"Hey hey hey! Why do I have to help you organize these things?"
In the principal's office of the ninja school, third-year student Nara Shikaku sat on the side of Kizaru's desk, looking impatient.
"Because you sleep during class!" Kizaru answered with a smile, legs crossed, using a nail clipper to fix his nails.
"You used to sleep with me, you jerk!" Betrayed by their friendship, Shikaku muttered discontentedly, then looked down at the scattered documents on the table.
His expression hardened as Shikaku couldn't help but reach for one of the documents.
The content of the document introduced the assets of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans in the village, as well as their official positions in the village's departments.
Although he was just ten years old, Shikaku's maturity and wisdom had already surpassed his peers and even many adults.
"Is it really okay for you to let me organize these documents?" Shikaku's expression became serious as he guessed the purpose of Kizaru organizing these documents.
Finishing trimming his nails and putting away the nail clipper, Kizaru looked up at Shikaku.
"I trust you quite a bit, Shikaku!"
"Such a bother!" Despite complaining, Shikaku felt pleased inside after hearing Kizaru's words. Though he grumbled, he started to act.
As the young master of the Nara clan, Shikaku naturally knew about the recent investment affairs regarding the research and development of Hashirama's cells circulating among the village's higher-ups and ninja clans.
Knowing that Kizaru was organizing these clan documents to better understand the power dynamics between the clans and allocate investment quotas accordingly, Shikaku spoke up again.
"How should these documents be categorized?"
"It's up to you to decide." Kizaru grinned as he looked at Shikaku.
With a puzzled expression, Shikaku asked, "Me to decide?"
Nodding with a smile, Kizaru continued his vague talk.
"Shikaku, you're the one I've chosen, the future right-hand man, the Hokage's strategist. I believe in your abilities."
Right-hand man?
As the young master of the Nara clan, Shikaku understood the meaning and weight behind Kizaru's promise.
Does this guy Kizaru really trust me this much?
Looking at Kizaru's smiling face, Shikaku nodded earnestly.
"I understand, I'll help you organize them!"
"Thanks a lot, Shikaku!"
With that said, Kizaru watched as Shikaku, now fully absorbed in reading the documents, entered a serious mode, and casually stretched.
The Nara clan is really useful!
Thinking inwardly, Kizaru, after stretching, picked up the tea cup on the table.
Gently blowing on the hot tea, Kizaru took a sip and then looked towards the direction of the office door.
Without knocking, the office door was directly pushed open.
The first to enter the office was Matatabi, and following behind it, Kushina's head peeked into the office.
Seeing both Kizaru and Shikaku in the office, Kushina hesitated.
"Kizaru, Kushina needs your help with something." Before Kushina, who hesitated to speak, could say anything, Matatabi, who walked into the office, spoke directly.
"Principal…. Kizaru, I'd like to talk to you alone." Kushina was very uncomfortable calling Kizaru by his title.
Seeing the encouraging gaze from Matatabi and the inconvenient situation for Kushina to speak, Kizaru nodded thoughtfully.
Looks like the Nine-Tails is causing trouble! Envious of Matatabi, perhaps?
Having roughly guessed the reason for Kushina's visit, Kizaru got up from his seat and walked out.
"Shikaku, I'll leave it to you here." Bowing to Shikaku, who was organizing the documents, Kizaru walked out from behind the desk.
"Got it!" Still flipping through the documents, Shikaku answered without lifting his head.
With a smile at Shikaku, Kizaru walked to the door of the office, in front of Kushina.
"Follow me!" After saying that, Kizaru waited for Matatabi to walk out from behind and then closed the office door.
Indicating for Matatabi to hop onto his shoulder, Kizaru, under Kushina's gaze, led them out of the classroom building and onto the playground.
At this time, it was still lunch break, and a few children were playing on the fitness equipment in the playground.
For safety reasons, Kizaru led Kushina to a deserted corner of the playground.
"Speak up!" With his hands in his pockets, Kizaru looked down at Kushina and said with a smile.
Biting her lip, Kushina hesitated for a moment, then, under Matatabi's encouraging gaze, revealed her identity.
"Big Brother Kizaru, I... I've been hiding another identity. I am the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails in the village." After speaking, Kushina nervously looked at Kizaru, afraid of being alienated and rejected.
"The Nine-Tails, huh? Must be cute!" Rubbing his chin, Kizaru said with a smile.
The nervous expression turned into a dumbfounded one as Kushina couldn't imagine that Kizaru would make such a comment about the terrifying monster that is the Nine-Tails.
A monstrous creature like the Nine-Tails being described as cute?
"You bastard! I'll tear you apart!"
Inside Kushina's body, the Nine-Tails, paying attention to the situation outside, instantly became enraged upon hearing Kizaru's description.
"Big Brother Kizaru, the Nine-Tails is a terrifying monster..."
Lifting his right hand and extending his index and middle fingers, Kizaru lightly tapped Kushina's forehead, stopping her from speaking.
Taken aback by the sudden attack, Kushina looked at Kizaru in confusion, then noticed Matatabi on his shoulder.
