Kumogakure Mission
After returning home, Naruto couldn't wait to open the gift. Inside was a pair of warm gloves, similar in style to those he had obtained from the system before. Along with them was a note filled with well-wishes.
Unfortunately, spring had already arrived, and gloves were no longer needed for warmth, making them temporarily useless.
However, this was the first time Naruto had received a gift from a peer.
At that moment, Kurama's voice rang out, his usual gruff and sarcastic tone cutting in at an inappropriate time:
"Kid, what are you grinning about? Don't tell me you've fallen for that little Hyūga girl?"
Naruto stuffed the gloves into his pocket and shot back without hesitation, "Big fox, have you ever been in love? Has anyone ever given you a gift? You sound kinda jealous."
Kurama was momentarily stunned before adopting an air of superiority.
"I am a Tailed Beast. I have no gender, nor do I bother with such trivial matters as love. But I have lived for over a thousand years—I've seen more love, hatred, and betrayal than you could ever imagine."
"If you beg me, I might reluctantly take you under my wing as a mentor."
Naruto gave him a skeptical look, unimpressed. The unconvinced Kurama, unwilling to back down, began rattling off so-called "love tips," such as taking a girl for a moonlit stroll or catching her in his arms after a dramatic rescue.
Naruto blinked in disbelief.
Where was Kurama even getting these ideas?
In his mind, "love mentors" were usually smooth-talking tricksters. If Kurama had that much knowledge, then he was on the verge of becoming a grandmaster scam artist. His advice seemed completely unreliable.
Sensing Naruto's doubt, Kurama's voice slowed.
It was frustrating. Even though Naruto was listening intently, he could feel the kid secretly mocking him.
But after going through all the trouble of showing off, Kurama wasn't about to quit so easily. He kept talking.
Half an hour later, Naruto's patience wore thin. Only then did Kurama finally finish his long-winded lecture, retreating into the sealed space to await his nightly chakra supply.
After dinner, Naruto didn't read or shower. Instead, he stood by the window, gazing at the Hyūga compound, which was bathed in moonlight.
Kurama's voice rang out again, this time with a knowing tone.
"It's normal for young people to get gifts. Don't overthink it. Go to bed early."
Naruto shook his head. "It's not about that. I just have a feeling something's going to happen tonight, so I'm keeping watch."
Kurama scoffed. "You're just looking for entertainment, aren't you?"
Naruto smirked. "A team from Kumogakure arrived recently. Shikamaru says they're here to sign a peace treaty, but I don't buy it. I'm sure they have ulterior motives."
"Yun Ninja, huh? A bunch of lunatics." Kurama sneered. "There were these two, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, who tried to eat me once—thought they could steal my chakra. Idiots. They never stood a chance."
Naruto chuckled and teased, "So if you're so strong, how'd you end up sealed inside me?"
Kurama huffed. "I was sealed by Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage. Back in his time, no one could stand against him. Even Kumogakure didn't dare challenge Konoha when he was around."
"And now," he added pointedly, "Konoha is too afraid to deal with a little trouble from Kumo."
Naruto was about to fire back when he noticed movement on the village wall.
"Save your trash talk, big fox. The real show is about to start."
Kurama extended his senses, then muttered in intrigue, "So many ninja moving at once… Seems like this might actually be interesting. But if you knew Kumo would make a move, why didn't you warn the Third Hokage?"
Naruto snorted. "You think he'd believe me? If I say something, it'll only make him suspicious. I'd rather just sit back and watch."
With that, Naruto pulled out a bag of chips—courtesy of Chōji—and started munching.
Kurama, eyeing Naruto thoughtfully, accepted a few chips as well.
Naruto had claimed he wasn't getting involved, but he had warned Hinata.
This kid always said one thing but meant another. Just like his parents.
Was he more like Kushina, or that annoying Minato Namikaze?
---
Meanwhile, in the ANBU Surveillance Post…
The ANBU assigned to guard Naruto had noticed the movement in the Hyūga compound.
Moonlight Hayate frowned beneath his mask. His duty was to protect Naruto, but should they intervene?
Uzuki Yugao, his comrade, asked, "Should we go support them?"
Hayate coughed, his face pale. "No. The Hokage and the others will handle it. We stay on mission."
Yugao frowned, concern flashing in her eyes. "Hayate, your illness is getting worse. Maybe we should leave ANBU."
Hayate shook his head. "A few more years, and I'll make Jōnin. The Moonlight clan needs that. Otherwise, we won't survive."
Before Yugao could argue, they both noticed figures moving in the distance.
"Kumo's envoys?" Hayate muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Why are they near the Jinchūriki?"
"Do you think they're after Naruto?" Yugao asked, tensing.
"Hard to say," Hayate replied. "Stay on them. I'll alert Kakashi-senpai."
---
Kumogakure's Secret Plans
A few streets away, the Kumo ninja were also watching.
One of the younger members hesitated. "Captain, are we really going after the Jinchūriki?"
The team leader glanced at him. He wanted to explain that even in Kumogakure, Jinchūriki were outcasts.
Killer Bee was treated as a monster, just like Naruto. No village was truly kind to its Jinchūriki.
But now wasn't the time for a lecture.
"Our mission isn't to capture him," the leader said. "If we attack the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, we start a war. The Raikage won't allow that. Our job is to create a distraction so the main team can grab the Byakugan."
A few of the younger Kumo ninja sighed in disappointment.
Capturing the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki would have made their village the most powerful in the world.
But even in Kumogakure, strength was all that mattered.
If Naruto had been born there, at least he wouldn't have been left to suffer alone.
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