Naruto swallowed hard, his gaze slowly softening into a mixture of confusion and a slight fear at the outburst of the woman before him.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean it like that! It's just... Auntie looks... uh, I mean, you look..." Naruto scratched the back of his head, which wasn't itchy, feeling awkward.
"You?!" 'Kurama' snorted, one eyebrow raised. "Am I that old?!" Her nine tails twitched restlessly behind her, showing her displeasure.
"N-no! I mean... Miss?" Naruto tried again, growing more nervous.
"Miss is too formal too!" 'Kurama' retorted sharply, though inwardly she was starting to feel a little amused by the boy's innocence. 'Patience, Hana, patience. He's still a kid. But still, being called Auntie hurts!'
"Then what should I call you, dattebayo?" Naruto started to get frustrated. "Sis? Or..."
"Just call me Big Sis!" 'Kurama' cut in quickly, before Naruto could come up with another strange term. 'Big Sis... well, that's not bad. At least it's not Auntie.' Inwardly, a tiny, silly desire to be called "Honey" or "Hana-chan" flickered, but she quickly dismissed it with a blush. 'Don't be ridiculous, Hana! That's too embarrassing! I have to maintain my image in front of my prince! I can't look like a fanatical fangirl!'
Naruto looked relieved. "Alright, Big Sis! So... Big Sis... who are you really?" he asked hesitantly, his eyes still scrutinizing the fox ears and tails of the beautiful woman before him.
'Kurama' smirked, deciding to play around a little. She adopted a more haughty posture, mimicking the deep, intimidating tone she often heard from anime antagonists. "Child," her voice echoed in the room, "I am the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox! What do you think? Are you scared of my... terrifying appearance?" She winked, barely able to hold back her laughter at Naruto's expression.
Naruto's mouth fell open, then he shook his head hard. "You're lying! You're lying, aren't you, Big Sis?!" he yelled loudly. "The Nine-Tailed Fox is huge, its eyes glow red, and its fangs are as big as swords! The villagers say it's a really scary monster! It couldn't possibly be as beautiful... uh, I mean, it couldn't possibly be like you, Big Sis!" Naruto hurriedly corrected himself, his face turning slightly red. "Everyone in the village describes how terrifying the Nine-Tailed Fox is, how could it look like this?"
"Hmph, you foolish kid." 'Kurama' put her hands on her hips, feigning an arrogant look. "Your view is so narrow. Do you think a being like me can't change its form at will? Haven't you ever seen it transform into a human in old stories?"
"But... but no one ever told me that the Nine-Tailed Fox could turn into a human!" Naruto was still a bit skeptical, frowning. "Grandpa Hokage never said so either!"
"That's because they don't need to know!" 'Kurama' replied quickly, her brain working hard to find a plausible reason. Hana continued to fool Naruto, her tone as if explaining a very complicated concept to a child.
Naruto's eyes sparkled. "Really? That's amazing! That's so cool, dattebayo!" His fear began to be replaced by admiration. "Then... why are you here, Big Sis? Inside... my stomach, right? What is this place anyway?" Naruto asked with great curiosity, gesturing around him.
'Kurama' put on a sad face, lowering her head slightly. Crocodile tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes. 'Okay, Hana, time to act. For my prince's sympathy!'
"Sob..." she began with a small, feigned sob. "It's a very long story, Naruto-kun..."
Hearing his name called so softly, Naruto immediately fell silent, ready to listen.
"A long, long time ago," 'Kurama' began, her voice trembling, "I was just a fox... well, maybe not an ordinary fox like you imagine, but I just wanted to live a relaxed life in the forest, playing and sleeping as much as I wanted without anyone bothering me." She looked at Naruto with teary eyes.
"But one day," she continued, her voice growing more melancholic, "a wicked man with very scary eyes... his name was Madara... heard about my great power." 'Kurama' shuddered slightly, as if remembering something terrifying. "He captured me, controlled me with those frightening eyes of his, and forced me to fight against the great First Hokage, Hashirama Senju."
"After that devastating battle, I... I lost and was sealed." A tear fell, tracing a path down her cheek. "Into the First Hokage's wife. From then on, I was treated like a weapon of war, not as a living being with feelings."
"Years later, I was transferred into someone else's body." 'Kurama' sobbed again. "And when you were born... another masked villain appeared, taking advantage of that moment. He forcibly released me, controlled me again with his cunning ways, and made me... made me destroy Konoha." Her voice broke, her crying now appearing more genuine, a mixture of Kurama's original memories and Hana's own empathy.
"Then... the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze... he sacrificed his life to stop me and protect the village. He sealed me again... into you, Naruto-kun... to save everyone." 'Kurama' looked at Naruto with a gaze full of sadness.
Naruto stood speechless, his eyes glistening. He had always heard stories about the Kyuubi's attack from the villagers' perspective – a monster rampaging without reason. But hearing the story from this 'Beautiful Big Sis', from the side of the 'monster' who was apparently also a victim, his heart ached. Seeing the woman before him cry so pitifully made his chest tighten.
