Chapter 33: Naruko and the Nine-Tails
"I'm home—"
Naruko's soft childish voice echoed through the empty apartment.
Unlike usual, today Naruko was especially cheerful.
She stood on tiptoe to press the switch. The old fluorescent tube flickered "buzz buzz" a few times before reluctantly lighting up.
Though her living expenses weren't much, at least this old apartment had free utilities.
Her faded sandals were kicked into the corner as Naruko ran barefoot "thump thump thump" to the calendar, solemnly drawing a crooked sun on today's date.
She took off her jacket, then dove with a flying leap into the bedding. The yellowed pillow carried a faint musty smell.
Naruko hugged the pillow and rolled around on the tatami.
Though she'd been home for a while, Naruko couldn't help replaying everything that happened today.
Yu-nii had smiled at her three times today. The first when ordering noodles, the second when she thanked him, and one more time...
Naruko suddenly stopped, burying her burning face in the pillow.
When she said she'd treat him back.
"Treat him back..."
Naruko suddenly froze like someone hit pause, sprawled motionless on the tatami.
She stared at the mold spots on the ceiling, her small face gradually falling.
Where did she have money to treat him back now?
Forget treating Yu-nii to ramen—whether she could eat tomorrow was questionable. Her living expenses were already two days late, and only some expired milk remained in the fridge...
If the living expenses didn't come tomorrow...
She'd have to catch fish by the river.
That would be fine in summer, but the river water was already getting cold this season.
Her mind inevitably conjured the image of that girl being carried by the black-clothed youth—jet-black neat hair, exquisite clothes, and...
A big brother she could act spoiled with anytime.
Sigh, she definitely didn't have to worry about these things.
Lost in thought, Naruko suddenly flipped over and punched the pillow with her small fist:
"Ugh, damn it!"
She was so jealous of that black-haired girl.
She remembered Sasuko's clear, bright eyes—when she'd approached Yu-nii, that girl had narrowed her eyes just like the food-guarding wild kittens she'd seen in the forest.
That girl seemed to dislike her a bit, but since she was Yu-nii's little sister, she'd buy her a portion too when treating Yu-nii to food next time.
Hmph, since the great Lady Naruko was magnanimous, she'd forgive her.
Knock knock knock—
The sudden knocking startled Naruko, nearly making her roll off the tatami.
She ran barefoot "patter patter" to the door, standing on tiptoe to peek outside.
"Who is it?"
Through the peephole, a female ninja wearing a fox mask stood outside—her black bodysuit outlining an agile figure, holding a bulging envelope.
"Miss Naruko."
The kunoichi's voice was gentler than expected: "The Hokage sent me to deliver your living expenses."
"Eh?" Naruko pressed her small nose against the door. "Wasn't it the bearded uncle before?"
"He was transferred." She waved the envelope. "I'll be responsible from now on."
"That's great! You really didn't forget about me!"
Naruko cheered as she opened the door, nearly bumping into the other person.
The kunoichi instinctively stepped back half a pace, but saw the blonde girl already bouncing to reach for the envelope in her hand, her cowlick trembling with each movement.
Seeing the kunoichi step back, Naruko suddenly realized her impulsiveness, her cheeks flushing red to her ears.
"Big... big sister, would you like to come in for tea?"
She twisted her clothes hem and asked quietly.
The kunoichi's gaze swept over the cramped apartment—empty instant noodle cups piled in corners, clothes scattered on the tatami, various empty boxes messily stacked.
She crouched down to meet Naruko's eye level: "Then I'll intrude."
Naruko frantically brought over a low table as the old kettle made "gurgle gurgle" sounds.
The kunoichi didn't idle either, kneeling on one knee to start tidying up, efficiently sorting the clutter.
When steaming tea was finally served, Naruko discovered—
The tea bag's expiration date was already blurred. She hurried to change it: "Wait! This one's expired..."
"It's fine."
The kunoichi had already picked up the teacup, breathing out wisps of white vapor through her mask before taking a light sip.
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Naruko twisted her fingers—the previous ANBU always dropped off money and left, but this sister helped fold her blankets and wipe tables...
"What's big sister's name?"
"Sorry, that's classified."
"Then... what do you like to eat?"
"That's also classified."
Naruko's shoulders drooped like a rain-soaked puppy.
She wondered if the other person disliked her.
The kunoichi's eyes flickered beneath her mask as she put down the teacup: "However... I can teach you how to organize your room."
"Girls can't let their rooms get messy."
Over the next half hour, Naruko learned how to quickly fold blankets, organizational tips, and even creative uses for expired tea bags (great for cleaning glass).
When the kunoichi rose to leave, the small apartment was completely transformed.
"When will big sister come next time?"
Naruko clung to the doorframe, holding the envelope and asking eagerly.
The kunoichi paused, her voice seeming to carry a hint of laughter beneath the mask: "...Depending on mission schedules."
Before leaving, the kunoichi couldn't help but turn back to ruffle Naruko's messy blonde hair.
This small gesture violating ANBU regulations made her lips curve slightly beneath the mask.
"Goodbye, big sister!"
Naruko smiled with her eyes curved like crescents, vigorously waving her small hand until the door completely closed.
The room returned to silence.
She eagerly tore open the envelope.
It was actually double the usual amount.
The moment she felt the envelope, she'd noticed it was thicker than before—indeed it was.
"Great! Tomorrow I can treat Yu-nii to the deluxe version with double char siu!"
"Foolish brat."
A cold voice suddenly exploded in her mind, making Naruko's money-counting hand jerk.
"Just a bit of charity, and you forget how those people look at you?"
Naruko puffed up angrily, covering her stomach: "What does a stupid fox locked in a cage understand!"
"What did you say?!"
The sealed space within her body shook violently, the Nine-Tails' vertical pupils blazing in the darkness.
Naruko jumped up defiantly, making faces at the air: "Stupid fox! Bleh bleh bleh—"
She even lifted her pajama shirt, sticking her tongue out at the seal markings on her belly.
In the sealed space, the giant beast's claws tore at the bars, shaking the water surface violently: "Looking for death, runt?!"
Naruko deliberately rustled the bills loudly: "I have money to treat Yu-nii to noodles now!"
The Nine-Tails' roar stopped abruptly as it let out a sinister low chuckle:
"That Uchiha brat..."
"You really think he's interested in you?"
It spoke as if stating something obvious:
"Humans..."
"Are just flies buzzing around tailed beasts."
In the sealed space, crimson chakra surged like a tide.
"That Uchiha brat..."
"You really think he cares about some blonde girl?"
Claws scraped against iron bars, sparks flying:
"He approached you..."
"Only to use you"
"To control this power."