Kurama refused to cry out no matter how many times Naruto's fist connected with its body. Pride ran deep in its veins. It was a Tailed Beast, a creature of immense power, one of the nine great chakra entities that had terrorized the world for millennia. It would not bow to some human child, no matter how monstrously strong that child happened to be.
Its defiance lasted exactly three more punches before survival instinct kicked in.
Kurama had recognized Himawari the moment it materialized. She was its Jinchūriki's daughter, the little girl who'd awakened her Byakugan during her father's Hokage inauguration ceremony. Kurama remembered that day with crystalline clarity because it had been traumatic for everyone involved.
Himawari's Byakugan had activated spontaneously, and with it came a complete loss of control. The sweet little girl had transformed into a miniature berserker, attacking anything that moved. Boruto had screamed for help, and the Seventh Hokage had arrived just in time to shield his son from his sister's assault.
But he'd arrived with his guard completely down, focused only on protecting Boruto. Himawari's finger strike, enhanced by the Byakugan's precision, had slammed into one of the Seventh Hokage's tenketsu with devastating accuracy. The blow had nearly made him vomit blood, and the shockwave had rippled through to Kurama sealed inside his body.
That's why Kurama had kicked Himawari when she'd tried to hug it. The fox kept a very detailed mental list of grievances, and Himawari's name had been added in bold letters that day.
But when Himawari had actually pleaded with Naruto on its behalf, asking him not to hit the fox, something in Kurama' chest had stirred. The warmth of that moment reminded it of similar times with its own Naruto, back before everything got complicated.
This Jinchūriki's daughter seems decent, Kurama thought grudgingly. I'll let her hug me in a minute. After I've made my point about the kicking.
Then Himawari's expression shifted. Her big eyes blinked once, processing Naruto's words about discipline and obedience. Her face brightened with understanding.
"You're right, Young Dad!" She nodded seriously. "If he doesn't behave, he should be disciplined. I'll help!"
Kurama felt its soul leave its body.
Himawari's tiny fists began raining down on its head with all the force her normal, non-Byakugan-enhanced strength could muster. Which wasn't much, objectively speaking. But the betrayal. The sheer audacity of it.
Kurama' internal scream could have shattered dimensions: I WAS JUST STARTING TO LIKE YOU!
After sufficient "discipline" had been administered, Naruto pulled Himawari back gently. Kurama lay sprawled across the tatami, a picture of absolute defeat.
"From now on," Naruto said, crouching down beside Himawari, "Kurama is going to keep you company. Play with you. Keep you from being lonely. Doesn't that sound fun?"
Kurama' ear twitched. Its internal monologue ran something like: The moment my real Jinchūriki comes back, I am diving into that seal and never coming out. I cannot be provoked. I can only hide.
Himawari's face had crumpled at Naruto's words, her eyes going wide and wet. "Young Dad isn't going to play with me anymore?"
"No, no!" Naruto said quickly, catching her hands. "I'll still play with you every day. But now Kurama will play with you too. Double the fun, right?"
The brightness returned to Himawari's expression like the sun breaking through clouds. "Really? Young Dad and Nine-Tails both?"
"Both," Naruto confirmed.
She looked down at the defeated fox lying in her lap. Its eyes stared at nothing, its expression completely blank. "Nine-Tails? Why do you look so sad?"
Because I've been beaten into paste by a twelve-year-old and then pummeled by a six-year-old, Kurama thought bitterly. But it said nothing, maintaining its dignified silence.
"I know!" Himawari's face lit up. "You need toys! Everyone likes toys. I'll get you some that will make you happy!"
She carefully set Kurama down on the mat and dashed toward her bedroom, her little feet pattering against the floor.
Kurama remained where it had been placed, flat as a pancake, every muscle relaxed into complete surrender. If it couldn't resist, it would resist passively. It would lie here like a puddle of orange fur and let whatever was going to happen, happen.
Naruto watched with barely concealed amusement. He could intervene, but this interaction between Himawari and Kurama was too precious to interrupt. He wanted to see how the little girl would crack the ancient demon's defenses.
Himawari returned moments later, her arms overflowing with toys. Dolls, stuffed animals, tea sets, hair ribbons. She arranged them in a careful circle around Kurama, then began presenting them one by one.