"Big Sis..." Naruto's voice was faint and trembling. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry for everyone in the village... I didn't know you... I didn't know you suffered like that too." Tears finally streamed from Naruto's blue eyes. "It must have been hard, being alone and misunderstood all this time." He took a step forward, as if wanting to comfort her, but was blocked by the bars.
'Aah~ look at this warm and pure heart...' Kurama screamed internally, almost melting. 'This is why I love him so much~ Naruto-kuuuun! He apologized to me! Even though it clearly wasn't his fault! He's so kind! My most perfect prince charming!'
With great effort, 'Kurama' restrained herself from jumping for joy or hugging Naruto (which was impossible due to the bars). She cleared her throat softly, trying to regain her composure.
"Ahem." 'Kurama' wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "Naruto-kun," her voice sounded more stable now, though still a bit hoarse. "This isn't your fault. Not at all. So, you don't need to apologize. Let bygones be bygones."
—----------------------
After her tears subsided and Naruto had also stopped sniffling from pity, Hana looked at the boy before her with a softer gaze. A decision had formed in her mind.
"Naruto-kun," Hana began, her voice now sounding lighter, as if a weight had been lifted. "Actually, 'Kyuubi' isn't even my real name."
Naruto, who was wiping the remaining tears from his cheeks, immediately turned, his eyes wide. "Huh? It's not? Then... what's your name, Big Sis?"
Hana smiled faintly. "That's just a name people gave me because... well, you know, my fox form. My name is Hana." She decided to use her human name. The name 'Kurama' felt too masculine. 'Besides, Naruto doesn't need to know that name. I won't use it anymore. It's too heavy and doesn't suit a beautiful woman like me.' Hana thought to herself.
"Hana?" Naruto repeated, looking surprised. "Big Sis Fox... I mean, Big Sis, you have a human-like name? Who gave it to you?"
"I gave it to myself," Hana replied with a slightly mysterious smile, avoiding a complicated explanation about the Sage of Six Paths or the origin of Kurama's real name. The story of Grandpa Rikudou Sennin was too long and complicated for Naruto's simple mind right now, she thought.
Naruto seemed to digest that information for a moment. Then, a sincere, wide smile spread across his face. "Hana... neechan?" he said, a little hesitant but full of warmth.
Instantly, Hana felt her world stop spinning and fill with blooming cherry blossoms. 'HANA-NEECHAN?! AAAAAAAH! Gulp!' Her heart pounded, and she quickly wiped the corner of her mouth where drool had almost escaped. Her face felt hot. 'Oh my god! He called me Neechan! So sweet! My prince is indeed the best! Patience Hana, patience, maintain your image! Don't look like a fangirl who's lost control!'
Seeing Hana-neechan suddenly fall silent with flushed cheeks, Naruto felt awkward. He scratched his un-itchy cheek, his gaze wandering aimlessly, avoiding the gaze of the beautiful woman before him, which now felt a little different.
Hana giggled at Naruto's shy behavior. "Now, Naruto-kun, that's enough about me for now. It's your turn," she said, her voice back to normal though her heart was still fluttering. "Tell your Hana-neechan, what is Uzumaki Naruto's biggest dream?"
Hearing that, Naruto's previously blushing face immediately lit up with enthusiasm. His eyes sparkled, and he clenched his fist in front of his chest. "I'M GOING TO BECOME HOKAGE!" he exclaimed in a loud voice that echoed throughout his subconscious. "A Hokage who surpasses all previous Hokages! And I'll make everyone in the village acknowledge my existence, acknowledge that I, Uzumaki Naruto, am here, dattebayo!"
Hana listened with a patient and warm smile. There wasn't a hint of doubt or mockery in her eyes, only sincerity. When Naruto finished, Hana nodded slowly. "I believe in you, Naruto-kun," she said softly but full of conviction. "You can definitely do it. Not just become Hokage, but you'll become the greatest Hokage of all time!"
Naruto was stunned. This was the first time. The first time someone, other than perhaps himself in his daydreams, had said that with such strong conviction. Iruka-sensei believed he could be a good ninja. Grandpa Third Hokage gave him moral support. But Hana-neechan... this woman looked at him as if that future was already certain, as if she had already seen it with her own eyes. That belief felt so real, so strong, that it made Naruto's eyes well up.
"Hana... neechan..." he whispered, moved.
Hana smiled, then extended her hand through the bars. Transparent red chakra flowed from her fingertips, forming a longer 'arm', and gently stroked the top of Naruto's blond head. It felt warm and comforting.
"Alright, Naruto-kun!" Hana said with a proud tone, retracting her chakra arm. "From now on, your beautiful and strong Big Sis Hana will train you personally! I'll shape you into a quality ninja, worthy of the title Hokage!"
Naruto's eyes immediately sparkled with enthusiasm. "Really, Hana-neechan?! You'll train me?! Yosh! I'll study hard! I won't let you down, dattebayo!"
