assigned to watch Kyūsei.
"Calm down."
"Calm down, Nightingale!"
He looked utterly exhausted as he glanced at their target.
"You—apologize. Now."
"Let go of me, Seiran!"
"If I don't beat him flat today, my surname isn't Hyūga!"
Kyūsei wiped some cold sweat from his brow.
So this woman really is related to Hinata…
And wow, her temper was terrifying.
Still… yeah.
He'd gone a bit too far this time.
"Uh… s-sorry…"
"I really didn't mean it…"
"I tried to stop you, but you ate it too fast…"
His eyes darted away guiltily.
"You bastard!"
Nightingale exploded with strength out of nowhere, breaking free from Seiran's grip and slamming Kyūsei to the ground!
She straddled him, her entire body pressing down as she raised a pale fist to strike.
Kyūsei stared at her in horror.
He was completely pinned—this woman's strength was downright inhuman.
"Y-you…!"
"What… are you doing…?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, having arrived with Kaoru, stared in disbelief at the sight before him—
Nightingale pinning Kyūsei to the ground, their bodies pressed tightly together.
This was…
An old cow eating tender grass?