"Look, Nine-Tails! This is my favorite bunny doll. See how soft she is?" Himawari held the pink rabbit close to the fox's face. "Do you like her? You can have her if you want!"
Kurama' eyes remained dull and unfocused. No reaction.
"Oh..." Himawari set the bunny down carefully. "What about this one? Mama gave me this doll. She has a really pretty dress!" She held up a porcelain doll in an elaborate kimono. "Do you like pretty things, Nine-Tails?"
Still nothing. The fox might as well have been a statue.
Himawari worked through her entire collection. The tea set. The toy kitchen. The hair ribbons. Each item presented with genuine hope, each met with the same blank stare.
Finally, she sat back on her heels, her collection scattered around the unresponsive fox. Her face scrunched up in concentration.
"I see..." she murmured to herself. "Big brother doesn't like my toys either. He only wants to play video games." Her eyes widened with sudden realization. "Maybe Nine-Tails is like big brother! Maybe he only likes boy toys!"
She grabbed Kurama' hind leg and flipped it over, inspecting its underside with scientific curiosity.
"Huh?" She tilted her head, confused. "Is Nine-Tails a boy or a girl? There's nothing there..."
Kurama' eye twitched. If it had any energy left, it would have exploded with indignation. This Jinchūriki's daughter is an IDIOT!
"Wait, I know!" Himawari's face brightened again. "Big brother has a handheld game console! Maybe Nine-Tails would like that!" Her expression fell immediately. "But... big brother hides it really well. And if I take it without asking, he'll be so angry. I don't want to make big brother angry..."
She looked torn between wanting to help Kurama and not wanting to upset her sibling.
Naruto bit back a laugh. The girl's thought process was absolutely precious. He made a mental note to check on Boruto later, see if the kid had actually attended class today or skipped again. Maybe give him some "encouragement" regarding his training.
Then, since the handheld console remained out of reach, Himawari made an executive decision.
"Okay, Nine-Tails. We'll play a different game!"
She climbed onto the fox's back, straddling it like a horse. "Giddy up! Giddy up! Let's go!"
Kurama, face already numb with resigned acceptance, began walking slowly across the tatami. Its legs moved mechanically, carrying the giggling girl around the room in a slow circuit.
This was its life now. Reduced from terrifying demon to child's plaything. The indignity was spectacular.
The front door opened as Hinata returned from shopping, grocery bags in her arms. She paused in the entryway, taking in the scene: her daughter riding a miniaturized Nine-Tails around the living room like a pony, young Naruto watching with obvious entertainment, and the fox itself looking like it had lost all will to live.
Hinata didn't even blink. With this version of Naruto around, strange had become the new normal. She simply smiled at her happy daughter and headed for the kitchen to start preparing lunch.
Time flowed easily when Himawari was happy. Before Naruto knew it, the morning had disappeared and lunch was nearly ready.
The front door opened again. The Seventh Hokage stepped inside, already loosening his Hokage robes with a tired sigh. He'd managed to escape the office for a lunch break, a rare luxury.
Kurama' head snapped up from where it had been carrying Himawari around the coffee table. Its eyes locked onto its real Jinchūriki with desperate hope.
It launched itself off the floor, abandoning Himawari mid-ride, and latched onto the Seventh Hokage's chest.
"Naruto!" The fox's voice came out strangled with emotion. "Let me back inside! Right now! Please! Or you'll lose your partner forever!"
The Seventh Hokage blinked down at his Tailed Beast, taking in the absolute defeat written across its furry features. "Nine-Tails? What happened to you?"
Before the fox could answer, young Naruto approached with that characteristic bright smile.
Kurama shrank back, pressing itself deeper into the Seventh Hokage's embrace like a terrified kitten seeking shelter.
"I just had him playing with Himawari," young Naruto explained cheerfully. "He's probably been pretty bored sitting inside your seal all by himself. This way, he gets some exercise and Himawari has a friend. Win-win, right?"
The Seventh Hokage looked at his alternate self. Then at his traumatized Tailed Beast. Then at his daughter, who was pouting because her new toy had run away.
"I... see." He wasn't sure what to say. Kurama looked like it had been through a war.
"You should let him out more often," Naruto continued earnestly. "Regular social interaction is important for mental health. Even for Tailed Beasts."
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