"Good! That's the spirit I like!" Hana chuckled. "But for now, you need to sleep. Training requires energy and process. Besides, you'll be taking the Chunin Exams soon, right?"
Naruto blinked in confusion. "Chunin? What's that, Hana-neechan? Is it a new type of ramen with special toppings?"
Hana gently facepalmed with a sigh. 'Of course he doesn't know... Good grief, this kid's basic knowledge is really...' "No, Naruto-kun. Chunin is a ninja rank, one level above Genin, where you are now. The Chunin Exams are important for..."
Patiently, that night within Naruto's subconscious, Hana began to teach him various basic ninja knowledge that Naruto seemed to have missed – about ranks, the importance of strategy, different types of jutsu, and of course, about the Chunin Exams. Naruto listened attentively, occasionally asking innocent questions, until finally, exhaustion overcame him and he fell fast asleep in front of the bars. His form slowly faded and disappeared from Hana's subconscious.
Hana looked at the spot where Naruto had been sitting with a gentle smile. "From now on, I will take care of you and make sure you shine, my prince..." she muttered with determination.
The next morning, Naruto woke up in his bed with a strange feeling. He stretched, trying to remember. 'Last night... I met a beautiful, very strong fox woman... and she said her name was Hana-neechan... Ah, it must have just been a beautiful dream,' he thought, yawning.
"Good morning, Naruto-kun. Sleep well?"
That melodious voice suddenly sounded clearly in his mind. Naruto instantly jumped out of bed.
"HANA-NEECHAN?!" he shrieked in surprise, his eyes wide. "So last night wasn't a dream?!"
"Of course not, kid," Hana replied with an amused tone in his mind. "Now, first task for you. Get up quickly, wash your face, and go to the ninja tool shop. Buy some chakra paper."
"Chakra paper? What's that for?" Naruto was still a little dazed, but he quickly hurried to get ready, not wanting to disappoint his new mentor.
"You'll find out later. Now, don't ask so many questions, just do it. Your time is precious."
Although confused, Naruto obeyed. After arriving at the store and buying chakra paper as instructed by Hana, he returned to his messy apartment.
"Hold the paper between your index and middle fingers, then channel a little of your chakra into it," Hana commanded from within his mind.
Naruto did so, and instantly the paper split neatly in two. "Wow! The paper tore in two! What does this mean, Hana-neechan?" he exclaimed in amazement.
"It means your natural chakra affinity is Wind, Naruto-kun," Hana explained with a satisfied tone. "A sharp element, capable of cutting and piercing, very suitable for your head-on fighting style. If honed properly, this will become an incredible power."
"Wind? Cool, dattebayo!"
Coincidentally, Team 7 had no missions that day, so Hana immediately took over Naruto's training schedule. "Alright, Naruto-kun, since it's a day off, we'll start basic training to hone your wind affinity. Go to the forest, find lots of fresh leaves, and try to cut them in half using only your chakra. Place the leaf between your clasped palms, focus your chakra there."
Naruto was excited. But after hours of trying in the forest, he couldn't cut a single leaf. The leaves only wrinkled slightly or didn't react at all. He started to get frustrated. "This is so hard, Hana-neechan! The leaves won't cut, dattebayo! I keep running out of chakra!"
"Don't give up so easily!" Hana chided from within his mind, but her tone remained patient. "Controlling chakra nature is difficult. Remember when you practiced walking on water? You have to feel the flow of your chakra. Now, imagine your chakra in your hands becoming thinner, sharper like a knife. Hmmm... let's do this, use your Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. The more of you training simultaneously, the faster you'll get the 'feel' for it, and all the experience and fatigue from the clones will be absorbed by you when they disappear. Your training efficiency will increase drastically."
"Kage Bunshin? To cut leaves?" Naruto tilted his head, confused, but he had already begun to trust Hana-neechan completely. "Alright, I'll try!"
Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!
POOF! POOF! POOF!
In an instant, dozens of Narutos appeared and immediately spread out in the small training area in the forest. Each Naruto took a leaf and began to concentrate fully. Every time a clone ran out of chakra and disappeared in a puff of smoke, the original Naruto would feel a little tired and get a flash of that clone's experience. He would make new clones, try again, and again, and again.
The process continued until late afternoon. The original Naruto had fallen sitting several times due to exhaustion from the transfer of experience from his clones. However, he didn't give up. Finally, as the sun began to tilt westward, one of his clones shouted.
"I DID IT! I MANAGED TO CUT IT, DATTEBAYO!"
Instantly, all the other Narutos, including the original Naruto, turned. Sure enough, in that clone's hand, a leaf was perfectly split in two. Soon after, another clone succeeded, then another, and another. In an instant, the group of 'Narutos' in the forest cheered joyfully, jumping up and down to celebrate their small but very significant success.
The original Naruto smiled widely, feeling immense pride and exhaustion. "I did it, Hana-neechan!" he exclaimed in his mind.