"I... I mean..." Noticing the change in the cat's eyes on Kizaru's shoulder, Kushina wanted to explain.
"Things like Tailed Beasts are not monsters, okay, Kushina?" Interrupting Kushina's explanation, Kizaru smiled and said.
Reaching up to pat Matatabi on the shoulder, Kizaru continued, "They are equal beings who can communicate just like humans."
"Communicate?" Recalling the scenes of seeing the Nine-Tails inside her body, Kushina shook her head. "The Nine-Tails is different from Matatabi, we can't communicate at all."
"Of course I'm different from that stinky cat!" Eavesdropping on the conversation, the Nine-Tails said arrogantly with a disdainful tone.
"The Tailed Beasts have been manipulated and harmed by humans too many times. It's hard for them to trust humans now. Before communicating with them, we need to convince them to calm down."
Hearing Kizaru's words, Matatabi, standing on his shoulder, couldn't help but look at him.
"So your way of convincing is just beating me up, huh?"
Recalling the scene of their first meeting with Kizaru, Matatabi felt a dull pain in his body.
"This is simply impossible!" Kushina, who had tried to communicate with the Nine-Tails, raised her voice, insisting.
"Aren't I and Matatabi good friends?" Turning his head to look at Matatabi on his shoulder, Kizaru replied with a smile.
"Yes!" Meeting Kizaru's gaze, Matatabi responded.
"Can we really be friends?" Looking at Kizaru and Matatabi in front of her, Kushina whispered doubtfully.
"Of course!" Turning to look at Kushina, Kizaru extended his right hand towards her. "Give me your hand."
Not sure what Kizaru was up to, but out of trust, Kushina lifted her right hand and placed it in Kizaru's large hand.
Hand in hand, Kizaru used chakra to let his consciousness enter Kushina's body.
"Where is this..." With Kizaru's help, Kushina's consciousness also entered the seal space inside her body.
"You've been here before, right? Kushina!" Kizaru's voice sounded behind Kushina.
"How... how can you also come in?" Turning her head to look behind her, Kushina said with some surprise.
"I'm here to help you convince the Nine-Tails." Walking to Kushina's side, Kizaru placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Haha, just you?" Seeing the sudden appearance of the two people and a cat in front of her, the Nine-Tails laughed disdainfully.
"I see. Nine-Tails, put down your hatred and try to communicate with this child!" Letting out a powerful roar, Matatabi looked at the Nine-Tails and said.
"Sure! Let her release the seal for me, and I'll communicate nicely." With a smirk, the Nine-Tails sneered.
"Kushina, can you temporarily release the seal?" Looking at the towering Nine-Tails in front of her, Kizaru asked.
"I can!" Confident about the seal, Kushina said firmly.
"Release the seal for it, and I'll help you convince it!" With a smirk, Kizaru adjusted his glasses and said with a smile.
"It's too dangerous!" Kushina warned.
"Oh-ho!" Laughing, Kizaru took a step forward and looked at the towering Nine-Tails ahead. "Things like Nine-Tails are so cute!"
"What does its cuteness have to do with anything?" Unable to understand Kizaru's aesthetic, Kushina took two steps forward, stood beside Kizaru, and pointed at the Nine-Tails excitedly.
"Release the seal!" Preparing to convince the Nine-Tails a little, Kizaru said again.
"It's too dangerous!" Kushina emphasized loudly.
"Kushina, trust Kizaru!" Matatabi, who was standing at the front, turned his head to look at Kushina behind him and persuaded.
"I..." gritting her teeth, Kushina nodded and said, "I got it!"
With that said, Kushina clapped her hands, and the metallic spikes pinned to the Nine-Tails' body gradually detached.
Then, the golden chains that bound the Nine-Tails also loosened.
"Only five minutes!" Controlling the seal, Kushina shouted loudly.
Giving a thumbs-up, Kizaru pushed forward, arrived in front of the excitedly roaring Nine-Tails.
"Haha! You actually released the seal. You humans are truly foolish!" Sneering at Kushina, the Nine-Tails laughed.
"Ho-ho-ho! How terrifying!" Standing in front of the Nine-Tails, Kizaru sighed.
"It's too late for regrets. I'm going to kill all of you and destroy everything here!" Declaring its hatred, the Nine-Tails raised its claws and swiped at Kizaru.
With a quick movement, the Heavenly Cloud Sword appeared in his hand. Kizaru held the sword with one hand and easily blocked the Nine-Tails' claw strike.
"You're as strong as a monster!" Letting out another sigh, Kizaru swung his sword upward, directly lifting the Nine-Tails' claws.
Didn't expect that Kizaru, who only used chakra, would be so powerful. A hint of surprise appeared on the Nine-Tails' face.
"I'm going to kill you, bastard!" Roaring loudly, the Nine-Tails opened its mouth and began gathering chakra.
"Kizaru, it's using Tailed Beast Ball, stop it!" Watching from the sidelines, Matatabi quickly reminded.
Tch! Humans' lapdog!
Hearing Matatabi's shout, the Nine-Tails, who was gathering chakra to use Tailed Beast Ball, looked at Matatabi with displeasure.